Chapter 5

The sound of water splashing against a tiled wall draws me from sleep.

I blink, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings of a luxurious bedroom. The silky sheets beneath my bare skin probably cost more than my rent, and the mattress hugs my body. Every muscle aches from being used, and when I lift a hand to touch the back of my neck, my fingers find a delicate ring of scabs in the shape of a bite mark.

My heart races as the events of the last several nights flood my mind. Nolan Rockford, the Alpha I've admired from afar, had taken care of me during my Heat.

My stomach twists with mortification as I remember throwing myself at him, using my pheromones to trigger his Alpha instincts. I had done to him what Rich tried to do to me.

That I was out of my mind with need by that point doesn't make it okay. What I did to him is why no one wants to hire Omegas.

I can't face him after forcing myself on him. I need to get out of here before he steps out of the bathroom and sees me lying naked on the bed, my body still tingling from his touch.

With effort, I crawl out of the bed. My legs quiver like jelly as I stand, and cool air touches my bare skin. My heart hammers as I frantically search the room and find my clothes in a large, walk-in closet. Someone had washed and ironed them before hanging my club uniform next to Nolan's thousand-dollar suits.

I hurry to pull them on, the splash of water from the bathroom driving me on. My worn jeans and ratty jacket are out of place amidst the opulence of the room, pounding home how much I don't belong here.

With an apologetic glance at the closed bathroom door, I slip out of the room.

What I see of the rest of the house matches the bedroom in extravagance as I hurry down the stairs to the foyer. From somewhere in the back comes the clink of dishes, and panic shoots through me that I'll be caught and forced to stay to face Nolan.

I fumble with the gold handle on the front door, a whine sticking in my throat when it refuses to open. The electric lock isn't something I'm familiar with. Chest heaving, I abandon it to rush to the window beside it and unlatch it before shoving it open.

A quiet bing fills the air, and too late, I realize that someone like Nolan would have an alarm system.

Steps sound in the hall as I scramble through the window, then race past a black, club car parked in the driveway. Humiliation floods me when I remember how wantonly I had begged for Nolan to breed me in front of his driver.

The neighborhood that surrounds me is nothing like the one I call home. Manicured lawns and fancy cars line the streets, a stark contrast to the cracked sidewalks and graffiti-covered buildings I'm used to.

I keep running until my legs can't take it anymore. When I look around for anything familiar, I have no idea where I am.

Leaning against the wall of a boutique dress shop to catch my breath, I fumble my phone from my pocket only to find the battery dead, leaving me with no means to check my location. Panic bubbles in my chest as I start walking, trying to ignore the stares I receive from passersby who recognize that I don't belong here.

Several blocks later, relief washes over me when I spot a bus stop with a map posted on the side. I hurry toward it and trace my finger along the lines and stops until I find the one closest to my apartment. I'm farther from my neighborhood than I thought, but at least I have a way to get back home now.

As I wait for the bus, I can't help but replay the events of the last few nights in my mind.

What will happen when Nolan realizes I'm gone? Will he be relieved he doesn't have to kick me out? Or angry that I used him and left? I should have stayed to apologize and beg him not to fire me.

Oh, God, he's going to tell Tony to fire me.

Panic rises, and I pinch my thigh, the sting of pain helping me to focus. First, I need to get home. Then I can figure out what to do next.

Drained and disoriented, I step off the second bus. My ass throbs from sitting for too long, and it takes everything I have not to collapse right there on the sidewalk.

The fading sunlight casts long shadows across the pavement, and my stomach knots with hunger, though not as much as expected. Hazy memories surface of Nolan coaxing me to eat and drink between lulls of my Heat, and I regret not being able to remember what the food tasted like. I bet it was just as expensive as his home.

I fix my eyes on my feet, forcing myself to take one step after another. My apartment is just a few more blocks away.

Somehow, I make it to the building, then up the rusty stairs that lead up to my floor, and down the shaky walkway to my apartment at the end.

As I unlock the door and make my way inside, I can't help but compare this cramped room to the one I woke up in. The moldy odor and the thin comforter on the bare mattress fill me with despair. I work my ass off to cling to this shithole because the next step down is the street, and that terrifies me.

I close the door behind me, lock it, and crawl across my mattress to plug in my phone.

When the screen comes to life, a message from Tony pops up.

Leo, you're fired. Don't bother coming into work tonight.

My heart drops, and for a moment, I can't breathe. Did Nolan call him as soon as he found me missing? But no, when I check the time that the message arrived, it came in on the second night into my Heat. So, he fired me for not showing up for my shift.

Panic rises within me, clawing at my throat and making it hard to think. I need that job more than anything, even if it means facing Tony again.

I'm not the first employee not to show up. Heats aren't always predictable, and most of the people who work at Velvet Oasis are Omegas. The only non-Omegas are security and the bartenders.

If I go in and beg for my job like other Omegas have, Tony will change his mind. He just wants to scare me.

Desperation fueling my steps, I unplug my phone and head back out the door. I have to try. I can't just sit here and accept my fate without a fight.

The walk to the club passes in a haze, and before I know it, I stand in the employee room of Velvet Oasis. The familiar sights and sounds of the club wash over me. My hell and my salvation rolled into one.

"Leo?" Phoenix stands from the vanity across the room, his eyes wide with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

I hurry toward the door. "I need to talk to Tony."

"Hey, wait a second." Phoenix pulls out his phone. "You're not supposed to be here."

Afraid he'll stop me, I hurry to push through the door to the main floor. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting, the haze of cigarette smoke stinging my eyes. The scent of pheromones that cling to the club pricks at my senses, still raw from my Heat. I take shallow breaths as I search the floor for Tony and spot him at the bar.

Tony turns to me, his expression unreadable. "Well, look what the cat dragged in. You have some nerve showing up here after the scene you caused."

So it's not about no-showing. Rich must have reported what happened.

"Please, Tony." I force the words past the lump in my throat. "You know I need this job."

"Even if I wanted to, I can't have you on the floor after what you did to Rich." Tony shakes his head in disbelief. "What were you thinking, kid? He practically bankrolls this place."

"What I did?" Disbelief fills me.

He can't possibly think I'm strong enough to beat Rich up. Unless the Alpha spun a different story to save his pride.

"See that kid?" Tony points one thick finger toward the floor, and I peer over my shoulder, spotting an unfamiliar Omega carrying a serving tray. "That's your replacement."

Feeling like I'm drowning, I turn back to Tony. "Please, I need this job. I'll do anything."

"Anything, huh?" His eyes narrow as he studies me, a hard glint in his eyes. "Your server position has already been filled. But there's still another position available. One that pays better. A lot better."

Tears sting my eyes. "You're talking about the back rooms."

"It's all I've got for you, kid, and better than you deserve. The only reason I'm willing to offer it is because Rich isn't pressing charges for what happened." Tony watches my reaction. "This will be a good move for you, Leo. With the kind of money you'll make, you can pay off your debts, eat well, and maybe even find a nicer place to live."

He reaches out to grip my shoulder. "I'll even make sure your first client's a good one. Nice and gentle."

His words echo in my head, and I take a deep breath, steeling myself against the fear that threatens to consume me. This is my chance to escape the crushing weight of my brother's debt, to claw myself out of the hole of misery I live in.

Clammy sweat coats my palms, and cotton fills my mouth. The thought of becoming a back-room boy terrifies me, but what other choice do I have? Rent is due, and Gino will be pounding on my door on the fifteenth. If I don't have his payment…

My mind balks at what he'll do. It will be worse than what Tony's offering.

"Alright." My voice cracks on the word. "I'll do it."

Tony smirks, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "That's what I like to hear, Leo. But let me make one thing clear. You belong to me now, so I expect nothing less than total obedience, understand?"

I nod slowly, swallowing hard as I force myself to meet his gaze. "Yes, sir."

"Good." He nods toward the back hall. "Go get yourself ready."

I jerk back a step. "Tonight?"

His brow arches. "Are you disobeying me?"

I drop my head. "No, sir."

"Good." He makes a shooing motion. "Get going before I change my mind."

Steps heavy, I turn and head for the hall that leads to the back rooms.