Chapter One

Genesis

GETTING TO WORK early like I do every time I have a shift, I see I'm once again the only one here. None of the bartenders or waitresses come in to get things prepared for the busy night we're sure to have at Enchantment. So, I always show up an hour early to stock the bar, make sure all the glasses are clean and put back on the shelf where they are easily accessible for the bartenders when they don't have a second to think or search for glasses that should be available for them from the second the doors open. Hell, during my shift, when I'm not waiting on customers, I'm cleaning tables and sending a load of glasses through the dishwasher in the small kitchen area we have behind the bar.

I hate showing up to work early because it means I'm not spending time with Matie at home. I've had him for six months now and finally found someone to watch him while I'm at work. Six months ago, my foster sister, Malinda, dropped him off. She was beaten to hell and told me to protect him from his dad so he didn't get his hands on him. Malinda took off and I haven't heard from her since that fateful night. Now, my world revolves around Matie and everything I do is for the little boy who captured my heart from the day he was born.

Morgan, a girl the Phantom Bastards saved when horrendous storms ripped through the city and surrounding areas, is the one who watches over Matie when I have to work. We talked to Vault, the President of the club, and he approved of this arrangement because I don't trust anyone with Matie. Morgan is someone I trust when it comes to him. I know if anything happens, she'll call in the club members to protect the two of them. She's the only one who truly knows the entire situation with Matie, Malinda and Ricky, his father. Or sperm donor if you ask me. Anyway, Morgan watches him for me five nights a week and never gets upset when I message or call to check on him. Yes, I'm a little obsessive about his care and safety.

Today is no different. Morgan does her job for the club first thing in the morning and gets the bar at the clubhouse ready for Kat. She's another woman the club saved from what I've been told. When she knows I need to head into work, Morgan shows up and watches over Matie for me so I can get here early to get the strip club ready for the doors to open. She gets mad on my behalf because Morgan knows I'm the only one who shows up and stocks, cleans, and does everything the rest of the staff should be helping me take care of. Devil also doesn't say a damn thing to any of them either. I can't stand Devil and it's no secret how I feel about him.

Devil manages Enchantment and we've always butted heads. The first time I met the infuriatingly sexy man, he insulted me and told me I wasn't what they were looking for in a dancer. I barely got a word in because he was such a fucking asshole. Vault made him hire me after going through my resume and seeing the work I've done over the last few years. College was never in my plan because I don't have the money to continue my education. I tried to apply for scholarships and grants to help cover the cost during my senior year of high school, but none of them accepted me. One day I'll get there, but it won't be today. I'm not even sure what I'd want to do honestly. Anyway, Devil refuses to have anyone else come in early and allows me to do all the work. I'm so angry with him I can't even have a conversation about how unfair this shit is. Instead, I go about my night at the club and ensure everything is taken care of before anyone else ever shows up for their shift.

So far, I've cleaned all the tables and brought down the chairs the cleaning crew always stacks on top of each table so they can take care of the carpet each night after the club closes. The glasses are washed, dried, and stacked behind the bar where they belong. I've cut up the garnish and shit for those fruity drinks some guys prefer over beer, whiskey, or scotch. The only thing left to do before I change into my uniform is to stock the bar with everything that wasn't restocked last night before the club closed. It's supposed to be restocked every single night, but no one ever does it. Again, they all know I will so no one worries about making my job easier. As long as they get the fuck out of here and get away with doing the bare minimum, they're happy to pawn everything off on me.

Grabbing out the small notebook I keep hidden under the bar, I write down what I need to bring out to stock the coolers, shelves, and if I need any ice to be brought out. That's the one thing I refuse to do because it's heavy as hell. Devil doesn't make me carry it out either. The first time he tried, I told him to kiss my ass, took off my apron, and threw it in his face. When he realized I was serious about quitting, Devil started taking care of the ice himself.

"Genesis, how are you doin' tonight?" Nix, the DJ, asks me as he walks through the front door and removes his sunglasses.

"The same as always," I respond as I look over my shoulder to take in the man.

Nix is the same age as me. He's covered in tattoos from head to toe and has a few piercings. Today he's wearing a pair of baggy jeans and some kind of sports jersey that's a size or two too big for him. He's always wearing clothes that don't fit and I laugh because he spends half the night holding his jeans up. Laughing again, Nix joins in while shaking his head. Nix and I have spent a few breaks together when we have the same shift. I haven't opened up to him about my personal life, but we do enjoy an easy conversation when we take a breather and head outside for a few minutes of peace and silence. It's honestly the only place in Enchantment that we're not being bombarded by men cheering and shouting, the music blaring, and everything else that goes on inside the walls of the club.

"We need to change that shit, Genesis. You need a night out away from the club to get your fuckin' freak on. Find a guy to fuck the shit outta you," Nix says, a conversation we've had before.

"Nix, I got a baby at home and can't just take another day away from him when I spend five nights a week here," I remind him as he moves through the club to where his equipment is set up.

"I know you got a baby at home, Gen. It doesn't mean you aren't still a damn woman who needs a man in her life. At least someone who will fuck the hell outta you and get rid of those pesky fuckin' cobwebs," Nix says, laughter filling his voice because he's always telling me that shit. Yeah, it's been a while since I had sex.

I don't even respond to Nix' words. He is waiting for some kind of response from me. Instead, I shake my head, grab my list, and head for the storeroom where all of our alcohol is kept. Opening the door slowly because it's been a while since I've seen Devil and he sometimes comes in to take inventory, I don't see the couple on the opposite side of the room. It's not until I hear a masculine groan that I snap my head in the direction of the sound. There, on the left of the storeroom is Devil leaning against the wall with his head thrown back and eyes closed. My eyes travel down his body, taking in the skin on display where his tee-shirt has been pushed up under his cut. I don't stop until I take in the man on his knees in front of Devil. I don't need the light on to realize it's Raptor, Devil's best friend.

Raptor's head is bobbing up and down and I know he's giving Devil a blowjob. Devil reaches down with one hand and digs his nails into the short hair on top of Raptor's head. There's really nothing for him to grab onto though. I take in the scene before me, my panties becoming wet as fuck. Both men are sexy as sin and they know it. The muscles in Devil's thighs are tight with tension as his groans come faster and louder with every passing second. Raptor reaches his arm between Devil's legs. I can't see what he's doing, but Devil loves it based on the sounds coming from him.

"I'm gonna cum," Devil states, his voice graveled and filled with lust as his eyes snap open and he calls out Raptor's name while staring at me.

Devil is breathing hard, his chest rapidly rising and falling as he pants through his release and Raptor's continued movements on his cock. My eyes drift down when Raptor sits back on his heels and I see Devil's pierced cock. He's got barbells running down the length of his shaft that glint in the dim light filtering through the window above Devil's head. Dusk has come and gone, the sky dark now with the moon shining bright.

"The fuck are you doin' in here?" Raptor yells, his voice hard and lethal as my gaze snaps to him while Devil tucks his cock back in his jeans and does them up. "Fuckin' answer me!"

"I'm getting what I need to stock the bar. I do this every night I work," I answer him, my face on fire with the blush I'm sure covers my skin. I've never seen anything so fucking sexy in my life as what I just walked in on.

"Yeah. I'm sure that's what you're doin', Genesis. You probably watched us walk in here and followed us to get some kind of blackmail," Raptor says, jumping to his feet quicker than I thought he'd be able to move and rushes over to me.

I back up until I'm plastered against the door of the storeroom. Raptor doesn't stop moving at me until his chest is pressed against mine as he grabs my wrists and holds them above my head. It doesn't hurt, but I'm terrified of the man in front of me as he runs his hands down my sides around my pockets.

"The fuck are you doin'?" Devil questions the man in front of me as he steps up closer and runs his eyes up and down my body with hate and anger in his eyes.

"Searchin' her for a camera or somethin' to record us. This bitch wants to have somethin' to hold over our heads, Dylan. No one knows about our relationship and she figures she can use it to her advantage," Raptor states as if it should be obvious as he finally releases my wrists and steps away from my body so I can take a full breath.

"You won't find a camera or anything on me, Raptor. I promise you that. I won't ever tell anyone what I saw in here tonight. It's none of my business what the two of you do in private. We'll be opening the doors of the club in a little while and I need to stock the bar for Gavin. He doesn't ever show up early to make sure it's done. No one ever shows up early but me. I'm sorry I didn't immediately leave when I realized what was going on, but I was shocked as hell," I tell Raptor, my eyes going over his shoulder where Devil stands, his arms folded over his chest as he glares at me.

"Never fuckin' asked you to come in early, Genesis," he growls out, pulling out his pack of cigarettes.

"I've never once said you did, Devil. But, if someone doesn't do it, then the club won't be ready when the doors open. You want to lose business because the bar isn't stocked? Or have the customers put their own chairs down at each table when they come in? I even make sure the mini fridge is stocked in the dancer's room. So, if I don't come in to take care of all this shit, who else is gonna do it?" I question Devil as Raptor steps back next to him and glares at me in return.

"I won't deny you've become an asset here, Genesis. You go above and beyond to make sure the club is ready to go every shift you have. Every time I've asked you to step up and do somethin' you've done it without question. Includin' coverin' shifts for everyone else," Devil admits reluctantly as he uncrosses his arms and puts an unlit cigarette in his mouth. "What I won't tolerate is you fuckin' thinkin' you can blackmail me for any reason. I don't owe you shit, Genesis. In fact, you only have this job because Vault forced me into hirin' your ass."

"Trust me, I know this. You've let me know it every day for the last year and a half that I've been here. I don't fit the mold of someone who should work in a strip club because I'm too fucking fat. Yet, I'm the one making the most in tips every damn night, I have men hitting on me every shift before they get drunk, and I'm the one taking time away from my baby at home to ensure this club is ready to open five nights a week. I don't have to do any of this shit. Vault has assured me that I can have any job I want with the club. Something with better hours and people who will value me and not make me feel as if I'm a fucking burden," I say, letting all of my pain and anger out toward the two men as they stare at me with wide eyes.

"Why don't you keep that baby in mind when you think of betrayin' Devil and me. You tell anyone what you fuckin' saw in here, I'll make sure that baby is taken from you and you will never get him or her back again. I'll rub it in your face every fuckin' day. You wanna go to Vault with this shit, I'll make sure you not only lose the baby, but you fuckin' lose your job and everythin' else here in Pine View. You will have nothin' left here," Raptor says, his voice cold, hard, and holding the hint of the promise his words are telling me.

"You're gonna threaten to take an innocent baby from me if I spill your secret? He has nothing to do with this shit, Raptor. He's completely innocent and I won't see him fucking tortured and shit because you two want your secret kept. That's really fucking low even for the two of you," I state, tears filling my eyes with the thought of Matie being taken from me and put into foster care.

"You have no clue the lengths I'll go to protect our secret. This isn't for you to tell anyone, Genesis. You don't know the lengths the club will go to in order to protect one of their own. You're completely alone in the world and have no one to back you up. Yeah, I read the background check King did on you when you got hired. No one will fuckin' miss you or that baby," Raptor states his voice turning even more lethal than it's been up to this point.

"Don't worry, Raptor. I know exactly how alone in the world I am. I've always been alone in the world and that won't change anytime soon. You don't need to tell me how my fucking life is. I'm pathetic and no one wants me around. The only person I have in this world is the baby and I know how fucking sad that is. I won't share your secret with anyone because it's not mine to share with anyone. I don't give a fuck what the two of you do as I just said. Leave me the fuck alone to do my job in peace," I state, tossing the notebook with the list of what needs to be restocked for the bar on the ground at their feet. "And restock your own fucking bar. I'm done going above and beyond for the likes of you who doesn't appreciate anything I've done here in the club. When I leave and the place goes to hell because you want to take advantage of me like the rest of the staff here, you can explain it to Vault."

Without another word or backwards glance at either man, I leave the storeroom and head for the locker room to change into my uniform. When I'm waitressing at Enchantment, I have to wear a pair of black leggings and a crop top that's tight as fuck. It leaves nothing to the imagination and my stomach is on display. I hate the fucking clothes I have to wear, but there's nothing I can do about it. So, I suck it up, change, and put the dreaded heels on my feet. Leaving this fucking job will be worth it because of the shoes alone. I hate wearing heels and have never found the appeal before.

The rest of the night, I do my job and go out of my way to avoid Raptor and Devil at all costs. Instead of going anywhere near the bar when I'm not turning in drink orders or grabbing something to take to a table, I remain moving around the floor at all times. Before I know it, the night has come to an end and I leave on my own while I know Deegan, the bouncer and a Prospect for the club, walks out every other female there, no one walks me out. I guess I don't have to worry about being attacked because I'm too fat and no one would bother with hurting me for that reason alone. Fuck everyone here!