Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

KIERRA

O nce again, I sit in my crappy room, staring at the webpage on my phone for the club. I've been to several casinos, but no one will hire me with no experience. I haven't even had any bites and I don't have a ton of time, so at this point I am seriously considering giving up my virginity for a stack of cash. Den of Sin. The man from the casino that came to my aid, his name was Sin. That's got to be a coincidence, right?

Laughing at myself, I say out loud, "You're losing it, Kierra."

Obviously, one has nothing to do with the other. Does it matter even if he owned the club or something? Yeah, it matters because I can't stop thinking about how his well-tailored suit fit his body like it was made for him. Maybe it was. That chiseled jaw with a light dusting of facial hair was sexy as hell. And ice-blue eyes that stared at me like he knew everything. Knew why I was so scared. I wondered if he or the other man were one of the men that wanted me dead. I quickly decided that wasn't the case because, for our brief encounter, he made me feel safe. Protected. When Sin looked at me, I felt like every single secret I held was being revealed, yet it felt like he wouldn't let anyone hurt me. Clearly, I'm losing my mind. And then he touched my face, and a tremor went through my entire body. It was something I never experienced before. The feeling of safety scared the hell out of me because thinking for even a moment that I will be okay is dangerous. Letting my guard down could very well cost me my life.

The auction is tonight and if I want to be included; I have to go to their doctor by two in the afternoon, so I don't have long to decide. It's times like this I wish I could do what I used to do. Call my best friend Marissa and talk through my options. I miss her so much it hurts. Losing my family the way I did was hard, but I didn't have a choice. Staying away from her, knowing I could reach out, was pure torture. My best friend was always there for me, as I was for her. She always helped me make heavy decisions. I would if I could, but I can't. It's dangerous for her and probably even more so for me. So instead, I pace back and forth like a caged animal while I weigh my options when the truth hits me in the face with a harsh reality.

I don't have a choice.

If I want to get out of here and far away, there's only one thing I can do. The longer I sit around, the better the chances they'll find me. The tears are on the brink of spilling as I struggle to hold them back. I don't want to go to a strange country I've never been to before but I don't have another option. I've looked at flights to London. If I get at least ten thousand dollars tonight, I can afford it. Luckily for me, I love the rain. Because according to my google search it rains a lot.

I race out the door after calling my cab to make it to Lake Las Vegas before I miss the cutoff time. They said it wouldn't take long, so I should still have time to come back and get ready for tonight. I have no idea what you wear to auction off your virginity. I'm pretty sure there's no advice on google for that. Is this even legal? I don't know, but ?I don't really care. I only hope that by trying to run from these murderers, I don't get myself killed by someone else.

I force myself to take a deep breath as I open the back of the cab.

"Where to?"

I glance down at the address I wrote on my hand. "1864 Dogwood Avenue."

Within seconds I getting in and shutting the door, he takes off like he's running from the police. I'm starting to believe driving like an asshole is part of the cab driver's job description here.

Can I really do this? As terrified as I am to go to the doctor and spread my legs, I'm beginning to wonder if I can do the same for a complete stranger that will do far more to me than a medical professional will. My hands tremble as my heart races when I realize we've turned onto Dogwood Avenue. Obviously, that means we are close and the sudden onset of nausea climbs into my throat.

He stops outside of a three-floor glass building and announces our arrival. "Here you go, miss."

After handing him the fare, I step out of the car and take a deep breath as I stare at the medical facility in front of me.

You can do this, Kierra.

I glance around and take in the landscaping as I attempt to regulate my breathing. There are tall palm trees scattered around the enormous area with cacti lining around the glass on the bottom floor. There are rocks instead of grass because an actual lawn is not common here in the desert. Looking to my right, I spot my favorite, the beavertail cactus, which has pink flowers sprouting at the top. The longing for my family intensifies as I stare at it, remembering better times. I was ten years old when we came here on a family vacation. My parents were alive and happy. So happy. Of course, that was then, and this is now.

Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I approach the doors. The glass double doors slide open automatically and I walk through them, followed by the long hallway. I make my second right as the lady on the phone instructed me and find Dr. Wallace's office.

I step inside and glance around at the four rows of light blue chairs, all connected like they think someone might steal them. In the far corner are toys for small children and I wonder if he only sees patients for the club or if this is a regular practice as well.

The pretty blonde lady at the check-in desk flashes me a kind smile. She has soft features and big brown eyes and slides the glass window open. "Can I help you?"

There's something so kind and genuine about her that nearly makes me want to hug her, which is not my normal instinct.

Chewing my lip nervously, I approach her and ramble, "I was supposed to come. They said before two and this is so emba-"

She interrupts my impending meltdown. "Breathe honey."

With a reassuring smile, she reaches out, handing me a clipboard, and adds, "Fill this out."

I nod slightly before turning and sitting in one of the many empty seats and fill out the paperwork.

It's all basic information. Name, address, family history, first day of my last period, so I add the information quickly and return it to her. I move to sit back down, but she stops me. "Come through the door on the left and I'll meet you there."

I'm surprised because my experience has always been that even if a waiting room for a doctor's office is empty, you still sit and wait for at least an hour.

"Follow me," she states after I open the door, so of course I do. The hallway is lined with several doors all painted gray and she stops about halfway down and opens a room waving me in. "Have a seat."

The room is small with an examining table like you'll find in any doctor's office, and a gray chair sits beside a counter with a sink and a soap dispenser on the wall.

After taking my temperature, blood pressure, and blood work, she leaves me with a cup asking for a urine sample and a paper gown, which I'm not a fan of. I rush to the bathroom and do what I need to do before washing my hands and returning to the room.

A gray-haired man, appearing to be in his fifties, walks into the room. "Ms. Carter?"

"Yes."

"I'm Dr. Wallace."

I sit on the exam table in my stupid paper gown with a paper sheet over my lap.

"Let's do this quickly, shall we?"

Releasing a worried sigh, I nod, "Please."

"Feet up on the table, please, drop your knees to the side. I'm going to insert two fingers inside you. You may feel some pressure, but I'll be quick."

I do as he says, and he squirts some gel onto his fingers and he's right when he pushes them inside me and, like he said, I feel pressure. I wince slightly but don't complain, because I just want to be done with this. This isn't my first pelvic exam, but I've only had a few. Normally, you start going when you become sexually active, which of course I'm not, but my doctor required it for birth control, even though it was just to make my cycle easier.

After he finishes, he tosses his gloves into the garbage, washes his hands and starts clicking away on his i-Pad.

He nods, "All clean."

I'm surprised he has the test results already, but I say nothing.

"My nurse will give you a printout to bring with you to the club. Don't forget it because they will not let you participate without it."

"Thank you."

"Good luck," he says as he walks to the door and leaves me alone to get dressed. I take a deep breath as I get off the table and grab my clothing. I did it. Step one, done, but I know it's the next step that's going to be the most difficult.