I couldn't wait for my shift to end. The exhaustion was clawing at me, but I pushed it aside, deciding to sit down at the back of the club for a moment's peace.
My phone buzzed in my hand, a constant reminder of the world outside this hellhole.
I glanced at the screen—several missed calls from my mom and Isaac. I sighed,
the weight of it all settling in.
I hadn't checked my phone since I started working.
I knew my mom would be losing her mind. She never approved of me working here, never liked the late nights, the early mornings, the danger that came with it. She was always scared, always holding onto her worries like a vice.
But I didn't have a choice.
Not since my father left. We'd been struggling ever since, scraping by, barely keeping afloat.
That was until I started working here. This place—it was a nightmare, yes, but the money? The pay was damn good.
A hundred thousand dollars a week and I hadn't even been here a full month. The tips? Insane.
People paid to touch, to gawk, to own a piece of me for a few hours. It wasn't glamorous,
but it was enough to keep us alive.
And I couldn't afford to lose it—not for anything.
Not even the shit I took from Mr. Lance, or the filthy customers who thought they could do whatever they wanted.
I had a limit, though. A line that, if crossed, I wouldn't let slide. No one would get away with that. No one.
I stared at my phone again, heart squeezing tight in my chest. With a resigned breath,
I called my mom first. She picked up almost immediately, the worry thick in her voice. After a long, agonizing conversation, full of reassurances, empty words meant to calm her, she finally let me go.
I hung up and quickly dialed Isaac's number.
"Skai," he answered, relief lacing his voice.
"Hey," I replied, forcing the cheer into my tone, even though it felt like it was slipping away.
"I can tell by your voice. You missed me, huh?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"Of course I did," Isaac replied, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah, well, you weren't picking up your calls. I thought something happened. Your mom was about to have a meltdown," he continued, sounding worried.
"You guys worry too much. I was just working my shift," I said, trying to reassure him.
But the truth was, I wasn't okay. Not really.
"You know there are other places you could work, right?
A club isn't exactly... safe." Isaac's voice softened, the concern he always had for me creeping through.
"I know, I know," I muttered, frustration and guilt gnawing at me. "But the pay's good, and we need it. I promise, I can handle myself. More than you think."
"And Riley?" he asked, his voice hardening.
I laughed, despite the tension coiling in my chest. "Don't even get me started on Riley. You couldn't talk her out of this job if you tried. She's stubborn as hell, you know that."
"You're right. I couldn't," Isaac said, a chuckle escaping his lips.
But the worry still hung thick in his words. "Just... promise me you'll take care of yourself, okay? Stay out of trouble. A club isn't a place to mess around. There's too many dangerous people."
"Yeah, well, danger's practically my middle name," I joked, trying to hide the unease rising in my gut.
"Skai, I'm serious. Please. It's not just about the money. You don't know what kind of people go there. It's not safe."
I heard the fear in his voice, and for a moment, it made my chest tighten. I hated worrying him like this, but I couldn't stop. "Fine. I promise," I muttered, my voice softer. "I won't get into trouble. Okay?"
"Okay. Just... be careful. I'll see you when you get back."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll see you."
I ended the call and stared at my phone for a long moment, the darkness of the club seeping into my bones. My shift was almost over—just one more hour. I could make it. I had to.
When the last customer finally staggered out and the club doors slammed shut behind them, I was out. I left the chaos behind me, needing to escape, to breathe. My thoughts were too loud, too frantic.
I walked through the front door, trying to be as quiet as possible. As usual, everyone was already asleep. I barely had the energy to acknowledge them as I crept into my room, stripped off my uniform, and collapsed onto the bed. My body screamed in exhaustion, but sleep didn't come easily—not here.
Not when I was constantly on edge, living a life I never wanted but couldn't escape.
And all I wanted was a moment to forget. Just a few hours of silence.