Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 74122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Dawg sat back on his heels, dragged a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. Then he pushed to his feet and began to pace restlessly.
“That is why I need this job, Dawson. I need this job. I need cash.” She rose to her feet and stepped into his path, gripping his leather vest within her fingers and shaking it. “I need to find my daughter!”
Dawg stood staring down at her, his breathing fast, his eyes narrowed. “You’re fired.”
“What?” That was the last thing she expected to come out of his mouth.
“Gonna find your daughter.”
And that was the second to last thing. “How?”
“Know people. Cops. A lawyer. Men who are good at findin’ people who don’t wanna be found.”
Emma shook her head. “I can’t let this become your problem.”
“Too late.”
“Why’s that?”
He cupped her cheeks in his hands and stared down into her face. “Knew the minute you walked into my club, baby girl. The second I looked into those eyes when you were in my bed, when my dick was inside you... you were mine. I take care of my girls...”
But she wasn’t one of his girls, he... “You just fired me.”
“An’ I take care of my girl.”
His girl? What was he saying? “I’m not your girl, Dawson.”
“The fuck you ain’t.”
“I need you to be my boss not my... boyfriend.” Even the word tasted weird on her tongue. “I just need a chance to earn enough cash to rehire the investigator. So he can continue—”
“No.”
Her head jerked back. No? Just no? “No what?”
“No, got it covered. Got you covered. Gonna get your daughter back.”
Emma tried desperately to tamp down the hope that bubbled up from his words. He sounded so confident. Like he could do it. Like he could actually find Lily and bring her home. But he was a biker. A strip club manager. What kind of connections could he possibly have?
What could this man do that the police, the FBI and even INTERPOL couldn’t? He was delusional to think he could do something they haven’t been able to.
“I don’t want to be in debt to you, Dawson. I can’t be.”
“No debt. Doin’ it for you. For your girl.”
“But you don’t even know me.”
“Fucked you. Know you.”
They had sex once and now he knew her? Really? “That simple?”
“Yeah. That simple, baby girl.”
“I can’t afford—”
“Already said you ain’t payin’ shit, baby girl. Got you covered.”
“I can’t just allow you to help me and not do anything in return.”
“Ain’t gonna strip. You’ll chase away my customers.”
She blinked at his honesty. “You don’t sugar coat anything, do you?”
“Fuck no. You need to pay me back, you’ll do it in a different way, got me?”
“What do you mean? How?” He better not had meant sex. She was not going to sell her body, even to get her daughter back. Not to this biker or anyone else.
Though, she had to admit, during her most desperate times she’d considered it. Even though she had been appalled at the thought, she’d considered anything that would mean getting her daughter back. Anything.
So far, the police hadn’t been much help, FBI could only do so much, and INTERPOL didn’t have her missing daughter at the top of their priority list. What was more, the investigator she had hired didn’t work for free.
“Gonna rehire you,” he finally said with a frown.
“You just fired me,” she stated, surprised.
“Yeah, as a dancer. Gonna hire you as a hostess. Wear a sexy dress, show some cleavage, get the girls to show you how to wear some makeup to highlight your girl-next-door look, nothing slapped on too thick. Work the room, make sure the girls are doin’ what they’re supposed to be doin’, make sure the customers are happy. Comp ‘em a drink if they’re tippin’ heavily. Flirt, smile, but no dancin’. Make ‘em feel welcome.”
She could do that! And she didn’t have to get naked!
“Gotta learn to walk in heels. Gonna set you up with one of the girls to go shoppin’.” He lifted his hand before she could interrupt him. “Gonna cover your expenses like your clothes an’ heels. Any makeup you need. Got me?”
“Yes, so how much is this going to pay?”
“Nothin’.”
“Nothing?” He expected her to work for free? That wasn’t going to happen. Not as long as she was in her right mind.
“Gonna get your daughter back. No matter what it costs. This is how you’ll make it up to me. Got me?”
“But... I have rent... expenses.”
“Nope.”
What? “Uh, yes.”
“No. Gotta spare room. You’re movin’ in. Livin’ expenses will be covered ‘til we get your daughter back. Once we do, can find your own place again.”
“Wait.” She lifted a palm and glanced around the living room. “You want me to live here?”
“Yeah. Gotta spare room.”
He already said that. That didn’t mean she was just moving in! Into a stranger’s apartment. Someone she’d only known for not even a couple of days. “Yes, but—”