In The Shadows

“Calm down Diamond.”

“Calm down? Calm down! Mason said you were dangerous, and I didn’t believe him! I’ve been falling for this psychopath who did one of the worst things possible. Now I am strapped to a chair in the same spot you shot Mason because I found out what you have been hiding from me and you expect me to calm down?”

“Yes.” He says with a straight face and arms behind his back.

I snarl while trying to free my wrists. I can’t be near him anymore. If he really did do it, what the hell would stop him from permanently hurting me?

“Let him explain.” Jacob comes up and places his hand on my left arm, stopping my movements. I look at his pleading eyes with my narrowed ones.

Peering back at him, “and if I don’t care to hear your explanation?”

He stares at me for a minute before walking to the table where the weapons are placed. “Well, then you would be forcing me to make you listen.” He picks up one of the small knives and glances back at me.

Diamond Star

Four months earlier.

Have you ever felt it when you wake up in the morning? The feeling of something missing in your life. Sort of like you can mentally feel a part of you is somewhere out there hiding in plain sight. If not, then I must be fucking doing something wrong.

“Good morning.” Mason says turning over to wrap his arm around my waist then kissed the back of my head.

There is still this void in my heart even being with a beautiful man for nine months. Part of me is hoping that someday that changes but the more logical side is yelling at me asking what the hell am I doing.

“Good morning.” Turning around to run my fingers through his light brown hair, looking at his bright green eyes.

It is not that I do not like Mason, I could not have been with him this long if that were true. Deep down I know I am passing the time being with him because he is a good distraction for me and my thoughts...stupid, stupid thoughts.

“What time do you work today again?” He asks after a minute of kissing me.

“I told you this twice but five this evening.”

He heard the patience thinning by the second, but wondered if it is because he forgets inconsequential details easily or if it is something more important.

“I’m sorry babe. You know I tend to forget little things like that, but is something else wrong? You seem a bit off this morning.”

‘No, nothing’s wrong. Just conversating to myself about why I am leading you on.’ Is what I wanted to say but did not have the guts to.

I kiss right beside his lips while snuggling closer to him. “No. I don’t know why I am cranky this morning. Help me get my attitude straight?” I smile.

While saying this, I think back to how we first met and his sweet ways in attempting to win my heart.

I was sitting in the park where, for some reason, I have always felt safe there. It has been my safe haven I guess you could say.

When I got up from reading on my favorite bench beside the beautiful little waterfall to walk, I almost tripped over my laces. He caught me before I fell and said my shoes weren’t tied like it wasn’t obvious. Then squats down on one knee in a proposing position and ties it for me.

He smiled when he was done, took my foot off his knee, stood up and told me I should be more careful while putting on that sexy grin. After that, he suggested we should spend more time together while rubbing a hand over my cheek, brushing back some hair that was bothering me.

He has truly been an amazing boyfriend. Every woman’s dream, except mine.

“Oh really?” Does that sexy grin then pushed me on my back. He kisses my jaw, down my neck slowly and sweetly to my collarbone. I lightly scratch his back, secretly encouraging him. He groans then takes his hand that is beside my head, rubs my cheek down to my neck and squeezes just enough to turn me on even more. I make my way down his very toned stomach to take off his boxers just as a fucking knock comes through the door.

“What!” Yelling a little too loudly, getting sexually frustrated.

“Do not use that tone with me we have shit to do! Get your ass out of that bed right now!” My lovely sister, not by blood but by loyalty, always such a cock block continues to bang on my door so I would have to get out of bed.

I made an annoyed face at Mason as he smiled knowingly like I am about to make Sara pay for getting me out of bed before I am satisfied. I pushed him off me, making him laugh at my frustration.

*Yanks open the door*

“What exactly do we have to do today before work?” I clearly am not happy, but she smiles at me anyway. If that is not enough for her to make a small smile, she looks behind me at Mason only in his boxers with his arms behind his head watching us as if he is watching fucking family guy.

Her grin widens as I glare but she is not the least bit affected. Thinking I will not remind her who she is dealing with, which secretly I won’t but she does not have to know that.

“Remember my date after work? You promised to help me shop.” Looks at me all sweet like.

But sometimes I can be a bitch when I am irritated. I slammed the door in her face then made my way back to Mason. I sat on him and kissed his chest while rubbing all over his body.

“Babe, I want this just as much as you, but you know I don’t like getting in the middle of your plans with your sister. Sara’s frightening when she’s mad.”

I glared at him as well then got off the bed and opened the door to find her standing in the same spot. As if she knew me well enough to realize I would come back.

“Well, what the hell are you standing there for? Get ready for us to go to a sleezy mall and help you pick out an outfit like you don’t have eyes for yourself to see what you are wearing.”

She knows I hate shopping, but I go anyways otherwise she will be pissy at me for the next 48 hours. Yes, she is one of them. The ones that bat their eyelashes and say please to get anyone to do whatever they wish.

“Great! See you in 20 minutes!” Yells as she runs back to her room. Sara does not take anything I say to heart because she knows harsh, and sarcasm is in my blood.

Mason and I spent the next 15 minutes getting ready, then went to the bright living room in me and Sara’s large apartment.

Sara has always been my backbone when I desperately needed it. Unfortunately, my pride overrides the need to show how appreciative I am of her. Regardless of me acting like I have a problem with what she asks of me, she knows I would do anything for her.

Sara quite literally saved my life when I was five years old. Taking me in with her family. Due to my young age, I do not remember every detail of how I ended up in her life. Something we both have yet to know. Everywhere I went I got the sick feeling of not belonging even when I was with my own parents. Until Sara and her family took me in with welcoming arms.

She walks out in the living room while I straddled Mason in a make out session on the couch. “Can’t you keep it in your pants for a couple more hours?” Asking while emphasizing her motherly tone, even though she is only two years older than me.

“Well, if you would have let me finish with him for 10 more minutes, I could’ve.” I say smiling at her.

“You know, sometimes I feel like your own personalized dildo.” He says while snaking his hands down my back to my ass.

Looking back at him, “that’s because you are.” He slaps my ass hard making me gasp. I smiled then kissed him in return.

He fists my long hair to pull me back. Then tilts my head towards the right so his mouth is hovering over my ear, away from Sara’s prying eyes. “As long as you remember whose ass this is, then I’m okay with that.”

I try to pull my head towards his ear, but he only grips tighter. He knows I enjoy being dominated and even a little bit controlled. “Yes.” Whispering while biting my lip. He kisses me one more time before letting me go.

“Alright let’s get this over with.” Her reply was a smile as we walked out the door with Mason.

We spent four hours at the mall before finally picking out the dress she was going to wear to that damn date. All the while I am feeling a bit uncomfortable due to my gut telling me I am being watched.

She chose a baby blue loose, but not too loose, dress that reached the knees. A V-neckline which shows a small amount of her chest. Sara is not one of them, show it all to the world type of girls. Which I respect about her because now that is all you see in women. She likes to feel beautiful but comfortable at the same time.

“Are you ready?” Asking from across the apartment in my room.

“Yeah, just getting my shoes on.” Sara replies with her voice lower than usual. She must be nervous about tonight.

“Alright you need to stop worrying that stubborn head of yours. He seems shy and sweet just like you. Not to mention you know how gorgeous you are even if you don’t say it out loud, therefore he is probably shitting his pants right now and there is still 8 hours before the date. Oh, and make sure to turn on your location and text me every two hours!” Now it is my turn to sound like the mother.

“Yes, yes, we have been through this 20 times.” She comes out of her room rolling her eyes like she is the one annoyed.

“I figured I would repeat myself as many times as you have changed into different outfits today.” I say staring at her, waiting for her reaction because she knows how irritated I was at the mall, but she only giggles and flips her dirty blonde, shoulder length hair while walking to the front door.

“Exactly. Now let’s go do what we do best.” I grin following her out the door. We are aware of how accomplished we are at making these men literally drool over us at work.

8 pm.

“Hello handsome what drink can I get you?” Placing my elbows on the bar, asking the tall guy with a scar on his left cheek and sleeked back dark hair; putting on the smile that always works with getting bigger tips. He is wearing an all-black bodyguard-like suit which I think is odd because this is a club. Not just any club, the most popular in Manhattan New York called ‘Dark Knights.’

“I didn’t come over here to get a drink darling.” He smiles raising his voice a bit due to the loud music while putting his right hand under my chin, stroking my jaw with his thumb. I can tell he is Italian by his accent. “It is really too bad that such an extravagant red-haired woman like yourself does not have a black mask on.” His hand then brushes over my cheek to my mask while I am honestly too surprised to move.

“Well sir, I am not the type of woman that sells her body to get more money.” The girls with black masks on are called ‘Show Timers’ because they are willing to do more than just flirt to get money. Girls like me, Sara, and my other friend Ava wear white masks because we are only bartenders/runners.

The white masked girls wear the same outfit. Our black top hugs our chest and reaches down to the belly button, depending on the size of the breasts. Mine reaches two inches above my belly button because of my larger ones. No back other than the straps crossing each other making a ‘X’ from the shoulders to the ends of the tank top. Black skirt with a chain wrapped around the hips while the rest of it dangles down just below the skirt. Everyone wears plain black three-inch heels, but I like to be different.

Luckily my boss, Reggie, does not mind. I wear black, close toed two-inch heels with leather straps wrapping around my calves four inches below the knees.

“Hmm, while I respect that, it still sucks for me.” Takes his hand off from stroking my face to hold on to my left hand. “In my opinion that just makes you more attractive, easy girls aren’t my type.” Then winks and puts on a very charming smile with his thumb rubbing the back of my hand.

Yes, I have a boyfriend, so I should not allow him to hold onto my hand like this, yet I can’t help but feel good at this moment. I like to think of myself as pretty, but I have never had the confidence, not that I show it. What people do not know about you they can’t use against you. So yes, when an extremely good-looking man compliments me like he did I am willing to give minor physical touch to show my appreciation.

“Well,’ I start while slowly slipping my hand away as he frowns, ’as much as I enjoy your compliments and charming ways to get between my legs, I must get back to work now. You know where to find me when you want a drink handsome.” I wink then innocently smile.

“Jacob Ross, darling.” Bends over the counter to give me a kiss on the cheek. I smiled then walked to one of my tables, feeling his eyes watching me from behind.

That encounter was odd to say the least.

Ava runs up to me behind the bar as I served a customer a jack and coke. She is my work friend seeing as we do not see each other outside of it. She can be quite annoying with her overthinking everything she does before doing it. The hoe never just lives.

“Bitch! What was that sexy interaction five minutes ago? You know you have a boyfriend, right?”

“Stop being such a prude I know I have an amazing boyfriend. I can’t help what horny men do when caught off guard.” She acts like she doesn’t get the same interactions as well. Miss Goody two shoes likes pretending to be innocent.

“Now we both know you weren’t caught off guard you were very aware of what was happening. I’m not scolding you. I am asking what he wanted because it looked like he really wanted you.” She helps me take care of two customers before I respond.

“Now that wouldn’t be anything new, would it?” I glance at her with a knowing grin. She scoffs, again, acting so innocent.

“No. I know the difference between a little flirting and full on giving the sex eyes.”

“Oh I know, you slut,’ giggles, ’but why are you so interested in this particular guy knowing we all get attractive costumers that want to do more than just the sex eyes?”

She stares at me for a moment then looks behind at a VIP room above one of the stages. “Because the guy that you talked to is in the VIP room with another guy that has been watching your every move ever since you started your shift. I look up there often. Not sure why, but good thing I do otherwise you would not know you have an admirer.”

I looked at her stupidly then turned around to observe what she is seeing.

Holly shit.