BlackHeart

Chapter 13

I was at work checking through the inventory when my phone went off in my pocket. I pulled it out absentmindedly, but my gut flipped when I saw the contact name. I didn't write Kristoff. I just put an X to know who was contacting me. I didn't want anyone seeing his name on my phone. I don't want people to even know he exists. My life here is not my life back there. I never wanted to relive the past, and now I feel it closing in on me. What's next? My father. I shivered at the thought.

The message read: *Thinking about you.* And I know he's doing that to unsettle me. He can't still have feelings for me. I don't believe him. Did he ever have actual feelings for me, or was it all about control with him? I don't know.

For a while he acted great and he convinced me he did like me a lot. When he was jealous, I thought it was because he loved me and didn't wanna lose me. Now that I've matured I know better. He's just an asshole with an ego and possessive issues. I didn't respond to his message. I don't wanna feed into this.

About an hour later, since I hadn't replied, he sent a second message. *Kristoff: Answer me or Elio gets this* and attached was a photo of me on stage at the old strip club Kristoff's uncle owns. I choked on my own spit and clutched my phone to my chest for no one to see. Shit, shit, shit. He can't do this to me. I barely recognize myself. I wore such heavy makeup as my stage persona, and I was in a sheer bustier and thong. I had high heels and my back was arched as I held the pole. You almost wouldn't even realize it's me unless you really looked at it.

I looked so young. I cringed at this image. I hate her. I hate him. *Me: Kristoff, please delete that. I'm begging you* I texted back. *Kristoff: Yum, I love it when you beg* He taunted me. I had to blink away tears. I was so frustrated and frankly scared.

"Mia?" A voice made me jump out of my skin. Phoenix extended her hand to settle me. "Sorry girl, I didn't mean to scare you. I was gonna ask if you're alright. You looked all...spacey or freaked out," she arched her dark perfectly plucked eyebrow at me.

She was in a black and white beanie today and some skater crop tee that showed off her stomach tattoos. I could see parts of faces and a rose in between them.

She's very pretty in a non traditional way. I know a lot of guys really dig this type of tattooed girl nowadays. Her nails are long and done into points. She has a narrow face which contours it naturally. She even has a little tattoo above her eyebrow that she is arching at me. "Nothing is wrong. I was spaced out" I shoved my phone in my pocket and tried to smile. "I was gonna run down the block and grab coffee for everybody. You wanna join and help me carry everything back?" Phoenix asked, and I nodded yes, telling Tatum that I was leaving the register.

When we got outside I took the evening air into my lungs to settle me down. It's probably too late for coffee but ,whatever, I'll probably get one anyway. I noticed right away how many people look at Phoenix. Some because she's hot and some because they were appalled by all her ink and how she dressed, and with the dimple piercings in her face. "Yeah people will always judge. I bet they're judging the pair of us, Miss high fashionista-model lady" she teased me and tugged on my trousers. I chuckled. We couldn't look more opposite.

"I think everyone who enters BlackHeart judges me. I don't look like I fit in, but I like working there" I started letting my nerves settle on our walk down to the cafe. "Good, we like having you work there too," she kindly told me.

"So, you're siblings with Elio, but you're of no relationship to that best friend of his, correct?" She tipped her head at me. "Dom? No, not at all" I shook my head. "Oh, you blushed. You like him" she grinned, further dimpling her cheeks. "What?! No!" I immediately denied. "Oh shut up, even I find him insanely fucking hot. Suits aren't usually my style guy, but he's got all those tattoos beneath and trust me when I tell you it's damn fine to look at" she winked.