Motherless

Cornered

Talia

The hotel room smelled like cheap cologne and stale cigarettes. The walls were grimy, the kind of place where no one cared what went on behind closed doors. I tugged at the hem of the dress one of the older girls had given me, trying to cover more of my legs, but there was no point. The fabric clung to my body, barely covering anything. My heart pounded in my chest as I stood there, trying to keep my breathing steady, while the man across the room watched me with a hunger that made my skin crawl.

I was supposed to be tough—at least, that's what Dagger always told me. "Just do what you gotta do and get the money. Don't think about it too much." But this...this was different. The man looked like he could be someone's grandpa. His saggy skin hung off his face, and his eyes, bloodshot and glazed over, trailed over my body like I was a piece of meat. He had to be at least in his seventies, if not older. And yet, the way he smiled at me—crooked teeth and all—was anything but innocent.

"Come closer, sweetheart," he slurred, patting the bed next to him.

I hesitated, glancing over at the other girl in the room. Her name was Lacey, another one of Dagger's girls. She looked as uncomfortable as I felt, but she masked it better than I could. She gave me a small nod, as if to say, *You'll be okay. Just get through it.* I swallowed hard and took a step toward the man.

His hand reached out before I even sat down, his fingers brushing against my bare thigh. I tensed up, trying not to flinch. I could feel my stomach churning. His hand was clammy, like something dead.

"You're a real pretty one," he muttered, his eyes practically undressing me. "Dagger always sends me the best."

I forced a smile, my lips trembling. I didn't say anything, didn't trust my voice. I just sat there, stiff as a board, as his hand started moving higher up my leg. I could feel the bile rising in my throat, but I forced it down. This was just another job, I told myself. Get the money. Get out.

"Why don't you come closer?" he whispered, his breath hot and sour in my ear. "I'll make it worth your while."

My heart was racing now, every muscle in my body screaming at me to run, but my feet were rooted to the spot. The man's hand was inching toward my chest when Lacey suddenly slid onto the bed next to him, drawing his attention away from me.

"How about I show you a little something special, baby?" Lacey cooed, her voice dripping with false sweetness. She leaned in, brushing her fingers against his arm, and for a moment, I saw the confusion in his eyes as he turned to look at her. Her smile was tight, but she kept it in place. "I think you'll like it."

He hesitated, his hand pausing on my thigh, and for a second, I thought he was going to refuse. But then, his eyes gleamed with a sick kind of amusement, and he shifted his focus entirely to Lacey. Relief washed over me like a wave, and I silently thanked her. She knew what she was doing—taking the heat off me.

"Why don't we all have a little fun, huh?" he grunted, grabbing at Lacey's waist with rough hands. But Lacey was quicker than he expected, her fingers lightly dancing along his arm to keep his attention, deflecting his advances with practiced ease.

I sat there, frozen, watching her skillfully handle him. But the man wasn't satisfied. After a few minutes of her playful dodging, his patience snapped. His grip on her tightened, his fingers digging into her skin.

"I said I want both of you," he growled, his voice growing darker. The smile faded from his face, replaced by something uglier. "I paid for both."

Lacey's eyes flickered with fear, but she didn't let it show on her face. "Look, we're not here for that," she said, her voice firm but calm. "You got what you paid for—no one said anything about sex."