The Cunning (18+)

6

Jase watched Madison hesitate on the stairs through the smoke of his cigarette. Her body language was painfully readable. Her eyes flitted about, assessing her surroundings with her arms across her chest, grazing her collarbones with her fingertips, trying to cover her exposed flesh.

Benny didn't like nervous girls. He didn't have the capacity for empathy and wouldn't entertain the girls needing a gracing period to adjust to their new lifestyle. As far as he was concerned, they all had a role to play, and Madison wasn't taking to hers as fluidly as he would like. This is going to be a long night, Jase thought.

Jack, a long-time customer, approached Madison when she reached the bottom of the stairs. He slid his arm around her waist, pulling her away from the wall she had backed up against, and leaned into her ear. Jase could only assume Jack had whispered something vulgar from the revolted look on Madison's face. She ripped herself away, ready to lash out, which Jack didn't take too kindly to.

"Don't touch me-" she started and was promptly cut off when Jase put himself between them.

"You ought to get your birds under control, Jase. I pay good money to visit," Jack said with indignation.

"Sorry Jack. She's new," Jase explained, casting a disapproving glare down at Madison. "She's still learning the ropes." Madison scowled right back at him. It amused Jase. Even after learning what happened to Annabelle for stepping out of line, it hadn't thrown her for long. She was determined, he'd give her that. Stupid but determined.

"We can soon sort that." Jack grinned, hungry eyes glued to Madison's chest. Madison reared back, preparing to spit at him when Jase yanked her into the corner of the hallway.

"You're not helping yourself," he seethed. She opened her mouth to argue when Sam joined them.

"What's going on?" he asked. Madison averted her eyes.

"I'm just reminding her where she is," Jase replied.

"I can remind her, if you want?" Adam offered, catching the conversation on his way to the toilet.

Jase felt her stiffen, that tiny contraction of muscles giving her away. She wasn't scared of Jase, she thought she had the upper hand there, but from her body's reaction he could tell she was terrified of Adam. He did have his uses. She held her breath, watching Jase through her lashes, awaiting his response, the air loaded.

Finally, Jase spoke, "It's fine." His attention fell back to Madison. "You'll be on your best behaviour for the rest of the night, won't you?" His tone daring her to talk back with all three of them present. She swallowed her pride with a subtle nod. "Sorry, I didn't hear you."

"Yes," she replied. Adam closed the space between them.

"Watch yourself, little one," he teased, "you don't want to give us a reason to mark that pretty face of yours." When she didn't react, he grabbed her cheeks, squeezing hard enough to leave blotchy imprints. "Would we?" Spittle flew through his gritted teeth.

"No," she said. Adam smiled, shoving her face away with a bitter laugh.

"That's a good girl." He left with Sam in tow. Angry tears brimmed in Madison's eyes, wetting her lashes, clumping them into thick spider legs.

"Don't cry," Jase said. It wasn't an attempt to soothe her, it was an order—full of authority, the same as everything else he said. "Behave. Walk around. Be polite. Give Benny what he wants for a while, and you can go back upstairs," he said. He left her in the corner on her own, vulnerable, with several sets of eyes watching her the way predators watched prey.

Jase had bargained to save himself trouble. All she had to do was grit her teeth and bear the miserable evening for a few hours before he could discreetly remove her. Easier said than done, but not impossible.