Deliverance (The Maverick Defense #1) by L.A. Cotton, Jenny Siegel Read Free Book Online Page A

Patrick or use that fine little ass of yours. Think of something, anything. Just buy us five minutes.”
    Lyla shot me a glare and muttered something under her breath before opening the door and disappearing into the darkness. Troy was nowhere to be seen when we climbed out of the car. I stumbled in my skyscraper heels, but Sherri caught my arms and I managed to right myself. “I’m fine.” I shrugged her off smoothing down the dress molded to my curves.
    “Your face says otherwise. Come on.”
    We slipped in the side entrance of Shakers unnoticed. It was rarely used and was the only unguarded door in the whole building, but Sherri had an all-access pass to Donnie’s club. She knew every darkened corner, escape route, and quiet storage closet. I knew she knew because she’d shown me every single one when Donnie first announced I was his.
    His.
    I was his now—body and empty black soul. He’d taken everything I had to give. Except my shattered heart. I refused to surrender that. He couldn’t have it.
    Not when it belonged to another.

    After cleaning up in the small bathroom adjoining the girls’ changing room, I rejoined Sherri.
    “You look better,” she said glancing me up and down.
    I nodded turning my head to catch my reflection. The girl staring back was a stranger. Long, tousled dark hair framed her face. Even the once bright streak of red running through the front now seemed dull. Full lips glossed in red contrasted the darkness of her eyes and the smoky kohl liner defining them. No longer did she resemble the fresh-faced girl with the sweet smile and bright eyes. No, that girl was gone.
    Dead.
    Sherri led us to the bar and ordered herself a drink. I declined, my stomach still churning from all the alcohol I’d drunk back at her place. Perched on one of the leather and chrome barstools, I glanced around the room. Two girls were dancing on the smaller podiums, slinking around the poles, writhing and popping their bodies as a couple of guys leered up at them.
    Lyla approached us, her lips drawn into a thin line. “He wants to see you.” She glanced at Sherri and then back at me.
    I clenched my eyes shut and sighed. “His office?”
    “Yeah. I held him off for as long as I could.” Her eyes dropped down to the floor. The action would have had most girls on high alert. Suspicious. But I knew the lengths some of these girls would go to get things done.
    Myself included.
    I should have cared—I didn’t.
    “You did good, Lys.” Sherri slid a glass across the bar toward her and added, “You want me to come with you? Take the heat for getting you drunk?”
    “No. No! I can deal with him.” I hopped down off the stool and smoothed my hands down my dress again. Donnie had demanded my presence at the club, so it was inevitable he wanted to see me.
    I didn’t glance back at Sherri and Lyla as I walked toward the back corner of the bar to the door that led into a long hallway. Donnie’s office was the last door on the left. I knocked and entered, pulling on my hardened mask.
    “Baby, there you are,” Donnie drawled as he looked up from the leather couch he was sitting on. “Was there a problem?”
    “No, no problem. I just wanted to freshen up. Is everything okay?”
    Did today go okay? The words lodged in my throat, not that I would have asked them anyway. I knew better.
    Donnie rose from his seat and stalked toward me, his eyes raking me up and down causing my whole body to break out in gooseflesh. “You look nice, baby. Real fucking nice.”
    I sucked in a silent breath. Donnie’s eyes were darkened, full of lust and something much worse. He reached me and buried one of his hands in my waves. “Come here.”
    Something was wrong. I’d learned to predict Donnie’s behaviors, and right now, the way he brushed the hair off my shoulder and curled his fist around it had my heart thumping in my chest.
    In one swift movement, Donnie’s hand tightened on my hair. Pain ricocheted up my scalp, but I