Sworn to Be His (The Archer Family Book 3) by Allison Gatta Read Free Book Online Page A

Jade's ear that she nearly jumped.
    "Yeah, uh, that's me." She nodded, swallowing hard as she watched the other woman's beehive hairdo sway back and forth, like a wig that hadn't been properly secured.
    "Right, well, Crystal is going to help you get changed. A few of our bigger patrons are out there tonight and they always like new faces, especially ones as pretty as yours." The woman pinched Jade's cheek. "Normally we've got the new girls waiting tables a while, but Mandy is out sick and we need someone to fill her slot. You're on in ten, so make sure you're warmed up."
    Jade reeled for a moment, then the words settled in. "On? But I..."
    But she what? She was a cop? That wasn't exactly the deal, now was it?
    "You're going to be great, darling, don't you worry." The old woman smiled not unkindly, then snapped her fingers and shouted, "Someone get Crystal over here!"
    It didn't take long for Crystal to arrive, though she was clad in nothing but a very tiny thong and a smile that quickly vanished when she caught sight of Jade.
    "Hey," Crystal said to her, then focused her attention on the older woman. "What's up, Ruth?"
    "Um...I'm sorry sweetie, what's your name?" She touched Jade's shoulder.
    "Daisy," Jade offered.
    "Daisy here is filling in for Mandy in ten. Can you find her something to wear and make sure she's ready to go? You know, tell her Mandy's songs. I've got to dash." And just like that, the woman and her swaying beehive were moving through the crowd of girls, barking orders and stepping over discarded panties.
    Crystal watched the other woman until she'd disappeared into the club, then turned on Jade with narrowed eyes, "What are you doing here?"
    "I'm just—"
    "Don't you think I remember you?" she hissed, then grabbed Jade's arm and pulled her off into an uninhabited corner.
    "Look, if you remember me, then you know what I'm doing here."
    "You don't understand. You can't just—" Crystal tried, but Jade held up a hand.
    "I'm a trained professional. I appreciate your concern, but—"
    "You're going to get me killed. You're going to get yourself killed." Crystal hissed.
    "Nobody will know it was you. Now come on, I've got ten minutes. Teach me everything you know about how to be a stripper."
----
    T onight was the first time Derrick'd ever been in a strip club, and so far he had to admit he was far from impressed.
    He looked around at the rest of the tables in the VIP section, trying to spot the faces that were so familiar to him from every daily debriefing, but rather than the head honchos he could only spot the minor players—the guys lined up to take a fall when something went wrong. The guy who hadn't yet been made.
    And besides them were the other usual suspects, bachelor parties and guys just out on their own for the night, lining up around the stage for a chance to look, but not touch.
    On the stage, two girls were grinding against each other, pretending like they were going to kiss and then giggling coyly while dollars rained down on them from every direction. Derrick couldn't focus on them, though. Nor could he appreciate the barely-clad cocktail waitresses or even the moments when the mobsters seemed to be talking about something other than whether they could get the girls on stage to take off their clothes.
    Instead, he was consumed by thoughts—and worries—of Jade.
    The more time went by, the more he knew this wasn't right, that she shouldn't be here. He even had half a mind to blow their cover, walk back there, and take her home himself.
    For Christ's sake, what was she thinking? Even if she wasn't going to dance, did she know the way these men were going to look at her? Like she was a piece of meat? Like she was just fodder for their next fantasy?
    His fists clenched just thinking about it, and he gritted his teeth, trying to come up with a strategy. When she came out, he could just go to the truck and listen in to the bug he'd planted near the mobsters. But then he'd be leaving her here,