Only a couple days had passed and I felt alone again. I hated that feeling. That nagging voice in the back of your head that told you that kept reminding you that you had no one. If something were to happen to you, there would be no one to care or to help. Maybe that was why I ended up in places like this one. An old bar that was always too fancy for the locations it was always built in and crowded with horny, rich men whose wives either dumped their ass or is too busy to keep them 'entertained'. I normally wouldn't sink this low if I had absolutely no money or if there were no other jobs available in whatever hick town I happened to be in. Being a go-go dancer wasn't all that bad. I made good money and I guess in some sick sense, I liked having someone giving me attention. It helped keep my mind off of my normal problems, like running for my life.
This place was just like all the rest. A circle bar was in the middle of the dance floor. Men were surrounding it. I happened to be on top of it dancing wearing a pair of tight leather jeans and a blood red halter top. Glitter covered my pale skin, sparkling under the strobe lights. I glanced down at the man that I was dancing in front of. He was practically drooling over my three inch heel boots. His face changed from red to blue to green to yellow and then back to red. He held out a twenty dollar bill. I gave him my best sexy smirk as I crouched down in front of him. I took the money from him and rolled my pant leg of to reveal my boots. I slipped the money in them while never taking my eyes away from his. I pulled back down my pant leg and I grabbed a bottle of vodka from one of the waiters and ran it across the man's chest teasingly. His smile grew and he tilted his head back. I let the clear liquid spill out of the bottle and into the man's throat. When he had enough I through it back to the waiter behind me and stood up slowly, reaching for the rail just above my head. One of my hands ran through my hair while my body kept in beat with the music that was pounding through me. The man and his friends' hollered in approval. Clearly they had too much to drink already. These guys were completely trashed.
Then something caught my attention, three new men entering the bar with strong disapproval written across their faces. My heart skipped a beat. I felt like I was going to puke. Almost instantly, Carlisle's eyes meet mine. If I hadn't been holding onto the rail right then I would have fallen off. Tears stung the corner of my eyes and I tried to swallow the painful lump that had formed in my throat. He looked so disappointed. It was like someone had just stabbed me in the heart. I had to make myself stay where I was as Carlisle started to head in my direction, Jasper and Emmett following close behind him.
"Common, baby, what's the matter?" The man who was sitting in front of me laughed happily. I had totally forgotten he was there. I tore my gaze away from Carlisle, not able to look at him anymore. "Let's get a little crazy." He grabbed at my leg which wouldn't have bothered me, I was still half vampire and much stronger than any human, but I was completely shocked when he started to kiss his way up my leg.
"Hey, what the hell is wrong with you?" I hissed at him, but not letting myself push him away. Knowing me, I would end up throwing him across the bar. Normally when I got angry enough, a human would back off instantly. They would be able to tell there was something extremely dangerous about me, that I was a predator. This guy, however, didn't back off. Instead his hands reached for the button of my pants and started to try to undo them.
"Common, man, that isn't cool." I heard one of his more sober friends say over the music. This time I did push him back with my leg. Thankfully it only made him move back a bit, letting go of my leg, and his chair was frighteningly close to falling over. He looked surprised for a second. I growled at him again, hoping that I had made my point and his buddies would get him out of here. Too bad this guy was a moron and he took a step towards me. Thankfully, a pair of hands grabbed him from behind before the creep could touch me again.
"Don't fucking touch me, man!" The drunken creep yelled, his words slurring. I looked behind him and my heart jumped into the throat. Emmett had a tight grip on the ass hole, looking pissed. He pulled the drunk closer to him.
"You really need to learn some manners. Get out of here before I have to be the one to teach you." Emmett whispered so only Carlisle, Jasper, and I could hear him. The threat finally seemed to get through to the loser and as soon as Emmett let go of him, he disappeared into the crowd.
Jasper and Carlisle both held out their hands to me like gentleman to help me down. Without looking at their faces, I took their hands and jumped down. "Are you okay?" Jasper asked me. The question seemed automatic to him and it didn't need an answer but I nodded anyway. I pushed my way around them and headed for the front door. I didn't have to look to know that they were following me. I didn't stop until I was outside and away from the crowds of people. "What are you doing here?" I asked the question before I even turned to face them.
"Shouldn't we be asking you that?" Carlisle sighed as he stared at me. My eyes instantly fell to the pavement.
"I'm not like you, Carlisle. I don't have money. I'm on the run. I take whatever job I can." I said finally. I didn't realize my mistake until the words escaped my lips. The three of them were silent as they processed what I said.
"Who are you running from?" Carlisle asked softly. I shook my head, tears falling down my cheeks. Carlisle's hand lifted my chin gently, forcing me to look at him again. "Was it the same person who hurt you the other night?"
"I'm not going to get you involved." I had tried to sound strong and determined, but my voice shook violently. They had saved my life once, I wasn't about to ask them to do it again, especially if it meant sacrificing their lives.
"Involved in what? Tell me what's going on so we can help." Carlisle insisted. I shook my head and reluctantly pushed his hand away.
"That's just it, you can't help me." I assured them. Not unless they wanted to take on a whole army of powerful vampires. Carlisle looked at me, his gaze steady. I didn't know how he did it. He seemed so composed, so sure of himself and yet so caring. Suddenly all I wanted to do was run into his arms and cry like a little girl who had just fallen off her bike. I wanted him to stroke my hair like a loving father would and tell me everything was okay and to not give up so easily. Instead I just stood there taking deep, jagged breaths. "I'm sorry," My voice was weak and shaking. Tear threatened to break free at any moment.
"At least come back to our home with us. We can give you a place to sleep and some food." He insisted.
"But you can't-" I started but he was already shaking his head, a charming smile crossing his lips.
"It's just a place to sleep and eat. That's all we are offering. I'd feel better if you weren't on the streets tonight. I assure you, you don't have to tell us anything you don't want to." Carlisle said calmly.
"Besides, do you really want to stay here?" Emmett gestured toward the bar from behind Carlisle. I shook my head slowly. This was a vial and disgusting bar, just like the people inside it. I didn't want to be something for rich, horny men to drool over. This place was the last place I would ever want to be. Well, second last actually.
After a beat I sighed. "Okay, I'll come." Carlisle's smile grew. I hesitantly followed Carlisle, Jasper, and Emmett to their jeep that was parked just down the road, trying to ignore the obvious shift in the atmosphere. Danger was just on the horizon. It was inevitable. Only one question raced across my mind that surprised me. Was there any way that I could protect the Cullen's?
