The Mafia Connection
Chapter One: The Incident
Bella Swan
There wasn't a family in all of downtown Brooklyn that didn't know the Cullen family name and the threat that came with it. We'd grown up the hard way as did all the generations before us, we had two things in our life, we had the club and we had family. I wasn't embarrassed by the club, I'd never known a life beyond our burrow, my father owned a strip club and my friend's fathers pumped gas and sold weed. That was life, it was thanks to that club and my father and brother's other avenues of income that I had clothes on my back. But there wasn't a day that went by these past few months that I hadn't considered a life for myself far from here. I had to escape, I wanted a life where I was more than the title I owned. I would be graduating from high school in a few months time and I had to get out before it was too late. I didn't want to land up like most of the other women around here, hating my job, hating my family or worst of all hating the idea of having children. It wasn't an ideal way of life, but it was mine and I did everything in my power to ensure I helped whenever and however I could.
We had an office assistant Rosalie at the club who had taken care of the phones, cleaned the dancer's dressing rooms, collected glasses, ensured the dancers had enough supplies in their rooms and kept the rest of the place looking immaculate. I'd wanted that role for as long as I could remember. Then my second eldest brother Emmett did what most men do when the girl in their life refuses to take your family name. He knocked her up and Rosalie was now stuck with us. She'd been taking night courses to become a hairdresser and now she was all round in her belly and working endless hours between the club and the hairdressers down on Ashley.
I was lucky to have both my parents still together a lot of my friends weren't so lucky. But my father didn't believe in divorce, he did however believe in a man's right to have a few girlfriends. I think my poor mother had grown immune to some of the dirty looks she got every time my father was caught up in the arms of another woman. He was a very charming man though, he treated my mom right, he was always kissing her, touching her thigh and buying her the best knock offs. No one felt an ounce of sympathy for my mom, she was beautiful, she wore tight clothes, she could roll her mouth and she took care of the entire family. She made it all look so easy, so effortless and even now I bet she'd still try and have more kids. My father said he was never prouder than when my eldest brother Edward was born. He used to tell the story at any opportunity, how my mother was so young when they got pregnant, how their wedding was forced thanks to their families and how they'd kept it together. They've lived in the same apartment ever since they first got married.
Edward was the first born, the labor was brutal on my mother and she was told she would never be able to have more children. It seemed Edward wanted to be the first and only child and had tried to ensure it. Sadly that wasn't to be the case, my mom told me one night when she was drunk that Emmett was a result of unprotected sex. A complete shocker there, she was on the pill and my father was furious, they were fighting constantly. Apparently my father came home from winning a boxing match one night and seemingly begged him one night without protection. It was sickening to know that and I'd never shared that information with Emmett although I suspected Edward knew this to be true also. Jasper was their miracle baby, my parents had gotten into a car wreck and Jasper had to be delivered by my father.
And then finally there was me, there one and only daughter. My father and mother have always been trying to get pregnant since Jasper, my father believed I would be a boy of course since my mother had done him so proud by giving him three already. But I was a girl, and after I was born my father began seeing his girlfriends more often instead of sleeping at our apartment most nights.
There wasn't a day since the eighth grade I hadn't tried to escape the life that was laid out before me. I worked my butt off in school, I had gone to a Catholic school to guarantee my chance for the scholarships and grants I would need. And now I was entering my senior year of high school and putting away whatever money I could, my birthday was coming up and my plan was to leave the night I turned eighteen. My mother always threw us the largest and most extravagant birthday parties to ensure anyone who was someone would be in attendance and I didn't care, I'd endure them. I'd slip out when the right moment came but until then I'd wait.
Life wasn't easy between helping out at the house, working at the club and attending school. Most nights I'd get four hours of sleep and five if I was really lucky. Edward had gone all the way in school but Emmett and Jasper dropped out to help with the family business. Emmett was the muscle, Jasper was the brains and Edward was the boss. I wasn't allowed to be part of our family's business, I'd asked to join the family business once and in result my father had lost his temper and he had grabbed me, hit me. My brothers were all home at the time and they heard me scream, but it was Edward that stopped him that night.
Edward and I had never saw eye to eye for as long as I can remember. We had never been close and we probably never would be. Edward was all about the family, he and my father took care of us and ensured our safety. They ran drugs, guns and the club and ensured our place in the community. Everything we had or anything I ever needed came from what my family did. Edward was to eventually take over my father's position when he retired. He was the only one our father trusted and respected. However Edward was twenty two now and my parents did believe he should be married soon and have children by the age of thirty. Edward had had many girls in his life but he'd never bring them home for dinner or even introduce them to our father which meant he had no intension of keeping them in his life. Edward's latest girl was my friend from school Jessica, she said she spend the morning after spending the night with him with an icepack between her legs she'd gotten so sore. Despite telling her I didn't want to hear anything about her and my brother she had continued to tell me including various sex positions and several blow job techniques he taught her. The thought of her mouth down around my brother made me cringe, the worst part was that I was the first person she told.
I'd never had a boyfriend, I was still a virgin. I'd attended a school dance once and Edward had shown up out of nowhere with Emmett and Jasper. I'd been dancing with a guy from science class and Edward had taken me from his arms before I could even have my first kiss. Edward didn't say why he did that nor did my brothers. But I'd never attended a dance since that night. Whenever I did seek to go out to do anything outside of work or school suddenly Edward would insist something needed done and I'd be dragged into something else.
I awoke to the sound of my alarm clock, I reached across and silenced it before switching on my bedside lamp as it was still dark out. I'd gotten home from school at four and set my alarm to wake me for seven so I could help my mom cook dinner before I headed to the strip club my father had named Cullen's Candies. I always helped cook every meal, my mother and I were skinny as were all of the women in our family. Well skinny in all the right areas, in all the other areas well lets just say we were noticed.
Our apartment wasn't big enough to swing a cat. I had the bedroom right at the very end, it was more like a closet, I had a single bed in there and not much else. We weren't poor it was just the way of life in the city. Jasper and Emmett shared their room at the other side of the apartment, Edward who had the second largest room was across directly across the hall from me. Last night I'd had to cover my ears after he brought Jessica home when our father was out. In the middle was my parents' room, then right down the hall in the biggest room was our living area, that contained no furniture that went together, our dining room table had belonged to our grandparents, the pictures on the walls displayed generations of faces and right down the other end was the kitchen and toilet. My parents had a habit of collecting things, so every table and chair we had never matched, we had a bookcase made from wood that was warped and cracked but you'd never find a book in the thing.
I got up out of bed, wearing an oversized t-shirt and a pair of black panties beneath. I used the bathroom, brushed my teeth and washed my face before I headed down the hall towards the kitchen where my mother was working on a large pot of her signature sauce.
"I was tired." I said before she had the chance to comment. She looked up at me and sighed.
"It's okay sweetie, I know you've got a lot on your mind right now."
"Let's cook, how long until they're back?"
With that the front door opened and I sighed before tying my hair up into a bun at the top of my head. A shipment had been due in and they'd gone down to the docks to collect. My father leaned in and began kissing my mother who's hands instantly went around his shoulders. I focused my attention on cooking tonight's dinner which was my mother's pasta. Then Emmett and Jasper walked in carrying suitcases. There was no way those things would be containing clean clothes.
"Make sure you shower, you're putting the cases away then coming to dinner." My mother stated.
Emmett kissed my cheek in passing, at least he acknowledged I was there.
"Ma I can't stay I have to go and meet Rosalie-"
"Don't disrespect your mother." My father snapped at him. "That girl is not family until she takes the name."
"I'm working on that." Emmett groaned "I did what you suggested. Alright, it's done."
Everyone knew what he meant, our father had instructed Emmett that if Rosalie was the one then he should get her pregnant.
My mother whispered something into my father's ear but he shook his head "No, she's not taken the family name. Then find another one that will."
"Can we not talk about women like mares in front of my mother's pasta sauce?" My mother begged before reaching for a pack of cigarettes.
"She's got the same holes." My father chuckled and kissed her forehead.
"You're a pig." She groaned.
My father kissed her once more before looking back to Emmett "I'll speak to her father, try move things along. She should be living here before she gives birth."
"He's right I don't want our grandson living over there."
"They have a nice place and it might not even be a boy so stop-"
"A mother knows!"
"Ma!" Jasper shouted "Stop talking about the kid's gender. You're driving us all insane."
"What's the matter? Embarrassed by your mother?"
"Yeah a bit." Jasper stated as he came out of the bedroom in his boxers, drying his hair with a towel.
Emmett reminded everyone "Rosalie thinks it's a girl."
"She's wrong. Now hurry up and shower and eat, your sister is tired and wants to get out."
"Oh come on, one night." Emmett pleaded, my father glared at him. "Come on, it's been a big night for the boys and me."
"You'll stay." My father told me before walking over to the sitting room where Edward was.
I groaned and turned my attention back to the pot I was stirring, this was going to be a long night. Edward entered the kitchen then and bent down to the cabinets beside the oven and instead of asking me to move my leg I felt his hand wrap around my thigh making me tense up as he parted my legs apart.
I looked down from the pot and saw his hand reach between my legs to grab a brown package from the cabinet while his other hand remained wrapped around my thigh keeping me in place. I looked down at his hand upon me, how it looked as his fingers dug into the flesh of my inner thigh, feeling his grip tighten as he held me in place. When he stood up his belt grazed against my thigh, it was a strange sensation, it sent chills through me and yet my face burned with embarrassment. He had to notice how I was reacting, he had to notice the way my breath hitched and my skin had become goose bumpy.
"Your father might need you at the club until morning." My mom said casually unaware of what was happening behind her.
"But why?" I asked.
Edward remained directly behind me doing something, I could hear something anyway, we were just inches apart. His other hand rested on the kitchen counter and I was pinned between him and the stove.
"Don't argue Bella. You can miss your morning classes to sleep."
"No I have a test tomorrow and-" I stopped to sigh "Can Emmett drive me to school afterwards at least?"
"No he's on security until eleven."
"Mom I can't miss my test."
"I ask so little of this family." My mom groaned as she left the kitchen carrying plates for the table.
I pressed my lips together for a moment before glancing over my shoulder to see if Edward remained as close as he felt. He wasn't, he was actually closer than I realized.
"H-Hi" I said.
Edward didn't even look at me. He was busy, his sleeves were rolled up, his forearms were covered in tattoos. I knew that, I had seen him shirtless countless times.
He didn't respond not that I expected him to, he turned and walked out of the kitchen towards his room. I was alone once again, I glanced down and saw the marks on my inner thigh, the places his fingers had dug in.
"What's taking you so long?"
I jumped and spun around and saw my mother standing there waiting for me.
"Sorry." I whispered.
We prepared the table for dinner, arranging the bottles of beer for who had done and I poured wine for my mother. I had water I'd never had a drink before either.
My father always sat at the head of our table with my mother on the other end, Edward sat beside my father of course. Jasper was beside Edward and Emmett was beside me. My mother who always take a few bites and then spend the rest of the meal on the phone or smoking a cigarette. Just like last night and the night before I had my study notes next to me as I ate. My father was discussing the latest shipment with my brothers but mostly to Edward.
"Esme, what is that what is she doing?" I heard my father ask.
"It's her homework, leave her alone."
"How can she study while eating?"
"Carlisle."
"It's true. What are you studying now?"
"Nothing." I said without looking up.
"Isabella."
"English literature." I muttered.
"She's got a test tomorrow." She reminded him.
"Why would she have a test in English?"
"Because she wants to be a teacher."
"A teacher? You're not becoming a teacher. That means college. I let you go to school and that's enough."
"She's not dropping out like these two." My mother said looking towards Emmett and Jasper who shrugged their shoulders.
"They work for me. This is how we do business."
My mother clicked her fingers at me then and pointed to my books and I fought the urge to sigh before I tucked them under the table out of sight. No one saying a word that my father hadn't noticed me studying at the dinner table for the past two years.
"She should be working at the club by now." My father said.
My mother stared at him and we all fell silent.
"She's not eighteen yet. We discussed this." My mother reminded him.
With that said Emmett and Jasper excused themselves from the table but Edward remained though he said nothing.
"She's-"
"She's ready. And I need a new girl on that stage that won't steal from us."
Wait what did he mean on the stage?
"She's not going to strip. She's not going to entertain." My mother argued.
"She is. She is my daughter."
"She's also mine."
"This is how we survive."
"And how will any man have her as a stripper?"
"I married you."
"She's too shy, she's too innocent."
"Innocent?" My father scoffed "Surely she's not still-"
Edward then looked towards my father who fell silent. As it turns out it wasn't just my mother who knew I was still a virgin but indeed Edward had known all along to. In that moment I just wanted to die.
"Can we please not talk about-" I tried and failed to finish.
"And what about the backrooms of the club? You expect her to work in those?"
"What rooms?" My father asked
"Don't play with me husband. I know about the ones who give extras." My mother said as she lit another cigarette.
"That is a business transaction."
"No."
"Yes."
"I'm not discussing it." My mother argued, she then turned to Edward "Say something."
"Leave him out of this."
"You can't make her do it." My mother said firmly "She is not going to be a stripper or a hooker or anything else."
"She is my daughter." My father repeated.
"And she is mine. I carried her, I brought her up. You think I raised her to be a stripper?"
"She needs to make a living." My father said.
"No one will have her if she works the pole."
"I'm sitting right here." I finally said and looked up revealing my tears to my parents.
"Baby." My mother sighed and reached for my hand.
I looked towards my father who sighed and never looked so tired as he did then. I kept looking at him until he finally met my gaze though I suspected it took all his might.
"Do you realize I've never asked you for anything in my entire life?" I asked him.
You could hear a pin drop in the room. I'd never held his attention for so long before.
"No, sweetie you've never asked me for anything. It's always your mother who tells me you need new clothes or shoes or whatever it is girls need."
"Dad, I don't want to strip or give extras or have anyone touch me."
"No one is touching you." My mother interjected.
"But you want me to take my clothes off in front of strangers."
"You won't be alone. There will be other girls joining this week. You will begin the day after you turn eighteen."
My mother leaned forward in her chair "What others?"
My father took a sip of his beer before he answered "Hugh Stanley says his daughter will take the late shift for the next few months."
"Stanley?" My mother repeated.
"Jessica?" I asked.
I looked to Edward who continued to say nothing and stared blankly ahead of him his jaw clenched.
"So Jessica Stanley will be working at the club the same day as Bella and that's supposed to make her feel better about being a stripper?" My mother asked.
"You don't like Jessica?" My father asked.
"She's my friend."
"There you go she'll have a friend there. No more complaining."
"Will Jessica be working in the back rooms?" My mother asked.
My father's phone began to ring then and as he reached into his pocket to answer it he told her "Edward manages such arrangements while I'm gone."
"Wait, you're leaving again?!"
With that my father answered his phone "One moment my angel." he said to the caller before addressing my mother. "It's only for the weekend. I've got to handle some business. I'll be home for Bella's birthday."
"You're going to visit her again aren't you?"
"I'm warning you." My father said to my mother before getting up from the table to take the call.
"She's a slut." My mother hissed.
My mother left the table then but not before Edward rose to his feet, I'd seen my mother walk off in the middle of dinner countless times before. She'd return when she was ready. Edward disappeared from sight without a word about what we'd both learned of my father's intensions.
My father was so desperate to keep this family together that he wanted me to work at the strip club he owned. Edward's club, he was the manager and the enforcer and I'd been dreading the day I'd have to join his world.
I waited for ten minutes and my mother returned as I expected her too and took her place at the head of the table. I reached under the table and pulled out my books once again and pretended to study though I couldn't concentrate.
"Can't you talk to him just this one?" I asked her.
"Honey he's stubborn."
"I won't be able to do it, you know I won't."
"Bella. I understand it's a terrifying thought." My mom said and placed her hand over mine "You're still my daughter and the idea of you up there-"
"I'm not going to make it."
"You have no choice. He won't allow you to get a real job. And no man would hire you with your history."
"My history?" I repeated "I don't have a record."
"No but you have the family name."
"Then maybe...I can move and-"
"Move? Away from your family?"
"It's just for college. I can get a scholarship and-"
"No."
"Why not?"
"You know why."
"Mom, I just want to see what's out there. I can't just stay here and...lie on my back and-"
"Enough. Your father would never allow it."
"Dad is barely around and when he is he's in his office and- Mom you're the one who runs this house and-"
"I'm sorry baby. He'll come around one day."
"One day? This is my life mom"
"I know."
I couldn't stand the silence then so I stood and made my way to my room. The moment I was inside I locked the door and grabbed a suitcase from my wardrobe and began stuffing my belongings inside. I was leaving and there was nothing they could do about it.
I was just about done when there was a knock at my bedroom door and I quickly hid the suitcase out of sight.
"Just a minute." I said and opened the door to see Emmett waiting on the other side.
"Let's go. There's glasses to pick up and stripper rooms to clean" He said with a big old smile on his face.
I'd forgotten about my shift tonight, at least I wouldn't be on the stage just yet.
I turned towards my closet and grabbed my jacket.
"No, the heavier one Edward said." Emmett said behind me.
"Why?" I asked.
"Probably cause it's as cold as balls out there."
"Since when does he care if I get a cold anyway?" I asked softly.
"I dunno but he does and you're gonna listen. He's my brother and he's your boss and-"
"Ok I'm sorry." I muttered.
He walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around me giving me a big hug before lifting me up off the floor.
"Hey!" I protested.
He didn't put me down until we reached the door and Jasper was waiting.
"Ready?" Jasper asked me.
"Yea, let's go." Emmett said placing me down to my feet.
"Wait, Edward's not here yet." I said.
"Nah he's meeting us there."
He'd taken his car and we were supposed to walk there? Why did he leave without us that didn't make any sense. That's when it hit me, flashes of Jessica's eighteenth birthday party two months ago. I didn't go but I'd gotten her a card and a cute sweater from a store she liked. Jessica was eighteen which meant...
"It's Jessica's first night at the club isnt it?" I asked them.
Jasper and Emmett looked at one another.
"She's going to be on the stage tonight." I said.
We stepped out of the apartment listening to our parents argue about his new girlfriend.
"Are they still together?" I asked
"I wouldn't call what he does to her, them being together sis." Emmett said as Jasper locked the door behind us.
"But are they still doing what they do?"
"Don't know. She's probably trying to keep a hold of his attention."
"By working for him?" I asked as we began to walk down the hall towards the stairs.
"By stripping for him." Jasper responded.
"Yeah and for all the other guys watching." Emmett said.
"Yeah like you." Jasper sniggered.
Emmett put his arm over my shoulder as we walked and replied "I'll bet she's tight."
"She's my friend." I reminded them though it made no difference.
"Did you hear her the other night with him?" Jasper asked Emmett.
"Yea, heard him too."
"Guys. Enough." I said.
They shared a laugh at my expense.
"I actually walked past his room door." Emmett said.
"What cha see?" Jasper asked.
Emmett replied "He had her face buried in the pillows."
What did that even mean?
"So he doesn't wanna look at her, that's fucked up even for him."
"Or he's picturing someone else." Jasper said as we stepped outside into the cold.
"Jessica would let him fuck her anyway." Emmett said.
I watched Jasper pull on his hat before lighting a cigarette before we began to head off.
"Have you ever been with her?" Emmett asked Jasper.
"Fuck no."
"Me neither. Tried once though." Emmett said "She's always had her sights on him."
Emmett held me close as we walked down the street together with Jasper on my other side. When we arrived at the club Emmett slapped some skin with the other bouncers while Jasper kept his hand on my shoulder and led me inside, not leaving my side until I was in the building and safe.
He walked with me through the crowd, we had to weave our way through the men who were standing and staring and drinking, the women dancing on the stage.
The club was every man's idea of perfection, it had three stages, each with its own pole and catwalk. It had tables and booths around the perimeter, and a bar that was open in the middle of the club. It had private rooms where the girls could take customers and the backrooms which was a different matter all together.
The walls were black and the lights were blue, the floors were a deep burgundy. Everything about the club was luxurious and extravagant, except the clientele. The men were rough, the women were wild and the booze was cheap. Despite that the place was clean and all thanks to me, it smelt nice and the floor was clear of anything and everything.
Jasper and I made our way through the club and into the locker room in the back. Jasper disappeared behind me into another room when I paused seeing Jessica's dad standing talking to Edward just down the hall. I watched then as Jessica stepped out from the dressing room, dressed in a skimpy costume and a smile on her face.
I could tell Edward was pissed at her because he wouldn't even look at her. Her father didn't seem happy either, he seemed embarrassed.
Jessica didn't pay attention and headed over towards Edward, she placed her hand on his arm and Edward turned away and walked off. Her father gave her a stern look and went after Edward.
"Bella."
"...Hey" I said before making my way towards her.
She was wearing a black lace bra with matching panties and a garter belt. She had on the tallest pair of black fuck me heels I'd ever seen.
"How you feeling?"
"Great! Excited! How do I look?"
"Good, great."
I followed her into the dressing room and saw a few of the regular girls were already preparing for their next turn on stage. Jessica had already put her name over her dressing table, she was organized, her things were already in the drawers, she'd come prepared.
"What did your mom say?" Jessica asked as she took a seat and began putting on her make-up.
"She's not exactly thrilled."
"Yeah well, at least you got a good father, mine wants to see me naked."
I didn't respond and when I didn't she turned her chair around to face me.
"Bella?"
"Um, I'm actually gonna be..."
"What?"
"I'm going to be working here."
"Tonight? Yeah I know you work here obviously you clean and-"
"No I won't be cleaning much longer." I paused before I found the strength to continue "Turns out my father wants me to strip."
She was quiet, her eyes searching mine.
"So you'll be...up there?" She finally asked.
"Yes."
"With me?"
"Yes."
"That's crazy, he'd never..."
"He did. Tonight at dinner. But I think it's been in the works for a while. My mom wasn't shocked put it that way."
"Well your mom was great in her time. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. She's respected now."
"I guess."
"You know...you could have a lot more power than what your mother has now."
"Jess I don't want power, I want a normal life. I just wanna go to college, live in a dorm and one day, I don't know, be a teacher and just be normal I guess."
"Normal's boring."
"Maybe."
"Well, no one will be able to touch you. You'll have the protection of the Cullen name."
"That's what worries me."
"Edward wouldn't let anyone near you."
"More like Emmett and Jasper." I reminded her.
"Well Edward is the boss so technically-"
"He doesn't like me Jessica."
Jessica looked away from me.
I sighed "It's not such a bad thing. A lot of siblings just don't get along and that's okay. We're still family."
"That just sounds...heartbreaking."
I shrugged.
"I should go talk to him. Make him see-"
"No, no it's fine."
"Well okay, but only if you're sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Okay."
Jessica then looked over my shoulder and smiled and I looked beyond her to the mirror behind her and saw Edward standing by the door behind us.
"Hi" Jessica said softly to him.
I dipped my head and excused myself not looking up at him as I made my way out of the room.
I didn't stop to talk, Edward and I didn't talk unless it was about work or something that needed done at the house. It didn't bother me it had been that way for years, he was comfortable with our siblings but not with me. I didn't understand it and I didn't have to, I'd be gone from his life soon enough.
I made my way into the staff room where two bouncers were already asleep, Jasper was pouring himself a coffee while studying some paperwork in his other hand. I kissed his shoulder before walking past him to slip my coat up onto my hook.
"Edward spoke with father." Jasper said.
"About what?"
"You" Jasper said and locked eyes with me as I turned to face him.
"Me? Why would he?"
Jasper took a sip of his coffee before walking up to stand in front of me.
"You're gonna finish school."
"I am?" I gasped as tears threatened to fall.
"And no back room action either."
"Wait, really? You swear?"
Jasper put his hand on my shoulder "But you're still going up on the stage. Not even the great Edward can stop that."
Despite the news of the stage I couldn't help but being more thrown by something else.
"Wait, Edward talked father into all of this?"
"Yeah. It's weird isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Edward doesn't normally interfere."
"I know."
"Yeah but turns out the big bad brother wants you to finish school."
"But he doesn't care what happens to me. He never has."
Jasper attempt to say something but stopped.
He sighed "He does love you" he assured me.
I merely nodded.
"He's just...he's the eldest and its-"
"No it's fine."
Jasper placed his hand over my cheek and I nodded "I'm okay." I assured him.
"Yeah." He said before leaning in quickly and kissing my forehead "Get to work"
I smiled before he left the room and I began to do the same.
The music was loud and the men were drunk. There was a fight out on the street between two cars but no one paid attention and continued to party inside.
I cleaned up the mess around the tables and booths, making sure everyone's glasses were filled.
"Bella!"
I looked up from wiping the table to see Alice waving at me from the other side of the bar.
"Come here!" She yelled and waved again.
I tossed the rag onto the table and headed over towards the bar.
Alice was one of my best friends, her mother was a stripper and her father was a drunk.
"He doesn't like me behind the bar." I reminded her.
"I know but I'm so slammed."
"But you've got Tyler and Mike?"
"Yeah but they're useless."
I rolled my eyes before heading behind the bar.
"Here, take this order, it's for table seven."
I turned and made my way back out into the crowd of people to the booth in the corner.
There were four guys sitting there, the two sitting across from one another had their heads ducked together, while the others were watching the stage, laughing and hollering at the girl performing.
I walked over and stood before the booth and waited for them to notice me.
"Yeah, I'll have a vodka and lemonade." One said not taking his eyes off the girl on the stage.
"Scotch on the rocks."
"Beer, any kind, whatever."
"Gin and tonic, straight up."
I wrote down their orders and began to head back to the bar.
"Oh, and hey sweetie, why don't you give us a little show while we wait for the drinks."
"No." I said softly as I continued to walk away.
"Come on baby, shake that ass for daddy."
I could feel the eyes on me as I made my way back to the bar.
"Are these guys deaf?" I muttered to Alice who hard at work.
"No they're just assholes."
I smiled and began to work by her side.
"How's school?" She asked as she mixed a cocktail.
"Okay, not much longer now."
"That's great. And what about your brother's girlfriend?"
"Which brother and which girlfriend?"
"Emmett's girlfriend Rosalie. She was in here the other night. Really sweet. And tough."
"She's fine. I don't talk to her much. My father wants her at family dinner."
"Big step. He doesn't normally like to meet any of your brother's girlfriends."
"He just wants them to settle down and get married. Like there isn't more for them to do."
"Your father's old school."
"Yeah."
I handed the group their drinks.
"How's Edward's new girl?"
"She's um, believe it or not she's Jessica from school."
"Wait, the one with the long hair, the perky tits, the nice ass?"
"Yeah."
"Oh wow. So she's finally won him."
"Apparently. I haven't seen her on stage yet."
"That's because she's backstage with your brother." One of the other barmaids said as she gathered drinks on the other side of the bar from us.
"Really?" Alice and I asked at the same time.
"Doing what?" I asked.
"Don't know. Probably what he does best."
"Which is what?"
"Pleasing his cock with pussy." The barmaid replied before taking her tray and heading off.
"What is her deal?" Alice muttered as we continued to work.
"You need to take her with a grain of salt." I sighed.
I finished making up the last of the drinks before heading back to the table.
"So sweetheart, why don't you bring that pretty little face over here?"
I ignored them as I served the rest of the drinks.
"Why don't you shake those tits for us?"
"Come on baby, bend over and show us your ass."
I finished serving the table next to them before heading back behind the bar.
"Did they say anything to you?" Alice asked.
"Just the usual."
I then glanced down at my watch and Alice caught me.
"Oh no you've got homework." She said.
"...It's fine."
"No, no, it's not. I've got this."
"But-"
"Go, I've got it."
"I'm just worried about you being stuck with Mike and Tyler."
"Oh they can't be any worse than the drunks at this bar. I've dealt with this before, it's fine. Go."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, go."
I leaned across the bar and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you, I'll be in the back."
"I'll see you later."
I made my way out from behind the bar and through the club and into the hallway that led to the locker rooms.
The staff room was empty so I took a seat on the couch and pulled out my text book.
I had barely gotten to the page I needed when I felt a presence. I looked across to the doorway and found Edward standing there holding the frame whilst looking back at me. I quickly got up to my feet and returned my books to my locker. I would have used the time to thank him for what he had done for me tonight but he'd caught me skipping out on my shift yet again. I thought he might want me to stay here and study but he didn't say a word. I quickly grabbed my black hip apron and made my way towards the door. I kept my eyes down as I sqeezed past him as he made no effort to get out of my way not that I'd dare ask him to move. He smelt good, he always did, and his suit was expensive. His cologne was musky, and masculine. It was the kind of scent that clung to the inside of your nose and stayed with you long after you'd left his presence.
I made my way back out to the club and shot Alice a smile who sighed and shook her head before sending me a wink. I began my work all over again starting with the tables, I cleared all the empty glassware before scrubbing each table down with the required elbow grease.
I could feel a pair of eyes on me and knew it was Edward watching me from his office upstairs. It was a feeling I'd grown up with. Edward's office upstairs had full length windows so that he could look down over the club and see every inch of it from the bar to the stage. The office also had a door that lead out onto a small balcony which gave him the view of the front entrance or so I was told. I'd never gone up there before, no one went into his office not even my brothers.
It was then the MC of the club lowered the music to announce the next performer.
"Alright gentleman we have a real treat for you tonight. A brand new addition to the stage. Give a warm welcome to Jessica!"
The crowd cheered, and I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder looking up to Edward's office, he was standing by the windows looking down at the stage as she stepped out. She had such confidence, the attention she embraced, I would have gone to pieces. I could see him standing there, his hands in his pockets, his expression serious, his eyes focused on her. I watched her take her time dancing around the pole, teasing the crowd, the money, it was like nothing. Her routine was flawless and the crowd loved her. She was beautiful and I was jealous that she made something so scary look like a walk in the park. When she unclasped her bra she leaned on the pole behind her and her eyes went up to Edward's window. He wasn't moving, he wasn't smiling.
She kept watching him as she lowered the bra and revealed her breasts to the crowd.
Jessica had never been shy about her body and why should she? It was beautiful, she was beautiful, but there was something else about her tonight. Something about the way she danced, the way she looked at Edward, it was almost as if she was trying to prove something. Every time her hands dipped between her legs she always looked his way and shook her head playfully.
When she was done the crowd was out of their seats.
I'd been staring and didn't realize that Edward was watching me. I felt my cheeks grow warm and turned my back on him as the crowd called for Jessica to come back.
I finished cleaning up the table in front of me and made my way back behind the bar with Alice.
"She did good."
"Yeah. She's a natural."
"You think?"
"Yeah."
I sighed and asked "Have you ever thought about performing?"
"Me? No this is strictly bar work for me. Art class by day and bad ass barmaid by night."
After I helped Alice re-stock the ice I made my way back onto the floor.
A man stopped me halfway through and asked for another drink. I poured him his bourbon and was about to leave when his hand slipped under my skirt.
"Excuse me." I said but he didn't release me.
I felt his fingers slip further up my thigh, he was drunk, I could smell it on his breath.
"Stop." I said and attempted to pull his hand away from me but his grip was firm.
"Come on baby, show me those tits."
Suddenly the man was slammed face first into the table, his hand slipped away from me as his entire body went down with a loud thump. When the man bend forward all you could see was his bent nose, broken glass and blond...so much blood. When he opened his mouth blood spilled out like running water as did pieces of his teeth. I covered my mouth up in horror of the sight watching the man fall to the ground before I turned around to see who was responsible.
Edward.
He'd done this for me, because of me.
He didn't even look my way.
I heard the screams, the yelling. I saw the bouncers pushing through the crowd and coming our way.
"Bella!" Alice screamed.
Edward walked away calm as ever like nothing had happened as the bouncers arrived around us.
"Is she alright?"
"Yeah." Alice said as she took me in her arms.
"What happened?" One of them asked.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. He needs help."
"He needs a few broken ribs to go with that nose" Emmett said pulling the man to his feet.
Emmett then looked up towards Edward's office but he wasn't there.
He was gone.