Black Romance Chapter 16

"Things will get better, you're still adjusting, that's all . It takes time, it doesn't happen over night . " Grabbing her chin, I twisted her face to mine . Holding the liner, I arched her head up and started to gently drag the charcoal across the edge of her lid . "It doesn't have to all be bad, you just have to find your place . You have to look inside yourself and find the strength you need to keep going, because if you don't, this place is going to kill you . You can't let that happen, you can't let him win . "

Sighing loudly, she looked right in my eyes . "And what if I can't? What if I'm not strong enough?"

"You have to be, you don't have a choice . " Running a black line across her other eye, I placed the pen back down on her table . "But if you get your shit together, things will get better . I promise . "

"Better . . . " Blinking her sad doe eyes, she sucked in a shallow breath, like she was trying to hold back more tears . "How the hell can you think any of this will get better?"

"Because I know it will, you just have to trust me . "
Advertisement
Thinning her lips, she shifted in her seat . "How can you know that?"

"I've been here long enough to know how it works . " Walking back to my table, I dropped into the seat just in time to see Vin coming in through the door .

Aubrey twisted in her chair, finishing up the rest of her makeup without an issue . Neither one of us looked at each other again and our little conversation went unnoticed by Vin .

But I could see a change in her, it was subtle, but it was there . Her back was straighter, her face was flat and not scrunched up like she was about to bust into tears .

She finally knows she's not alone .

None of us were really alone, we had each other, even if Virgo wanted to keep us apart . Sometimes I felt like I was only the only one who could see that .

"Jessie, you got a customer . " Vin stood at my side, his strong cologne swirling around my face and making me sick .

"Another one? Why can't one of the other girls go?"

"Because this is yours . Do your fucking job, Jessie . "

Vin was the only guy around who actually said more than a few words to us at a time . It was part of his job, it wasn't like he did it by choice . But he was a little different than the rest of Virgo's men . He didn't look at us like we were trash . He was an ass at times, but he gave you room to grumble and complain a little bit .

I wasn't sure if he was here because he wanted to be or if Virgo was forcing him to be . Temptation to ask him over the years was there, but I never actually questioned him about it . It didn't really matter what his answer would be . We all had a role, and running the back room of the club was his .

"Alright, I'm going, give me a second . " Standing up, I tugged my skirt down . "You know, I'm not the only one in here who can do the private room . "

"Yeah, but you're the only one in here who goes by Ash . When you're requested, you're requested, I can't send in someone else . "

"How about you don't send any of us?"

"Jessie . . . " Pausing, Vin hung his head, lowering his lids to cover half his eyes .

"I know, I know, I'm going, no need to run to Virgo . "

"Then stop flapping your mouth and go . "

Turning around, I walked to the private room . For a brief moment, I wondered if Salt would be behind the door . I could feel my heart start to bounce in my chest and my hands get sweaty with nerves .

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been waiting for him to return . He had come in twice in the past week, the chances were in my favor I'd see him again .

Slipping inside, I did my ritual of blinking quickly, trying to adjust to the darkness . The shadow against the wall moved as the man stood up and started to walk towards me .

Is it him?

Chapter end