Read Online Bourbon Street Royalty: Jaded Series, Book Two by Kimmie Easley - Free Book Online Page B

he was looking for. She couldn’t even imagine going down that road again right now.
     
    ***
     
    Now, as she started to drop the hammer on Drew and give him the old ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech, Baby found herself breathless. Sucker punched in the gut.
    Lucky.
    Poor Drew. He had found a way to whittle a spot into her screwed up life, but honestly, he never had a shot in hell.
    “Come on, honey. Let me get you out of here.” Drew slipped his arm around her shoulders and cradled her to his chest.
    She followed blindly as he guided her to his car. Pulling away from the hospital parking lot, Drew asked, “Where to?”
    Baby Jade struggled to gather her thoughts. She couldn’t go home. It was still too early to go to work, but it was better than running into Ma’Linn, who could read her emotions like a book. “Um, I have a shift. Can you just drop me off at the club?” She used the ball of her palms to knead her eyes, praying the tears would hold off until she was alone.
    Lucky. Her heart literally ached in her heavy chest.
    “Not a problem, but are you sure you’re up to it?”
    She chuckled through a stifled sob. “I don’t really have a choice.”
    They rode in silence the rest of the way other than the mumbled thank you she offered before she closed the car door.
    The club was already busy, not that it would help keep her mind off him.
    Deep, tormented eyes. Full, moist lips bordered by a thick, dark beard with tattoos peeking out from underneath, painting his tough skin. Lucky. He was back in town. Baby felt as if she was losing her mind.
    It was going to be an excruciating night.
    It wouldn’t take Mickey long to corner her about where she had been for the last couple of days. However, she still didn’t expect it when he came barreling out from behind the DJ booth, clutched her by the arm, dragging her to the side and flinging her into the corner.
    Baby winced as the back of her head hit the hard wall. Her body trembled and buckled under the pain. The stoutly man pinned her arms in place before she had a chance to fall to the floor.
    “The next time you decide you’re too good to show your face ‘round here for your shift, you might wanna remember you’re not the fucking boss. Everyone’s replaceable. I’ve got a shitload of girls just dying to take your spot!” The words seethed through his clenched teeth.
    The abrupt manhandling left Baby gasping. “My shift isn’t going to matter if you mark me up. I can’t get on stage if you beat the shit out of me.” Pain shot through her body, but she managed to lock eyes with the man.
    The stench of liquor rolled off his hot breath. His yellow, blood shot eyes narrowed, staring back at her. Finally, he loosened his grip, allowing her to drop her arms.
    She exhaled as the blood flowed through her hands and back down to her fingertips. “I called and left a message. I had something personal to take care of and couldn’t get out of it. It’s not a big deal.”
    Mickey clenched his jaw, tightening all of the muscles in his grubby neck. “You think you’re so fucking smart.” The sound of him sucking his teeth made her skin crawl.
    “Are you done now?” She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. She couldn’t let him get the upper hand.
    He took one step backward. “Fine. Get your ass downstairs. And cover those fucking bags under your eyes. You look like shit.”
    She slithered out from under his hefty frame. Even with him stepping away, it made it difficult to get around his massive belly.
    Baby tossed her bag onto her dressing table and buried her face in her hands. Her back ached, and her head throbbed from being thrown into the wall, but nothing hurt as bad as the look on Lucky’s face when she had rushed out of the hospital.
    “Hola chica, didn’t know if we’d see you back after the shit fit Mickey threw when you didn’t show up for work.” Velvet strolled down the stairs and plopped down at her own dressing table. Her long,