Chapter 38
Altre a few gongs, Simone slipped out to the restroom.
Phantom Beats was Sogin’s most exclusive club, where even the restrooms glittered with crystal chandeliers.
Since dried her hands and turned to leave when piercing screams cut through the music. Then, the followed the nose down the hall.
“Help! Somebody?” A girl in a slinky black dress cried out. Her hair was messy, and her legs were bare under a thigh–high shit. She struggled against. two muscular men who were dragging her toward the men’s restroom.
“Shut your mouth. One of them slapped her, and her head snapped to the side.
“Please… let me go, she whimpered.
The bald guy dug his fingers into her cheek. “Listen, lunch. Your dad sold you to our boss. So, you know what’s going on,
Simone didn’t recognize the girl’s voice. She stepped into their path. “Let her go
The bald man snerred. “Oh, look at this one. You wanna join us? With that, he reached for her.
ks his fingers grazed her sleeve. Simone just drove her boot into his gut. Fuck off”
The bold man crumpled, wheezing. He never thought a girl could be so powerful.
“You’re dead” His buddy swung a meaty fist at Simone’s head.
Simone ducked and punched him square in the eye. The
eskin beneath his
is lid purpled instantly
The bald man staggered up, snarling, “Stay outta this, or you’re next?
Simone mocked and tilted her chin, fists raised. “Try it.”
Around them, rich patrons passed by and glanced away. At Phantom Beats, this was just another Tuesday.
Themen lunged for Simone, trying to drag both Simone and the girl into the restroom.
Simone dodged their grabs and, in one swift move, stomped one guy’s knee into the floor while wrenching the other’s arm behind his back until he Howled in pain. They dropped to their knees, crying on, “Let go. Please!”
“Apologize, Simone said, her voice cold and sharp,
‘re sorry. Please, in un got the bald guy pleaded.
те
“Never again. We swear?” his burdy echoed
Two burly men were groveling to a teenage girl. It looked really creepy.
Not utasbed, Simone twisted their arms harder, nodding toward the trembling girl. “Apologize to her.”
Te sorry. We were wrong. Never again! They bowed dramatically toward the trembling girl while tears dripped from their chins
“Get hast, Samone snapped and released them with a grimace.
Sansone walled until they vanished before approaching the girl. She knelt down, keeping her voice gentle. “Are you hurt?”
The girl kept her head dowo, silent. Simone softened her tone–sething she rarely did. “They’re gone. You’re safe”
Joanine kept her face buried in her knees, but Simone’s voice eased the panic in her chest. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to look up.
Of all the ways to meet again.“Joanne mocked inwardly. Her eyes burned, and silent tears soaked into her black dress. Then something warm draped over her treinbling shoulders–Simodie’s cual,
“Op liome,” Simone said as she stood. “Don’t wander alone at night.”
When Janne didn’t respond, Sin
Simane dala’t push arad just walked away.
As Simone’s footsteps faded, a sharp, aching emptiness filled Joanne’s chest. She gripped the coat and lurched to her feet. “Simone,
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Chapter 38
Simone turned, her eyebrows lifting siglatly. “It’s you?” Her tone was flat, with just a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
“Thank you for saving ine.” Joanne’s pulse raced as she stared at Simone
Somone’s face still brld traces of the girl she once knew, but now it felt cold–like a wall Joanne couldn’t break through. “Surprised to see me?” Jonne laughed, but the sound was hirter.
Joanne’s thoughts raced with frustration. Of all people, Simone has to see me like this–going from that confident girl to a punching bag. Pathetic. She must think I deserve it!
“Yeah. What miten luck, Simone said bluntly. Her eyes locked onto her designer coat–the one that cost a fortune–slung over Joanne’s shoulders. She winced inwardly but couldn’t bring herself to ask for it back…
Joanne flinched like she’d been slapped.
in slapped. Do you regret saving me?
into her
“I know it was you?” Simone crossed her arms. “I wouldn’t have bothered. She never let grudges die–Joanne’s old slights were carved in
The words stabbed deep. Joanne’s voice trembled. I’m a joke. You’re loving this, aren’t you?”
Simone stared back, face blank as a stone wall
Joanne gnawed her lip raw. “My dad–the guy I tho
guy I thought loved me–made me serve his clients.
Her voice cracked. “After we went broke, my parents turned into demons. The family I knew is dead. I’ve got nothing left. The humiliations poured out, ugly and unstoppable.
“Not any business” Simone said flatly
The words cut deeper than Joanne expected. Everything she’d believed about life had shattered.
Her dad–the man who’d once called her his princess–now smacked her around every day and yanked her out of school to wait on his client. She could still feel the old man’s greasy stares crawling over her skin.
Her mother who once cherished her turned cold. Now she plotted with her father to sell her off to that man.
Joanne had bought into the perfect family lie–until the teeds went bankrupt. The truthi hit like a gut punch. Their every “I love you” had been a
Lately, she kept dreaming of the fire–Thirteen–year–old Simone hauling her unconscious body through flames, shielding her from the explosion dus left Samone half–deal for years.
Sunone just shrugged it off like it was no big deal. They weren’t sisters. Not even related. Yet Simone dived into hell for her without a second thought.
Journe laughed—a hollow broken sound. Her parents, her family all liars, Simone was the only one who’d ev Junne had lost hier
ever truly had her back. However,
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