“What better way to catch a big fish than to use the little worm. If I’d know how much money that man had I would’ve milked him sooner. That fucker and his brother played me for a fool and no one makes a fool of Bill Hardy.” Bill’s voice is grim, sending shivers of fear skating over my skin.

The skin on my lower back burns as Warren yanks me across the dirty floor. My eyes dart around, looking for a weapon. I’m not going down without a fight. Warren suddenly jerks me up, jarring my shoulders, and throws me over a flat steel surface. My hips slam into the sharp side, the impact hurting me even more and making my legs quiver. Tears burn in my eyes but I swallow them down. I don’t want to give these sadistic fucks the pleasure of seeing me cry.

“I’m gonna gut you, like those whores were gutted.” I don’t know which ones he’s talking about. “Like ole’ Jack did in London.” He grabs hold of my hair and wrenches my head back, lifting my torso from the slab. He reaches around me, pressing his chest and hard on against my back and butt. A wave of repulsion makes me feel sick. “I’m gonna slice you from here,” he pokes at my left breast and then starts to draw a line across my stomach to my right hip, “to here and then I’m gonna watch your guts fall on the floor.”

I close my eyes and a wave of nausea hits. I always knew Warren was the worst of the lot. Garrett protected me and I threw it all back in his face. I hope I get to tell him how sorry I am. I hope I make it through this.

~*~

Chapter One

Kristine~

Eight years ago …

We’re all lying in my backyard staring up at the stars. It’s one of our favorite things to do.

“One more year,” Riza murmurs. “Just one more and we’re off to college! I can’t wait to start my own life. I’m tired of not being able to do what I want. I can’t wait for all the parties!”

“Come on, Riza. It’s not like we haven’t been going to parties,” I laugh. She’s the wild one in the group, always game for anything. She was the first to lose her virginity, the first to drink alcohol, the first to dye her hair and so much more. Kelly was second … and then me. We do everything together. The three of us have been the closest of friends since first grade.

“Yeah, but college parties are different. For one, we can drink. Second,” she leans up on her elbows, throwing her long chocolate brown hair back, “there are men! No little boys that are pretending to be men. I want a real man,” she sighs dreamily.

“I’m happy with my book boyfriends,” I say, more to myself than to the girls. I have a slight obsession with all things books.

“Book boyfriends can’t spank your ass,” Kelly pipes up.

“Kelly!” I hiss and glance over my shoulder to make sure my parents didn’t hear that. Luckily they are nowhere in sight.

“Aww … like you don’t fantasize about a tall, dark stranger ripping your clothes from your body and sweeping you off to a far-away place so he can ravish you,” Riza teases.

“Reading it and doing it is two different things and you both know that,” I snub them, feeling slightly embarrassed about the topic we’re discussing.

“Oh Fabio!” Kelly starts panting, gyrating her hips up and down. “Take me harder, Fabio! Make me yours!” She bursts out in a fit of laughter, holding her stomach.

“So not funny,” I scowl, trying hard to hide my smile, “and Fabio? Seriously? Think of a better name next time.”

Riza joins in the laughter and then she rolls over and straddles Kelly. “Give it to me, baby,” she tries to sound throaty in between her fits of giggles. “Yeah, Shawn, just like that.”

I slap her on the shoulder. “Noooo! That’s so wrong.”

Shawn is a nerd in our Science class. Not that I have anything against nerds, but the guy must at least be bigger than me, and Shawn is as scrawny as they come.

Riza and Kelly crack up in another fit of laughter. I can’t help but join them as Riza keeps thrusting her hips against Kelly’s stomach. They look so stupid.

Then Kelly’s face goes all serious. “Have the two of you ever wondered what it would be like to kiss a girl?”

Riza freezes on top of Kelly and tilts her head sideways. She’s actually thinking about it!

“Eww.” I pull a face but then my jaw drops as Riza leans down on top of Kelly. She takes hold of Kelly’s face and plants a hard kiss against her slightly parted lips.

I feel my eyes bulge and a strangled gasp escapes my suddenly dry throat. Kelly in turn pushes her fingers through Riza’s hair and tilts her face slightly. What started as a joke quickly turns into something else. I see tongue and teeth, and … freaking hell, they’re really kissing!

Riza pulls away first and then grins at me.

“Oh, hell no! I’m not kissing either of you,” I whisper, scared my parents will hear.

“Aww … come on, Kristine. Be a sport. It’s just one kiss. What better way to find out if you bat for the other team.”

“I’m not lesbian. I don’t need to kiss a girl to make sure. I like kissing boys and-” Riza jumps me, pushing me to the ground, while Kelly goes for my arms. I start to giggle and try to flip Riza off me. I’m no match for the two of them. Also, I’m the smallest of us three, so they can easily overpower me without even putting much effort into it.

Riza’s face comes closer to mine and a fresh fit of giggles erupts from me. “Nooo! Get off!” I stick out my tongue as she moves closer until I can feel her breath on my face.

“You want me, babe,” Riza laughs and then her lips are on mine. I keep laughing into her mouth until she gives up and gets off me.

I sit up and turn to Kelly. She’s the tomboy of us three, more Goth than anything else, with her pierced brow and lip. Her hair is midnight black. “Your turn!” I launch my whole body at her and press my lips to hers, still laughing. When I feel her tongue brush against my lips I yank back.

“I think I might be lesbian, let’s have a threesome to make sure,” Kelly blurts out.

I blink at her, not sure she really means it.

“Yeah right, like you’ll give up on men to become a carpet muncher,” Riza teases.

“I’m serious,” Kelly’s smile vanishes and she swallows hard. “I might be … damn, I’m not sure. I’m so confused.” She frowns, looking sad. “Please don’t tell anyone.”

The secrets we tell each other this night brings us only closer … closer than sisters.

~*~

Present day…

“Wear the white one,” Kelly says, without looking up from her phone. “You know ... the one that pushes up your boobs.” She’s been glued to that phone ever since she met this guy on Facebook. I don’t even want to know what they’re texting each other. It’s eight years later and she still hasn’t made up her mind if she’s straight or not.

“Ugh … really? You don’t think I should go with the pink one, or maybe the Guns N' Roses one I had on?” I hold up the pink shirt, but Kelly’s eyes are still glued to her phone.

“Nope, the white one. You actually have some cleavage then,” she insists.

“You’re not even looking at the one I’m holding up,” I throw a mini tantrum, stomping my feet for effect.

“Don’t need to,” she sings, “I know what looks good on you and boobs look good on you.”

“You’re just obsessed with boobs,” I mutter. I throw the shirts on the bed and stare at them, trying to decide which one will look best.

“Yeah, and that’s why you need to move your ass. I want to go drool over all the hot bodies.” Finally, she glances up at me. She quirks a pierced eyebrow. “Will you just get dressed already? We’re gonna be late for the show.”

Riza’s decided that we’re going to the Red Lounge. It’s an upmarket club where they do some kind of erotic shows and dancing. You know, the kind where there’s stripping and more. People acting out scenes others only dream of doing. What makes this club different is that there are both women and men dancers. I don’t know where she came across the club.