“Can I start making it up to you tonight?”

“Hmm…can I tie you up and have my way with you?”

“Fat chance in hell, little one,” he said while pinching my ass and guiding me to the back stairs that led up to the third floor.

Chapter Twenty Two

“Faith”

Lo

Silence circulated through the car as I drove with Jett over to Diego’s new club with some of my possessions and mainly clothes. I only had two suitcases but it felt like my whole life. This was not what I wanted at all and it all felt like the beginning of the end so to say I wanted to throw up was an understatement. I was sweating, I was terrified, I didn’t want to leave him. He was a constant solid in my life now that I depended on and to not have him near me, to have to act like he means nothing to me was like twisting a knife into my heart.

The streets were barely lit and there were still some late night partiers that flanked the streets of New Orleans. Soft lanterns lit up the roads, casting a glow on the trash left over from the night shenanigans. When Jett said I had to leave “tomorrow” he apparently meant first thing tomorrow because we were riding around at three in the morning. He said we couldn’t do this in the middle of the day if I wanted him to get me situated which I understood but it was all happening so fast. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to the girls or Kace for that matter. Not that I really wanted to say bye to the giant asshole that graced the hallways of the Lafayette Club but it would have been nice to have the option.

My hand was entwined with Jett’s as we rode in silence. I knew he could sense my uneasiness so he sat close to me and would occasionally lean over to whisper in my ear or kiss me gently on the cheek.

The car came to a stop as we sat in an abandoned back alley. We weren’t on Bourbon Street but we were in the French Quarter and not the nicest part. This was where his club was?

“This is just the back entrance,” Jett murmured as if he could read my mind. “The club’s front sits on Royal Street and is marked as a plain door. Only the people who are a part of Diego’s secret society will know about it.”

“Sounds intriguing. Are we near Burgundy Street?” I asked, looking around.

“Yes.”

I nodded my head as I was able to place my surroundings. Royal was one street parallel with Bourbon and was considered to be the fancier street of the French Quarter where little boutique’s and galleries were located. It was odd, to travel from Bourbon Street where drinkers were pelvic thrusting each other and watching street performers and then walk one block down to Royal where ladies in sweater sets perused the art galleries where pieces of art work were priced well into the thousands. Only in New Orleans.

The car door opened and I reluctantly got out. Our driver grabbed my luggage and led us up the back rickety stairs of Diego’s club.

When we reached the top, I saw a dark silhouette standing in the doorway, waiting for us.

“Diego,” Jett said as he reached his hand out.

“Jett, good to see you.

“Thank you for helping me out,” Jett said quietly.

“Helping you out? Are you kidding me, I will be putting this little girl to work. Come in.” Diego winked at me and led the way into his club.

It was nothing compared to the grandiose-ness of the Lafayette Club. It was a step up from Kitten’s Castle but I for sure would be slumming it compared to what I was used to now which was ridiculous. I should be happy because Diego’s club was beautiful, it just wasn’t the Lafayette Club.

We walked down a long, dark hallway that had multiple rooms coming off it. The walls were a deep red with a chair railing halfway up the wall. On the bottom half of the wall, it was painted black and from what I could tell, the floors were black as well. I was really intrigued.

Lights started to ignite throughout the room through gas lanterns, were those allowed indoors? As the light filled the room, I took in my surroundings. We were standing in a circular room with tables lining the outside of it. To the back was a giant curved bar that lined the room and in the ceiling were circular apparatuses like we had at the Lafayette club but there were so many more.

“Welcome to Cirque du Diable,” Diego said as he held out his hands.

“Wow,” I breathed in as I took in everything.

Long, blood red velvet drapes were cascading down the walls and were tied together where there were doorways. We were standing on a dirt service which was interesting to see in an indoor environment but I was getting the whole vibe. It was like a vintage circus and at that moment, a little bit of excitement blossomed in me.

“Diego, you’ve really outdone yourself. The place looks amazing,” Jett complimented as he looked around.

“Thanks, I owe it all to you, man. Without your help and encouragement, I never would have been able to make this happen.”

Jett just nodded, once again passing off his helpfulness as if it was nothing.

“When do you open?” I asked, still taking everything in.

Along with the gas lamps, there were big-bulbed string lights hanging through the ceiling and there were old time typed posters that you would see at a vintage circus, decorating the tables. I wanted to hang out here, it seemed amazing.

“A few months, hopefully. I have to add a few touches with your skillful hand and then practice with the dancers.”

“Dancers?” I asked, feeling a little more comfortable.

“Not what you’re thinking,” Jett mumbled into my ear and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Where will Goldie be staying?”

“This way,” Diego said, ignoring my question. What was with that? Dancers were dancers, right?

We walked up another flight of stairs which surprised me since the ceilings on the floor we were on were so tall but once we got to the top, I noticed it was an attic space that was converted into a small bedroom and bath. It was quite small but would do. I wasn’t going to be a brat about it.

“Where is your room?” Jett asked, looking around.

“On the first floor.” Diego chuckled. “Nothing to worry about and look, this door even has a lock so I won’t be able to flank her in the middle of the night like the thoughts that are running through your head.”

Jett turned to me and smiled. “Make sure to lock up every night.”

“I thought you would be staying with me,” I said in a whiny tone.

“Here,” Diego interrupted, handing Jett a key. “Here are two keys to the room, do what you want with them. I will let you two have a moment. I’m going back to bed. I will see you in the morning, Goldie, well later in the morning.”

With that, Diego shut the door and left me alone with Jett. I felt like crying, I didn’t want him to leave. Even though Diego was a nice guy and had a pretty cool place, I didn’t want to lose Jett. I depended on him and losing him like this, being separated was bringing up horrible feelings of when my parents were taken away from me.

“I hate this,” I admitted as I buried my head in his chest.

“I know, little one. I hate it too.”

“Then just let me stay with you…”

“You know that is not an option right now, Goldie. Please don’t ask again because it’s killing me to say no to you,” he said roughly.

“I’m sorry. It just seems like I’m losing you and it’s bringing up horrible past images of when my parents were taken away from me and I could do nothing about it.”

Taking a long, deep breath, Jett gripped me tighter and said, “I’m sorry. Fuck, I’m so sorry this is hurting you. It’s hurting me too but please trust me. You trust me right?”

He pulled away to look me in the eyes as I answered. I swallowed hard and nodded my head.

“I trust you, Jett.”

“Good.”

He grabbed my suitcase and opened it up.

“Wow, you could at least wait to unpack me,” I semi-joked.