Sinners' Playground (The Harlequin Crew #1) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,228

want anything from them. Least of all their guilt money.

I had seen them though. Mostly Fox, coincidentally hanging out nearby while supposedly giving me space.

I'd told him that I needed a few days back here to just chill out, get my head straight and figure out my options and at the time he'd seemed to be understanding, but I was getting the feeling my time was running low and I was going to be summoned back into the fold soon enough.

"Alright," I called, stumbling out of bed and rubbing my eyes as I headed to the door to open it for them.

Bella was there too, looking fairly lucid for once which meant she also looked kinda sad and was generally being a lot quieter than the other two.

"What's the job then?" I asked, leaving the door open so that I could talk to them while I made coffee and Mutt could go pee.

"Chester and Jolene Granville who run The Dollhouse are putting on this huge party for the rich assholes who have come here on their college spring break this week," Di explained as she came in and took a seat at my little table. "They need escorts filling the place to make sure it's not a total sausage fest."

"I'm not fucking frat boys for cash," I said grumpily, glancing back out onto the porch where Bella and Lyla were sprawled out and making themselves at home.

"That's the beauty of it," Di explained, taking the coffee I handed her. "They need girls to just dance and keep the party going. They'll want you to encourage the assholes to keep spending their money at the bar and to take part in the games, but you don't have to suck any dicks unless you wanna earn the extra. It's a hundred bucks for the day and if you happen to win any of the contests then you can keep the cash prizes too. We basically have to make sure the party goes off and keep them spending."

"That said, I charged fifty bucks per BJ last year and twenty for a handy and I made almost two grand in one day," Lyla said, raising her brows like that might tempt me.

"Fuck me, didn't you get lock jaw?" I laughed and she grinned.

"I could barely even chew solids the next day, but I didn't have to work the whole rest of the month, so I felt like it was a fair trade off." She tossed her blonde hair and winked at me and I could only laugh in response as I tracked down some painkillers and took them for the hangover.

"I bought wrist splints for her in case she needs them tomorrow too," Di cackled and I couldn't help but fall apart with them.

Bella smiled but she had that kinda dead look in her eyes and I frowned as I looked at her.

"If you don’t wanna hook up with frat boys for cash I bet JJ would give you more shifts working the bar," I said casually. "I could put in a good word with him if any of you were looking to get out of the sex trade or wanted to have a break for a bit?"

Lyla and Di glanced Bella's way but she just shook her head. "I'll just fuck it up. At least there's not much to get wrong when it comes to fucking. I just have to lay back and wait for it to stop."

"Jesus, Bella, if you hate it that much then why-" Lyla began but Bella waved her off.

"I don't hate it. I don't care," she said and that just made me feel worse for her somehow.

"Honestly, Bella," I said. "JJ would take you on full time, I'm sure of it. I think you could be really good behind the bar and-"

"Nah. Like I said, I'd fuck it up. But thanks." Bella stood up and wandered off, her scarlet hair trailing down her spine as she moved a little way away from my porch, still waiting for us but clearly ending the conversation there.

"I've got it," Lyla said, pushing to her feet and heading after Bella as I frowned, wondering if I'd offended her or something.

"Forget it, Rogue," Di said, moving to stand beside me and giving me a little nudge. "None of us can help Bella until she's ready to help herself.”

I shrugged and let it go. I'd certainly never had anyone try to help me fix shit in my life. I knew all too well that