After Dark: Love for crime.

I never thought much about my upbringing. I considered myself very fortunate, even though it was just my father and my little sister I had to call family. My father told me from a young age that my mother was an amazing woman, but life, sometimes it took the very best of you, and that's why she was called away from us so soon. And my father, he was the absolute best. He was kind and caring, and very loving. He was always attentive to my sister and I, despite being constantly busy in a state of work. When I went off to college, my dad looked worse for wear. Something was going on, but he wasn't telling me, which was unlike him. 2 months into my second year, he disappeared without a trace. Grace, My little sister called me in hysterics. Everything dad loved was left in his room. His truck, still parked in his normal spot, but he was gone. I tried to keep up with school and taking care of Grace, the house, the bills… without dad around, it simply wasn't possible. I did what I had to do to make sure we didn't lose the house, that Grace didn't lose what little stability was left in her life. I never thought I'd be the legal guardian of my baby sister. I never thought I'd drop out of school to work at a bar. I never thought I'd be without my father. I knew eventually the wrath of time would steal him away, but I thought I had decades for that…. Maybe he ended up like mom, and life just took the best of him… but the uncertainty of his disappearance made it all the worse. He was gone, and I never knew if he was coming back. ….. "Edith, get a f*****g grip." Grace yells as she stomps down the hallway. "No Grace, I won't! You're 15 years old, christ! You shouldn't even be having sex." I snap back at her. My sister and I have always been close growing up, as close as one could be with a 5 year age gap looming over our heads. But since dad, and I actually having to be in more of a mom roll than a friend, she'd been an absolute nightmare. "Sorry I'm not a prude like you." This girl… I clenched my jaw, biting hard at my lower lip. My arms folded across my chest, as I shifted my weight onto my right leg. "I am not a prude." "You're 20 years old, and a virgin…" I let out a long sigh, shaking my head as I stared hard at my baby sister. "That doesn't make me a prude. Christ, Grace. I'm just concerned! You're not even on birth control! Do you ever think? There are repercussions to sex." "He used a condom dummy." I clutch my face in my hands, as I let out a shaky breath.. Why is my sister so daft? Normal teenage behavior? Because I don't remember being like this at all. "Enough. I'm taking you in on Monday to get you on birth control, because lord knows you need it." Grace scowls at me as her eyes roll hard in her head. "Whatever Edith." "I have to go to work. Please…. Just behave, okay?" Grace turns and gives me the middle finger before trotting her way up the stairs. That girl is going to age me 10 years. Shaking my head, as I breathe out a soft sigh, I quickly grab my keys and purse from the counter, rushing out of the house. The last thing I need today is to be late to work… …… "Alright ladies listen up." Terrance, mostly known as Terry, the owner of the club, stood before us, his chiseled jaw tight as he leaned against the bar. "My son has a meeting here tonight, so be on your best behavior. I expect the utmost professionalism from my ladies. Edie and Charlie, you're working the VIP section tonight." "You could have given some warning Terry, I would have dolled up more!" Charlie, a fellow waitress, looks in Terry's direction, a playful frown peaking on the corners of her full lips. I feel my stomach churn, I've never worked the VIP section before… It's a big deal. Bigger clients, bigger tips… I swallow hard, forcing myself to speak up. I wish I was as outspoken as Charlie, she really has that 'I say what I want, when I want' attitude. "Terry... I never work VIP... if this is an important meeting, shouldn't Lydia or Tanya-" "Charlie will show you the ropes. Now let's get to it." Terry claps his hands before heading off to his office. No one wastes any time. The convened staff disperse in every direction, hurry back to work to finish preparing for the club to open. "Don't worry hun!" Charlie squeezes my arm in support. "We're gonna make some good money tonight! Paul and his boys are so damn fine and gracious tippers. It's a win win. Eye candy and stacks baby." "Really?" I nervously fidget with my fingers, running them through my long blonde hair. "Yeah girl. So, Papa Terry is putting a lot of trust in you tonight. Word of advice hun, obviously by now you know this club is a special one," she winked at the word special before counting on.. "so what you see and hear tonight, keep your mouth shut, and you'll do just fine." I nod. There's a lot that goes on in the club that terrifies me, but the money is too good to pass up. Charlie smiles at me, a soft genuine smile, as she wraps her arm in mine. "I like you Edie, so I'm going to give you some more advice here. Stop being such an uptight girl!" "I can't help it." "Yeah Edie, lighten up a little. Jeez, when was the last time you got laid?" Lydia, another waitress appears from behind us as she jumps into the conversation. My eyes immediately deflect to the floor, suddenly feeling more self conscious than usual. "I should really get back to it." "Oh come on Edie, don't be such a prude." Lydia laughs, but I feel the irritation building within me. "Why does everyone call me that? I am not a prude!" My voice is harsher than I intended it to be, both girls looking at me, shocked by my sudden outburst. "Woah girl, chill." Lydia looks at me, seemingly shocked by my outburst. "Sorry. I'm really not a prude though. Just because I haven't…" I trail off mid sentence, my gaze now focused on the floor in front of me. I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. "Edie, babe, you haven't what?" She looks at me intently, my blush spreading the length of my neck….. "Wait, no way.. no fuckin' way! No way!" The realization of my truth seems to sink in,, as her face becomes lit with a look of shock and amusement. "You're a virgin?" "Lydia, keep it down.." I paw at her arm, she has a naturally bodied face that will travel the length of the club, hell probably even an entire theater. I knew being a virgin was nothing to be ashamed about, but being around women who are so open about their secual escapades made me a little unnerved. With people knowing, comes a lot of questions… ones I really had no answers to. I simply wasn't interested in sleeping around, not there is anything wrong with it, it's just jot for me. And my first and only boyfriend, well he wasn't patient enough to wait, and it had kind of just deterred me from actively pursuing it. "It makes so much sense... You being a virgin explains so much." Charlie chimes in. "What's that supposed to mean Charlie?" Seriously, what did she mean by that? I didn't know if I should take offense or... "Who's a virgin? I sure as hell know it's not Lydia." A booming laugh echoes from behind me, my blood running cold with embarrassment. Great, more to inquire about my lack of "experience." Lydia's head snaps in the direction of the laughter, a scowl now pasted on her full lips. "Oh shut up Dawson!" Lydia smacks the large bicep of a tall tatted man, hard enough that the sound bounces off the club walls.. I duck behind Charlie, trying to make myself invisible, the last thing I need right now is to further embrace myself. "Lydia, you need to work on your strength, hit the gym or something." The one called Dawson smirks at Lydia, who sticks her tongue out and flips him the birdie. "But seriously, who's a virgin, my curiosity has peaked." "Pfft, I don't think any girl that works here could be. They are just f*****g around." A rich baritone voice fills my ears. I peer my head around from my very obvious hiding spot behind Charlie. The man that belongs to the dreamy voice is even more so. He is tall, so deliciously tall, and his eyes are blue like icy glacial pools. Lord, he is like idea of s*x on two legs. "Hey now! Don't be making those kinds of assumptions. Some of us could very well be. Just because we work here doesn't mean a thing. We dress like this for the tips baby. Don't be misogynistic. " Charlie rolls her eyes at the two men, resting a hand on her hip. Charlie radiates sass. She's tall, and the black strappy heels she wore heightened her and the length of her legs. Standing next to her made me feel even shorter. I liked to think I was of average height, but next to this tall goddess, nope, and in the presence of this gorgeous man before me, I suddenly felt self conscious. "Ha ha Charlie, you've got jokes I see." "Who is that?" I whisper in Charlie's ear. "Ah yes, introduction time." Charlie points in the direction of the ridiculously handsome men. "That's Mr. Terry's son, Paul." She points to the one with the mesmerizing blue eyes. "And the stupid one is Dawson." "Hey! Watch your mouth Charlie! I am a legend!" Dawson glares at her playfully, before his eyes land on me… so much for being invisible. "Who do we have here? Fresh meat?" Charlie pulls me forward, resting her arm on my shoulder. Fuck. "This is Edith. She's been around for a bit now, but tonight is her first night working VIP, so be nice to her!" My eyes instantly flick to Paul, who is looking me up and down. Butterflies build in my gutt, as my heart flutters. I bite at my lower lip, trying to contain the wave of anxiety washing over me. When his eyes met mine, it was as if the earth stopped turning, there was no one in the room but us. I could truly lose myself in those hypnotic blue eyes. He's deliciously tall, tall enough to make Charlie look short. "Damn! She thicc! I'd like to-" "Watch your f*****g mouth Dawson." Paul barks at Dawson, who immediately silences himself and takes a step back. His eyes fall back to mine, pausing for just a moment before looking away into the distance. I wanted to look away from him, but I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. He was mesmerizing. He wore a fitted distressed black t-shirt with the Balenciaga logo in the corner. That showed off his tanned skin and heavily tattooed arms. He was a walking work of art, and beyond gorgeous. "Tonight's meeting is important, so you will need to be extra courteous. Feel me Charlie?" "Aye aye Captain." Charlie jokingly salutes Paul, who doesn't look the slightest bit amused. "Come on ladies, we have jobs to do. Let's get ready to get this money. It's going to be a good night!" Charlie smiles, looping her arm in mine, as we head into the VIP section. I glance over my shoulder, dying to get one last peek at Paul. Our eyes meet once again, and I feel my heart shudder in my chest… This feeling, I've never felt anything like this before and it was terrifying as f**k…. Why did I suddenly feel like I couldn't breathe? When his eyes met mine, it was like nothing else existed. Shit.