Dirty Nails

Dirty

Nails

Regina Bartley

Dirty

Nails

Copyright © 2015 Regina Bartley

All rights reserved

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a work of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity between actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any uses of locales, or events are used fictitiously.

Cover Design By: Regina Bartley

Dirty

Nails

Playlist:

1. Bad Intentions – Niykee Heaton

2. Jar of Hearts – Christina Perri

3. Broken Strings – James Morrison & Nelly Furtado

4. Somewhere Only We Know – Keane

5. Soldier – Gavin DeGraw

6. Already Gone – Kelly Clarkson

7. Champagne – Niykee Heaton

8. The Reason – Hoobastank

9. Tattooed Heart – Ariana Grande

10. Let Her Go – Jasmine Thompson

11. Love like This – Kodaline

12. I Bet My Life – Imagine Dragons

13. Bed of Lies – Nicki Minaj & Skylar Grey

14. Jealous – Labrinth

Prologue- A happy memory

              I was ten years old when my parents were killed. I didn’t know it at the time, but I thought my life was over. I was just a little girl, a scared little girl.

One day I had a good life and the greatest parents, then the next day it was stolen from me. Taken like a thief in the night.

The last good memory I had of them was that very day. I remember how we ate dinner, and how we watched a movie on the big T.V. in the living room. I was sitting in the floor in front of my mom. My back was pressed against the couch. She braided my hair, while we watched. I can still remember how her fingers felt as they ran through my long dark hair.

Everybody laughed.

It was a happy memory.

I didn’t realize at the time, but it would be my last.

Visions of her face would come and go. It was hard for me, because I wanted so badly to remember every good thing about her. Sadly, only the bad things stayed on the surface.

The nightmares were there to remind me of that fateful day. They’d make sure that I never forgot.

I wouldn’t forget how it started -and though I wanted to, I’d never forget how it ended either.

The only thing I had left to remember my parents by, was some rusty old nails, and the vision of them dying right before my eyes.

One- The Show

              Slowly I pulled my black stockings up my legs, making sure that Max’s eyes were fixated where they should’ve been.

              Right.

              Between.

              My legs.

              Yep, that was exactly where they were. It was his favorite spot.

              The lighting in the room was dim, and the evening light from the window made him look like a predator about to stalk his prey. His movements were graceful and edgy, and although I knew that he could hurt me, I still wanted him.

I bit down hard on my lower lip, and spread my legs farther apart. Just giving him a little taste before tonight’s show. He’d thank me later. My eyes raked over him as he made the last few steps to me. He bent down so that his lips were only inches from my neck. His fingers grazed the bare skin at the top of my thighs where the stockings had yet to touch, and my breath caught. He was a ticking time bomb. His moves could have been gentle or rough. I never knew. When his fingertips moved lightly and in slow motion then I knew this was one of those gentle times, and I could breathe a little easier.

              “You teasing me love?” His smooth voice and warm breath caressed my neck.

              “That’s exactly what I’m doing. You love it and you know it.”

              His fingers ran up my side slow and dangerous, each finger dancing along my skin. They skimmed the swell of my breast right before they stopped at the base of my neck. I stared at the little patch of skin that peeked out under the collar of his shirt. His chest was smooth, and with three buttons undone I knew that he was the one doing the teasing.

              He could almost stretch his fingers all the way around my neck with just one hand. His grip tightened as my head dropped back and I looked him in the eyes.

              “Save the teasing for later. I have a new guy I want you to meet before the show.”

              “You hired someone new?” I gave him a questioning look.

              “Don’t look so surprised sweetheart. I really like this one. There’s something about him. He’s big and brutal, just what I need.”

              “You said that about the last one.”

              I didn’t see the back of his hand coming at me, only felt it when it landed hard against my cheek. The pain of that damn gold ring against my cheekbone made me grit my teeth. I hated that thing. It always left a mark.

              “Too much mouth today.” He glared at me. “Tone it down.”

              I nodded. I didn’t speak.

              He kissed my jaw lightly. “Finish getting ready. You have ten minutes. Then I’ll introduce you to the new guy.”

              I shook my head and turned back around so that I was facing my vanity. The mark on my cheek was already swollen. No way was I going to get that covered up. Not that I worried. Everyone in this house and in this business knew everything that happened here. There were no secrets between Maxwell and his employees. I wasn’t an employee so I was more out of the loop than everyone else. I could be considered more of servant/girlfriend than employee. It had its perks.

              I pinned my hair back on the opposite side of my face so that it still hung down over my swollen cheek. I put an extra coat of mascara on then slid on my top. It was a loose nude crop top tee shirt. I looked at my reflection in the long mirror in front of the closet. You could see my nipples through the shirt. Max would love it. I wore my black pantyhose over top of a pair of black thong underwear. It was a little different than my usual bra and panties, but I knew that he would certainly approve.

              I opened the door to the hallway to find Max’s right hand man Trick standing there waiting for me. He was a big obnoxious ogre, and I couldn’t stand him. He was up Max’s ass so far that he smelled like shit. There were times that I wanted to bust him in the shins, but Max would hang me out to dry for that one.

              “Trick.”

              “Shay,” he called back. I hated that name. It wasn’t even mine. Max said that he liked it better than Sadie, but not me. He told me more than once that Sadie sounded like a dog, and though he expected me to beg like one he couldn’t stand calling me that. No one else knew my real name besides him. Still, even after fourteen years I hated it. It was the only thing that really belonged to me and he took that too. “Looking good.” Trick raised an eyebrow at me.

             
Eat me!
I thought, but didn’t dare say it. He would have either taken it way to literal or made my good cheek match my bad one.

              “Boss wants you in his office before the show starts.”

              I didn’t bother answering. “Shit!” I yelped. “I forgot my bag.”

              “Hurry up,” he growled.

              I ran back into the room quickly and grabbed my little gold bag from my bedside drawer. If something ever happened to that bag I don’t know what I’d do.  Wrapping the handle of it around my arm, I walked quickly out. I could feel Trick’s eyes on my ass as he escorted me to the office. Maxwell’s home was huge. Almost all of the employees stayed here and of course he ran his business from here; his legal and illegal business. Both of which I wanted no part of, and even if I did he wouldn’t let me. 

              When we reached the door Trick entered first, and I walked closely behind. The smell of cigars was lingering in the air. Max had Brandy glasses out on the desk and I immediately knew what kind of night this would be.

              Rough.

              He smiled up at me from behind the mahogany desk as I stepped closer. I couldn’t see the face of the man in the chair, only his long legs.

              “Come here my love.” Max called to me.

              I stepped slowly up to his side so that his arm could drape around my waist. This was Max at his best. Staking claim to what was his.

              “Shay this is Sketch.” Great. Another nickname. My eyes finally moved from the floor to find this mystery man.

I wish I hadn’t.

              My heart raced at the sight of him. His dark eyes were claiming mine. The moment lasted far too long and I swear I could feel my heart beating all over my body. The throbbing sound was overwhelming.

              This man was different than the usual employees. He was extra scary, but the most beautiful man I had ever seen, almost intoxicating. I swallowed hard and looked back to Max. If he had thought in any way that I was staring for too long, or knew what I was thinking then he’d kill him on the spot, and beat me until I couldn’t stand.

              “Sketch will be my new right hand man for a while.”

              My eyes flashed over at Trick and could almost see the flame coming out of his flared nostrils. He didn’t see that coming. Oh and how I wanted to laugh right in his face. Goodbye dick-wad.

              “That’ll be all Trick.” Max only said once, and we watched as Trick stormed out of the room. “Sketch here has got some amazing skills and I need to keep him close.”

              What did that mean? What kind of skills? Did he have excellent karate chops or something? I’m sure he was a big bad ass, but Trick was a monster too. Although, from the look of Sketch I wouldn’t want to go within a hundred feet of him, he was a beast.

              “There are a few rules you will do good to remember when it comes to Shay?” Max said.

              God I hated this part. This was his fifth right hand man in fourteen years, and this part never got any easier to hear.

              “You must hit her if she gets out of line. She is here for one purpose, to serve. If I am not here you have to know where she is at all times. Do not let her out of your sight. She is precious to me and I have to see that she’s safe. You do not talk business with her, or touch her in any sexual way. She’s mine. She knows what her job is and will do anything you ask of her. Oh, and no small talk. That shit pisses me off. Remember my rules, and I will remember not to break your neck.”

              He nodded, but still hadn’t spoken.

              No one broke his rules or if they did I never knew about it. He was the king here. Everyone did exactly what he asked, and so did I. Without him, I don’t know where I’d be. So what if I had to be his puppet. It beat the alternative.

“On Mondays she performs a show in the grand room for employees and new clients. You can escort her there now, and then escort her to her room once she’s finished. Then meet me back here afterwards. We have important business to discuss.”

              “Have a good show love.” He pulled roughly on the front of my shirt and kissed me hard on the lips. Marking his territory obviously. Like Sketchy over there didn’t already know.

              I walked over to the door and waited for Sketch to follow. I hadn’t realized how big he really was until I looked back at him. He truly was a beast. He probably stood over six foot five, and I’m sure I could hide behind one of his Rambo arms.

              He opened the door and closed it gently behind us. We walked silently down the long stretch of hallway. We never spoke, but I liked it that way. Besides, it was one of Max’s rules, and I followed them.

It was fairly quiet around the house this time of night. Sometimes eerily quiet. I was sure that everyone was already gathered inside the grand room waiting my arrival. Several times I started to speak to speak to Sketch as we walked, but kept my mouth shut trying not to overstep my boundaries. I didn’t know him well enough, and his punches were going to hurt. I could tell.

              The double doors to the great room were closed, and I stood there blocking the way for him to open them. I always liked to take a few minutes to breathe before I started.

              “One minute,” I said softly and turned around to make sure that I hadn’t ticked him off. Patience wasn’t something that came easy to Max’s employees, or Max.

              I reached inside my small bag that was still hanging from my wrist. The cold against my fingertips already steadied my breathing. It was just what I needed. As crazy at sounded, it was my security. I pulled out the nails, the long dirty nails. They served a purpose. Keeping my back to Sketch, I ran the tips of the nails from my wrist all the way to the bend in my arm.

              “Ugh,” I groaned as they dug in deep and the blood rose to the surface. It was the sweetest release.

              “What the hell are you doing?” My back was against the door so quickly that I didn’t even know how it happened. Sketch looked down at my arm, then back up into my eyes. Those dark eyes were looking at me so hard that I thought he could see completely through me. I realized that it was the first time I’d heard his voice and I longed to hear it again.

              His hands gripped the tops of my arms tightly. “Everyone has their demons Sketch. Now you know mine.”

              Disgust was all over his gorgeous face, but I wouldn’t hide it. My secret nail fetish wasn’t any worse than anything else that he’d see in this place. So I bleed a little. The pain was euphoric. It felt good, and it kept me sane.

              He let go of my arms, but never took his eyes off me. I stuffed the nails back into my bag.

              “Shit,” the blood from my arm was dripping. If Max saw a mess of my blood he’d go crazy.

              Sketch surprised me. He took the inside of his shirt and wiped my arm. My bloody –possibly disease infected arm. He stood so close to me that I could smell the sweat on his body. It wasn’t gross. It was sexy. He was sexy. When his head tipped in my direction and his eyes caught mine, my stomach went crazy. My eyes went to his lips. His full, thick, lips. There was a tiny scar atop of the right side, almost at the corner, that I wanted to reach my tongue out and lick.

              I coughed lightly, bringing myself out of the haze. “Thanks.” I whispered.

              He pulled away just as quickly as he had pinned me against the wall earlier.

              There was a soft mumbling from his lips. I glanced up at him and when he looked away I could hear him talking. To himself I suppose.

              “What?” I asked afraid that he was talking to me. I couldn’t understand him. His voice was too soft.

              “Everyone has their demons Shay. Now you know mine.” I almost melted from the caress of his voice.

              That was it.

              That was his demon.

              He talks to himself.

              That was no demon. That was just a glitch. Fuck, I had glitches that he couldn’t even come close to touching. This man was as normal as they come.

              “Could you start my music? The box is in the corner.” I pointed to the radio that was mounted on the wall by the window. “Just hit play. Please.” I said quickly stepping back. He seemed so normal that I almost let my guard down.

              Almost.

              I could see the muscles twitch in his jaw. He walked slowly to the wall and pressed the button.

              As soon as the music started I opened the door.