Beautiful Lover (The Masquerade Series) Read online

  Beautiful Lover

  Glenna Maynard

  Beautiful Lover Copyright Glenna Maynard ©2014

  This is a work of fiction. Names characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual people, alive or dead, business, establishments, locals or events is entirely coincidental. Any reference to real events, business, organizations or locals is intended only to give the fiction a sense of realism and authenticity.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means – electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording, or otherwise – without prior permission in writing from the author.

  Cover design-Morgan Jane Mitchell

  Dedication

  For Liz, my awesome sauce friend. If it weren’t for you cheering me on this book never would have been written. Thank you for sharing your love for a certain man named Parker with me.

  Acknowledgments

  I just want to say a short thank you to everyone who has encouraged me to keep pursuing my dream. Without your support none of this would be possible and I’d still be this crazy girl with voices in her head. I’m still crazy, but at least now my voices are being heard or read.

  In sin city everyone has a past and everyone has secrets—secrets they wish not to tell. Some secrets are best left unsaid, they say the truth can set you free but the truth living inside of me is killing me…

  Chapter 1

  Kingsley

  Some think growing up in sin city is like a 24/7 party and they are right. My whole life has been nothing but a never ending party. A fantastic shit on Kingsley party— on the never ending road to shitville— that has been what my life has been like, even now, but before we get to the now let’s rewind for a minute. Yeah this is one of those stories, so sit back and listen.

  My whole life has been one huge clusterfuck. My real dad walked out when my brother and I were still in diapers. Our mother later remarried the fuck-stick— Charlie, who has never been much of a dad, but he has always kept food in our mouths and clothes on our backs. Charlie is a bookie who is always taking bets he can’t afford to pay out on. He fucks Peter to pay Mary and Paul. The only man I have ever been able to really depend on has been my twin brother Kline.

  Kline always ends up taking a fight to cover Charlie’s ass. My brother is a bad ass who can hold his own in the octagon. He’s an underground cage fighter with quite a reputation in Vegas. And as for me I dance at the Masquerade Club located in The Lucky Seven Casino. And did mention that I have a huge crush on the owner Parker Garrett, he is Las Vegas’ most eligible bachelor and F-I-N-E.

  **

  “Kline, kick his ass! Get up!” My knees are shaking and my palms are sweating. I have never been so nervous watching my brother fight before. But tonight he is taking a beating from ‘The Punisher’ also known as Royce Welsh and my ex-boyfriend. He dumped me when I started dancing at the Masquerade Club. He said the past had caught up with him and that we could no longer be together. When he gave up on us so easily, I then wondered what I could have ever seen in him — besides his ripped muscles and super sexy tattoos. It sure wasn’t his loyalty. I never took Royce for being a quitter. When he dumped me it hurt, more than any beating I ever received as a child from my step-father. I guess being with Royce made me feel good about myself — that someone good looking like him would want me— the former fat girl.

  I used to be down on myself but Kline started training and I started working out with him. I was able to shed my extra weight while keeping my curves in all the right places.

  Get up Kline, I mentally scream at him hoping he can hear me kicking his ass with twin tuition. We have always been able to pick up on each others feelings. It is a blessing and a curse. I don’t need to know when my brother is feeling excited about sex among other things. And right now I can feel Kline feels defeated —he has already given up.

  Royce has Kline down on the ground pummeling his fist against his head. I can’t bear to watch it.

  “Ladies and gentlemen winning by TKO — The Punisher.”

  Pushing my way through the crowd I make my way to the back door of the warehouse to wait for my brother. I am joined by my best friend Tiffany, who also happens to be my brothers latest FWB— friend with benefits.

  “What kind of mood is your brother in? I know you know with your twin shit. Royce just annihilated him.”

  I can’t believe he lost to that tick turd tonight. “Kline is in a really bad mood, I would approach him carefully if I were you.” Normally I could care less about my brother’s conquest but Tiffany is a close friend. I’ve already warned my brother that he better treat her right. We have always had a pact that we wouldn’t date each others friends, but Kline says I broke the pact by dating Royce. I call bullshit they aren’t friends — they are nemeses, but whatever, when Kline wants something badly enough he usually gets it. I warned Tiffany too, but she says Kline is worth the risk. I just hope he doesn’t cost me her friendship.

  My brother and Royce reach the pair of us at the same time. Royce puts an arm around Tiff’s shoulder. “I’ve already fucked the sister and beaten the brother’s ass, whatever shall I do with you?”

  That does it; I can feel Kline’s anger— so much so that I am shaking.

  “Fuck you, Royce!” Kline pushes him, disregarding Tiffany’s close proximity in the process. She is knocked to the floor in the scuffle but unscathed. Now the real fight begins.

  I knew Kline was holding back— Charlie! I wonder how much he’s in for this time around. I help Tiffany up from the concrete floor. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine, let’s go make sure Kline doesn’t kill Royce.” We walk arm in arm to the parking lot to find my brother in an all out face-off with Royce. People have turned on their headlights to spotlight them, turning the parking lot into a makeshift arena.

  Tiffany drags me to the back of Kline’s truck and we stand in the bed of his Chevy to get a better view. Now we are going to see my brother really give it to Royce. I almost feel bad for the guy, that blacktop isn’t going to feel very good. Kline lands a left hook in Royce’s side and opens up the perfect opportunity to lay into him. Repeatedly Kline drills his fists into Royce’s skull. Neither of them look very good. The two of them are sporting split lips and swelling knots on their heads. The guys continue to scuffle and dance for a few minutes. Royce is growing winded, I can see it in his eyes. The way his chest is heaving is a dead giveaway that he’s running out of steam. He wraps his arms around Kline’s waist trying to catch his breath. My brother picks Royce up and slams him down onto the hood of what was a gorgeous yellow corvette. It’s not so pretty now with the dented in hood. It is bittersweet watching the two of them tear the other down. I used to love Royce—before he broke my heart. A part of me loves seeing my brother kick his ass, but the part of me that still cares for him aches to see him being hurt at the hands of my brother.

  The alarm of the car starts sounding off, and everyone jumps in their cars scurrying away from the scene as we hear police sirens wailing in the distance.

  Suddenly I am locked in place, being held by the stare of the owner of the car — PG— that sexy motherfucker has his eyes transfixed on me and I swear I can’t breathe. I am still standing in the back of my brother’s truck as the sounds of squealing tires melt into the background. It’s as if in this moment there is only Parker and I.

  Tiffany jerks my arm pulling me out of the daze I was just in. We scramble into the cab of Kline’s truck leaving Parker standing with a look of bewilderment on his handsome face.

&n
bsp; “That was quite a show you put on back there little brother.”

  “Kings, just because you were born one whole minute before me does not make me your little brother. I am bigger than you so that makes me your big brother.”

  “That’s two completely different things fungus breathe. But that’s beside the point. Why in the hell did you fake a knockout and let Royce have one up on you? How much does Charlie owe this time?”

  “Our wonderful step-monster is in with the Garretti brothers for oh about fifty g’s”

  “What! Are you shitting me?”

  “I shit you not; it doesn’t stink in here does it?”

  Tiffany is use to us conversing like this, so she just sits back and listens. I can see a tight ‘O’ formed on her lips and a crease of worry lining her forehead. She knows just as well as I do that this means only one of two things. One my brother is going to be getting his ass beat to foot the bill or two the Garretti brother’s will take it out on one of us if Charlie doesn’t pay up. The Garretti brother’s run the Mob scene in Las Vegas—meaning they are not good company to keep, especially if you are on their bad side.

  “Don’t look at me like that, both of you. What do you want me to do let one of those cock suckers hurt you or mom?”

  “No Kline, I want Charlie to be a man and take responsibility for his own shit for once in his life. What if you get hurt Kline, then what?”

  “Alright that’s enough you two; this isn’t going to get solved right now. Kings you need to go home and go to bed you’ve been drinking way too much and Kline baby your face could use some ice.” Tiffany is holding her hands up trying to play peace keeper.

  Against my better judgment I have Kline and Tiffany drop me off at my mom and Charlie’s place. It was either come here or go to the apartment I share with my brother and hear him and my best friend fuck all night. No thank you, I shudder at the thought. I would rather suck a big fat hairy toe.

  “Well look what the cat drug in. Nadine, your tiny dancer has graced us with her presence.” I’d like to tell that fat bastard to eat a dick, but I’m not in the mood for his shit. Kline isn’t here to keep him from striking me, and I have to work tomorrow night. I don’t think they would want me dancing with a black eye, although it might net me some sympathy tips.

  “Hey baby what brings you over here?” My mother gives me a weak smile.

  “Can’t a girl just want to see her mom every once in a while?”

  “You look like you’ve had a good time tonight. Let me fix you a bite to eat. Yeah?”

  “I think I’m just going to crash. I’ll see you in the morning.” My mom gives me a peck on the cheek. She is such a sweet woman; I don’t know what she’s ever seen in Charlie. Guess you could say I’m the pot calling the kettle black— at least Charlie has always been loyal. I fall asleep drunk on the way Parker Garrett was staring at me.

  **

  Gross! When I wake up the smell of Charlie’s cheap cigarettes fill the air. My head is aching and I have cotton mouth. I roll over and put my pillow over my face and try to go back to sleep. Ugh… now I have to pee and I can’t hold it. Suppose I’ll be getting up now. Glancing at the crooked clock hanging on the wall it’s nearly noon. Slow and steady I roll off the itchy couch and place both feet firmly on the ground. Last time I got drunk I got out of bed to quickly and busted my ass on the floor. I don’t need a repeat of that.

  After cleaning myself up I join my mom and Charlie in the kitchen. The sight of him in his wife beater and boxers is disgusting. I look at him sitting there with a cigarette hanging from his bottom lip. His beady eyes narrow in on me as I grab a cup of coffee. “I hear Kline got his ass beat by that ex of yours last night.”

  “As if you don’t know already? You didn’t ask Kline to throw the fight for you?” I throw him an accusing glare. “You make me sick Charlie. One day my brother’s not going to be around to save your ass.”

  “Yeah and one day I’m going to do something about that smart mouth of yours.” He grumbles something unintelligible under is breath and resumes reading the sports section of his newspaper. I’d like to wad his paper up and shove it down his fat throat.

  “I don’t have to listen to this. Mom I’ll call you later this week.” I scoot my chair back and make my way to the door.

  “You don’t have to go; Charlie is just a big kidder. Tell her Charlie, you’re just teasing her.” She follows me to the door, but I know when to pick my battles with Charlie and today isn’t the day.

  I don’t wait for the door to hit my ass on the way out. She knows Charlie is a fuck-stick and he’s so not joking. For some reason she chooses to block out all of the years Charlie laid his hands on Kline and me growing up. And all of the times she lied to cover up the abuse, until Kline started training to fight. Then he was big and strong enough to take on Charlie.

  Chapter 2

  Royce

  I saw him—Parker— last night watching her. So now it seems I have a choice to make. I love her more than I ever thought I could love her. Giving Kingsley up was hard, but watching him watch her, knowing that now that he has seen her he will have her hurts more. I can’t let him have her— not this time. Parker once took what belonged to me and taking it back cost me everything.

  **

  Kingsley

  Let it be known now I hate public transit, but there was no way I was staying at my mom’s any longer than I had to. It’s times like this I wonder why I ever ride to the fights with Kline. I try really hard not to breathe during my twenty minute ride back to normalcy. The buses here smell of a cross between body odor and vomit. Not to mention all of the strange people I encounter every time I find myself without my jeep.

  Good the apartment is empty Kline is probably at the gym. I love having the place to myself, I’d move out but neither of us can afford to live on our own. It sure as hell beats living with Charlie. I can’t help but feel anxious about working tonight after the stare down I shared with Parker Garrett last night. He rarely comes to the club and I doubt he’d recognize me from the fight. As far as I know he’s never seen me without the signature masks that we are required to wear at the club, if he has ever even laid eyes on me at all. Well other than last night but he doesn’t know me. I guess you might say I’m not one of the classy girls he dates.

  He’s rumored to buy a private dance on occasion, but there are many rumors surrounding that man. Stepping into the shower I imagine what it would be like to give him a private dance—what his hands would feel like roaming my curves as I dance for him. Would he want to do more than just touch me? Touching is prohibited, but Parker doesn’t strike me as a man who follows rules—but one who makes them just as good as he breaks them.

  It’s been awhile since I’ve been with a man. There’s only ever been Royce and we broke up three months ago. Most guys are afraid to ask me out because of my brother. Sure it sucks, but that just means that they aren’t man enough for me anyways. I twist my hair in a knot on my head and grab my bag for work. I hope Sug is working tonight, she always knows what to do with my unruly waves. My hair seems to have a mind of its own—it never does what I want it to. If I want it curly it lies stick straight and if I want it straight it curls up.

  I park my jeep in the casino parking garage and make my way into the dancer’s lounge to get ready to shake my ass. There is no shame in my game; I get paid to make men sweat. It doesn’t make any difference to me if they are gay, straight, married or single, at the end of the night their money spends the same and I don’t have to take them home.

  I place my bag inside my locker and lock it; you can’t trust people — especially in this city. Speaking of sketchy bitches I see that Sasha is working tonight. She used to see my brother, but that’s not why I don’t like her. She tried to put the moves on me one night when Kline wasn’t home. That’s just sick. Not because she is bisexual, but because she fucked my brother —eww.

  “Sug, I need you to work your magic on this.” I point to the nest on top of m
y head.

  “Girl what would you ever do without me?” She undoes the knot on my head and starts working her fingers through my tangles. She pins my hair half back on my head leaving the rest laying across my shoulders.

  “Thanks doll. You are a life saver.”

  I undo my button down baby blue shirt, lay it on the back of my chair and shimmy out of my skinny jeans so I can get ready for tonight’s show. Modesty is something you get over quick around here and if you don’t then you are in the wrong place. I change into my nude under garments and roll my fishnet stockings up my legs and over my hips. Tonight I am wearing a gold masquerade mask with a turquoise bodice and matching shorts. I ignore Sasha’s presence completely as she stands behind me, checking my ass out no doubt as I bend down and grab my heels before I head on stage.

  The DJ calls my stage name, “Honey takes the stage.” Honey is my stage name it was given to me by Sug— she says my eyes are the color of honey. You can’t work at a big club like this in Vegas and not have a stage name. There are too many crazies in this world not to. I’ve been working here three months and still don’t know over half the people who work here’s real names.

  ‘Like a Virgin’ begins to play. I seductively walk to the end of the stage and wink at the first guy I lock eyes with. There is something oddly familiar about his face, but hell this is Vegas after a while everyone seems to blend and look the same. There is no black or white everything and everyone has turned grey. Another night of masked faces—let’s do it. I select my next target and smile seductively while licking my lips, he’s my regular. I can always count on him. This guy has been coming in since I started. He has mysterious grey eyes that look like they hold a thousand secrets. One day I won’t have to count on this place to live.

  If I hate it why do I dance here? It’s simple I want to pay my way through nursing school. The song switches to ‘Do what you want’ and I begin my tease. I lock eyes with my target once more as I suggestively trace the curves of my body. The masked gentleman licks his lips, a sure indication he is getting aroused from my performance. Hopefully this number nets me a private dance— the sooner I make my tuition for nursing school the faster my dancing days will be over. Good money can be made here, but between rent and simply living it is going to take me a while to save up enough money. Not to mention the shit Charlie drags Kline into, which usually ends up in my paying most of the bills as of recently.