Finally, she couldn’t fight the urge any longer. Baby plucked the baggie from the table and ran to the bedroom where she pulled out the tiny jewelry box mirror and the queen of hearts card she used for cutting. The setup had been tucked away for months, taunting her. She dumped the contents onto the mirror and used the card to chop the coke, making sure it was fine and clump-free, and then cut off a line. Baby withdrew a dollar bill from a shoebox she kept under her bed.

Her hands trembled as she rolled the bill up. She placed it to her nose and sniffed her way down the line. As the drug hit her nose, Baby’s entire body eased. Her tense muscles retracted. She did a second line using the other nostril. Both sides went numb, and her heart rate quickened. She ground her teeth as the rush hit her. The after drip down the back of her throat was bitter, causing her to shiver in distaste, mixed with the immediate goose bumps of her heart racing and her blood skyrocketing through her veins

***

Baby Jade spent the next few days in a drug-induced haze. The house was spotless due to her sporadic manic episodes. She felt strangely alive as she took turns taking out her energy bursts on the treadmill and the stationary bike. She toyed with the idea of joining a gym but decided it was best not to have to interact with actual people.

Ma’Linn had been by a couple of times, but never stayed long. She told Baby she still hadn’t heard from Phillipe. This is the longest time he has ever gone without showing up for a shower or food. She filled her in on her mother, telling her that things were the same. Rozalie still didn’t want to see Baby. She was doing well for the most part, but they had to sedate her more often.

Nothing held her attention for long, and she didn’t care about the things that she had once found important. She rambled off at the mouth about anything that came to mind.

Now that Baby stayed high, the manic episodes dissipated and she became sloppy, but work went on as usual. It helped that Rodney needed Lucky’s help at the shop. Mickey said they had a big job and were having to work all hours of the night. Lucky wouldn’t be in for a couple of weeks. She suspected Slade had something to do with his disappearance, but this time she was thankful for his interference. Not that she would dare tell him that.

Slade had become a regular at the club again. Mickey seemed happy to have things getting back to normal. The same could not be said for Lolli and the other girls. They were pissed to be put on the back burner again.

Baby stayed high, but still made it through her performances, and then topped off the night with a sedative to counteract the coke.

The pathetic routine was working right up until the night Lucky showed up for his shift. Baby was already halfway blitzed, and giving a lap dance when Lucky walked into the club. She didn’t notice him right away since she had gotten out of the habit of glancing over at his empty stool. Slade and all his goons sat at their usual table. He reached out and slapped Baby Jade on the ass as she walked around the group of men, flirting her way to bigger tips. Falling into routine, she laughed off his antics as he pulled her onto his lap.

When Baby’s gaze finally landed on Lucky across the room, she was shocked to find him glaring at her, one brow arched and his gorgeous lips drawn in a tight, thin line. In true Lucky fashion, he had folded his arms across his chest. He wore another dark t-shirt and a pair of Levi’s. His Dr. Martens crossed at the ankles. Anyone else might think he looked like he didn’t have a care in the world, but Baby knew better. He was fuming. She saw the rage in his clenched jaw and the way he pumped his fists opened and closed in an attempt to keep the blood flowing to his fingers. He leaned against the wall and scowled in her direction.

The coke surging through her body gave Baby an evil streak. It was her way of saying to hell with everyone else, including him. It was her life to fuck up. Being in the same room with Lucky pissed her off. He hadn’t called, or checked on her. She didn’t know why she thought he would, but her heart sank with every passing hour. And now, it was all coming to a head.

Baby Jade ran her hand over Slade’s back, weaving her fingers through his blond ponytail. Leaning over, she planted her lips on his neck before making eye contact with Lucky. Her lips curled in a devious smirk. Wanting to keep her high, Baby headed toward the bar to get another round of shots for the table. She put on her best sexy grin and played with her curls, flirting with everyone in her path. The display was successful, people focused on her rather than the stage. More ammunition for Lolli.

That poor girl had been a hot mess since Slade had turned his affections back toward Baby. She stayed strung out, but now had to work harder to get her hands on the drugs.

Baby tossed her hair from side to side and arched her back to push out her chest. Deep down, she knew it was pathetic, but she didn’t care anymore. Her gaze darted across the room to Lucky. For the first time, she saw the pain rather than anger. He wore the hurt on his face, with his mouth downturned and dead eyes. He was broken.

Chapter Eighteen

Lucky

This fucking week couldn’t go by fast enough. Lucky had already started making plans to leave town immediately after the board meeting. He had been working nights at Rodney’s and working on his own bike during his down time, getting it road ready.

He put in his notice at the garage and told Mickey this would be his last weekend at the club. He thought he had braced himself for everything. Tonight proved him wrong. Seeing Baby Jade sitting on that son of a bitch’s lap left him gasping for air. It was a sucker punch right to the gut.

Her vibrant skin was now dull, the glint in her eyes snuffed out. She was high as a fucking kite, and it pissed him off. What pissed him off more was the fact that he wanted to swoop in and rescue her. His blood boiled and the mixed emotions nauseated him. He couldn’t wait to hop on his bike and say good-bye to this toxic town.

Chapter Nineteen

Baby Jade

Baby downed her next two shots of Jack Daniels and somehow managed to make it to the bathroom in one piece. She finished her three sets for the night and wanted to party until the sun came up. Mickey not only cut back her performances, he also cut the length of her songs. Anything longer than four minutes and someone would need to peel her up off the catwalk.

Tucked away in the last stall, Baby dipped her fingers in between her breasts and slipped out the newest gift from Slade. She took a bump of coke and steadied herself against the stall door allowing the drug to work its magic. The bathroom door opened and she overheard Lolli and Coral gabbing.

“Right? Damn, he looks yummy,” Coral said. Baby didn’t know who they were talking about until she heard Lolli’s reply.

“Yeah, I should go jump on his cock and show him what a real woman can do. Baby’s too much of a fucking mess to be able to handle that much man.”

Lucky

They both cackled, and Coral finished with, “Please, bitch. He isn’t going to let anyone near him. Especially someone from Bottoms Up.”

Then the two spent the next couple of minutes talking about lipstick, cigarettes, and the best condoms for women’s pleasure. Baby thought it might literally kill her to have to stay still and listen to the screeching sound of their voices. Her skin was crawling by the time they left. Pulling out the baggie, she did another bump. She tried to forget where she was by closing her eyes, but instead she saw Lucky’s face. The hurt and anger. The pain in his eyes searing deep into her.