Only In the Dark, page 1
Only In the Dark
Renea Porter
Published by Renea Porter, 2023.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
ONLY IN THE DARK
First edition. November 13, 2023.
Copyright © 2023 Renea Porter.
Written by Renea Porter.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
EPILOGUE
Only
In
The
Dark
RENEA PORTER
Copyright © 2023 Renea Porter
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover design by Kuro Ishi Arts at Blackstone Book Cover Design
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your preferred vendor and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Chapter One
GENEVA
I’m backstage applying my makeup and finalizing my look before heading on stage. It’s the last week in October, and all the dancers are going to be in special costumes for the whole weekend. The manager had us pull a folded piece of paper of all the costume choices, but we were free to switch with someone if we wanted. Summer Dee Zanders is the first to ask me to switch her angel costume for my devil costume.
At the vanity, I sit in a barely-there angel costume. White thong, white push up bra, white stockings, wings and a halo. Maybe the devil costume suited me better, but it’s too late for that now.
“Girl, I think that costume was made for you.”
I stand, giving myself a final look. “You think so?”
“Yes, you look gorgeous. I almost regret not being the angel myself,” she laughs.
“Well, I don’t know. You look hot in that devil outfit.”
“Thanks. Excuse me while I go make the stage my bitch.”
I smile. “Go make that money.”
Three songs later, it was my turn to appear on stage. Every two to three songs, the girls rotate so we get breaks or if we get a client in a VIP room.
While the stage remains dark, I head toward the center with my head bowed and praying hands. A white spotlight appears in the center of the stage illuminating me. Motivation by Kelly Rowland and Lil Wayne begins. With one hand high on the pole, I walk around it two times before I begin taking off my wings. The lighting is soft and flip s between white, light blue and light pink. The crowd is wearing masquerade masks, so everyone’s face is hidden behind the mask, and makes the event mysterious. My wings are off, and I balance myself on the pole. I spin my body around the pole and contort my body into sexy moves. The second song Body Party by Ciara begins, and I look out into the crowd and immediately spot a man standing tall, wearing a suit, his hair slicked back, and we lock eyes. He stands with one hand in his dress pants pocket and a drink in the other hand. When the third and last song, Yeah, I said it by Rihanna plays, I put more effort into my dance routine, make my moves more seductive and every so often, I lock my gaze onto Mr. Mysterious, and he doesn’t look away. He wants me to notice him watching me. I enjoy the attention from this man. But I wonder, is he a regular and playing a part, or is it someone completely new to Heaven’s Door?
The song ends, I scrape the cash off the floor and head backstage.
“Earth to Geneva,” Vanessa waves her hand in front of my face as I am sitting at my vanity.
I shake my head. “What?”
“Where are you? I asked how the crowd was,” she laughs.
I laugh, playing it off. “Oh. Yes. It’s a good crowd out there. And they are all wearing masquerade masks too.”
I was too distracted thinking about the mystery man to hear what she said, and I wonder why he is affecting so much because a man has never done that.
When I go out for my second set, I do my routine and scan the crowd. I don’t see the mysterious man. Part of me is relieved.
“I’m still giving you a ride home tonight, right?” Summer asks.
“Yep.”
After my shift I gather my things and start to head out to meet Summer out back. When I reach for the door, my manager calls me over to the bar, where he is wiping it down.
“Hey, someone left this for ya.” He hands me a wad of cash. All one-hundred-dollar bills.
“Who? Why?”
“Guess they liked your show,” Aldus, my manager says with a shrug.
I shrug because there is no note or anything with the cash. They just left it anonymously. I stuff the cash in my handbag and head out to meet Summer.
There is a black SUV running, sitting next to her. But I know none of the dancers drive that type of vehicle. And there are no customers lingering at this time of the early morning hours.
“Do you know who drives that?” I ask Summer, nodding to the SUV.
She looks over. “No. Not that I know of. Maybe they are just picking someone up or something.”
“Yes. You’re right.”
Without another thought we head toward my apartment building. Being that the drive is short, we arrive to my building within minutes.
“Want to come in for a drink before you head home?” I ask Summer.
“I better not. I should go home and check on my kid. Thanks, though.”
I smile. “Sure thing. Thanks for the ride.”
“No problem.”
She pulls out of the parking space once I make it to the door, I offer a wave and head up to my apartment. Inside, I reach for the cash that was left for me. Counting it out on my kitchen island, I stare blankly at the amount a stranger would leave. It’s ten grand. Who throws money around like that? I put the money back into a stack and make a mental note to make a bank deposit tomorrow.
“How was your shift?” Livia, my best friend, asks coming out of her room. She was putting diamond earrings in her ears. But she stops when she sees the money.
“It was busy, and someone left me a lot of money. My manager gave it to me at the end of the night.”
“How much?”
“Ten thousand dollars.”
Her eyes bug out of her head. “Must have been some dance you put on. Maybe I need to get a job there.”
I laugh. “Where are you off to?”
She smiles. “I’m meeting Lorenzo at his apartment.”
“Well, have a good evening. I’m heading to bed.”
She lifts her eyebrows. “Don’t wait up.”
“Goodnight.”
“See ya.”
Chapter Two
GENEVA
What a day, I mutter, exhausted as I head home from the county jail, where I work as a nurse. Every day on the job is different. Today, there was an all-out brawl between a group of guys. Of course, they had cuts and scrapes that needed tended to. And I am exhausted.
Luckily, I live in an apartment building right in the city, so the walk isn’t long, maybe a few blocks at best. It’s walkable on a good day. Sometimes, I regret walking because by the end of my shift I am done mentally and physically. Of course, I can hail a taxi or call an Uber, but I just don’t have the energy to do it.
The one thing I look forward to is having a nice long bath to relax in before I transform for my part-time gig at Heaven’s Door strip club. My nursing job didn’t pay shit, but it was a lucrative career to have, and working at Heaven’s Door, I was able to pay for nursing school. With the extra money I made there, it provided me with a nice two-bedroom apartment I share with my roommate, Livia. The apartment view overlooks the city that I moved into nearly two months ago.
Being the only child to two loving parents, I have grown to be super independent. If I needed something, I made it happen. Case in point, when I was putting myself through nursing school, along with stripping at Heaven’s Door, I would also take extra shifts as a cocktail waitress on days I wasn’t scheduled to strip. Both jobs paid very well. Eventually, I wanted to move permanently into cocktail waitressing, but right now, it wasn’t feasible. I needed the extra money stripping was giving me.
Granted, I know my mom and dad would gladly step in if I needed them financially. But I like earning things by working for what I want and need. My mom has always relied on my dad to provide for her and th e family. And they are happy to do so. Maybe I get my work ethics from my dad because he was always working. It seemed like he was working twenty-four-seven. I know he has slowed down compared to his earlier years.
Just as I was about to walk into my building, I hear the screech of a black SUV while someone exits and grabs me, throwing me in the back.
“What the fuck?”
“Settle down before I tie your ass up,” I hear from a booming voice next to me.
I straighten myself up. “Who the fuck are you?”
“That is not important right now, love.”
Love. I am not his love. Looking to my right, I see a well-dressed man, blue-black hair, long enough that it needs to be styled and the darkest eyes I have ever seen. Are they the eyes of the devil? Yes, yes, they are, I tell myself.
I settle down and consider my options, and there’s only two. One more dangerous than the other. Of course, I opt for the most dangerous one, and reach the door handle and throw it open.
Are we on a highway? Yes.
Could I get seriously injured? Also, yes.
The air from the high speed we are traveling whips through my hair. Before I make it out completely, I feel strong hands pulling me back into the SUV.
“Are you trying to fucking kill yourself?” the man’s voice growls in frustration. He moves from his seat and mounts his body on top of mine, forcing my arms at my sides. Anger fuels through me.
“It’s probably better that I do it, than you do it.”
He snickers. “I’m not gonna kill you. I have a wee favor and you can go on your merry way.”
“It always starts with a favor,” I mutter under my breath.
“Let’s start with my name,” he suggests with a grin while still pinning me down. “My name is Dominick LaRocca. And your name is Geneva Castle. Now we are acquainted.”
I bore my eyes into his devil ones. There’s a slight crinkle to them when he smirks, and I want to smack that smirk off his devil face. But I might cut my hand on his sharp jawline. Oh, and the suit he’s wearing is definitely Italian made and expensive. And I really hate that he smells good, almost intoxicating. But I refuse to think such thoughts.
He seems familiar, but I can’t place him. I’m sure I will come to know eventually.
The SUV comes to halt, and we park in front of a large house.
“Now, if I release you, you will not run. Because it will be a long run before you find a main road,” he says, releasing my body as he shifts his stance. I saw exactly how we got here. That’s another gift I have. I know directions really well. But I play along and throw my hands up, letting him know I won’t run.
The driver opens my door, and I see a sprawling estate in front of me. This is a lot for one person, if he owns it. It’s very old timey as the vines climb up the front.
“Welcome to LaRocca Estate,” Dominick announces.
A house maid immediately opens the large door, welcoming us inside. She is wearing the traditional outfit of a maid of the house. “Good evening, Mr. LaRocca.,” she gestures with a curt nod.
“Good evening, Miss Belva. Belva, this is Geneva. Geneva, this is Belva.”
She reaches to shake my hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
I repeat her sentiments. I look around, and I’m in awe at the marble staircase that spirals upward with a black wrought iron banister. This place must be a fortune to run.
“Right this way,” Belva says, catching up to us and leading us to another room, where dishes of food spread across the long wooden table.
“Sit,” Dominick holds my chair out for me. He’s wearing a suit, and I see tattoos peeking out from his sleeve.
“Why am I here?” I immediately ask when he sits at the head of the table to my right. “My roommate will wonder where I am.”
“Your roommate is busy with her boyfriend.”
My eyes shoot to Dominick. How does he know so much about my life? And how does he know about Livia’s boyfriend because that is a big secret, no one else knows but me.
“Now, let’s eat first,” he suggests.
I know it’s no use arguing with a man like this. I can tell by his mannerisms and the way he talks. Everything done is when he wants it done. No sooner and no later. But it is annoying.
I reach for the roasted chicken and plop a piece on my plate, along with all the sides I can fit on my plate.
“You must be starving,” he says.
I smile with a mouthful. “I’m not used to eating so well.”
“Don’t they pay you well as a nurse at the jail?”
I almost choke on my food.
“How did you know about that?”
“I know everything about you, Geneva.”
I am thoroughly dumbfounded.
“You say you know everything about me. But the only thing I know about you is your name, you are very wealthy, and you like to kidnap people.”
Chapter Three
DOMINICK
It’s cute how clueless Geneva is. I’m pretty surprised she hasn’t recognized me yet. But it will eventually come to her.
“Eat,” I say as I continue to torment her.
Even sitting here, close to her, I can see the freckles that lightly dot high on her cheeks and across her nose. Her dark locks are in a high ponytail. And I’ll never forget the look of anger in her dark blue eyes she showed in the SUV.
Yes, I know everything about Geneva. We finish eating, and dessert is served. I place a slice of strawberry pie on her plate.
“I think you just like stalling, Mr. LaRocca. I have places to be. Can we get on with it?”
“Ah yes, Miss Castle.”
I’m mesmerized by her, and the sexy way she is eating her pie. Of course, I’m stalling. Who wouldn’t want to be in the company of Geneva? I move slightly to the side in my chair and cross one leg over the other. “Well, being that you are a nurse at the local prison. I have a little favor. You hardly have to do anything.”
“What is it?”
I lean into Geneva so our faces are close. “I need you to get someone in your infirmary, and then things will go from there.”
“Who and what?”
“There’s a hit on Jason Coranto, he needs to die. And I’ll have one of my men do the killing. You stay in there and make sure it happens.”
“What’s the killer’s name?”
“Theo Bennett.”
“What about the guard that stands outside my office?”
“Paid off.”
“Jesus Christ. You expect me to let that happen?” she shrugs. “That goes against everything I stand for. I could lose my license.”
“I know. But you won’t lose your license. I promise you.”
“Oh, is it because you are a big bad wolf?”
I smile. “Something like that.”
“Do we have a deal, love?”
“I… I am not your love. And no deal.” She stands as if she is leaving, but I catch her arm in my grip. “Sit.” I order through gritted teeth.
“Do you plan on holding me here captive?” She folds her arms across her chest.
“No. I will let you leave when I dismiss you. What will it take to change your mind? Name it. Money? A fancier place to live? A car?”
She sits back against the chair and crosses her legs. “I already told you. I don’t want to lose my nursing license. Something like that on my record could end my career. And I cannot be bought.”
“It’s a fucking jail for crying out loud.”
“Look. Thank you for the meal. But I really should go.”
“Fine. I’ll have one of my men take you home,” I say, meeting her eyes.
“That’s it?” she questions.
“That’s it,” I confirm. “I know you will do the right thing.”
As if to dismiss her, I trek back to my office, where Art hangs out when I’m entertaining.
He spins around in the chair opposite of my desk and faces me. “Is she gonna do it?” he asks, twirling a toothpick in his mouth.
I grab two crystal glasses from my bar and pour some whiskey in each, handing him one. I sit in the chair across from him and take a long sip of my drink, almost downing it in one gulp. “She’s refusing…”
