Beneath a Blood Moon Read Online Free Page A

Isabella’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, and with a quiet huff, she vanished into her bedroom.
    Isabella was ready within five minutes, which made me suspect she had intended to go to work with me from the start. Annoyed at her prodding but too grateful to say a word about it, I grabbed my purse and my gym bag with my work clothes.
    “We’ll cab,” my friend said before placing a call on her cell to summon a driver. I grimaced, wondering how I would be able to afford my share of it and have money left over to eat. Instead of complaining, I clenched my teeth.
    Protesting wouldn’t do me any good. It was the one thing we never agreed on, although our friendship had survived the burden of our differing perspectives on money and how far we’d go to acquire it.
    So long as I didn’t say anything she perceived as a criticism of her lifestyle, we’d get along. All I had to do was make myself scarce if she brought a client home with her and stay quiet. I had no idea what I was going to do about college; did my gift-giver know where I went to school? The semester would end soon enough, if I could avoid whoever was leaving the roses at my door. Once exams were over, I could reevaluate my classes. Missing a semester of courses wouldn’t kill me.
    Making myself an easy target might.
    By the time the cab arrived, I was second-guessing going into work at all. Isabella glared at me, pointed at the car, and tapped her foot. I sighed and got in.
    “Relax,” Isabella ordered, prodding me in the side with her elbow. “We both need a good shift tonight, especially if I can’t work clients.”
    “You can if you need to. I’ll stay near the casinos until you’re finished—or stay in the lobby at your place.”
    She considered me for a long moment before nodding her satisfaction. “We’ll figure it out. At least I don’t have to tell you to stay close at home.”
    The jab at my lack of prostitution work was gentle compared to her normal barbs, but I flinched regardless. Last night, if I had found the courage, I would have considered going home with the amber-eyed man to see if I could coax a real smile out of him.
    If I had known what was waiting for me at home, I would’ve gone home with him for free.
    I felt like a fool for even thinking about him. I didn’t have room in my life for one-night stands, and taking home interesting men, while good for business, was bad in all other ways. I could barely afford to keep myself. There was no way in hell I was going to rely on some man I had picked up on the strip.
    In my line of work, sleeping with men was business only.
    Unfortunately for me, I wanted something more than a never-ending chain of trysts. The few times I had prostituted in desperation, the hope my partner wanted something more than a one-night stand proved my undoing. I sighed, staring out the window as the cab zipped across the city towards the strip.
    Maybe if I were willing to compromise my prudish, old-fashioned ways, I wouldn’t have someone stalking me—or wanting me dead. The driver came to a halt outside of the casino closest to the club, and I dug through my purse for several bills from last night’s work. Isabella waved me off, paying the driver as well as tipping him.
    “Just this once,” she informed me, gracing me with a smile.
    I flushed. “Thanks.”
    In a way, I wished she hadn’t covered my half of the bill; Isabella had a way of turning a fifteen dollar debt into a hundred dollar profit for herself. Unless I had good luck and soon, I would likely owe Isabella every extra cent I’d make for a year in order to repay her for her kindness.
    Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to make a life for myself in the city. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to attend college at all. Despite knowing that, I couldn’t deny the truth.
    Everything in Vegas had a price—even friendship.
    All I could do was hope her help wouldn’t cost more than I was willing to pay. At least I had some hope,