Page 16 of Feast

Sweetheart?!

“Just let me take care of this young lady first.” His eyes moved to me. “Still want those shots?”

Motherfucker.

With a forced smile, I tilted my head and stood tall. “You know what.” I slipped the black card from my breasts and slid it across the bar top towards him, watching as his smile fell. “I do. And while you’re at it, my customer would just love to buy these ladies their drinks.” The trio of women gasped and thanked me, completely unaware of the game I was playing. “Oh, and keep the tab open. I have a feeling this VIP customer is going to be demanding much more of me tonight.” My smile fell as I turned to walk away.

Haze gripped my wrist, stopping me. I snapped my head to look back at him. “Don’t you want to wait for those drinks?”

I ripped my hand free. “Sorry, but I’m busy.” My eyes flicked to the trio of women. “And you seem to have your hands full, Bud.” He clenched his jaw at my tone. “But you know what, you look like you’re really enjoying yourself tonight. So.” I pulled the wad of cash from my tits and tossed it to him. “Why don’t you take that and go buy yourself something pretty.”

Haze squeezed the cash in his fist. “What is this?” he asked, his temper slowly seeping through the facade he wore.

I smiled, tossing the green hair over my shoulder. “A very generous tip from a very generous man. Keep it. I’m sure I’ll get another from him, or any of the VIP guests tonight. Oh, try to have those shots ready when I get back. I would hate to upset my new friend.”

I turned and walked away, fuming as I pushed through the club toward the back.

Now we’re fucking even.

I pushed through the back door of the club, brushing past a few other women in bottle service. I made my way to the back office, knocking on the door. The club manager looked up from her desk, peeking over the brim of her glasses at me. “Yes?”

“I need some party favors.”

The older, red-haired woman eyed me. “You’re that new girl, huh?” She grunted. “VIP?”

I nodded. “Lower-level booth. The customer's name is Ray.”

The woman smoked her cigarette and crossed her arms as she leaned back in her chair. “Card or cash?”

“Card. Black card, open tab at the bar just outside.”

The woman smiled. “Oh…open tab already? Hmm. You seem seasoned for a new girl. What’s your name, tits?”

“You can call me Flowers.”

The manager nodded, standing from her chair. “Flower, huh? Nice stage name.” She walked across the room to an old watercolor picture on the wall, lifting it to reveal a small wall safe. “How many in the party?”

I quickly recounted the group in my head. “Just six.”

She pulled six tiny bags of mixed drugs from the safe before stopping and adding an extra. The older woman shut the same, returning the painting before sitting back down at her desk. She opened a drawer, pulling out a pack of cigarettes, dumping them across the desk before tucking the drugs inside. “Here.” She tossed the pack at me.

Something’s never change.

“I added that extra one for you.” She smiled, raising the lit cigarette to her crusty red lips. “Consider it a bonus for a job well done.” I nodded. “Oh, and Ms. Flowers? Keep that tab open until it’s in the red. I want to drain every cent from that account until it’s declined and flagged for fraud.”

I clicked my tongue, knowing damn well what she was doing. “Let me guess…to hook the bigger game?”

She pointed at me, the cigarette between her fingers as she smiled, revealing lipstick-stained teeth. “Bingo. Hmm. It’s not often we get someone like you in here.”

My brow raised. “Someone like me?”

The manager nodded. “Boobs and brains. It’s nice to see there are still a few women like you left.” I tried not to let her remark offend me. “Now, go get ‘em.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I left the office and returned to the back of the club, making my way through the dark hall. I looked down, opening the pack to pull out the extra party favor. “I wonder if they still use the same pills—” Someone grabbed my arm, nearly knocking me over as I stumbled in my heels. I stuffed the tiny bag in my dress as I nearly fell forward into whoever it was who yanked me. “What the⁠—”

“Shhhh. Wouldn’t want anyone to see us, now would we, little sis?”

I looked up at Haze, hidden in the shadows of the dimly lit corner of the back hall. He was smiling, completely back to his usual self, despite being an ass earlier. “Don’t you have drinks to make?” I asked, pushing off him.