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It feels like I have spiders running through my veins. Even now, seeing Sienna from across the street, the squirming feeling doesn’t disappear. I step closer, needing to be near her. Her ass sways with each confident step she takes. She’s wearing a shorter shirt that shows off a sliver of gorgeous skin.
I’m entranced by her and my feet continue to follow, my eyes never straying. I give her a few minutes to enter Throne of Sin before I walk in, trying to stay in the shadows. I don’t need my brothers asking me questions.
My mouth dries when I watch Sienna give my brother a hug. Instantly, the image of me stabbing him pushes its way into my mind’s eye. The only thing saving him is the way he tenses and shoves her away. She shrugs it off, continuing with her job.
I know she’s safe here, but seeing that hug has me questioning if I should stay here for the rest of the night. My fingers tap against each other as I watch Dante go into his office before I head toward her place to set up the desperately needed cameras. With each step, my agitation decreases and I begin to whistle as my excitement builds, knowing I’m going to be in Sienna’s personal space. Twirling her keys around my finger, I unlock her door without care. My feet halt, my torso leaning over my feet as I stare at what looks like a six-foot bear that’s growling. His teeth are pointed and drool hangs over his weapon of a mouth.
Immediately, I close the door and relock it. This is a small little bump in the road, but nothing I can’t fix.
I’m back within a half hour with a McDonald’s ice cream cone in hand. The teeth become smaller and I’m able to slip inside and close the door, but he doesn’t retreat. I move my hand closer to the brute of a dog and allow him to smell what I have. I’m risking my hand, but it will be worth it to have this animal on my side.
He snaps his teeth and I marginally get to keep my fingers, but I watch his big black nose twist and move, smelling the gift I’ve brought. Once again, I bring the vanilla cone up and his tongue cautiously dips out. It allows me to step closer and bring my hand out for him to smell. Another lick of the sweet dessert and I’m able to pat his head.
“What’s your name, fella?” I ask, holding the now-dripping ice cream while the dog continues with his leisurely licks. “I’ll just call you Brute until Sienna tells me otherwise. You want to help me install some cameras?”
Chapter 12: Sienna
“Shelbywon’tcomeoutfrom the back.” I turn my head seeing one of Dante’s girls staring at me expectantly. Boss man is gone and these girls keep looking at me like I’m their leader.
“Watch the bar,” I instruct while going into the changing rooms.
Shelby is standing there shaking like a leaf. “First time on stage?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “It’s Denver, my old dealer, and…” She clears her throat, tilting her head like I should know the rest of it. “He can’t see me here. I’m finally free of him. I can’t go back.”
Now, this is something I can understand. I lift a finger and walk out.
It takes me less than three seconds to get the bouncers’ attention and they’re moving to remove this asshole before I finish my last breath.
I go back into the changing room. “Problem is gone. Everyone’s been notified that he’s not to ever step foot in here again. We good now?” I can hear the crowd getting rowdy, expecting a girl to be dancing on stage and becoming bored with no entertainment.
The building is over capacity with a raw edge of energy thriving between the walls. I can’t help but to continually glance at the entrance, expecting to see someone from my world. It’s been a while since I’ve seen or heard from Max, and it’s unnerving. People in this lifestyle don’t live very long, maybe he’s met his maker. I’m not sure what to think of that. Am I happy or sad?
By the time the lights turn on at the end of the night, my feet are throbbing, but I’m not close to being tired. Dante walks in looking like he just woke up and showered in his perfectly fitted suit. This guy looks flawless all the time. It has to be exhausting.
“Is this your version of fashionably late?” I holler while I weigh the bottles from behind.
The air in the room changes and the low chatter dies down immediately. Maybe this guy doesn’t know how to joke? He strides toward me with his long legs and stops to narrow his eyes. I can’t tell if it’s a glare or a general assessment.
“What did you say to me?”
Oh, fuck me, another one with an ego. Problem is, I’m used to not being able to keep my mouth shut. I know the consequences, I’m just unworried about it. Some call it stupid, but I refuse to regard myself in that way.
“Not in the joking mood tonight, Boss Man?” I lean my hip against the bar. “When was the last time you got laid?”
His face before was an assessment, now it’s a glare. I place my hand over his, trying to smooth the water, and he jumps back like I’ve burned him. He has to have an anti-touching thing going on. This man needs to be socialized. He owns a strip club, for goodness sakes, and that’s the honest part of the business.
“Here’s the thing, we need to make a few changes.” I grab another bottle, placing it on the scale.
Dante’s eyes bulge out like he’s a cartoon, but he remains silent. “This crowd wants something that no one else offers. You should place a viewing area in one of the rooms. Then you can charge for watching and people will pay more to be in the room with the viewing opportunities. You’d make a killing.”And maybe this will put a smile on your face.
I continue on rambling about the night, but out of the corner of my eye I watch his lips purse back and forth as he thinks about my suggestion.
I don’t even think he’s paying me any more attention when he says, “I heard about Shelby tonight, thanks for taking care of that. I’ve ensured he won’t be a problem here again.” He taps his fist on the counter three times. “It looks like you can handle yourself pretty well. I need help with scheduling, and if this all continues to work out, if you need more hours, I have some bookkeeping you can do.” My ears perk up with the extra hours. More hours equal the faster I can get out of here and be on my way. “But don’t ever tell me how to run my club again.”
My smile grows as he walks away. He loved my suggestion, I can tell. I giggle before schooling my expression and keep my head down while continuing my task.
Dantehaswalkedmehome each night for the last two weeks. In that short amount of time, he’s become closer to me than any of my family. I can’t help but think of him like a brother. He has this protectiveness that spreads to all the girls in his club. I now understand why Max sent me to work here. No one touches anything of Dante’s.
