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“I can’t do that.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I meant it when I said I was getting rid of the entertainment for the private rooms. Black Royale no longer employs dancers.”
“But—”
“Butdon’t worry,” he interrupts my plea. “Contrary to what you may think, I’m not a tyrant.”
I snort.
“I’m not. I take care of my staff. All the dancers got placed in different jobs and promised training if they wanted it. They were also guaranteed equivalent pay.”
“So…” I narrow my eyes. “What you’re saying is, that you gave normal servers raises to match the pay, too?” He better not screw Mel over with this.
He sighs. “Fine. I’ll do that.”
I grin, excited to see Mel’s face when I tell her the good news.
“You’re very expensive, Alessa.”
“That’s because I’m just. So. Precious.” I smile sweetly, batting my eyelashes at him.
He chuckles and my heart stops at the foreign sound escaping his lips. My eyes are glued to his mouth as his lips stretch into a half smile, making his whole face even more handsome. “Now that this is sorted, I’ll get one of my men to get your stuff from the bus station and take it to your room.”
“Umm. No, I’m not staying here. Also, what do you mean ‘from’ the bus station? Pretty sure Luca put my stuff in the car.”
He laughs, his eyes crinkling at the side and I’m mesmerised. Why is he being so… human? I miss Terence. With Terence, at least I knew where I stood. Even if it was on very, very thin ice. Dante being all nice, has me all confused and angry.
“That wasn’tyourstuff.” Meaning it was something of his. Considering all the comments Luca made about the guard who tried to kill me, I’m now almost certain it was him in the trunk. Who the hell are these people? Must be some sort of organised crime. It’s the only thing that’s making sense. And if that’s the case, I probably would have been better off leaving town when Dante first told me to.
“Where will you stay if not here?” he asks.
“Umm. Mel’s.” I reply, my mind still racing.
“I don’t like it.”
I snort. “Well, that’s too bad, buddy, because it’s happening.”
“Fine,” he says like he’s got any say in the matter. “But don’t ever call me ‘buddy’ again.”
Little does he know, no one tells me what to do.
10
ALESSA
Luca takes us to Mel’s apartment. In a different car. One that has my actual suitcases in the trunk, which he kindly takes up the two flights of stairs and sets in my new room before awkwardly waving at us and leaving.
I drop my ass onto the sofa in the living room, looking out the window as the sky turns from dark to morning grey. Mel shuffles like a zombie before she, too, succumbs to the call of the sofa, grabbing a cushion and hugging it. We were both told to take the rest of the weekend off and come back to Black Royale on Monday.
“So,” Mel says.
“I don’t even know where to start.” I rub my face with my hands.
“I’ll get the wine then.” She gets up, groaning like an old lady and making me chuckle.
“I’ll get the glasses.”
