Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“She’s good, right?” a soft voice says next to me.
I don’t have to look down to know it’s Swan. “Hey, when’d you get here?” I ask.
“Just now.” She lifts her chin toward the stage. “I taught her that move.”
“Customers seem to appreciate it.”
“Hmm.” She tips her head back. “I think she’s better at it than I am now.”
“No one’s better than you,” I assure her. “Why else would I keep reeling you back in here?”
Swan’s been trying to quit for ages. But her ties to the MC make it almost impossible. One of these days, she’ll probably vanish, just to get away from us.
I continue weaving through the crowd, nodding at Willow behind the bar and continue to the front door. One of our bouncers—Blue—has his heavy frame draped over a tall wooden stool in the short, narrow entryway.
“Busy tonight?” I ask.
He nods. Blue rarely wastes words.
“Inga flew by on her broomstick to fuck up my afternoon,” I say.
He lifts an eyebrow. “Porn star Inga?”
“Do we know any others?”
His mouth twitches with interest. “How’s she lookin?”
“Rough.” I roll my eyes. “That’s not the point. She’s not allowed in here for any reason. You see her, call a brother to toss her out.”
“You got it. Too many fine females in the world to mess with that snake.”
Got that right. “Malik outside?” I ask.
He nods once.
“Follow me.” I jerk my head toward the door. Although Blue’s worked for Crystal Ball longer, Malik’s a prospect and I trust him more.
Outside, a line of men wait to be let inside. Been a while since we’ve been this busy. Malik’s carefully eyeballing each of our would-be customers. Checking to make sure no one’s drunk, carrying weapons, or on our “no entry” list.
I tap Malik’s arm and jerk my head toward the club. Without a word, he hands the I.D. he’s holding to Blue and follows me inside.
“What’s on your mind, Dexter?” he asks in his low, deadly rumble.
I shake my head. “Dex is fine.”
“Yeah, but everyone says you got your road name after that serial killer dude.”
While that’s partially true, it sounds stupid as fuck. Ignoring it, I pull out my phone and find the picture of Inga. “I need you to be on the lookout for someone. She’s before your time, but back in town—probably to cause trouble. Under no circumstances is she allowed inside this club.”
He takes my phone and studies the photo. “What’s wrong with her?”
I can’t tell if he’s asking why she’s banned from the club or commenting on her appearance. “Other than being a she-devil, she’s addicted to causing trouble.”
“Got it.” He hands my phone back. “Send me that?”
“Everything all right out there?” I ask, tapping my phone to send the photo.
“Gonna be a busy night.”
“Good.” I glance around the club, noting who else is working tonight. “I’m gonna have Blue take over door duty and put you on the VIP rooms.”
We go over a few details, then I send him on his way. Next stop is Willow to remind her not to talk to Inga if she calls or stops by. Willow’s cheeks flush red. She’d been partially responsible for Inga sending the lawsuit to Hope, and even though I don’t bring it up, she obviously still feels bad about it.
Nonstop fucking drama in this place.
The longer I’m in charge of Crystal Ball, the more I understand why Rock wanted to get the fuck away from here.
A few hours later, we’re packed. Numbers are close to where we’ll need to turn people away at the door soon.
In the back of my head, the impending conversation with Emily looms like a storm cloud.
From the hallway that leads to the VIP rooms, I catch Malik waving a hand to signal me.
“What now?” I mutter, pushing my way through the crowd. I almost knock one of the waitresses over in my hurry. She squeals and fixes the kitty ears on her head as I pass. Fucking cat ears. Maybe we need a uniform for the waitresses. One that doesn’t include goddamn cat ears.
“What’s wrong?” I ask Malik.
“Got two bros who don’t understand the ‘no touching’ policy.”
An evil smile curls my lips. This is what I need tonight.
“I already gave them one warning and they said they’d behave but I don’t—”
Malik’s cut off by a short scream from the room to our left. We bolt into action. Adrenaline thunders through my veins as I turn and push the door open.
I rein in my urge to murder while my eyes absorb the scene faster than my brain can process it.
Topless girl. In a customer’s lap. Pushing and struggling to extract herself from his grip. His buddy’s short, chubby fingers working to untie the strings holding her shorts together.
“Let her go. Now.” My voice thunders over the music. The two customers turn toward us wide-eyed. The distraction gives the girl—Minnie, I now recognize—enough slack to scramble away from them. She trips over her high-heeled black boots, and I catch her before she hits the carpet.