Page 45 of Tease
“What would you like to start with, gentlemen?
“Double shot of whiskey, on the rocks, for me, please.” I relax into the cushions of the booth, arms sprawled out on top. Drumming my fingertips against the leather, I look around and take in my surroundings and the other customers. I’m definitely underdressed for this place in my black tennis shoes, black jeans, and a green shirt underneath my leather jacket.
“A shot of whiskey and a beer for me, please,babe.” This lady is dripping for Beau’s attention. Once she turns around to leave, I ask him why he didn’t tell me about the dress code.
“Nobody cares what you wear here. This place is for the elite of Chicago, and you’re allowed to be yourself. No games.”
“So what’s the story with that Carter guy?”
He pauses for a second and looks around before responding quietly. “Rumor has it that he was once the right-hand guy to the powerful DiPatri Mafia family. He married a Spanish princess, and they had a beautiful daughter—Ajani. There was a war between the Mafia families… a fight for more control. One day, his wife took his car to go and grab diapers, while he and Ajani napped together. A car bomb, no doubt meant for Carter, woke him, and he was left a widower and a single father.”
The waitress comes back and places our drinks down on the table, then heads to her next customer. We each take a long sip of our drinks before Beau continues with the story.
“The other rumor is that he went crazy afterwards and went on a killing spree against the men who took his wife away from him. The head of the DiPatri family let him leave the ranks to raise his daughter, and let him run this place.” He uses his hand to point around the room. “This is a money maker for the Mafia and a place that offers him some sense of purpose. It’s a win-win.”
“So how did he save your life?”
Beau shakes his glass, making the ice clink against it, and sets it down. “Ah, that’s a sad story too. I never knew my father, andgrew up with a drug-addicted mom. She overdosed, and I had nowhere to go. I started doing stupid things for money. It was then that one of Carter’s men found me. They took me to him, and instead of a beating, he offered me a job and a roof over my head. The only rule was to protect Ajani at all costs forever, and never crossthat linewith her.”
His lips form into a sad smile around the mouth of his beer bottle. “That part’s been easy; she’s great. And most people are too scared to date her—because of who her dad is.”
The music fades out, and an announcer’s voice is loud. “Let’s welcome our very own… KC!!”
Multiple shades of purple lights strobe, and then focus on a pole, where a dark-haired beauty, who’s only wearing a black bikini, starts to twirl around it.
“Gas Pedal” by Sage the Gemini is playing. I can’t focus on the words to the music because once the woman on stage does an upside-down twirl, her hair hangs down toward the floor. Her thin neck is on full display, and a radiant sunflower tattoo is visible behind her right ear.You’ve got to be kidding me.First the fight, now this? She’s teasing me, and she doesn’t even know it.
“Nope, not KC. Don’t even think about it, Jared. I can see the way you’re looking at her. She belongs to Mathew King, an enforcer for the Giordano Mafia family. Shit, I don’t even think KC knows she’s his.”
I’m unable to take my eyes away from the way her body is working that pole in perfect rhythm with the beat. “What do you know about her?” I grin wickedly and continue to watch Kailey’s body move. A dazzling smile takes over her face, and it takes my breath away.
“She’s a bartender for The Purple Room. Honestly, I’ve never seen her up there before.”
My eyes skim the crowd, and yeah, I’m not liking the way all of these men are looking at my girl. Lots of guys in suits whose meetings have all been put on pause as they’re captivated by Kailey’s performance. A man seated at one of the tables further away catches my attention. He’s a tall, bald guy in a nice suit, and he’s not alone. He pulls out his phone, takes a video, types out something quick, and then pockets it.
Fucking creep.
“Do you know when she usually works?”
Beau slams his glass down on the table. “Are you deaf, dumb, or just have a death wish?”
I throw back the rest of my whiskey in one gulp. “When it comes to her, maybe I’m all three.”
Kailey has broken my heart and changed me forever. Maybe the time has finally come to see what kind of reaction I can pull out of her. Does she even think about me?
CHAPTER 35
KC
Istayed up way too late, reading my hockey smut and drinking a bottle of wine. It was a good distraction. My pole dancing on stage went way better than I thought it would last night. Mel told me I could be one of her regulars. While I was up there, on stage, there was a heat that stayed on my cheeks. A feeling of being devoured by someone’s eye never left me, and the air in the room had turned electric. I can see why dancers love it; it is quite the adrenaline rush.
Ringing from the kitchen makes me jump out of bed. The laptop is open on my kitchen island. I plop my butt down onto a stool at the island and press answer. Travey’s face lights up my screen. “Ahh, there’s my handsome little brotherwho’s gonna be a doctor.”
“There’s my sister, who clearly just got out of bed and needs to make herself some coffee before Mom and Dad jump on this call.”
I look around the kitchen and into the living room. I don’t see any of Brittney’s things. She must’ve stayed with Skyler again last night.
I hold up my middle finger to the camera. “Yes, you’re right. Let me make some real quick.”
