Page 129 of Finding Us
“Depends on what you’re after.”
“I’m not after anything, like I said, I’m just here to collect my girl.”
“It’s five hundred to get in, or a grand if you want complimentary drinks and a lap dance.”
“You’re kidding right?”
“Nope. This is a high-class establishment. Our girls are the best of the best … you won’t find better.”
I clear my throat and count to ten in my head. I’m struggling to keep my composure. I pull out my credit card and hand it to him. “I’m not after a lap dance,” I say.
He chuckles. “Not when you can get a free one at home by blondie, right?” When he mumbles, “Lucky bastard,” under his breath, I’m tempted to reach for him again.
He holds my card out to me once he’s scanned it; I snatch it from between his fingers and stomp up the steps. I only make it halfway when I hear him on the phone. “Boss-man, there’s a guy on his way up … he’s here to collect the new blonde, claims she is his girl. He looks pissed.”
By the time I reach the top of the stairs, two burly security guards and a man in a three-piece suit are waiting to greet me.Fuck.The guy in the suit with the slicked-back black hair holds his hand out to me. Each finger is adorned with a large chunky gold ring. “Rocco,” he says with a heavy Italian accent. “I hear you’re looking for Jacinta.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s just about to go on.”
“Not if I can help it,” I snap, trying to push past him.
One of the security guys grabs hold of my arm, but when Rocco shakes his head, he lets me go. “I’ve got this,” he says, slinking his arm over my shoulder. “Come, would you like a complimentary drink while you wait?”
“No. I just want to get Jacinta and leave.”
“All in good time,” he says. “I know this is hard for you … and that your girl is only here because she’s doing Candy a solid. Rest assured, I look after all my dancers, they’re like family to me. Jacinta simply didn’t want Candy to lose her job.”
“If you indeed look after your girls, threatening one with her job because her son is in hospital is not only contradictive, but pretty underhanded.”
He barks out a laugh. “You know about that part, huh? You’ve got me there,” he says, holding his hands out in front of him. “At the end of the day I still have a business to run, and there was nobody else available to fill her slot.” He leads me to a booth down near the stage and encourages me to take a seat. “Saturday nights are my busiest.” He runs his thumb over the tip of his fingers as he seats himself beside me. “Tonight, is when the big bucks come into play, so I only have my best dancers perform.”
“Yet you’re going to let a newbie get up there?”
“Have you not seen her on a pole?”
“No, have you?” I snap, because the thought of his beady little eyes on her makes me livid.
“She’s done wonders with my dancers, she’s a great teacher, they can’t talk highly enough about her. And as for your question, yes I have, but only briefly when she came in. I had to see for myself before I let her up there. And let me tell you … if stripping was something she was interested in full-time, I’d snap her up in a heartbeat. She’d make me rich, or should I say richer.” He laughs, and I shake my head in disgust. I go to stand, and he grabs my arm. “Sit. Are you going to behave, or do I need to call my guys over?” My nostrils flair as I huff out a breath. When I retake my seat, he grasps my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “Smart man. One dance, and then she’s all yours. Relax and enjoy.”
“Forewarned, if one of these fuckers lays a hand on her—”
“Like I just told you,relax, there’s no touching, unless they pay for it of course.”
“I don’t care how much they pay for the privilege; they touch her and they die.”
He throws back his head and barks out a laugh, “I actually like you,” he says once he pulls himself together, then I see him motion with two fingers and his goon moves over to stand beside our table. “I assure you she is safe up there, I’m even allowing her to leave her clothes on, which is a first for me.”
“How noble of you,” I spit.
“I did however, hand pick her outfit. I think her looks, sweet persona, and dance skills will be enough to keep my patrons happy.”
A topless waitress appears beside our table, placing two tumblers with a small amount of amber liquid in each down in front of us. “Thank you, Catrina,” Rocco says, lifting the glass to his mouth. I don’t touch mine; I’m only here for one thing …to get my girl the fuck out of here.
The cages either side of the stage, containing two scantily dressed women dancing, suddenly start to rise towards the roof and the lights turn off. “Okay ladies and gentlemen,” booms a voice over the speakers, “Are you ready for the highlight of the evening?” The room erupts into cheers while the knots in my stomach tighten. “Our first act tonight is a newbie, please welcome on stage for her debut appearance, Sparkles.”
Rocco nudges my side when they say her stage name. “I picked that, good one huh. I knew once she got out here, she’d shine.”
