I slap him on the back and take the whiskey from Speck, rolling my eyes at his dumbass story about his week at The Boulevard.
“Ain’t no fucking way the new girl made five grand with one dance, stop your bullshitting,” I say, cutting his fucking bravado off.
Looks like he’s fallen for some new side piece, so a regular fucking Thursday for him.
“I swear on my patch, she did. Diamond about shit herself, she did not want her on the books but the fucking way she moved… fuck, I’d pay good green myself for a private dance.”
Axe chuckles and shrugs. “You waste all your fucking money down there ‘cause you don’t know how to get pussy without paying. Maybe you need to spend a little more time at a real bar and not just the titty one.”
Monroe walks through with Diesel in tow and half the fucking room groans inaudibly. I know it for sure because we’re all turning away, hoping they’re not gonna park their asses with us.
Of course she picks me.
“What’s the sour fucking face for, Tomi? Finally caught the clap from those whores you’ve been fucking?”
Speck curses under his breath and walks away, just turns on his heel and stalks over to serve drinks further down the bar. I set my glass down and face the little cunt.
Dave’s kid and born into the club, she’s been a fucking nightmare from day one. A different sort to Trink because she’s somehow managed to rope Diesel into handing over his patch to her and yet she spends her days desperately following me and my cousins around.
Difference between Trink and Monroe is that my sister just wants to live her own life. Monroe wants to fucking destroy whoever she touches and fuck is she desperate to touch me.
“Only whore I see around here is you. How about you go on back into Diesel's room and leave us all to have a good night?”
Diesel gives me a hard look and I grin back at him because I’m itching for a fight now. He stands up from his seat and snarls, “Shut your fucking mouth.”
Axe curses under his breath and starts looking around for backup.
“I’m not saying anything that isn’t true so how about you fucking make me. Unless your little whore of an old lady has your balls about that too.”
He dives at me but I’m in the mood to fucking beat the shit outta him and serve a reminder of a lifetime to him and all of the other men here.
Callaghans own this place.
Everyone else can fall the fuck into line.
Chapter Three
Angel
I make almost eight thousand dollars in my first shift at The Boulevard.
After I convinced Diamond to hire me with my first dance she gave me an ID pass and information about working here. The tour was short thanks to my unwillingness to do any of the extra jobs and the only other things I needed to know were about the themed nights the club holds. I’m a little nervous about how much I’m going to have to spend on underwear and shoes but the stacks of bills that were in Diamond’s hands from my audition keep popping into my mind.
I can do this.
The bouncer lets me in before the club opens and I walk straight to the locker room without really looking around the room that the staff are setting up for the night.
The locker room is full of girls, most of them either naked or wearing the teeny tiny outfits that the bar staff here wear. I find the locker I was assigned and unlock it, shoving my bag inside and grabbing out the supplies I need to take a quick shower to get ready. None of the girls try to speak to me but they all sure do enjoy watching my every move.
I already feel like an outsider.
I try to tell myself it’ll get better, I just need to prove myself. If I keep my head down and dance my ass off hopefully they’ll come around. I don’t need friends but fuck, it wouldn’t be so bad to have them.
I only have two slots for dances but my crowd is bigger than any other girl in the room, half the guys there are familiar or wearing patches. Word has clearly gotten out about the new girl.
I change outfits for the second dance, something a little less white and little more sexual with the diamonds and feathers. I’m stashing the other, sweaty outfit into my bag when the door opens and Diamond walks in, a sour look on her face as she stops next to my locker. I keep my eyes on what I’m doing and she huffs out an annoyed breath at me.
“If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have hired you. Girls who think they’re too good to do extra don’t last here and I don’t really want to have to deal with the drama but you caught Speck’s eye. I’m sure once he’s done with you he’ll be happy to see you on your way.”
My hands are rock steady while I apply the lipstick, a soft peachy color that I know makes my lips look even poutier than normal, perfect to make men think about ramming their cocks between them. I’ve had enough practice before competitions to learn how to keep my nerves in line and there’s already four thousand dollars locked away in my bag. That will always help me to deal with some bitchy attitudes.
“I’m just here to dance and make good money. That’s it. I’m not starting drama, I’m not being pulled into it, I’m just here to dance. If it really is a problem, I can move on and work somewhere else.”
She looks down her nose at me. “Well now you’ve caught Speck’s eye I can’t exactly tell you to leave, can I? You should though. You’ll regret it if you don’t.”
That sounds threatening.
Jesus.
I lock up my shit, checking for sure it’s secure, and then I make my way out onto the stage again. The crowd is even bigger than the last time, rowdier and yelling out to me the entire time dancing. The money rains down onto the stage even though I’ve been out once already and I try not to listen to any of the words coming out of any of their mouths, just focussing on the dance itself and staying steady on the stripper heels. They’re new and even higher than the last pair.
When the song finally ends and I collect all of the cash, forcing a flirty grin on my face as I scoop it up even though I’d rather fucking choke than have any of these men touch me.
Speck is waiting for me in the locker rooms when I get out there.
I’m starting to get worried he’s into me, something I can’t freaking give him, no matter how nice or cute he is. He grins and motions at the green in my arms. “I’ve never seen a girl make that kinda money in a single night, let alone one fucking song.”
I grin at him and shrug, remembering at the last second I’m in a fucking thong and pasties. I fight a blush or, you know, dying of mortification.
I get my locker open and shove the money in my bag before I pull it out and head towards the showers. Speck chuckles at me and calls out, “I’d throw my life savings at that ass too, Angel-baby.”
Christ on a fucking cracker, I need to figure out how to let him down. Firm but gentle, enough that he doesn’t chase me but not so much that it gets me fucking fired.
“Selling him your ass already? Guess you aren’t Miss Prim and Proper after all,” Diamond sneers as I walk past her to get into the showers.
I ignore her but she was loud enough for Speck to overhear and he snarks back at her, “You should be grateful. Half your private dances came straight from Angel’s stage, she filled your fucking pockets tonight.”