Savvy Negotiator (Untraceable Succubus Book 2)

by Erin R Flynn

  Several people gasped as she let out a screech and tried to slap me. I deflected it easily and sighed. Pathetic. She was pathetic. I wasn’t sure she was even worth helping. She was a bully and that bitch we all hated in high school who got away with too much.

  Now life had given it back, and still she was acting like the queen of everything.

  I glanced at the others. “You deserve better than you’re getting. Demand it or accept that you allow this and stop blaming everyone else. Either way, don’t jump down my throat that I won’t put up with that shit.”

  David was already there when I was about to go up on stage, but the bartender wasn’t. I decided to take a chance and headed over to him. “I’m not sure this is safe in back, and I don’t want to put it in my car when we’ve got a cigar date. Do you mind watching it?”

  “It would be my pleasure,” he agreed, giving me a curious look. “I have been looking forward to those cigars.”

  “They are worth it,” I promised.

  I did my two songs and customer service before heading back to David. We went to the bar and ordered two whiskeys. He paid, and I slid on my coat as we headed out to the patio.

  “How are things?” he asked me curiously.

  I shrugged. “It’s fine. Some women can’t take the fight that is life and others can. The same for men. Being the new girl takes some getting used to.”

  “You are way too talented for this place,” he complimented. “Even if we both like being top of the group, I was about done slumming it here when I saw you. I believe we both deserve better.”

  “I do too, but I agreed to a week, maybe two, and then I should get some bites and offers to come dance somewhere better.”

  “Hopefully more private parties too,” he said as he clipped the cigars I’d given him. “I heard you came to an agreement about Friday, but the bastard won’t tell me what yet.”

  “He was adamant I not tell and it be a surprise,” I chuckled, taking the lighter and lighting his cigar first. “I believe you’ll enjoy it. I rarely leave men disappointed.”

  “That I absolutely believe,” he murmured as he checked the label. “This is fantastic. You have a contact at the supplier, right?”

  “Yup, I’ll give it to you Friday.”

  “Thank you.”

  I listened to David talk the next hour, getting more personal this time and even talking to me about the depression he’d been feeling. Honestly, it felt like everything I would tell someone else if I could ever open up like he was. I could tell it was hard for him, and the whole time he couldn’t even seem to look at me.

  I reached out and cupped his cheek when I couldn’t take anymore. He flinched and blinked at me. “We are at very different places in our lives—age, sex, lifestyle—all of it, and yet I feel like this is more helpful to me as you’re saying what I feel so often. I’m not downplaying what you’re saying, not at all, as your feelings are valid, but you aren’t alone. You aren’t the only person who has trouble connecting, David.”

  He smiled at me as he covered my hand with his. “Thank you. Sometimes you feel that, want to believe it, but everything in front of you makes it feel that it is only you, and you wonder if the battle is worth fighting still.”

  “It is,” I promised him. “Life is full of little surprises that make each day a new journey and adventure. We both found a confidante. You found new cigars. Friday is going to be fun. I focus on those little smiles until I’m just smiling all the time. That’s how I have to get through the rough patches, and suddenly I’m having good days again.” I rubbed my finger over his cheek, shocked I was being so touchy. “Do you work out?”

  “Pardon me?” he asked, blinking at me.

  “It boosts your mood. Moving more,” I muttered, feeling weird telling this to a successful human while undercover as a stripper at the shittiest place in the city. It was David though. Something about him just made me… Feel off but not in a bad way. “Get a treadmill desk. Something to move a bit more. You’ll be amazed how something so small will build and really help. Everything seems darker when I skip the gym too often.”

  “That is excellent advice, and I will listen as I do miss being more active. Thank you, my dear Acadia.”

  “I should thank you,” I admitted as I lowered my hand. “I was feeling a lot of darkness too, and I needed the tension to ease a bit from remembering it’s not just me.”

  “Does that mean I get a hint for Friday?” he teased me.

  “No, but on a completely unrelated topic, do you like yum-yum sauce?” I smiled when he threw back his head and laughed. Yeah, I’d just admitted I was going to be a sushi model for them.

  I walked out with David so I could lock up my jacket and purse in my car. He gave me a kiss on the cheek and slipped me four hundred again.

  “No blow jobs in the parking lot,” the guy at the door told me.

  I blinked at him. “Get lockers in the back and I won’t have to go lock everything in my trunk.” I shook my head and kept walking. The bartender didn’t seem bad, hesitant and a bit leery, which I was of her, and she seemed to think I wouldn’t stick around so I sort of didn’t blame her, but she had played my iPod when I’d needed it and was letting me mess with it now before I went to meet with the party.

  I spent the next two hours doing lap dances for the group. They didn’t tip as well as the group Friday or even Tomas and his friend last night, but it was still worth it and a lot more than the other dancers made from the nasty looks I was getting.

  “I changed you to Friday night because a party requested you,” the owner told me as I was getting ready to leave.

  “I can’t, I have a private party I agreed to that night,” I replied as I counted out what I had to pay out.

  “You have to schedule that through me. I get half of it,” he snapped.

  I gave him a look like he was nuts. “No, you don’t.” I held up my hand to ward off what he was going to say next. “I’m doing a sushi model gig for a private party. I contacted the sushi place to help me get it set up. You don’t even offer any of that so no. And we didn’t agree to that.” He opened his mouth again, and I shook my head. “Or I could just not come in when my week is up and you lose out on what I make and people requesting me.”

  “Fine,” he ground out. “And no more private dates smoking cigars. You could earn a lot more.”

  I snorted. “For you. I earn a lot from that.” I shook my head. “No. I didn’t bitch at you taking fifteen per lap dance, I count that as one and it goes longer, which is generous of me because I could just have more drinks with people and let them tip me for that.” I shot him a challenging look. “I warned you not to push me. I’m already getting offers to dance other places. I will if you try anything. I was upfront about that.”

  “Fine, as long as you extend your trial another week at least and I can book you for parties,” he countered.

  “Fine, as long as you’re clear I’m not going topless when it’s a party group because a few seemed confused on that this time.”

  “Just show your fucking tits,” he snapped. “It’s a topless place.”

  “You and your guys are the only ones harping on that,” I shot right back. “No one else has complained because I do more than shove my boobs in faces. So stop pushing.”

  “You are awesome,” the bartender whispered after the owner stormed off. “I mean, really, you’re my hero.”

  I smiled at her, and she poured me a shot. “He give you trouble too?”

  “Oh yeah, I cover a few days a week for the regular guy and work other clubs too, and he is always telling me I need to pay an off stage fee like the others do or show tits. I’ve about had it.”

  “Asshole,” I grumbled, shaking my head. I toasted her and tossed it back before leaving a hundred to tip out. I paid the guy at the door who I noted didn’t try anything with me now that he’d seen I had friends at my back and the owner was doing whatever I wanted. I might have felt bad, but none of it was unreasonable. A
ll of what I asked for was fair and how the entertainment should be treated.

  I saw I had a message when I glanced at my phone. I pumped my fist when it was Badin with word that Denver PD had agreed to let me in on the murder case and get full access… As long as I could put my money where my mouth was and help them out too.

  “Round everyone up,” I said to Kyle when he answered my call. “We get a shot with Denver PD tonight. They want to see how many Johns I can lure in and nab with audio and a few pimps they’re hoping I might draw out.”

  “We’ll be ready in ten minutes. You using the portals to get to where they want you?”

  “Yeah, I’m going to change my glamour, and I don’t want to associate that with my place.” We hung up, and I called Badin to confirm I was in and where we were going as I picked up food on the way home. I’d gotten a small feed while dancing for the party, and honestly if I could keep that going when I worked, along with some sex feeding now and again, it was a good flow for me.

  I quickly showered, drying my hair super fast and changing my glamour to black hair and blue eyes before picking out a slutty dress, hooker boots, and a jacket for over that still showed the dress. I went through my portal to a busy subway station and walked the two blocks from there. Kyle pulled up not long after, and I went through the routine, asking him what he wanted and agreeing before getting in.

  He brought me to where Denver PD was already set up and promised they’d checked everything that it was audio only.

  “Shit, you are a chameleon,” Badin muttered as he studied me closely. “I wouldn’t have thought it was you.”

  “Amazing what some spray in temp dye and contacts will do, right?” I chuckled as I looked over the setup. “Okay, so I offer whatever, but we have to come here to the room I have?”

  “Yeah, it’s common for this location,” he promised, several other guys from vice nodding. “Most go to the hotel across the street because it’s cheaper, but it’s also known for us raiding, so tell people this hotel.” He handed over a tablet with two mug shots. “Those are the two guys who run girls in this area. At least one will be near and come after you when they hear you’re making money and working the area.”

  “Got it.”

  Kyle drove me back and promised to come find me in a few days so others would hear. I noted a few of the girls looked pissed; one just seemed amused like it wasn’t her deal so she didn’t care. I complimented her tats, and she liked me better after that. It was some fine ink, so I wasn’t even forcing the compliment.

  Not five minutes later another car pulled up near me and waved the others off when they tried to take it. He gestured to me, and I walked over, leaning in when he rolled down his window.

  “I’m looking for some Cherry Pie I can try around the corner,” he said.

  “Not my scene,” I told him. “I get a room so I can clean up.” I named the place and the price, telling him that was for Harlequin or White Rhino and extra for Alaskan Thunder Fuck, and then he was in. I got in and told him the room number.

  “How about some head on the way?”

  “Not where anyone can see it or try and record me,” I answered firmly. “I don’t get caught if I’m not stupid.”

  “Amen to that,” he muttered. We arrived, and I pulled the keycard out of my jacket, letting him in. He was on me the moment the door was closed. “Fuck, you are so sweet. I want you at least twice.”

  “Double the price,” I told him, staying in character as I took a few sips from him. “You like hiring girls?”

  “No, only once before,” he answered as he started getting undressed and pushed off my jacket. “Fucking bitch girlfriend left me, and I just can’t bring myself to date, but I need, you know?”

  “Oh yeah, I know. I got what you need,” I purred, internally rolling my eyes at the dialogue. “Money first then you can fuck me all you want.”

  He hurried to pull out his wallet and gave me what I’d said. I took it and tossed it on my jacket as I went back to kissing him.

  “Sorry,” I whispered as the door opened and the cops came in.

  “Bitch,” he hissed at me as I backed away with my arms raised.

  “Yeah, I am, but I’m looking for the guy killing hookers and strippers,” I explained, shrugging as one of the guys from vice came over and took care of him. “Does he at least get his money back to pay bail or the lawyer he’ll need?”

  A few of the vice guys found me hysterical and took the money for evidence. Crap, it now had my fingerprints on it. No, I hadn’t gotten my gloves off yet, after I’d touched the money.

  Which was now how I’d make sure to handle it. Demons didn’t have problems with fingerprints normally as they changed with glamour, but I did not want it to even come up.

  I felt bad when the guy had nothing on his record, not even a speeding ticket. They seemed to agree too and gave him a warning as long as he drove me back and never resorted to hiring hookers again.

  On the ride back I could feel the guy’s desire to warn others. “Don’t do it.”

  “What?” he asked me, not hiding his hostility towards me now that the cops weren’t around.

  “Don’t try and warn others. You won’t help them and will only hurt yourself,” I answered. “You might hate the trap, I’m not a fan either, but there is a serial killer active in Denver. And prostitution is illegal. I might not agree with that, but it’s against the law, and you knew that.”

  “Says the whore,” he sneered.

  “I’m a PI, idiot,” I sighed, rolling my eyes. “I’m helping the police because it could be a pimp or a turf war.”

  “Oh.” He gave me a hard look as we got close. “You’re still a bitch.”

  “And you were still pathetic enough to pay for sex,” I snapped. “Now slap on the smile because they didn’t drag your ass to jail, play the part, and go home, grateful you get to.”

  So he did. Asshole. I’d felt bad at first, especially when he’d given a sob story to the cops, but then he’d blamed me for his choices when we were alone. Ass. Hole.

  Someone from vice pulled around next, and honestly it was more tiring to work with a group and make sure all parts were in place than when I did jobs on my own. Not as safe, but easier.

  We caught three more guys, one a big deal, which I was glad I didn’t have to get into the politics of it. Once they answered my questions that ruled them out as the murderer, I didn’t care what happened to them.

  “Bitch, get in the car,” someone yelled at me as I was about to call it a night.

  I flicked him off and wasn’t surprised when he got out. “Didn’t your mother teach you to talk to women better than that?”

  “Fuck you, whore,” he sneered. “This is my turf.”

  “You hooking?” I gave him a look like even if he paid me I wouldn’t touch him.

  “I run the girls around here,” he growled. “Give me what you made, and don’t come back here.”

  I threw back my head and laughed, flipping him off as I kept walking. He caught up to me like nothing, and I blocked when he tried to grab me. “Walk away, and I won’t fuck you up, asshole. I’m a free agent, and if your girls couldn’t entice customers away from me, that’s on them.”

  He pulled a gun and dragged me down the block in the direction I wanted where Badin was near in case this happened. “I don’t let whores disrespect me, bitch.”

  “I don’t let assholes disrespect me,” I snapped. “I was selling weed, not turning tricks. Go fuck yourself.” Rage filled me when he slapped me with the pistol. “Did you just hit me with a fucking gun?” I snarled and noted the fear in his eyes as I easily smacked the gun away. “I’m gonna fuck you up all over the place and then—”

  “You’re under arrest,” Badin cut in as he grabbed the guy from behind. “Sorry, you stopped closer to the area than we guessed he would because there were so many witnesses. Talk about stupid.”

  Someone else took over and read the guy his rights as he bitched and fought that the
y had nothing. I rolled my eyes and moved my dress aside to show the microphone. “Stupid, ugly, and abusive, nice.” I turned to Badin. “Fine, I showed you mine, time to show me yours because I’m still undercover.”

  “Yeah, okay, good deal,” he agreed. We hurried back to the motel before people noted us since they’d backed off when the guy had showed up. The problem was his car, which Kyle took care of by glamouring as the pimp once he was out of sight and then changing back to himself as he pulled the vehicle up to the police. Smooth and it worked, so good job.

  They also made sure to get the gun and promised it would be run for ballistics to check it against the database and to tell us what had been done with that gun. My gut told me the pimp wasn’t a killer. He was a bully and the second someone stood up to him he almost shit himself. So the gun gave him confidence, and I didn’t think he had it in him to shoot five people dead execution style.

  That took a special kind of person to do that.

  And not in the good kind of way.

  “The killer is human,” Badin told me when I walked into the precinct with him that had both the vice and homicide teams we’d be working with. “We’ve got a shifter on the CSI team who works with the coroner. The victims are human, and they’ve smelled nothing but human at the scenes or on the corpses. Other than that, we know nothing. The dumps are blind locations and no DNA evidence.”

  “Bullets?”

  “Common,” he answered as he pushed open a door labeled “Homicide.” He told me what size and gun, and that was it. Yeah, 9mm was pretty standard and without any modifications, you could get a range of options unless you matched the exact striations to the gun. “This is Lieutenant Larry Pine, lead detective on the murders now.”