by Dia Cole
I heard him catch his breath. “It’s just a small shindig.”
Small, my ass.
It sounded as though half the neighborhood was at the house. “Reed. We’ve been over this. No parties. Besides, you know how I feel about Ronnie.” The arrogant lead singer of Reed’s band had tried to hit on me one too many times. Of course, the last time I’d kicked him in the balls so hard, he’d sung soprano for a week.
“Ronnie thought we should celebrate my birthday,” he said in an apologetic tone.
Crap. I’d forgotten his birthday. Again.
My chair seemed to sink two feet into the floor. “Reed, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s okay. You’ve been pulling double shifts all week. I think you might even forget your name at this point.” His laugh was hollow. “But you won’t have to work so hard soon. I know one of these job interviews is going to pan out.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. Reed had been desperately trying to find work since losing his job at the grocery store in August. With unemployment at record highs, jobs were in short supply these days. “I know you’ll find something soon. How about tomorrow I take you out for a nice birthday dinner?”
Assuming I have any money left after bailing Eden’s ass out of jail.
“You don’t have to do that. It’s not like nineteen is any big deal. Don’t worry. I’ll have everybody out of here by the time you get home.”
Guilt swamped me. “No. No. Let them stay. Celebrate with your friends. But don’t go crazy with the drinking. Okay?”
“Really?” His voice brightened.
“Just this once. Hey, by the way, have you heard from Eden?”
His silence was damning.
“Reed.”
He let out a deep sigh. “She got arrested again. She called me from jail to ask if I’d pick her up after her court appearance tomorrow morning. She didn’t want you to find out.”
“That little…” My fingernails curled into the armrest of my chair.
Max strode into the dressing room and motioned at me. The strained look on his sweaty face wasn’t comforting.
My heart began to pound. “Reed, I gotta go. I’ll see you in a few. Happy birthday.”
I hung up the phone and looked up at my boss. “What is it?”
Please, please, please don’t let him fire me. I need this job.
Max rubbed the top of his balding head. “Mr. Diaz wants to see you.”
2
My breath came out in a short gasp. Javier wanted to see me? In all the weeks he and his men had been coming to Eros, he’d never asked to meet any of the girls. Of course, he never looked at the other girls the way he looked at me.
Cami swiveled around in her chair. “You’re not planning on pimping Lee out to the drug lord, are you?”
Max jerked as though she’d punched him in the solar plexus and rubbed his hands together nervously. “No. Nothing like that. He just wants to meet her, okay? I don’t like it either, but money is tight. We need his business.”
Remembering the way Javier stared at me during my sets gave me the willies.
I don’t need that kind of business.
I stood up and headed toward the lockers. “I’ve already done two sets. I’m off the clock. Besides, my ride is waiting.” I couldn’t keep Duncan sitting in the parking lot all night.
“Please, Lee.”
I stared at Max. The bull-sized man didn’t usually beg for anything.
Sweat stains wet the underarms of his button-down shirt. He tugged at his candy-cane striped tie as if it was strangling him.
I sighed in resignation. “Okay, but just a quick how-do-you-do. I’m not doing any lap dances.”
He bobbed his head up and down so fast, his jowls shook.
“And I’m skipping my first set tomorrow.”
It wasn’t as if I’d make any money with the early set anyway, and clearly spending some time with Eden and Reed is long overdue.
He froze, his watery gaze narrowing. “Friday’s our biggest night and you’re our headliner.”
“I’ll be there for my ten o’clock.” I slid back on my heels, trying to ignore the protest made by my feet. “Look, do you want me to meet Javier or not?”
He threw his hands up in the air. “Fine.”
Cami grabbed my arm as I followed Max to the door. Her face pinched with worry.
“Be careful, honey. Javier Diaz is a dangerous man.”
Great. If Cami, notorious for her less than stellar taste in men, was worried, Javier had to be really bad news.
My stomach became a writhing ball of snakes. “I’ll be fine. I left your phone on my chair.” I gently tugged away from her. “There’s a party at the house tonight for Reed’s birthday. If you’re not doing anything after your set, why don’t you swing by?”
Her heart-shaped face brightened. “That’d be fun. You know, I’ve always thought Reed was sexy. Maybe I’ll give him a very special birthday present,” she said with a wink.
Something inside me balked at her interest in Reed. But before I could analyze my feelings, Max threw us an aggravated look.
“Time is money, ladies. Cami, remember you’re onstage in ten. And have either of you seen Jess?”
I couldn’t hide the revulsion on my face. The auburn-haired stripper had made my life a living hell ever since Max gave me her time slot and moved her sets later.
Cami shared a knowing look with me. “No evil-bitch-of-the-West sightings here, Max. When are you going to fire her ass? Last week, Jess poured baby oil all over the stage steps and Lee nearly broke her leg.”
Remembering the nasty fall I’d taken made me wince. Jess’s mean-spirited pranks were going to get me killed one of these days.
“I don’t know why you ladies can’t just get along. Hurry up, Lee. Mr. Diaz is waiting.” Max huffed out of the room.
So much for his begging and pleading routine. I hurried to catch up with my boss.
He was uncharacteristically quiet as we walked backstage and took the side stairs down to the main floor. It added to my nervousness.
First Cami, now Max.
Javier seemed to inspire fear in everyone around him.
What did a man like that want from me?
My stomach churned.
Onstage, Havana was in her element. She’d shed her bodysuit and undulated to the throbbing beat of the music in nothing but a black G-string and her boots. Her whip was wrapped around the professor. Based on the dazed expression on his face, he’d just found his new religion.
Good for her.
My gaze was unerringly drawn past the Christmas-light-encrusted bar and garland-wrapped faux Roman pillars to the back of the club. As I suspected, Javier watched my approach with the same intensity he watched my dancing. I felt pinned by his amber gaze. Some kind of primitive fight-or-flight instinct kicked in and I wanted to run. My knees trembled as I forced myself to walk toward him.
“Come on,” Max said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me forward. When we got to their table, Max cleared his throat. “Good evening, gentlemen. This is Heaven.”
Unwilling to meet Javier’s forceful gaze, I glanced at the men around him. They all were dark-eyed with short dark hair with the exception of Javier and the younger-looking man sitting closest to him. The resemblance between the two men was striking, although the younger man’s glossy dark hair was longer, falling free to the middle of his back.
His eyes were the same golden hue as Javier’s and they heated as he scanned me from head to toe. “You always had good taste in women, Mano,” he said to Javier as he slid out of the booth.
He prowled around me like a shark circling an injured seal. “What a beauty you are, señorita. And such gorgeous hair.” As he grabbed a lock of my long dark hair, his ring-covered hand brushed against the top of my breast.
I reared back.
Max reacted immediately, stepping between us. “Sorry, no touching allowed.”
Giving Max a look that fr
oze the blood in my veins, Luis slowly opened his hand, freeing my hair. “What fun is there in only looking?”
Javier jumped up, his hands fisted. “Luis, apologize immediately.”
The barely contained rage in his tone made me flinch.
Luis blanched and stepped away from me. “Los siento, señorita. I meant no offense.”
Max moved aside so I was eye to eye with Javier.
Even from two feet away, I could feel the power and coiled energy emanating from him. This wasn’t a man to be trifled with. The rumors of how he enjoyed torturing his enemies before killing them flashed into my mind. I clasped my hands together to stop them from shaking.
He smiled at me, calling my attention to the sharpness of his even white teeth. “Please ignore my brother. He has no manners.” He glared at Luis and the other men at the table. “Leave us.”
Without a word, the men stood and walked toward the bar.
Javier gave Max a pointed look.
“Ah, I should introduce the next set,” Max said, turning and heading for the stage.
I gritted my teeth. Coward. Max was getting a piece of my mind the next time we spoke.
“Please sit.” Javier gestured toward the booth.
Seeing no other option, I scooted in.
Javier sank into the seat across from me. He was close enough that every breath I took was scented in the exotic spice of his expensive cologne.
“My name is Javier Diaz. I’m a great admirer of your dancing,” he said with a faint accent.
The way his eyes bored into mine made me tremble. I felt like a cornered mouse. “Thank you. I’m Heaven.” Too late, I remembered that Max had already introduced me. My face warmed. It wasn’t like me to be frazzled like this.
“A pleasure to finally meet you.” He extended his hand.
Once again, I saw no other option but to accept his handshake.
His long, warm fingers curled around mine. He lifted my hand to his lips and briefly kissed my knuckles.
The sensation of his warm breath on my hand gave me goose bumps. I tried to pull away.
He refused to let me go.
I glanced up to see if Max was watching. Of course not. And Duncan had already left.
I’m on my own.
I broke out in a cold sweat.
Javier stroked one long finger over my palm, making me shudder. Something inside me recognized the danger this man posed and wanted to be as far away from him as possible.
“It’s rare I’m so captivated by a woman. From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were meant for me.”
I shifted uneasily. The vinyl seat stuck to my sweaty skin. Normally, at this point I’d be channeling my seductive alter ego, trying to work the guy for tips. But no part of me wanted to encourage this man. Just last week, I’d overheard Jess saying that Javier’s last girlfriend had been found scalped and dismembered. A tremor slid down my spine.
“I’m having a private event at my home Saturday evening. I’d like you to attend.”
I shook my head. Even if I wanted to rub shoulders with gangsters, going out with patrons was strictly against club rules. “I’m sorry, I’m working and I’m not allowed to—”
“I’ve already spoken with Max. He said it’d be fine. You’ll be well compensated for your time.”
My mouth fell open in shock.
How could Max put me in this position?
I finally found the courage to meet Javier’s intent gaze. “I’m not a call girl.”
“Of course not.” He sat up straight as if I’d insulted him. “All you’d be asked to do is dance as you do here at the club. I’ll pay twenty thousand for the evening.”
My mouth went dry. Twenty thousand dollars. Holy crap. That’d keep Eden, Reed, and me afloat for months.
There has to be a catch.
“How many people would be at this event?”
His fingers tightened around mine. His gaze heated and flickered to my chest. “Just me.”
Okayyyy. I swallowed hard. The room seemed to spin. This was one of those life-changing moments. I could feel it. If I chose to go down this road, there’d be no going back. I wasn’t a fool. Javier didn’t want me for a dance. He wanted to claim me. To possess me. And not just for the night.
Am I willing to put my life on the line and sell what little is left of my soul?
My internal crisis was interrupted by Max grabbing the mic. He announced the end of Havana’s set and introduced Cami’s upcoming dance.
It was getting late.
Poor Duncan is probably freezing to death in the parking lot.
I pulled my hand away from Javier. “I’ll have to think about it.” Before he could grab me again, I slid out of the booth.
The flash of anger in his gaze told me he wasn’t used to being put off. He pushed something across the table. “Call me.”
I stared down at the shimmering black metal card.
Were those real diamonds embedded around the phone number?
“Thank you for your time.” He reached into his wallet, pulled out several hundred-dollar bills and placed them on top of the card.
Part of me wanted to turn my back and walk away, sending the message I couldn’t be bought. But the other part of me that was desperate to keep my family afloat had me stuttering, “Th…th...thank you,” while I grabbed the card and cash.
As if telepathically summoned, Javier’s men left the bar and headed in our direction.
Before I could make my escape, Javier spoke, “Lee, don’t keep me waiting. I’m not a patient man.” His tone held a note of warning.
It was suddenly hard to breathe.
He knew my non-stage name. What else did he know about me?
Answering my unspoken question, he said, “Even though you live just down the street, I want Nero to drive you home.” He motioned to a dangerous-looking man wearing a black suit.
Nero flashed me a dazzling smile.
It took me a second to realize that every single tooth in his mouth was gold plated.
I backed away on shaky legs. “No. I’ve got a ride, thank you.”
Javier opened his mouth, as if to argue, and then shut it. “As you wish. I’ll be looking forward to your call, and to our date Saturday night.”
I inwardly shuddered at the possessive gleam in his eyes. There was no mistaking the hard edge to his tone. Clearly, in his mind, me agreeing to Saturday night was already a forgone conclusion. Turning my back on him, I nearly sprinted all the way back to the safety of the dressing room.
Has he been spying on me? If so, he knows where I live and who lives with me.
A sick feeling gripped me. Eden’s and Reed’s faces flashed in my mind. Based on his reputation, Javier thought nothing of threatening and murdering loved ones to get what he wanted.
And he clearly wants me.
DID YOU ENJOY THIS PREVIEW OF HEAVEN BEFORE HELL?
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