Chapter 24
Cipriana
It’s my first go at the pole tonight, and I’m pumped.
Trino… he and I grew closer since last night’s wild sexcapades, opposite of all my fears.
I’m giddy. I couldn’t believe how gentle that dark knight of a man was this morning, cradling me in his furnace of a hold, leaving a trail of soft kisses down my neck and shoulder.
There’s something real brewing between us.
Giving it up to him was all I ever hoped it would be.
I literally had wet dreams last night. Woke up to two orgasms. One where I was tied up in a dungeon with him as my warden.
The other? Well, it was weird. I was crawling on a pearly white cloud, naked except for a pink tiara, and he was on a grey thunderous one.
I was shaking my head ‘no’ yet opening my legs for him to jump onto mine.
His cock was out and ready, and I was dripping wet, making my cloud rain.
You can guess how the rest went.
Dreams are weird, but my life is even weirder.
Staring at the mix of blue-collar guys and businessmen taking a load off after work as I exude sexy goddess working the pole, I wonder how I’m feeling about all of it. One guy is biting his lip. Another just winked at me. I’m obliged to wink back since he’s holding a stack of twenties.
What have I become?
Definitely not saving the world anytime soon.
Was I ever, though? Sitting in a library tearing through contracts didn’t feel like much. A cog in the legal machine.
My head goes round and round, just like my body twisting on the pole. When I anchor my legs near the top and let myself lay suspended upside down, I’m almost sure I’m hallucinating. A group just walked up to the bar who look remarkably like my old friends.
Oh shit.
That’s Jacky. That’s Gil.
I flip right-side-up and continue my dance with my ass to them, throwing dagger eyes at Bruno. He’s preoccupied with Chestnut and doesn’t notice. How the hell did Gil get in here? Didn’t we put notice out on him?
I look over my shoulder seductively, and realize why. He cut his hair. Now he looks even more like Michael Phelps. Jacky still looks like a raver whenever she’s not lawyering, and the others have big smiles on their faces.
“Wait ’til she turns around. I swear it’s her,” Gil’s voice carries.
My heartrate spikes. I can feel my palms becoming sweaty as I grab the pole, my throat running dry.
There’s nowhere to run or hide without making a scene.
Shit.
I can’t blow my cover.
I’m supposed to be hidden in plain sight.
A loud whistle pierces my ear.
“Turn around, sweetheart,” an older regular says. “Since you won’t give me a dance, at least let me see the doll face.”
I shut my eyes tight, steeling myself for a bunch of familiar faces.
Whoosh!
A quick spin splashes my hair across my face – mouth open, hands on my breasts as I continue my routine without a hitch. Act normal.
“See, look !” Gil points, but I focus only on the regular who’s throwing twenties at me.
Jacky leans over the bar. I missed her cute freckled face, if I’m being honest. My old life is literally staring right at me.
“Wow.” Jacky sits there with her mouth hanging open. “It’s official, guys. Capri has a twin we didn’t know about.”
“Ain’t she beautiful?” The blue-collar worker next to her elbows Jacky lightly. “Been ogling Misty for months now. Girl next door.”
“Yeah, she looks just like—”
I stomp my heel and drop to my knees, crawling toward them. She’s going to blow my cover right now unless I do something. My eyes lock with Jacky’s, and I curl my finger, demanding her lean over the bar.
She smiles at me, still in awe at how remarkably I look like myself.
Once she’s close enough, I grab her chin and pull her close so my lips are on her ear.
“Don’t react. Don’t say my name. Just know, I miss you guys,” I whisper.
Her whole face tenses, and I hear her gulp. “Oh my God. It’s you ,” she whispers back. “Are you okay?”
Planting a sensual kiss on her cheek for appearances turns on my regular. He’s definitely digging out more green rain for me. “Meet me after my dance. Act casual please ,” I beg her.
Jacky nods and leans back to, “Woos!” from Gil and the others.
“I never imagined you and… her together, but now I can see it,” Gil jokes, then grows a little solemn. “I miss her.”
“Duh, that’s why we’re here,” Charlie says.
My heart falls into my belly as I hear the words. It’s nice to be remembered. There were times I thought of myself as nothing but a surface level pastime. But apparently, I meant something more to them. That’s nice.
As the third song ends and the announcer tells everyone to ‘give it up for Misty and Pink,’ I gather the cash on the stage.
The feeling of eyes on me makes the hair stand on the back of my neck.
I was hoping they would act casual, but I can’t blame them, really.
If I found Jacky secretly stripping at Star Dust, I’d be shell-shocked too.
On my way down beside Pink, we talk about her potential private dance targets while splitting the tip.
I tell her to go for it. She’s kind of new, but she’s making a killing with that fuchsia lipstick and bleached blonde hair.
And she’s nice. But that’s neither here nor there.
I need to get my friends the hell outta here , stat.
They scurry to the corner to meet me.
“Not suspicious at all, guys.” I flick my hair and look around to make sure no one’s watching.
“I knew it was you!” Gil says a little too loud. “God you’re gorgeous. Who would’ve thought you had this in you.”
His eyes scanning me up and down make me blush a bit. It’s easy when I’m playing make-believe as Misty. But it’s as if he uncovered that fake mask and is now ogling Capri , the lawyer.
I snap my fingers. “Eyes up here. Just pretend I’m in a bathing suit, drowning with scuba gear on. You were respectful then.”
Now he’s blushing.
“That’s our girl, alright,” Charlie says.
Jacky can’t help herself. She throws her arms around me and rests her head on my shoulder. “I missed you so much. We’ve all been worried sick since that big, hot looking bastard came to whisk you away.”
“We toyed with calling the cops,” Charlie admits. “But the partners explained to us that you sent in a letter of leave.”
“It’s better you didn’t.” I smile sadly at him. “Miss you guys.”
They come in for a hug.
“Missed you too,” Charlie and Gil say.
“It’s not safe that we’re all here together, though. I’m undercover, and in a lot of danger. So after these few minutes, I hope you guys will forget you saw me twisting myself into a pretzel up there.”
“Impossible.” Gil looks to the floor, likely recalling that very image.
I scoff. “Have any other shady characters shown up since that horrible Sunday?”
“The building has been on high alert since,” Gil says. “One of those spindly guys on the Far-seek account said there was an unauthorized thug in the building – which Jerry denied for some reason—”
Oh, I know why. Cause Trino threatened that poor guy’s family.
“—But it was enough to put our building on high alert. No one’s come since.”
“Tell her about the weird cars at night,” Charlie says.
“Oh yeah! Shady characters in full blown tints and no plates. Decked out SUVs. We wondered if they were part of security, but didn’t pry too much on account of more potential thugs. So we reported them and moved on. It’s been pretty quiet since.”
I shiver at the idea of rival mobsters still trying to scope me out. Really hope Trino finds Nicky Frits soon and sorts this misunderstanding.
“Sweetie, if you’re here in this shady place, you must be in real danger.” Jacky holds my arms. “Please let us help you.”
I frown at my innocent friend. There was a time when she was the wild one. But I’ve seen so much… I can’t help but think of them as civilians now. What does that make me?
“Oh don’t you guys worry. It’s not so bad here.”
Just as I say the words, Britta and Naomi walk by, eying my friends. It’s kind of cute that they’re patrolling to make sure I’m alright. I offer a quick nod to let them know I am. Their asses hang out of their lingerie getups as they pass by.
“Seriously?” Jacky says. “It smells like chlorine from men jizzing in the back rooms. Those guys are practically salivating over you. We need to get you out . You can hide in my apartment. You’ll be safe there.”
“Ha. I love you. It’s tempting, but you have to trust me. I need to play this one out. Then when all is settled, I’ll be back in the firm’s library basement, sifting through contracts with you guys again.”
“It’s your dad, isn’t it?” Charlie says. He’s the shrewd one who’s been following all his cases.
“Much deeper than that, I’m afraid.” My lips press tight. “I’ve already said too much. Let’s get you guys out of here. Don’t tell anyone else, Gil. I beg you.”
“Only if you come back to scuba one day.” He smirks at me.
“ Deal. ” I give him my pinky to lock it, then start patting their butts to get them out.
Bang!
We all jump in place when a man with a baby blue suit and shoulder-length curly hair holds a gun toward the ceiling – debris falling at his back. His getup would be hilarious if not for the gunshot. Not to mention, he’s sporting the meanest mug I’d ever seen, and a hard scar over his eye.
I step in front of my friends protectively as Bruno stumbles to his feet.
He and Chestnut pull guns from their little cubby.
The rest of the bar is in a state of mostly shock – the smart ones are easing deeper into the back of the club.
The girls giving private dances are like whack-a-moles, heads poking out and immediately disappearing back behind their curtains beyond the open door.
“Nobody move!” The harsh man scans the scene, two massive goons at his heel.
“Nicky, the fuck are you doing?” Bruno adjusts his glasses, holding his gun out to three pointed at him.
My protector is brave, even when he’s outnumbered. He waves Chestnut down, and as he does so—
Bang!