Chapter 30
30
MILA
The door to the changing room banged open while I was adjusting the straps of the sparkly bra I’d just put on. Considering it was the only costume hanging on the rack, I assumed it was for me to wear. After I spotted the small camera hanging in the corner of the room, I was careful to keep my back to the corner as I changed. I’d already placed the small device on the inside of the waistband of the skirt, sending a small thank you to the universe that my costume was as black as the device itself.
“Sorry,” a girl mumbled when she pushed through the door. “I didn’t know anyone was in here.”
Smiling, I made my way toward the girl, silently cursing Samson when I got close enough to see how young she looked beneath the makeup. I held out my hand for her to shake. “I’m April.”
She slid her shaking hand into mine. “Sarah.”
I gave it a gentle squeeze before dropping it. “Are you a dancer?”
“Umm…” She blinked slowly and stumbled toward the couch along the back wall. “I guess.”
I walked toward the couch and kept my back to the corner, hoping I was blocking the camera’s view of Sarah.
“How old are you, Sarah?” I whispered.
“Eighteen,” she answered immediately, but she only stared at the ground.
“Look at me, please,” I instructed softly and waited for her eyes to slowly lift and meet mine. “How old are you?”
She swallowed hard and lowered her voice to the volume I was using. “Sixteen.”
Anger shot through me when she confirmed what I feared. Nodding, I lowered my voice even further. “I’m going to make sure you get out of here.”
“I can’t leave,” she answered sadly. “I owe them money, so I have to do this.”
“For drugs?” I asked.
“I didn’t know.” She rubbed her hand over her forehead. “When I came here.”
She wasn’t making much sense, and I could only attribute that to the fact that she was so fucking high. Although it did appear she was coming down fast, considering her hands shook pretty badly.
“Sarah,” I whispered a little louder when she dropped her eyes. I waited for hers to meet mine again before I spoke. “You wait here. I’m coming back for you.”
She looked confused, but when someone knocked on the door, she crawled to the corner of the couch and pulled her knees up to her chest.
I thought I was angry before, but I had no idea. Not if this was what real anger felt like.
“Boss is ready for you,” someone called through the closed door.
“Coming,” I called out but then looked at Sarah and gentled my tone. “Don’t leave this room for any reason, okay?” I waited for her to nod. “I promise I’m coming back for you.”
Reaching down, I squeezed her hand and then made my way to the door, forcing Sarah out of my mind for now. I had a job to do, and I had to do it right so I could do exactly what I promised her.
I opened the door to a man I didn’t recognize and one who didn’t speak, only jerked his head to the right. I stepped into the hallway, closed the door behind me, and fell in step beside him.
I’d barely stepped foot into a bigger room before a man dressed in a three-piece suit pushed out of a chair at a small round table and started toward me. At the same time, from my periphery, I watched a large bodyguard lead Ethan into a room, and when he turned to close the door, Ethan glanced my way, but I didn’t make eye contact. I couldn’t. I was afraid it would give away too much. My hope was that he was going into that room because that was the deal we made with Samson, but I was worried something happened while I was in the dressing room.
“She’s more beautiful up close than in the pictures.”
I focused on the man now standing in front of me, and a chill ran over my skin. This guy reeked of money with his attitude and expensive suit, all the way down to his shoes. He wasn’t a regular strip club patron. This guy was a high roller, and he expected a big payout.
Walking behind me, Samson ran his finger along my shoulders until he came to stand to my left. “I deliver what I promise.”
Playing April, I put my hands on my hips and gave the man in front of me the flirtiest smile I could manage. “I haven’t even danced yet. You don’t know what I’m capable of.”
“Oh, I know,” the man answered. “I’ve been watching you for a few nights. You’re exactly what I have in mind.”
I tilted my head to the side. “In mind for what?”
He grinned slowly. “I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
I winked before glancing at Samson. “Where do you want me?” When he didn’t answer, I gestured toward the stage. “Up there?”
Samson nodded and was about to speak when the stranger interrupted. “I’ve decided I want a private show.”
“That’ll cost you.” I smiled seductively, lifted my finger, and ran it down his chest. “But it looks like that won’t be a problem for you.”
He grabbed my wrist, and his eyes hardened. “I didn’t give you permission to touch me, did I?”
“I thought you’d like it.” I pretended to pout. “But I only aim to please.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
“What’s your name?” I asked before shifting my body closer to him. “I like to know who I’m dancing for.”
He hesitated, and for a moment, I thought he would refuse, but then he surprised me. “Miles.”
“I knew a Miles once, but he wasn’t anything like you.”
He grinned slowly and glanced at Samson. “We’ll need a private room.”
Samson studied him for an awkward moment before speaking. “We don’t allow sampling.”
Miles glared at him. “For what I’m paying, you do.”
We heard a thud from the room Ethan had entered, and we all turned our heads in that direction, but when the door remained closed, Samson and Miles shifted their attention back to me.
“Follow me,” Samson said, but his tone was hard, and it was obvious he wasn’t happy with Miles giving the orders.
With a quick look back at the door, I followed Samson to another room, and we stepped inside before he closed the door behind us. “I require half before you begin.”
“If I refuse?”
“That’s not an option.”
When I realized no one was paying attention to me, I quietly pulled the small black device from the waistband of my skirt and slid it under the edge of the desk. I had no idea if it caught anything while we were talking in the other room or if it would catch anything in here, but it was worth a shot.
Playing dumb, I looked back and forth between them. “How much are you paying?”
Miles broke his stare with Samson and met my gaze from where I stood beside him. He lifted his hand and ran his finger over the swell of my breast. My stomach roiled, but I ignored it and pasted a very fake smile on my face. “More money than you’ve ever seen.”
“Try me.” I smiled seductively.
“Five hundred K.”
My eyes widened. “Five hundred K for a dance from me?” My eyes slid to Samson. “How much of that is mine to keep?”
Samson only stared at me, and when I heard Miles’s voice, I looked at him again. “Don’t worry. You’ll be taken care of.”
“What kind of job do you have that you can drop five hundred K on a dance?” When I noticed his expression changed to one of consideration, I switched tactics, afraid he was starting to doubt who I was. Leaning against his arm, I lowered my voice and looked up at him with the most submissive expression I could muster. “I mean, I’ve met some rich men, but no one who would pay that for someone like me.”
The tension around his eyes eased, and he laid his hand against my waist. “You’ll earn it, don’t worry.”
I wasn’t getting much from this conversation, nothing that would make any difference in a case against him. I needed them to exchange the money.
Smiling, I looked around the room. “Where do you want me?”
Samson grabbed my arm and pulled me back to stand beside him, but his focus was on Miles. “We have a deal, or you leave.”
Miles’s expression filled with hatred. Obviously, he was used to calling the shots, and he resented that Samson was in control of this situation. Eventually, he jerked up his chin and reached into his pocket. I wasn’t surprised when he pulled out a roll of cash and, with one final glance in my direction, handed it to Samson.
“Half up front.” Miles jerked his head to the door. “You’ll get the rest when I’m done.” His eyes slid to me again. “If I’m happy with the purchase.”
I smiled slowly, and it was obvious he thought that smile was for him, but he wasn’t aware that smile was for Nick. I couldn’t have scripted that better myself. I never actually thought he’d say the word “purchase,” but he did, and that was all they needed.
They’d only just exchanged the money when an alarm sounded. I watched Samson pull his phone from his pocket and swear. “Son of a bitch.”
“What the hell is going on?”
“Fucking cops are outside.”
Miles took a step closer to Samson, and his voice dropped to a growl. “Are you setting me up?”
“Absolutely not.” He snorted. “Cops get called to bars all the time. Maybe there was a fight, and someone called them. It’s nothing. Steve will handle it.” Samson gestured toward a door on the opposite side of the room. “As a precaution, go out the side door. Tim’s waiting outside to escort you to your car.” With a nod, Miles grabbed my arm, but Samson stopped him. “I’ll find you later tonight to finish the purchase.”
Playing along, I attempted to pull my arm free when Miles grabbed me. “I’m not leaving here with you.”
He quickly turned to face me and slapped me across the cheek. I wanted to fight back. I wanted to kick him hard enough in the balls that he’d feel it for days. It took everything in me not to react, but I couldn’t blow my cover. Not yet. There was too much on the line, and until I saw Ethan’s face, I wasn’t jeopardizing the assignment.
Still attempting to pull my arm free, I allowed Miles to pull me toward the door, but I was definitely slowing him down. Over my shoulder, I saw Samson pull open the door to the hallway, but then take a step back a moment before Ethan pushed through, wrapped his hand around Samson’s neck, and shoved him until his back hit the wall.
Ethan glanced around the room, but when he saw me, fury filled his expression, and he shifted his glare to Samson. “We had a deal, fucker.”
Samson couldn’t answer him. As a matter of fact, Ethan had so much pressure on his neck that he began gasping.
“Ethan.” I called out his real name sharply, trying to get his attention before he did something Elite couldn’t fix.
When Miles began pulling me toward the door, I was done. I twisted out my arm and shifted my body until he was forced to turn his to face me. Once he did, I lifted my leg and jammed my knee against his crotch. He swore loudly and fell to his knees, but my attention was back on Ethan.
“Ethan, let him go.” His head jerked in my direction, and I pointed at Samson. “We can’t finish this unless he’s breathing.”
Something I said must have registered because he slowly loosened his hold, and Samson slid down the wall.
Then all hell broke loose.
“FBI!” My eyes widened, and I stared at the open doorway as they continued talking. “Everyone on the ground, hands up!”
Within a second, about half a dozen FBI agents rushed into the room.
“FBI,” I said aloud, shocked that they were raiding this place.
“Where is he?” One of the agents met my stare, and I realized he meant Miles.
Looking down, I swore when I saw he was gone. I was so focused on what Ethan was doing that I didn’t even notice he’d moved. There was only one other way out of this place, so I pointed at the door in the back corner. “Out there.”
I shifted to the side as two agents moved quickly past me and watched two other agents handcuff Samson, who was now face down on the floor.
My eyes once again found Ethan, who was watching me, but something had changed.
I had no idea what it was.
But I knew it wasn’t good.