Chapter 5
Dante couldn’t wait to see Madison again, which was a real problem.
He didn’t do relationships anymore. It was only casual, and it was rare for it to happen more than once with the same woman.
No-strings-attached sex was what he was after.
But he had been like a kid counting down the last days of school.
He waited for Thursday to come around. He knew Enzo told her she could bartend, so if he just happened to be down there, he could get a drink from her.
She needed the money, and he would tip well.
He couldn’t wait to see her performance either. They had hyped it up, and the club was packed. Would Madison do something different? She gave a great show, but the idea of her doing something special, made him want to rub his hands together in anticipation.
It would be best to wait until after her set to get a drink so he would have something to say to her.
It would be more than staring at her and drooling like a lovesick puppy.
No, it wasn’t love. Just lust, plain and simple.
But after her set he would be able to speak of something that didn’t have to do with sex.
Then maybe he could work his way around to figure out how to get her out of his system.
Now that it was decided, he would get a drink after her set, he went back to his regular routine. He still needed to get the cousins together to discuss the call he had received. He needed to get to work on it, the sooner the better. He would do it tonight.
****
Madison found Zoe in the back of the little mom and pop diner they would go to after a shift at il Signore. “Hi.” She leaned in and hugged Zoe. They had agreed to meet before work. Now that she wasn’t interning and had more free time, she and Zoe were able to meet.
“I know. I miss our ninety-day fiancé watch parties.” Zoe handed her a menu.
“Oh my gosh. I’m so behind.” Madison took the menu and opened it. “I need to binge to catch up.”
Zoe looked up from her own menu. “Girl, you do. I can’t wait to talk to someone. And all the spin offs. I can’t keep up.”
“Where have you been watching them?” Zoe didn’t have a TV so they would watch at Madison’s place. Sometimes Zoe would catch them online somewhere and watch that way before Madison realized they loved the same show.
Zoe’s eyes drifted away. “I have a friend.”
Madison sat up in the chair. “A guy friend?” She had no idea what was going on with Zoe, and it saddened her that with everything going on she had lost touch with her friend.
“Well, yeah. I guess so, but not in the way you think. It is platonic.”
“Does he agree, or is it just you?”
“He agrees. We wouldn’t be right for each other.”
“You never know.” What did she know? She had no clue when it came to relationships or even trying to set up a friends-with-benefits situation. She didn’t need to be friends with Dante. She wasn’t sure if she liked him as a person. But as a booty call, she was all in.
“I know. Congrats on your headliner position.”
“Thanks.” Madison shrugged and looked back at her menu. “It’s just for three months.”
“Still.” Zoe reached a hand out to cover up Madison’s menu. “That’s a big gig. Everyone is talking. I didn’t even know you had applied.”
“I didn’t. Why is everyone concerned with it? I didn’t think it was that big a deal.” Well, maybe it was with everyone mentioning it. Had Dante just given her the position because they had slept together instead of just putting her on the schedule?
“It is a big deal. il Signore hasn’t had a headliner for a while. It’s been recent that they opened up the idea of having one. I was there when auditions happened. The girls tried every trick in the book. I think a couple tried to sleep with them.”
“Them?”
“Dante and his cousins. They auditioned the girls for the position. You weren’t there though. What happened that you got the offer?”
“They liked what I did and asked me to do it, and I took the chance.” Madison shrugged.
“You mean, Dante liked what you did.”
Madison’s face heated at her words, and she hoped Zoe just believed it was the heat outside.
Had Dante slept with the other strippers as well?
She realized it was less special and the moment didn’t mean as much as it had before.
She knew it wasn’t love, but there had been something between them that she hadn’t been conscious of before.
Maybe he had and it wasn’t something just between the two of them.
Was it just another day for him? He had made it seem like there was something between them. She had sensed it even if she wouldn’t admit it to him. Was that a line he had thrown at her to get in her pants? She had zero experience with the opposite sex thanks to her mother.
“I’m not surprised though. You’re one of the best dancers we have.”
“Aw, thanks.” Madison tried to smile. She hoped it didn’t look as forced as it was. Her mind was still stuck on Dante having slept with the other strippers.
“It’s true and the reason why the other girls are going to be even more catty with you.”
“I know, but I’m so over it.” Madison looked back at her menu. She wished it was as easy to ignore what the others said.
The waitress arrived and took their orders; they both got a burger and fries.
“I know you are, but I just want to make sure you keep watching your back.”
Madison’s head popped up. “I will, but is there another reason?” Madison wasn’t sure if people had found out she had slept with Dante.
“Well, I know Sabrina is your friend and who introduced you to the club right?”
“She’s my friend outside of work. We grew up together, and we both know Enzo. She worked at il Signore before me. I didn’t like the rules.”
“Yeah. I don’t know why Dante has those rules in regards to what the girls wear. Well, I guess I do, it brings the money in. But the rumor was Sabrina had the headliner position in the bag.”
“I know. We met, and she told me. I had no idea.” Were Sabrina and Dante sleeping together too?
The waitress returned with their food.
Madison knew Sabrina had a thing for Enzo, but he didn’t seem to return the affection.
“Yeah, I get that it brings in the money and the customers, but it’s still disgusting.”
“Do you have to follow the rules as headliner?” Zoe took a sip of her drink.
“No.” Madison pulled a fry through the ketchup on her plate.
“I know you don’t want to bring it up, but Enzo let you get out of them because he likes you, you know that right?” Zoe pointed her drink at Madison.
Madison set the fry down. “I suspected it, but I also bring in a lot of money for the club.”
“True. So, you’re not interested in Enzo?” Zoe picked up her burger.
“Nope. With everything I have going on, I don’t have time.” There was no time with her thoughts filled with Dante instead of dress designs.
“If you wanted to, you could make time.” Zoe dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
Zoe had her there. Madison stirred the straw in her drink. She would make time for Dante, but that was different. That was just for sex, not a relationship.
“Wait. You met someone? Spill.” Zoe leaned forward, elbows on the table.
“No, it’s not that.” Even though it was. Madison took a quick sip of her drink. “I’m not interested in Enzo like that.”
“Yeah, and I know you’re not looking to getting caught up in the type of life he lives.” Zoe laid her napkin on the tabletop.
Madison paused and put her drink down. “What type of life? Having so much money so young?”
Zoe rested her chin on her hand. “Yeah, I guess that, but they are also part of the underworld.”
“What underworld?” Madison’s glass landed with a thunk.
“Girl you didn’t know they’re Bianchis?”
Madison shook her head. “I didn’t remember Enzo’s last name. What does being a Bianchi mean?”
“They’re part of the mafioso.”
“What?” Madison lowered her voice. She had kind of caught whispers the rumor going around, but decided it was just that, a rumor. Dante told her he owned the club, not the mob. But with what Zoe said, Dante was the mob.
Zoe leaned forward. “Yes. Why do you think they have heavy security?”
“I figured it was because of the girls and the clients.”
“Nope.” Zoe sat back.
Madison’s stomach dropped. She didn’t want to be a part of that. Had she slept with a mobster? Why did that turn her on even more? And why did she still want to?
“You don’t need to worry; they won’t make you do anything related to that.”
“Well, that’s good to know, I guess.” What did that mean for her and Dante?
“Dante was interested in you.”
It was now Madison’s turn to look away. “Yeah, but like I said. I don’t have the time. Also can you imagine me dating a mobster?”
“No. But you could be Dante’s girl.”
Madison’s body tingled at the mention of being Dante’s girl. “We better go or we will be late for setup.”
****
Dante checked his email. He had another email from the head of HR at Stanley and Richards.
They wanted to know if he was still interested in the position and to narrow down his start date.
They were still interested in him and were willing to wait until he was available, but the offer wouldn’t last forever.
“Hey, man, you coming down? Madison told me she was doing something extra special for the first set.” Enzo stood inside the doorway.
“Yeah, let me come down. I wondered what she was would do.” Dante followed Enzo down the back stairs and over to their VIP table that was only for the owners.
It had a prime view of the stage but was somewhat hidden.
Lucca and Gabe were already there. Dante was surprised Enzo had come to get him.
He had kept his distance since he found out he had slept with Madison. Maybe he had gotten over it.
“Let’s get this party started.” Lucca raised a glass of clear liquid.
Dante sat down, and the hype man who announced the girls came up.