Art cuts me off. “What the fuck? Make her.”

  “Like I was saying. I’m pretty confident she’ll let it happen and won’t intervene.”

  “You’re pretty sure?”

  “Look. I can’t put a gun to her head and make her do it. But I can tell she’ll think on it tonight and tomorrow, and our problem will no longer be a problem.”

  “Let’s hope,” Art sighs.

  I nod. “She’ll do it.”

  I text my driver to ask if he’s back from taking Geneva home, and he replies that he is pulling in now.

  “Let’s see how it plays out,” I clap my hand over Art’s shoulder. “I’m heading to Heaven’s Door.”

  “I’m going to make some rounds,” Art says.

  Outside, I slip into the awaiting SUV, and my driver holds my door open for me to enter the back.

  “She arrived home safely?” I ask.

  “She did, sir. I made sure she went into the building before I pulled away.”

  “Thank you. You can drive me to Heaven’s Door.”

  My driver, Ramos, starts driving.

  ***

  Ramos pulls into the back of the club. It’s also where the employees come and go. I try my best to keep a low profile and let my business partner run the place. So hardly anyone here knows I own the place, or who I am. It’s a good place for money laundering. Entering through the back door, no one pays me any mind as I make my way to the office.

  “Dominick, what are you doing here?” Aldus asks.

  “I own the fucking place. Do I need an excuse?”

  “No. Of course not. I know you keep a low profile, is all.”

  “I just came in to check on how the business is doing, and I was thinking about getting a private room.”

  “Oh, anyone special in mind?”

  “Yeah. Geneva.”

  “She’s a fine choice. Just let me know when you want me to grab her. She’s just arrived.”

  He excuses himself while I look into the finances. The security footage is playing, and I get a glimpse of Geneva as she starts her dance. She is mesmerizing to watch as she slowly moves her body, seducing the audience.

  I text Aldus to get Geneva off the stage before she strips out of her skimpy outfit and puts her in a private room. The thought of men googling her like a pack of wolves has me balling my fists.

  The annoyance shows on her face when Aldus approaches her to leave the stage. I watch as she leaves, and I give it a few minutes before pushing the books back into the cabinet. I then make my way toward her room, once Aldus texts me the room number.

  Room 14.

  That is the VIP room. Approaching it, I straighten my tie and suit jacket and head inside.

  She’s leaning up against the mirrored wall, and our eyes lock. Pushing herself off the wall, she looks at me confused. “What are you doing here?”

  I walk to sit on the couch. “Why do people keep asking me that? I’m the owner of this place. I pay Aldus to run it.”

  She shakes her head. “No. That’s not true.”

  I smirk. “But it is true. I tend to keep a low profile.”

  “I’ve never seen you here before.”

  “I usually just come to review the books and then leave. But you…”

  “What?”

  “The way you were dancing out there. Those men were foaming at the fucking mouth.”

  “Awe, is someone jealous?” she toys with me.

  I stand, press my body into hers, her back slams against the mirrored wall. My face is mere centimeters from hers. I press one hand on the mirror above her head. “I’m pretty sure I could take you right here, and you would let me.”

  I watch as she swallows a hard lump. And it’s like her senses come back to her. “Get the fuck off me.” She pushes my chest away.

  “Come on, we are just getting to know each other,” I taunt.

  “No. You came here to intimidate me.”

  “I didn’t. I came to watch you dance.” I plop a large stack of cash next to me. “Now fucking dance.”

  Chapter Four

  GENEVA

  Who the fuck does this guy think he is? I’ll tell you, he’s the most frustrating person I have ever encountered.

  “I don’t need your fucking money.” I am seeing red, and I am ready to walk out right now. But his gaze holds me captive, and I can’t move.

  Fuck him for smelling so damn good. Fuck him for looking sexy in his custom suit. Ugh. Fuck him for knowing everything about me.

  “You want me to dance. Fine.” The money sitting there on the cushion next to him, taunting me and letting me know how much I needed it. I hate myself for it.

  HATE.

  MYSELF.

  But I let the music take me away as I sway my body to the rhythm. It’s not the music I normally use to strip to, but it’s another song to a stripper that is currently on the stage. Dominick’s gaze takes in my whole body as he leans back, spreading his arms across the back of the couch and his legs spread wide. I hate him so much.

  I close my eyes so I don’t have to see his gaze and continue to get lost in the music. I’m still clothed, and I’m not sure if he wants me to strip down since he only said to dance. So that’s what I’m doing. I’m not ashamed of stripping, it’s paid for my comfortable lifestyle.

  The song ends, and I don’t know what to do, but I continue. My head is all over the place. And without a word, Dominick stands and walks out the door. What the fuck? That is one frustrating man. I know men. They want one thing. Sex. But with Dominick, maybe he’s just using me for the favor he wants. If it’s something else, I don’t know what it is.

  Relief washes over me, and I get a moment to myself, I sit on the couch and look at the stack of money next to me. I should leave it and let him know how much I don’t need him or his money. And tomorrow still lingers over my head.

  Snatching the money from the cushion, I leave the room to find Aldus, telling him I am leaving for the rest of my shift. He raises his finger to respond, but I am already heading toward the back door.

  The cool air kisses my skin. And I realize I need to get a ride back to my building. I pull my phone from my purse to call an uber. And I’m still in my stripper clothes, but with a long coat, I am able to cover up. And I see the lights come on from a black SUV, and it pulls up to where I’m standing. The window rolls down, and I see him.

  “Need a lift?”

  “I’m starting to think you are stalking me.”

  “I was just leaving and saw you come out. I assume you are heading home.”

  “I am.”

  “Get in. Your place is on the way,” he says, his voice holding the command.

  I hesitant for a moment, contemplating my options, knowing I don’t have any. “Fine.”

  He opens his door, then slides over for me to slide in from his side.

  “Thank you,” I say without meeting his eyes. “Why did you run off without saying anything?”

  “If I’m honest. I didn’t know what to say. You just…”

  “What?”

  “You just make me feel something. I’m not sure what it is about you. But I hate feelings.”

  I sigh. Now he’s confusing me even more. Is he showing me he actually does have a heart? Or does he have a one-track mind like the rest of the men? No. There was something deeper, when I look into his eyes.

  My place isn’t far from the club. But it wasn’t within walking distance like the jail was. We arrive at my place, and the silence is awkward.

  “Do you want to come in for a drink?” I don’t know why those words escape my lips. Again, I word vomit and say shit before thinking it through.

  “One drink?” he asks with a smile.

  “One drink,” I confirm and exit the vehicle.

  He walks next to me as we head to the elevator. And I push the button for the top floor. He shoves his hands in his suit pants pocket, and when the elevator dings, we walk to my condo. Inserting the key, I push the door, and we enter. Flipping the light on, it illuminates the whole living space and kitchen.

  Dominick notices the view right away and heads toward the floor to ceiling windows that spread the length of my living room. “Now, this is a view.”

  I pour a drink for each of us and then walk to stand beside him, handing him a glass.

  “It’s the reason I got it. Of course, I’m hardly ever here to enjoy it.”

  “That’s a shame,” he says.

  “I gotta make money so I can stay here. I like that no one else has lived here, since the building is new. And the view, it was impossible to pass up. Another?” I ask about his empty glass.

  “I thought you said one drink,” he smiles.

  “One more won’t hurt.”

  He hands me his glass, and I refill his and mine. Handing him one, I hold my drink and reach into my handbag for the wad of cash. I know full well it’s all one-hundred-dollar bills. I hold the money out toward him. “You should take this back.”

  “No. No. I insist.”

  “Hardly seems worth one dance, and I didn’t even strip out of my outfit.”

  He chuckles. “I’m not hurting for money. Keep it. Use it for whatever you need it for.”

  I don’t argue with him and put it on the counter top.

  “Let me show you around,” I say. “It’s no penthouse, but it’s enough space for me and my roommate.”

  He follows as I show him. “As you see, the kitchen is there.” The kitchen and the living space are visible if in either room. We walk a few feet. “This is the roommates bathroom.” We then walk the opposite direction. “This is my room and private bath.”

  “It’s a nice place.”

  “Thanks. Now you know why I work two jobs to pay for it.” I don’t know why I need him to understand that.

  We walk back to the living room. “But why are you stripping?”

  “The money is good. It helped put me through nursing school. I even waitressed there when I didn’t have any other shifts scheduled. Nursing doesn’t exactly pay enough to support myself. But I enjoy it.”

  “Surely you could find a nursing job that pays better,” he says.

  “Not when you are a first-year graduate. It’s hard to find good work here in the city.”

  “I can understand that.”

  We walk back to the living room, and I’m about to pour myself another drink.

  He says, “Well, I should probably go.” He sets his empty glass on the counter. “Thanks for the drink.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He smiles and heads to walk out the door.

  When he is completely gone, I feel like I can breathe, I plop down on my couch and blow out a puff of air. I’m quite certain I have never met a more mysterious man like that before. And I’m quite certain I will never see him again after tomorrow.

  Chapter Five

  GENEVA

  Nervousness swirls in my belly as I start my day job. I don’t know if I can knowingly allow someone to get killed on my watch. Dominick never mentioned what the consequences would be if I didn’t allow it to happen. My job is to help people, not the opposite. But I am not a fool, I know exactly who Dominick LaRocca is. Or at least I have a good idea. And I’m sure he wouldn’t think twice about killing me if I don’t go through with it.

  “I need to see Theo Bennet and then Jason Coranto for their checkups,” I tell the guard that usually stands outside my all-glass office. The office is like a fish bowl where anybody walking by can see in. I am nervous. But I came up with a plan.

  When Theo Bennett is delivered, the guard walks away to grab Jason. “We don’t have a lot of time, but I need you to punch me in the face right before you take him out. Just enough to give me a black eye, don’t fuck up anything else on my face.”

  “I have never hit a woman, and I never plan on it.”

  “If you want to kill him, you have to do it. It’s the only way I know to make this look legit.”

  Throwing his hands up, he rolls his eyes. “Fine. Damn.”

  Jason arrives and is sitting while it looks like I’m just finishing up with Theo. I don’t expect it when it happens. But he throws a hard punch to my left eye and immediately starts attacking Jason with a shiv. Blood is all over my office. And just like Dominick says, the guard waits a good three minutes before coming in to break it up. Jason slumps over in the chair and falls dead on the ground.

  Fuck! That hurt like a son of a bitch, and my eye starts to throb.

  I can’t believe I let this happen. I’m just as much of a criminal as the ones being held in the jail cells. I can’t breathe.

  More guards come rushing over. One grabs me and tells me to go the fuck home and to ice my eye. Grabbing my things, I rush out as fast as I can.

  ***

  An uber drops me off at my place, and I quickly grab a bag of veggies from the freezer to put on my eye. I don’t even want to see what it looks like. I sit on the couch tilting my head back with the ice on it. Why am I so stupid? So stupid. I definitely won’t be able to strip while sporting this shiner. I could wear a masquerade type of mask, but I can’t imagine that would even be comfortable. I hate my life.

  I call Aldus at Heaven’s Door. “Hey, this is Geneva. I won’t be able to work for the next few days.”

  “It’s already taken care of. I got your shifts covered.”

  “Thank you.”

  Wait. How did he do that so fast? Then I remember Dominick owns the place, and I can’t even roll both eyes to show my annoyance. I manage to get off the couch, put the veggies back in the freezer so I can take a shower.

  In my bedroom, I strip out of my work uniform and get the hot water running. I turn, and not wanting to, I see my reflection in the mirror. What I see is not a pretty sight. It’s already turning purple and blue, and it’s swelling.

  I step into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over my body. Once I’m done, I step out and wrap a towel around my body before I enter my room for something comfortable to wear for the rest of the day. I settle on my pink joggers and the matching hooded sweatshirt. While my hair is soaking wet, I pad out to the living room.

  “Jesus Christ. How did you get in here?” I ask, finding Dominick sitting in a chair. “Do you make it a habit of walking in people’s homes uninvited?”

  “For one, your door was unlocked. And two, I heard what happened so I wanted to check on you. Frozen veggies?”

  I point. “In the freezer.”

  He walks over, grabs the bag, hands it to me while shaking his head.

  “What?”

  “Why in the ever-loving fuck would you have a guy punch you on purpose?”

  “Well, I had to make it look good. I would think you would be saying thank you instead of antagonizing me,” I tell him, clearly annoyed and place the cold veggies on my eye.

  “You are so stubborn,” he grins.

  “You came. You saw. Now you can leave.”

  “I brought you some goodies.” He lifts the paper bag from beside the chair and places it on my small kitchen island. He pulls out Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, one after another. “I wasn’t sure which you liked?”

  “I’m surprised. You seem to know everything else about me.”

  “I’ll just put these in your freezer, and you can eat one whenever you like.”

  “Leave the chocolate one out,” I tell him as I grab a spoon, take the ice cream, flip the top off, and immediately dig in. “Want some?”

  He smiles. “I think you need it more than me.”

  “Suit yourself.”

  He watches as I keep eating the ice cream until he finally clears his throat. He casually leans against my counter and crosses his ankles before crossing his arms across his chest. “Why don’t you let me take you to dinner to make up for that?”

  “A date?”

  “I didn’t say it was a date. But when was the last time you dressed up? Besides at Heaven’s Door.”

  I shrug. “I can’t remember. But I don’t want to go out in public sporting this.”

  “But it gives you character.”

  I give him a look of annoyance.

  “Fine. How about dinner at my place, then?”

  I pause to think for a few seconds. “I think that might be doable.”

  “My driver will pick you up at six tomorrow.”

  “Okay.” Why did I agree to that so easily?

  “Well, keep icing that. It’ll take the swelling down. Eat your ice cream. And I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  “Okay. Thanks for the ice cream.”

  “Thanks for coming through for me,” he says when I walk him to the door.

  “Sure. Have a good night.”

  “You too, Geneva.”

  Just as Dominick was leaving, Livia comes in. “Dom, this is my roommate, Livia. Livia, Dom.”

  She blushes and shakes his hand before he leaves. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You, too. Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  I close the door when he steps out to leave.

  “Holy shit. Who the fuck was that? And how did that happen?” she follows me to the freezer, where I switch out frozen veggies for my eye.

  “It’s a long story.”

  “Did he do that?”

  “God, no. He asked me a favor, and I did it…”

  “What favor? You better start talking, Gen.”

  I roll my eye at her. “Fine.”

  I tell her the whole story from start to finish.

  “Oh my god, Geneva. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

  “Because you are dealing with your own bullshit, with your dad forbidding you to see Lorenzo.”

  “Gen, you are my best friend, we grew up together. We’re practically sisters. It’s why we wanted to be roommates.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “I can’t believe you had an inmate punch you.”

  We both laugh. “I couldn’t figure out any other options.” She props her held up, resting her elbow on the counter. “So tell me more about Mr. Handsome.”

  “Not much else to tell, except I need to find something to wear to have dinner with him tomorrow.”

 

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