Page 76 of Awakened by Sin

She tensed. “You knew it was him?”

Kiki frowned. “Of course, not. I would have told you if I knew. I fucking loved Vinny.”

She downed the rest of her drink. “Right.”

Vega playing mind games with them really fucked her up. She tried to shoot Marcus and was even questioning her business partner who she’d known almost a decade. She stepped on stage for the first time on her twenty-first birthday. Kiki taught her everything she knew about confidence, seduction, and men.

When Kiki hit a rough patch, Carmen used her stripper savings to bail her out and became a silent partner for the Red Diamond. The gentlemen’s club flourished and became the most popular in the city. Carmen found it ironic that people labeled her a gold digger when she was a millionaire in her own right. Vinny was the only one who knew about her connection to the club. When Gavin needed dirt, Vinny gave her the nudge, and she visited Kiki to get the goods on the high-end clientele who frequented the club. It had been mutually beneficial for all of them.

“Even those who reported directly to Vega didn’t know his identity. His name’s everywhere since Pyre tortured him in the Pit. Apparently, Pyre’s whole crew was quite spectacular.”

Her curiosity was piqued, but she didn’t rise to the bait. She didn’t need to know. If she knew how close to death Lyla had been, it would bring up all the shit she was trying to leave in the past. She came out tonight to let loose and reconnect with Kiki.

“Gavin endorses Angel. That’s all that matters.”

Kiki inclined her head. “Right. I’m sure Pyre will tell him we provided the dirt to blackmail his competitors. That could come in handy for Roman.”

“We’ll worry about it if it happens.” She set the empty glass on the desk. “Now, what do you have for me?”

Kiki went behind the desk and became all business. Before Carmen became a silent partner, the Red Diamond was a ghetto strip joint. Once she started dating Vinny, she developed the VIP side of the business and turned it into a high-end gentlemen’s club. She and Kiki became wealthy bitches. Over the years, they nurtured their relationships with the casinos and their clientele. Kiki had the club running like a well-oiled machine, and business was booming.

“You look better than ever,” Kiki said as they left the office and caught the elevator to the second floor.

“Thanks,” she said and shifted restlessly as the elevator slowly traveled down.

“That dress is going to cause a riot.”

Carmen beamed. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

The elevator doors opened. The level of noise would have knocked a lesser person backward, but Carmen stepped forward eagerly. Two guards stepped aside to let them pass. The second floor had shadowed alcoves for semi-private shows or parties that overlooked the main floor, which catered to the masses.

“We have two bachelor parties tonight. Eight of the ten VIP rooms are occupied, and the limo drivers are bringing guys in groups of ten or more,” Kiki shouted as they walked down the gold staircase.

On stage, four girls danced with fans, boas, and thongs. The Red Diamond kept up a steady stream of entertainment from old Hollywood numbers to twerking and everything in between. The later the hour, the more risqué the show became. What happened on stage satisfied the public and critics while the real shit went on behind closed doors.

The main floor had clusters of chairs surrounding solo platforms, which put the girls within touching distance. Bouncers were everywhere. Carmen and Kiki weaved between hyped men and servers wearing skirts and bikini tops. It was Carmen’s type of bedlam. She inhaled cigar smoke with relish and slapped the ass of a passing stripper she hadn’t seen in ages and received a boob squeeze in return. Several men reached for her as she passed. One hand skated over her belly before Kiki took her hand. Her imposing presence made the men think twice about waylaying her.

They found a seat at the bar. Carmen blew a kiss to the bartender and surveyed the club while Kiki talked. It was hard to concentrate when her surroundings called to the wildness inside her. Her need to push the limits led her to the stage. Being a dancer brought out her love of role playing, and when she danced, she felt alive and free. People thought strippers were at a man’s mercy, yet in her experience, it was the other way around. She never felt more in control than when she worked the stage. Money rained down, and anything was possible.

Vinny replaced the stage, booze, and anything else that she indulged in to sate her inner demons. He became her everything, and now, he was gone, and the taste for something dark and uncivilized made her insides salivate. Her body ached from yesterday’s exploits, but she was hungry for more. Walking through her old hunting grounds was like parading a recovering alcoholic in front of a bar.

The music shifted from old Hollywood to hard rock, and the stage lights began to flash. Girls wearing lingerie or mesh dresses strutted down the catwalk and began to climb the poles. Carmen accepted a shot from the bartender and downed it without looking to see what it was. She couldn’t take her eyes off the dancers writhing to the beat. Seeing the girls embrace the moment brought back memories of a simpler time when life was about fun and games and not death and loss.

“Hey, baby.” A man with spiky hair and a sweat-stained button up eyed her as if she were a meal. “Can I get you a drink?”

“No.” Mr. Hip wasn’t going to do it for her. Even if he was the best fuck in the room (which she doubted), he wasn’t going to quench her hunger. Tonight was about reminding herself who the fuck she was.

She leaned to the side to watch as a dancer did a ridiculous trick on the pole that had the men around her tossing twenty-dollar bills on her platform. Carmen’s toes curled in her shoes as the need to toss all inhibitions into the wind hit her.

“I don’t think she’s interested,” Kiki said to the guy and turned back to her. “You fucked since Vinny?”

Carmen nodded.

Kiki patted her on the back. “I’m happy for you. Are you looking for a replacement?”

“No,” she said as she fisted her hands in her lap.

“You been on a pole lately?” Kiki asked dryly.

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