Page 23 of Assassin's Obsession

"Don't." For the first time in my life as a made man, I don't know if I would follow orders. Not if those orders were to walk away from Candi.

I'll protectla famigliawith my life and serve it with the death of others, but I won't give up Candi for the mistaken belief that she's a danger to the family.

"She's that important to you?" Severu asks in disbelief. "And you don't even fuck her?"

I shrug. "When you know, you know."

One day I'll lay claim to Candi's body, but I've already claimed the most important thing.

Her life.

Something flashes across my boss's face and he sighs again. "At least you're listening to your instincts."

"Like you didn't at first with Catalina."

He shrugs, but we both know the truth.

Severu thought he wanted something he didn't. When most of us knew all along that Catalina was the best woman for him.

Chapter 9

CANDI

The club is packed for the Pitiful Princess's Halloween Party.

The 31stis next Thursday, but Saturday is our busiest night, so that means the big bash is tonight.

But we've been playing up the costumes and spooky vibes for the last week and that will continue through next weekend. Never say club management doesn't know how to exploit a holiday.

Our spotlights have orange filters over them and the floor is lit with blacklights that make all the white elements of everyone's costumes glow. Most of the dancers and waitstaff are wearing white pasties, thongs or makeup that draws attention to their butts and boobs.

Fake cobwebs and glittery vampire bats festoon the purple velvet curtains that separate the backstage from the front. The Halloween decorations make a discordant note with the Persian palace vibe of the club, but what are you going to do?

It's Halloween, Pitiful Princess style. Which means there are more dancers working tonight than any other night of the year except New Years Eve.

A lot of us wear costumes all year long, so I'm not sure what it is about the big Halloween party that makes it such a popular night, but there's a line waiting to get in that's twice as long as normal.

Maybe the customers like being able to dress up themselves. A surprising number show up in Halloween costumes, from something as simple as a baseball cap and carrying a ball glove, to really elaborate ensembles. Two themes prevail for dancer and customer alike.

Sex and sin.

All the nurses are naughty and a lot of the men have something stuffed in the front to make a noticeable bulge. No way are that many average guys sporting a fat ten inches in the skin tight bottoms of their batman costumes.

"That costume is banging," Piper says from beside me.

We're both doing our last makeup touches before going out on stage.

I smile at her in the mirror. "Thanks."

I'm wearing a white angel costume with gold trim tonight. It will look golden-orange under the lights on the stage and glow bright with a blue tint when I'm working the floor, highlighting my assets, and leaving the rest of me in shadow.

The skirt of the two-shoulder toga barely covers my ass, but I only wear the tiny toga dress for the first part of my set. Once it comes off, I'll be left in a thong and a bra made of satin and fine white mesh. Wider than usual, the straps are artfully designed folds of white satin. Crisscrossing right above my boobs, they keep the illusion of the toga I'll strip off at the end.

They also outline each globe like a neon sign, making the girls look even bigger than they really are. The nearly transparent white mesh covering them will glow for the punters without hiding the glittery white pasties on my nipples. Those will glow even brighter because of their opacity, giving the customers the sense they are getting a peek at my nipples.

The small white wings will stand out in the crowd but won't get in my way when I walk between tables working the room later. That's always good for extra tips and I need them just like the next girl. Tonight should bring in more tips than all the other nights this week combined.

"You've got a thing for dressing like an angel," Piper teases. "Anything to do with your stalker being named Angelo?"

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