Page 36 of Bratva King's Secret Twins

Mia sticks her tongue out at him before returning her attention to me. "I love you, Mommy, but it isBlueytime."

"I love you, Mia. Give each other a big hug from me, okay?" Mia runs up to Gio and tackles him in a big hug.

"Done, Mommy. Bye!" Mia hangs up, and I take a deep breath, steeling myself in front of the club.

My heart is racing with anticipation as I reach for the door handle, but the bouncer, with a silver stud in his ear and glass blue eyes, stops me swiftly with a hand stretched out in front of my chest.

"State your business," he growls.

I swing the flier up in my hand and cock an eyebrow. "I am here for the dancer position."

"You don't seem like a dancer to me," the other bouncer with a bald head snorts, crossing his hands over his chest.

"I know this doesn't look like much, but get me in a room alone, and I promise you my legs can reach my ears with the right incentive," I whisper, giving both bouncers a seductive smile while trailing my eyes up their bodies.

"I don't know, Bruce; she sounds like a stripper to me." The bouncer with the stud opens up the door for me with lust dancing across his eyes. "Oscar's office is up the stairs and on the left."

I nod, swaying my hips as I enter the club. The interior is more intimidating than the exterior, and I don't have my jaw on the floor.

Rich, dark wood and plush, velvet seating dominate the space, creating a level of luxury I have never seen before inside a strip club. The dim lighting is placed strategically to create intimate pockets of light that dance off the mirrored walls and reflect on the polished marble floors. Crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, casting a soft, seductive glow that bounces off the glitter-adorned dancers' bodies as they do their warm-up routines.

I make my way toward the bar, my eyes scanning the room. The main stage, the focal point of the room, is framed by heavy, red velvet curtains and adorned with golden accents. The few dancers are already on stage, moving with an unnatural level of grace that seems almost ethereal under the soft spotlight. A girl jumps up into the air, her legs dropping into a split as she swings down the pole, and for a second, nerves run through me because thatgirl up there is good, treating stripping like the art form it is.

As I approach the bar, I can't help the second wave of nerves that prick over my skin as I touch the smooth dark wood that feels like a pornstar martini never spilled on it. The bartender, a tall, muscular man with dark hair, a chiseled jaw, and piercing blue eyes, looks up from polishing a glass. He lets out a low whistle, his eyes raking me leisurely.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" he says with a playful smirk. His voice is smooth, dripping with charm. He leans on top of the bar, closer to me. "Darling, you know this is a gentleman's club, right?"

I slide into one of the chairs with my own flirty smile on my lips. "Do I not look like a gentleman's wet dream?"

"I try not to be so forward with a girl when I first meet her," he says, placing the glass on the table and taking a long look at my breast peeking through my v-neck t-shirt.

"Why not?" I ask, a sly smile playing on my lips.

I cross my right leg over the other, feeling a surge of confidence rush through me. My body feels electric, every inch of my skin tingling with anticipation. It's a feeling I haven't experienced in years. A feeling I thought I would never feel again because I had kids and worked so many hours that I couldn't always be bothered to run a brush through my hair or not have some type of stain on my clothing.

As I sit here across from a hot bartender in a city where no one knows my name, I am reminded of the woman I used to be – confident, sexy, untouchable. My hair falls in loose curls, freshly brushed and styled. My white v-neck falls right below my belly button, and my jeans caress every inch of my curves.For once, everything feels perfect, and I can't help but revel in being truly good again.

"Girly, you are playing with fire." He slides me a rum and coke which works in his favor because it's my favorite drink.

"How'd you know I was a rum and coke girl?" I smile, pulling the straw to my lips and taking a light sip.

"You look like a classic with a little fun." I roll my eyes at his blinding smile and slowly turn on my stool.

"So flirty boy, what's your name?" I tease.

"My name is Hudson." He winks.

"Like the river?" I counter.

"I was named after my ability to make things wet." He winks, and I laugh because no one other than Nikolai can flirt with me like this. Never missing a beat. Surprising me. I think back to that guy I saw outside of the bar, his deep oceanic blue eyes, dirty blonde hair, and black suit. He looked like Nikolai, and my body tingles with the need to see that guy again.

"Well, if I get a job here, we can test your namesake." I wink, reaching my hand across the bar. "My name is Gwen."

"Sexy name for a sexy girl." He brings my hand to his lips as he tilts his head towards the double doors to his right. "The manager's office is through those doors next to the bar, first door on the left."

"Thank you." I smile. I start to pull my hand away, but he holds on with a little pressure.

"Do a good job, would ya? I want to see your fine ass here every day." He releases my hand, and Isnort, rolling my eyes. He laughs to himself, and I shimmy through the double doors to my right.

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