Page 10 of Twisted Games of Revenge

“I bet. I grew up here, so this place all feels so normal to me, but I could see what it would be like to an outsider.”

Something occurs to me, something that makes me feel a little uneasy. “You know the boys’ club, Flamingo Hotel, do they have rooms like this?” I ask, unable to hide the nervousness in my voice. I’m not sure why it makes me feel so uncomfortable. Maybe it’s the thought that they could be there right now, fucking some escort to get me out of their heads.

“You’ll have to ask them what business they conduct in their space, sis, that’s not for me to say.”

“They don’t tell me anything.” I sigh heavily.

She takes my hand. “You need to get your own life and stop thinking about the Moretti brothers. You could have a lot of fun in this place and make great money. Cashed-up dudes would go crazy for your look, you’re so hot, Viv.”

I shake my head, not able to help the smile on my face. “Not going to happen, Sloane. I have enough complications in my life, thanks.” My imagination gets away from me, and all I can see isme tied up to some bed post and one of the guys finding me and beating the shit out of the dude who dared to touch me. Yeah, that shit wouldn’t go down well. Besides, I couldn’t do it. I think now that I’m out on my own, my lady parts will just have to shrivel up and die because I’m done with sex. There are only four men I want to fuck me, and they’re all out of bounds. And are probably never going to talk to me again.

“Your loss, sis.” She shrugs it off, walking toward the end of the long hall. Then she pulls out a set of keys and unlocks the door.

We walk through to another space, the scent of vanilla and coconut lingering in the air. This place is like a rabbit warren. “What’s this place?” It’s lighter and brighter than the rest of the club, with relaxing music playing through the air. A nice-looking girl in a white lab coat slung open with a tight black dress underneath, smiles up at us from her spot at the reception desk.

“Our day spa. The girls who work at the club have all their needs taken care of here, one of my more legitimate businesses.” She walks me through the space and out the front door that has street frontage. It seems we have come full circle. Right next to the neon sign for The Raven’s Nest is a sign for Nestled Serenity Spa. I didn’t even notice it at night, but I guess this place would be locked up tight at that time of night. I have been here in the past.

“The girl who did all this for me?”

“Drew, yeah, she works here.”

“Does the general public come in here as well? Or do they have to be a member?” I ask, just because I’m curious.

“Depends on what they want. We can take walk-ins, but I have a couple of girls who only service a special list of clients. They offer something a little more.”

We walk back through the front of the club. “Like a happy ending kind of thing” I ask, needing all the details.

“Something like that.” Her lips flick up at the sides. “Did you get all your questions out?”

“How many staff work for you?”

“A lot. You could be one of them. Something to do with your time until you work out your next move.” She tries to convince me again.

I walk with her back toward the bar, thinking on it. I’m not entertaining the idea of stripping or being an escort, even though I know that’s where the money is. “I guess I could help out at the bar if you need another set of hands,” I finally offer. She’s right, I’m not sure what else to do. I need to track down Enzo and work out how exactly to get close enough to him that I can start destroying his life, but until I work that out, I could do with a way to make a little cash.

“I can always use another set of hands.” She smiles, happy. “Get to know the other girls in here, who knows what they might have heard on the streets.” She looks me over, grimacing. “And for God’s sake, get some ice on to that lip.” She passes me a cube of ice.

“The piercing was your idea,” I remind her, pressing the cube to my lip that’s now stinging like a bitch.

“Yeah, and it will look hot in a few days.”

I take a seat at the bar, icing my poor swollen lip. I’m lucky I can still talk okay.

“Sloane, what’s this I hear about some chick mooching off you?” comes a male voice from behind me. I cringe because I know I’m the chick he’s referring to.

Glancing over my shoulder, I find Asher Stryker striding toward us.

I catch Sloane rolling her eyes. I smirk back at her and let out a little chuckle. “Brothers,” I mutter under my breath, and she grins back, a knowing glint in her eyes.

Asher stops when he notices me. His eyes, curious and intense, scan my appearance. I raise a brow.

“Ash, this is my new friend Viv, she’s going to be working behind the bar and living with me for a bit. Didn’t realize I need to run my living arrangements by you.” She kisses her brother on the cheek then continues lining up the glasses like she had been.

His eyes run over me again, settling on my face. “What’s wrong with your lip?”

“Fresh piercing,” I mumble with the ice still pressed to my lip.

“Ouch.” He smirks cheekily.

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