Page 38 of Kings Against the World

No more than a minute later, I’m exiting his office as discreetly as I entered. I stride down the corridor, headed back for the dressing room so I can use the girls as my alibi.

“There you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

It’s Benz calling out to me.

So much for my alibi.

My stomach flips as I turn to face him, prepared for more accusations like earlier. But he has a vein throbbing in his temple and his face is flushed from more than the heat.

“Benz,” I say in a meek tone befitting of Jade Fowley. “About earlier… I’m sorry for any misunderstand?—”

“Never mind that. You’re needed right now. Starr’s come down with something and we’ve got nobody else to replace her.”

“Wait, Starr’s a dancer.”

“That’s right,” he grunts, grabbing me by the elbow. “You’ll be taking the stage tonight.”

11

OZZIE

All the majorplayers have already arrived to Boone’s party by the time I turn up. Boone and Estrada pulled out all the stops. Compared to what had been planned at Déjà Vu, the underground casino puts it to shame and then some.

The Aztec theme of Azure Sol is everywhere, shining down from some sun disc ceiling lights to the gold-plated ancient symbols on the walls and game tables.

A redhead in a sparkling bra and booty shorts combo steps toward me with a flirty smile and hands me a drink.

I do what I always do during moments like these, grinning back at her and asking her name.

“Versace,” she says.

“I’ve always said the brand has great assets.”

She giggles emptily before she’s strutting off to flirt with the next VIP guest stepping through the elevator doors.

I expect nothing less from girls who work at these kinds of establishments. Their sole job is to use their sex appeal to flirt with and extract money from male customers.

The moment you stop expecting them to be real is the moment you’re able to enjoy them for what they are.

Hot chicks with banging bodies that want your money.

I learned that lesson enough times to last me a fucking lifetime. Nothing’s real in these kinds of circles, and if you’re lucky enough to find it, you’ve damn near won the lottery. I can’t blame guys like Mace, Cash, and Logan for locking down their catches.

They’ve struck gold.

But not everybody’s got that kind of good fortune. You ask Silver, and he’ll tell you that himself.

I’m meant to stick with the quick, easy, superficial exchanges I can find at these clubs. If my own damn parents never loved me, how could I ever think anybody else would?

My eyes wander over the other scantily dressed girls in the club as I sip on the drink I was given and explore the underground casino Boone and Estrada put together.

Tonight’s just celebrations, but tomorrow the real fun begins…

My gaze lands on the one girl in this place who isn’t meant to be here—Zoe Strauss is in the same sparkly bra and booty shoots as the other chicks on the floor. She’s holding a serving tray as she delivers a bottle of Sotol to Estrada and some of his men.

I stop in my tracks, something deep from within pulling at me.

She’s… fucking gorgeous.

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