“How? And even if they notice, there’s no proof it was me.”
“What if it was a test?”
I pause, thinking over her words. It was just laying there randomly, and the guys don’t pay for drinks . . . what she’s saying makes sense. Axel seems the suspicious type. “Fine, I’ll put it back.”
She gives a soft smile and takes my hands in hers. “I want you to stick around, Remi. You remind me of myself when I first showed up here. I wanna help you get back on your feet, but let’s do it the right way.”
“Right, ladies. Gather on the stage.” The command cuts across the empty club, deep and unyielding. Axel steps into view, all leather and authority, with Grizz and Shadow flanking him.Great.Just what I need.
The other dancers trickle out from backstage, perching along the edge of the stage in glitter and heels. I hang back near the side wall, arms folded, trying to make myself invisible. I’m not part of this, technically, but with nowhere to be until my shift at the clubhouse this afternoon, I’m stuck here.
Axel plants himself centre stage, gaze sweeping over the girls. “You’ll be aware by now we’ve taken over Steels. The last owners couldn’t cover their debts, so this club came to us in payment.”
Murmurs ripple through the dancers until one, braver than the rest, speaks up. “Great. And where does that leave us?”
Axel’s mouth twitches, something between a smirk and a warning. “For now, it leaves you exactly where you are. I wannakeep everything running as it was. No staff changes unless someone quits. Over the next few weeks, we’ll watch, we’ll take notes, and then we’ll decide what stays . . . and what doesn’t.”
The silence that follows is thick, nervous. The girls shift uncomfortably, sequins catching the dim lights.
Axel lets the silence hang a beat too long, making sure every eye is on him. Then he folds his arms across his chest.
“Couple things you need to understand. First, this place now falls under Chaos Demons colours. That means no shit gets stirred in here without us knowing about it. Second, money. Every pound that passes through these doors matters. If you’re on shift, you’re expected to work, not slack. That means no skipping out early, no friends hanging around for free drinks, and no bullshit excuses.” His eyes flick to me, and I shift uneasily.
Another girl sits straighter, glancing to the girls on either side of her before asking, “So, what’s in it for us? Same pay? Or are you cutting corners to make your profit?”
The tension spikes, with the girls nodding in agreement and Grizz and Shadow narrowing their eyes on the mouthy dancer.
“Same pay. For now. You show me loyalty, maybe there’ll be more in it for you down the line. But if you think mouthing off is a good start,” he leans in slightly, voice dropping to a dangerous calm, “you’ll be the first name off my books.”
The brunette swallows hard, looking away.
Axel straightens, claps his hands once. “Good. Then we’re clear. Keep your heads down, do your jobs, and this’ll be easy. You make it difficult, you won’t like the outcome.”
The moment Axel dismisses them, the dancers slide off the stage in a shimmer of sequins and perfume, heels clicking across the worn floor. Laughter and chatter fill the air again, everyone eager to pretend the tension isn’t still crackling.
I follow Roxy.
“Remi.”
His voice slides over me, low and familiar, pulling a shiver down my spine that I immediately smother. I don’t turn, just keep walking until Shadow falls into step beside me.
“You’re really gonna ignore me?”
“I’m not ignoring you,” I say. “I’m just not interested in anything you have to say.”
“Why you hanging around here again?”
I lift a shoulder casually. “I’m with Roxy.”
“She’s working.”
I flick my wrist, making a show of checking my watch. “Club doesn’t open for another hour.”
His stare doesn’t waver. “And only paying customers are allowed to hang here once it does.”
“Okay,” I snap, rolling my eyes. “Message received.”
Shadow’s mouth curves, but it’s not quite a smile. “If you’ve got no place to go, just say it.”
