“A few days ago, while we were in one of the backrooms,” Rachel said. “I hadn’t expected it to be that good, but it was. He’s a very attentive lover, different than most men. That’s probably the reason that Brittany and Allie are acting like that. Though I suspect it’s the money for Brittany. Nikos might not necessarily flaunt his money, but it’s clear he has it. His watch is at least over thirty grand, and they say he’s Aris’s brother.”
“Aris?” Honey questioned as she tried to rummage her mind for a face with that name.
Rachel shook her head. “You weren’t working here when he was around. Aris is Nikos’s older brother. Aris and Nikos are the sons of Giannis Drakos. He’s a man with a lot of power in Greece and America. I heard he was a menace back in the nineties when he was here.”
“Like Antonis?” Honey asked curiously. She knew that Antonis was a part of some dark things, and that was why he had the money and power that he had in New York. She tended to mind her business, not wanting to get caught up in things like that, so if the cops were to ever question her, she wouldn’t have any information to give them. But after working here for over four years, she had seen some things—crates and packages floating around, people disappearing— things she didn’t want to see.
“Bigger than Antonis,” Rachel said as she glanced around, lowering her voice. “The reason that Antonis has this power is because of Nikos’s father.”
“Damn,” Honey said, shaking her head. No wonder Brittany wanted him. With that type of money, she would be set for life if she had Nikos.
“Wait. How do you know all of this?” Honey questioned.
“Hung out with Amber and Theo at the bar the other weekend. He runs his mouth when he gets drunk,” Rachel said, shrugging.
“I keep warning y’all not to mess with these men before you get caught up in something,” Honey said, shaking her head. “I don’t care how much money they have. They’re trouble and dangerous.”
People wondered why she wouldn’t give in to Antonis despite him being rich, but she didn’t care about how much money he had. In all of this time of knowing each other, Antonis had proved that he only saw her as a doll that he wanted to own. On top of that, the life he lived was dangerous and something she wouldn’t subject herself or her son to. Though she was working here for money, she wasn’t that desperate for it. She knew when not to touch the stove, and men like Antonis and Nikos were the flames on top of it.
“Maybe you don’t care about money, but what about sex?” Honey lifted a brow as she took her honey blond wig off, letting her real dark brown hair show.
“I’m telling you, Honey. You should just try it for fun,” Rachel said.
“I would never have sex with someone like him,” Honey said, frowning at the thought. “Besides, I’m not even attracted to him.”
“I thought the same, and then I found myself in a closet with him,” Rachel said as she winked at her before she walked away. Honey paused for a second, processing that informationbefore she shook her head. She wouldn’t do anything with Nikos, especially not for a good time. She believed Rachel, knowing that she wasn’t one to lie about things like that, but it didn’t matter how good at sex Nikos was. She would continue to keep her distance from him and probably remain the only dancer here untouched by him.
C H A P T E R
9
MANHATTAN MALL WAS BUSTLING WITH PEOPLE ON A FRIDAY MORNING, and Nikos was one of those people as he was dragged along by Allison, a dancer from the club, who clasped his hand tightly, leading him through the crowded mall.
“Come on, Nikos. We’re late,” she said, tugging him harder.
Technically,shewas late. His initial plan after waking up in Allison’s bed in the morning was to return home and get some rest because he hadn’t gotten much of it last night. Yesterday, after he dropped off another delivery to his uncle, Allison had cornered him in one of the private rooms, demanding to know what his relationship was with Brittany, another dancer at the club. After having an honest conversation about whattheir relationship was and wasn’t, Nikos had been certain that he would never be able to have sex with Allison again. But surprisingly, the brunette said she was game for a casual relationship and took him back to her place, where they had fun throughout the night.
Right now, he should have been back at home in his own bed, but he had gone to Allison’s place in her car, and when she had told him she would give him a ride back, he found himself here, inside of a mall.
“There they are,” Allison said as they went up the escalator. Nikos looked in the direction Allison pointed at and saw some of the dancers from the club. They were huddled together near the bench on the wall on the second floor of the building. Idle chatter took place amongst them until Amber spotted them too as they ascended onto the second floor.
Soon, a bunch of eyes turned on him, and Nikos grimaced inwardly, already spotting two women he had slept with recently. Sweetie was there, and he had just hooked up with her last week. Rachel was there too, but she was cool. Unlike some of the other girls who had gotten a little attached like Allison had, Rachel wasn’t one of them. The brunette had been the one to tell him herself that she wasn’t looking for anything serious, and it was a one-time thing only, which Nikos appreciated.
Though Amber was beautiful, he hadn’t attempted to do anything with her, knowing that she had some kind of relationship with his cousin. He didn’t know if their relationship was serious or not, but his cousin was blood, and he would never do that to him despite how charming and flirtatious Amber could be. And then there was Rita, a voluptuous Latina dancer that Nikos hadn’t talked to. Though it might have seemed like he had slept with every woman at the club, it wasn’t true.
They came to a stop in front of the group, and Nikos spotted the last girl who sat on the bench with her head down as she looked at her phone. Nikos couldn’t tell who she was. He didn’t recognize her, which was strange. It had been over a month since he had come to New York, and by now, he had gotten to know all of the women at the Gentlemen’s Club, some in more ways than one.
“I’m sorry I’m late! My alarm clock didn’t go off,” Allison said as she shot him a glare. Nikos lifted his hands in mock surrender. Her alarm clock did go off, waking them both up from their slumber, but when they were supposed to get up, that quickly turned into another round, and time had all but faded into the background for them.
“I wonder why is that,” Rachel said knowingly. Allison blushed as she hit Rachel’s shoulder.
“Ladies,” Nikos said, greeting them with a smile. “It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is. You’re all always so beautiful.”
Amber shook her head fondly. “You can’t help yourself, can you?”
“Not around beautiful women,” Nikos said, winking.
“Why did you come here with Allison?” Sweetie asked with a small frown as she folded her arms on top of each other.
