He looks like he’s going to say something, but I don’t give him the chance. I grab the handle of the door and push it open. After I climb out, I straighten my suit jacket before brushing my pants to make sure there are no wrinkles. As I feel Sage climb out behind me, I head toward the door of the club. It’s too early to be open, so I press my security code into the pad next to the closed doors and let myself in. I walk past the outer reception desk and through the next set of double doors, into the club proper. Thestale scents of cigarettes and beer hit my nose, and I can’t stop myself from wrinkling it in disgust.
“Ugh, is it time for this club to be renovated? It stinks,” I mutter out loud, and I hear Sage chuckle.
“How long do you think the smell of new carpet and fresh paint would last?”
“Maybe you’re right,” I agree, “but let’s schedule someone to come in and at least clean the carpets. They are sticky.” I lift my shoe and look to see if anything is stuck to it, but like I suspected, there is nothing there. “Gross.”
There are a few lights on in the fridges behind the bar, and we use them to guide us through the mess of tables and booths. The opening staff won’t be in to set up for a while. We open at one today, so we will have the place to ourselves for a few hours.
Pushing through the door that leads up to my office, we climb the stairs. I have fond memories of seeing that asshole tumble ass over tit down them, and it brings a smile to my lips. Ah, fun times. That was my first time shooting someone, and it lives rent free in my head.
The office door is open, and I can hear quiet voices murmuring inside, but I can’t make out what is being said.
When we enter, Lacey is sitting behind the desk, and Sam and Dean are both on the couch. I look around. There is no evidence of Melissa’s death anywhere, and the sex swing is no longer hanging from the hook in the ceiling. Our cleanup crew did a great job. I must send them a bonus.
“Hey, guys.” I wave a hand and take a seat on the chair opposite Lacey. Sage goes over to the others and does some manly handshake shit before joining them on the couches.
“How’s it going?” I ask the pretty stripper, and she sits up straight in her chair. I smile when I notice she’s wearing a suit very much like mine.
“It’s good. I’m just going over the roster for this week,” she tells me, glancing at the boys and biting her lip with worry, but then I see her metaphorically pull up her big girl panties. Her back straightens, and her eyes narrow.
“I want to be inducted into the Russo family,” she states firmly, and I smother the smile that wants to cross my lips. I guessed this was coming, but I thought it would take her longer to get the guts. “I’m loyal, and I want to be able to repay you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“Hmm…” I turn my chair so I can see her, Sam, and Dean. “How do you feel about this?” I ask them, and Sam shakes his head.
“This is her decision to make, and if this is what she wants, then we will support her.”
“Yeah, and you can’t deny her because she’s a woman. That would be hypocritical,” Dean points out, and I scoff.
“Please, I wasn’t going to deny her for that reason.” I turn back to look at Lacey. “You know it will come with much more danger than just running this club, right? You will be asked to do things you aren’t comfortable with.”
I’m not trying to change her mind, she’s entitled to her wants, but I want to make sure she really knows what she’s getting into. I kind of also want to appoint her to oversee all the Kitty Kat clubs. It would be one less thing on my never-ending list of things to do. She’s proven herself capable, and if I assign Sam and Dean to be her permanent protection, then I don’t see it being a problem.
“I have been working with Sam and Dean. I know how to use a gun, and I’m getting really good at it. I have also been working on self-defense, and look.”
She picks up what I thought was a letter opener, but I can now see it’s a small throwing knife. She lifts her hand, and with aflick of her wrist, it flies across the room and hits a target on the wall dead center.
Sage blows out a whistle of appreciation. “Damn, Lace, you have some mad knife skills. Watch out, Tori, she may take your title of knife queen.” I know he’s joking around, but he’s not wrong, that was a nice throw.
I nod my head. “Fine, but once you’re in, there’s only one way out,” I caution, carefully watching her to make sure she understands exactly what I mean.
“Death is the only way out.” Her jaw is set stubbornly, and I can tell she’s serious.
“Fine, take her to the tattooist and get her the mark. Make sure she has the skills she needs to survive,” I instruct the boys who nod. Sam looks resigned, like he didn’t really want this but knows there is no point in arguing, and I can understand why he feels that way. Dean, however, looks excited, and I know he will make sure she can protect herself if she needs to.
“But know this, Lacey. Fuck me over like Candy did, and I won’t hesitate to take care of you like I did Melissa,” I threaten. I like the girl, but not enough to save her precious sensibilities. She needs to know that there is no backing out once she’s committed.
“I’d sooner cut off my own hand than betray you, Tori.” I’m surprised but pleased by how serious she is.
“Okay, well now that’s out of the way, shall we talk about what the two of you have been up to?” I turn my attention to my henchmen. Lacey stands up and starts gathering her papers and her laptop. “I’ll just take my work downstairs and get out of your way,” she says, but I wave a hand, gesturing for her to sit.
“No. If you want in, then it’s time to see if you can kick it with the big kids.” She settles into the seat, a slight gleam of excitement in her eyes. “So what has my dear uncle been up to?”
“We’ve had a tail on him twenty-four hours a day since you discovered the tunnels, but he hasn’t gone anywhere that could hold the people scheduled for auction on Saturday. There has been a lot of socializing with the usual characters. He had lunch with Penelope and Mario Maricuso at the Lucky Diamond two days ago, and he’s been hanging out in some dive bar down near the docks,” Sam replies.
“He also visited an apartment in that newly gentrified area of Suncity. You know, the one on the river, but it was gated, and we couldn’t find who the registered owner is. A woman answered the door and was happy to see him, so we’re assuming he was there for personal reasons.”
“And he hasn’t been back here?” I ask Lacey who frowns.
