GAUGE
The ride to Hazy Nights was quick. The roads were clear at that time of the morning and Isped through red light after red light, seeing no reason to stop for them since no one was around. The parking lot of Hazy Nights held only ahandful of cars, but Istill drove by and parked my bike further down the street so it wouldn’tbe seen.
Walking back through the dark night, Iheaded around the side of the building to keep out of view of the cameras and the two guys covering security on the front door. The back door was afire exit and could only be accessed from the inside, and Iscowled as Istared up at the single small window, wondering if Icould climb up and get in it. Deciding Icouldn’t, Irealized the only way to get in there was to take off my club colors and go in the front—something Ireally didn’twant to do. But there was no other way about it; Ididn’twant anyone pairing the club and whatever shit Jolie had done together. Not to mention that it wasn’tour territory.
Slipping out of my cut, Iturned it inside out and put it back on before heading around to the front. The two guys working security were smoking and chatting with apretty redhead that reminded me of Rose, so much so that Idid adouble take until the light above the door hit her face and Irealized it wasn’ther.
All three turned to look at me as Icame out of the shadows, the redhead slipping back inside the club as the two guys turned to face me. Both guys were built like I’dexpect security to be; broad, tall, hard expressions. They were almost identical in their postures too.
“We're closing soon,” one of them said as Istopped in front of them.
“That’sokay. I’mjust here to get my girl and then I’ll be going.” Iwas taller than both of them, but they still sized me up like Iwas nothing to be feared.
“Gotta pay full price still, or wait for her out here,” the other guy said. His accent was strong; something European, Ifigured.
Iheld up my hands. “No problem, I’ll pay. Bitch’ll keep me out here for the next hour if Idon’tgo in and get her. She’spunishing me for fucking her friend.” Igrimaced like Iknew Ishould, already knowing that I’dwin them both over with that line.
Assholes always stick together.
They both laughed, the short back and sides guy wincing. “She got your balls in avise over it?”
“You fuckin’ know it, brother. But what’saguy supposed to do when she’sgot it all laid out like that?” Ichuckled along with them, shaking both their hands.
“Get in there,” one said, stepping aside. “No free shows though—straight in and straight back out with your girl.”
Inodded, slapping him on the shoulder with thanks as Ipassed by them. Itook the three stairs up into the main club quickly, heading right into the main room where aleggy blonde was spinning around the pole dressed as aballet dancer—if ballet dancers only wore tutus and nipple tassels. The club was in serious need of renovating was the first thing Inoticed. The carpet was worn and old, like it had been down since the ’70s, and Irealized it likely had been. The stage was decent though—twice as big as the Pit’s, with several poles, and spotlights hitting at every angle. The bar looked understocked, the staff overworked. But the girls were beautiful and of every color you could imagine.
Blond chicks with small tits and pert asses, redheads with huge tits and big eyes, brown-skin beauties with full afros and big lips. You name it, Hazy Nights had it.
Despite the rest of the club looking like shit, Ihad to admit that Iwas impressed. Adecent stage and beautiful women—the rest faded into obscurity when you focused on those two things.
Iscanned the club quickly, searching for Jolie, or the staff entrance, or anything that might tell me where she was. And then Irealized that Ihadn’teven considered why the fuck she was there at all. She was nineteen and should have been in school and doing night shifts at Taco Bell or Chick-Fil-Aor some shit. Not here. But thinking back to earlier that day, Iknew that she knew how to use that body of hers. That was for damned certain. And fuck me did she have the body for something like this. But there was no way Dom would have stood for her stripping.
“Hey there, honey. Can Ihelp you out with anything?” asked araven-haired girl who couldn’thave been more than twenty-five, if that. Her hand slid over my front, down my chest to my stomach, and started trailing lower. “We’ve got rooms. Only ten dollars for one of my special kisses.” She winked and licked her lips.
Ichuckled and took her hand in mine. “As tempting as that offer is, darlin’, I’mactually here looking for someone. You seen Jolie anywhere?”
She pouted and Ichuckled again. “Idon’tknow any Jolie. What does she look like?”
“Long dark hair, real angry looking, big tits.”
“Sorry, no.” She shrugged and began to walk away.
“Wait, wait, okay, so imagine Satan and Lilith had ababy, and out spawned this hellish little fucking brat who hated the world and everyone in it but…”
“Oh,” she laughed, “Ithink you mean Jade. She’sin the back…if she’sstill here at all. She doesn’tnormally wait around at the end of her shift.” She pointed to acorner of the club where aheavy curtain hung on asilver rail.
“Jade?” Inodded. “Okay, thanks.”
“Name’sIndigo, if you change your mind,” she said with awink and then walked away.
Iheaded toward the curtain, turning and checking behind me as Ipulled it aside and stepped through into along, dingy corridor. Bags and buckets of clothing and shoes lined the hallway, and Iguessed that was where the girls did their quick changes between sets.
My boots were almost silent as Iwalked along the faded floor, checking the handles on doors and sticking my head in, finding no one inside. Iwas about to give up and go home because the realization that maybe I’dmisread the situation and Iwas going to look like afucking idiot was beginning to break through my alcohol-riddled brain, when Iheard agrunt from the end of the corridor.
If Icould have been any quieter, Idid just that. Slipping toward the door labeledBig Boss Daddy,Igrabbed the handle and turned it, attempting to push it open quickly, but the thing wouldn’tbudge.
“Who is it?” Jolie called from inside.
