“Come on, we gotta go.” Ivy checked their hair in the van’s side mirror. “He ain’t gonna wait forever.”
“We’ll be there at the designated time,” Charlie said, and he swooped down to kiss me before he wandered off into the hotel with Chancey.
Everyone had their role; the Elvish Associates were going to hack into the club’s security cameras and do surveillance. Ivy, Marcus, Kallie and I would go to the meeting with the club’s owner, and hopefully, be able to pose as the staff within the club whenever Lorenzo showed his ass up. Charlie and Chancey were posing as guests, and would do their best to spy on Lorenzo as he moved throughout the club.
Ivy escorted us into a hallway that was connected to the parking lot, and led us to a glass elevator. We got in and rode the elevator up fifty floors, to the top of the building.
“It smells like blood in here,” Kallie complained as we took the elevator up.
“Well, yeah,” Ivy responded. “Vampire’s lair and all.”
The elevator doors opened. As we walked through, I felt something heavy press in around me— a ward meant for breaking enchantments. I felt the potion’s effects waver, but they still held.
Marcus was right. Even if Kallie cast an illusion, the wards were so strong here that they would break, and a weaker potion would’ve definitely failed to hold up. The potion he’d made was incredibly unique.
The hallway we stepped into was dark and lit with blacklights. A tall, muscular vampire in a suit was blocking the door ahead.
“Hey, Biff. How’s it going?” Ivy purred to the guard.
“Ivy.” The vampire nodded and stepped aside to let us through. “It’s great to have you back.”
“I’ve been away too long.” The way Ivy swayed their hips as they strutted into the club was even more seductive than usual. Although Ivy had promised to leave this life behind them, clearly it was still a world they fit into and knew well.
The club itself was massive. The tables and chairs were made of glass, and it was so dark inside I could hardly see. The area was dimly lit in purple and blue show lights, and there were multiple stages with spinning dancing poles. It was pretty empty here, as the club wasn’t open yet. The room was nearly vacant, except for one person.
I officially knew the exact scumbag we were working with when I saw him. He was a short, ugly ass looking vampire counting hundreds at one of the tables. When he saw us, he stood up and held out a hand.
“Ivy. You’re as lovely as ever,” he said, and he gave a slimy kiss to Ivy’s fingertips. I don’t know how Ivy managed to stand it, because this dude might as well be Creepzilla.
Ivy, though, didn’t flinch, merely put on a smirk. “Darius Freyden. Can’t tell you howexcitedI was to reach out.”
“Heard you did some time in the pen.” Darius stepped back. “You ain’t still mad about those last clients I sent ya, right?”
Something dangerous flashed behind Ivy’s eyes, but they quickly camouflaged it. “Of course not. I know the risks of this job. I’m here to work.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” Darius’ attention immediately turned to the rest of us. “This who you brought in? I’m not impressed.”
“There’s more to them than meets the eye,” Ivy promised. “The girls are Lux and Blaze. And the guy’s Marco. He ran security at the last club I danced for.”
Darius huffed. “This guy ain’t security,” he said, thumbing at Marcus. “He’s a pretty boy if I ever saw one.”
“I beg your pardon?” Marcus squeaked.
“Look, toots, we take all kinds here,” Darius spat. “Don’t be shy. You ain’t gotta pose as security. You’re going up on the main stage tonight.”
Marcus blanched, but I elbowed him and he peeped, “Whatever you’d like.”
Darius turned toward Kallie. “Sorry, sweetheart, but we got enough blondes.”
Kallie scowled. “Fine. I’ll wait tables.”
“Lucky you. Our last hostess just quit.” Darius gave a smile that had fangs missing, but it fell as he glanced at me. “Get lost, wheels. This ain’t a place for you.”
“And why not?” I asked. “I’ve performed before.”
One time in The Devil’s Playground, but still.
Darius sneered. “Why would I want to hire a bitch in a wheelchair? Strippers gotta walk.”
