Page 37 of One Wild Night

It had been a week since the night that Tony got so mad. Carlo had been more than understanding, and was willing to still pay me for the week of work I would miss because of the bruises on my arms. He also gave Tony a good beating for laying his hands on me. I was secretly pleased, even though I knew it was more because the club would lose business in my absence than for him hurting me. After all, I was their most popular dancer.

Carlo threatened Tony, telling him that if he ever left another bruise on me, he was a dead man. It was nice to see, and I felt somewhat vindicated by his actions, but I doubted Carlo would really kill his own son for hurting me.

The bruises had faded enough to be covered up, and tonight was my first night back at the club. I was scheduled to dance at five, six-thirty, eight, and ten-thirty. My first song selection was Joan Jett'sDo You Wanna Touch Me, and I was excited. Within fifteen minutes of my scheduled time slot, I was dressed in a sexy black miniskirt, held together by four silver rings on my right thigh. My top was basically a black bikini top with laces that criss-crossed around my waist several times before it tied in the back. It, too, had one silver ring that rested just above my left breast. To finish off the outfit, I had on a pair of black, strappy stilettos. I felt sexy, and I knew just the sight of me would drive the men in the club nuts.

When my time came to dance, I made my way to the pole in the darkness of the club, and signaled to Jesse that I was ready. When the music started to pump through the speakers, the lights came on and I started to move. I was trying to make eye contact with everyone in the club because I always got better tips that way, when I came across a pair of hauntingly familiar green eyes.Ryan. Ryan was back from Brazil after a month, and he was watching me dance. I needed to look away from him and keep dancing, but it was the hardest thing I ever had to do.

I did it, though, because I had to. If Tony caught Ryan watching me, or even looking at me, I had no doubts that Tony would kill him. I couldn't do that to Ryan, so I broke our gaze and started to climb the pole at center stage, holding on with my legs as my body flipped around and I dangled upside down for a few seconds. The men in the front few rows went wild, and by the time I glanced up to see if Ryan was still watching me, he was gone.

At least he was home now. That was all that really mattered. He was home, and for the time being, he was safe.

Chapter 15

Ryan

"You're going straightto the club?" Jamie asked after we'd dropped Bennett off. My body was burning. I needed one glimpse. Just one. I had to knowshewas okay.

"I need to put some personal money in my safe. It's okay, Jamie. You can go home once you've dropped me off."

"Will you need me when you see Carlo later?"

"No. He's in a meeting with Vincent. It could be a long night. I'll fill Carlo in alone."

"You're itching to see her, aren't you? You can't fool me, Ry. You are the toughest guy I know, but Trixie is your weakness."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Weakness?I don't fucking think so.I craved her in deep, unhealthy ways, but that wasn't a weakness. It was my cock talking, not my fucking heart. I wasn't a pussy!

"Are you sure?" Jamie quirked his eyebrow at me, smirking. Fucker!

"Just fuck off," I sighed as he pulled up outside Cherries. "I've seen enough of your ugly face this month to last a motherfucking lifetime. Go and get some pussy or listen to Taylor Swift. I know you have that shit on your phone!”

"Okay, I can take a hint," Jamie laughed. "Are we still on for tomorrow tonight?"

"I'll call you."

"Loosely translated, that means...no, you're going to spend the evening at home with your porn."

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