Page 27 of Pain and Pleasure

"Just tell me the truth. Please. That's all I'm asking for." My hand rests on his knee and I see his face soften.

He sighs deeply, looking away from me and back out the window as he finally responds after a few minutes of silence.

"Juan Carlos has been quiet since you've been back. I need to gauge him a little better. If he's truly watching over the area, he'll see you and maybe I can see just how many men he's actually short of."

He pinches the bridge of his nose and continues after he pauses for a moment, obviously tense.

"The man says a lot of bullshit things and you can never trust anything that spews from him. Even if it's as pathetic as admitting his own weakness, it could always be a trap."

A trap that you're luring me into.

I don't say this, but I can't help but think it. He senses my unease and looks back at me, and our gazes locked in silence for several minutes. I finally take a deep breath and give him the benefit of the doubt.

"You'll keep me safe?" He grabs my hand and kisses the back of it. I shiver at his touch.

"I'll protect you with my life, mi ciela," he says fiercely, his soft lips leaving my hand.

"Then at least buy me a drink," I say and his dark chuckle fills the car.

* * *

We arrived at Club Rio in about thirty minutes.

Ricky is already outside with a drink in his hand, looking at me with an annoyed expression as Dante and I approach the entrance. I notice more security than usual and try to trust Dante as best as I can. He’s right, I can’t trust my father, but I can do my best to trust him. Even if it terrifies me.

“Took you long enough. A few more cosmos and I was going to start flirting with terminator over here,” Ricky says before he sips his drink, his shoulder raising in Sergio’s direction. I hold back my laugh as we all walk inside, the bass of the music thumping through my bones.

It’s a Saturday night so the club is packed. I can see why Dante brought us here tonight. No matter how good Juan Carlos’ motives may potentially be, nobody would be dumb enough to attack a high-profile club on one of their busiest nights. Too much attention from the media if there’s a lot of citizens involved.

Dante grabs my hand and we all follow him to an elevator that’s to the left of the bar. We weave in and out of the swarming bodies and finally step in. He presses the number three on the pad and we climb the floors in silence. I know there’s another, larger, rooftop bar on the fourth floor. But I can’t remember what Ricky said was on the third floor when he told me about this place. Obviously, it wasn’t the best place because as soon as Dante hit that number, Ricky’s eyes snapped to mine, confusion and humor sparkling in them.

As soon as the elevator stops and the doors open, Ricky's eyes move away from mine and I stare ahead of me as Dante walks out with his hand in mine. The red lights flash across the small dance floor which is in the center of several raised platforms, platforms that held both tall poles and dancers sliding on them gracefully and with ease.

A strip club.

No shame, women are beautiful creatures, but what I'm wondering is why I'm walking in here with Dante and not alone with my best friend. It feels both awkward and tense. Tense because my jealousy rears its ugly head as several half naked and beautiful women eye Dante slowly and lustfully as we walk past the dance floor and sit at a large booth tucked in the corner of the room.

There are several rooms lining the back of this area that we sit at, all set with black doors. That's obviously where they hold private dances and for a fleeting moment, I feel curious.

"Why are we here?" I whisper into his ear as his hand finds my thigh under the table.

It slides up and stops right where my dress rides up, his fingers skimming the edge of the material. I bite my lip and break my gaze away from him, trying not to make Ricky uncomfortable by our silent interaction. He doesn't seem to pay any mind because he's already walking back up to the bar to grab another drink. As I try to bring my gaze back to Dante, I see a woman walking towards our table.

A woman in a red dress with long brown hair and red lips to match her outfit. A woman that narrows her eyes on me as she gets closer to Dante and me.

Isabella.

13

Esmeralda

Isabella stopsa few feet away from our table.

I'm standing tall and rigid as Dante shifts uncomfortably beside me. I don't back down as I stare at Isabella square in the face, her eyes narrowing even more as I eye her with arrogance. I'm not one for a pissing contest, but I'm also done with letting people make me feel inferior. Especially people that steal thousands of dollars from the man that she's fucking.

"What are you doing here?" he asks her, his tone annoyed as his hand continues to circle my thigh.

"Just taking advantage of the amenities." She all but purrs at him. I cross my leg over my knee and look up sweetly at Dante, batting my eyelashes for the effect.

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