Putting on my most apologetic and sheepish look, I say, “Sorry, man… Nikki here is new. She’s not aware of that part of the business.”
Peter’s face flushes red with anger. “She’s fucking aware of it now. I gave her my money and told her I want to fuck her bent over the couch. How much clearer does it have to be for her?”
“I’m sorry, Peter,” I say in apology but in a much-firmer tone. “She’s not part of that business. Simon entrusted me with making sure that all the girls are properly vetted for this line of work, and Nikki hasn’t been approved. Let me get another girl up here—”
“No fucking way,” Peter roars. “I want that bitch, and you know Simon doesn’t deny me anything.”
“Raze,” I hear Andrea say from behind me and by the tone of her voice, I know what she’s getting ready to do.
I give Peter my back and turn to look at her. I pin her with a glare that says, Shut the fuck up, and her mouth slams closed.
“Let’s go,” I say to her firmly, and she starts walking toward me. When she gets near enough, I reach out to grasp her arm and push her toward the door. Looking back at Peter, I say, “I’ll send another girl up.”
Peter opens his mouth to argue, so I continue, “In fact, I’ll send two girls up, and it will be on the house. You can have them all night.”
He’s no dummy, and from what I understand, quite the savvy businessman, so I’m not surprised when his mouth closes and he gives me a nod of acquiescence.
“I’ll send up a bottle of Chivas for you as well. That’s your favorite, right?”
Again, he nods, and I exhale a quiet breath of relief as I pull out my phone and dial. Leon picks up. “Send Misty and Layla up to VIP 5 as well a bottle of Chivas. Charge it to the house.”
I don’t even wait for Leon’s answer, disconnecting and pushing Andrea out of the door. When I close it behind me, I turn my back on her.
“Get dressed,” I tell her.
I hear her rustling into her clothing and after a few minutes, she steps around me and looks at me with censure. “You didn’t have to do that. You could have jeopardized—”
“Not another word,” I growl at her as I take her by the arm again.
I escort her firmly toward the staircase that leads down into the club but before we can start our descent, I see Lance walking up toward us.
“What’s going on?” he asks in a tight voice as his eyes flick back and forth between Andrea and me. “Manny said that Peter was in VIP 5 and had a complaint.”
“I took care of it,” I say as I watch Lance continue to walk up toward us.
“I won’t ask again,” Lance says in a dangerous snarl right to my face. “What the fuck was the problem?”
Andrea tenses up beside me, and I stroke my thumb on the inside of her upper arm in reassurance. “Peter paid her money and wanted to fuck her. She said no, and he got pissed. I told him she wasn’t a part of the—”
I’m cut off as Lance lunges past me and grabs ahold of Andrea’s other arm. “Fucking snooty-ass bitch thinks she’s too good. Is that it?”
Lance rips Andrea away from my grasp and starts pulling her down the stairs. “Send someone else up to Peter,” he calls out over his shoulder.
I bound down the stairs quickly behind them. “I already did,” I say hastily, hoping to quell his sudden burst of fury.
“Then it’s time this cunt learned her place,” Lance snarls as he reaches the bottom of the stairs.
Fear and anger surge through me as I watch Lance haul her through the club. Other dancers watch in interest… some with amused smirks, others with a look of pity in their eyes.
My eyes catch Leon’s across the room, and he raises his eyebrows at me in a silent question, Do you need help?
I give a shake of my head and lengthen my stride to keep up with Lance. He pulls her down the back hallway to the left of the stage, straight toward Simon’s office, and then he’s pushing her through so roughly that she stumbles and almost falls. Luckily, she catches herself on the corner of Simon’s desk and rights herself.
I grab ahold of Lance’s arm and pull him around so he faces me. “What the fuck are you doing?” I whisper urgently. “Peter’s taken care of. He’s not mad anymore.”
The fucker gives me a wink in return. “I know. He’s satisfied with any pussy.”
“Then what are you doing to Nikki? You know she’s not part of the prostitution… She didn’t do anything wrong.”
Lance steps in closer to me, a maniacal smile on his face. “I know. But I’m not about to waste a chance to beat this bitch down into submission a bit. Make her a little easier for us to handle tomorrow. I want to see what kind of fighter she is.”