When they finally got into the club, it was immediately evident that Colton had been right. The club was extremely busy.
With a nudge to her back, Colton left her to go into the dressing room. Sherri was there, giving her a tight hug at her sudden appearance.
“I’ve been worried about you, kid. You doing okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine, Sherri,” Vida assured the kindhearted woman who had taught her how to shed her clothes, not in the least jealous of Vida’s popularity.
“You can go on before me if you want. They won’t be as drunk. You’re scheduled three spots after me. By then, they’ll be so drunk the men will be trying to jump the stage,” she offered.
Vida started to refuse.
“I don’t mind. I’m used to them trying to get a piece of me,” Sherri joked.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Besides, they tip better when they’re drunk.” She rubbed her hands together.
Vida smiled at her antics as she dressed in her outfit, putting on her stage make-up. Deciding not to tease her hair into a wild mess, she left it straight and then put on her red lipstick as the final touch. She stepped back from the mirror and looked at her changed appearance. No longer the college student, but a seductive woman with one goal; to see how much money she could tempt out of the men in a ten-minute set.
“You look hot tonight.” Sherri’s experienced eyes ran over Vida’s body, taking in her new tattoo and the little bit of weight she had gained over the last week. “Something about you is different. That sexy ex-convict teaching you a thing or two?”
“No!” Vida evaded her question as she passed Sherri going into the restroom. There was nothing worse than a full bladder when you were shaking your boobs and ass at a roomful of men.
“Can he show me a thing or two?”
“No!” Vida yelled through the closed door.
“Damn.”
Chapter Sixteen
Colton took a seat at a back table, facing the stage. A vibrant redhead was currently on the stage, shaking her tail for the front row, giving an incentive to place their money on her body. He ordered a beer when the waitress came to his table.
Colton’s brow lifted when King joined him, taking a seat across from him.
“I didn’t think you ever sat anywhere except your booth?”
“I can be flexible, especially when they have my booth bugged.” Colton just bet King wasn’t happy with that piece of information. He paid dearly for information from his contacts on the force, someone must be wising up to be able to bug King and him not know about it beforehand.
The redhead’s music ended and Vida’s began. Colton tensed in his seat when she came strutting out as if she owned the stage.
King smiled. “She’s came a long way since her first night.”
“So I’ve heard,” Colton answered, not taking his eyes off her as she twirled around the pole with one leg, her dark hair flying silkily around her.
“I bet you have. Several of the Predators became regulars on her nights. I don’t see any of them here tonight. That’s interesting,” King said thoughtfully, staring at Colton.
“They’re not here because I told them I would beat the shit out of them if they showed up,” Colton said grimly as he watched Vida moving away from the pole, dancing suggestively in front of several men on the side of the stage before working her way over to the other side. She never glanced back towards the table that Colton sat at with King.
“That wasn’t very friendly.” King’s amusement drew his attention briefly from Vida.
“There are a few questions I need answered, King.”
All amusement at Colton’s predicament ended when he saw that Colton was serious.
“What do you want to know?”
“I find it very interesting that Vida, from a neighborhood that’s high in crime and has more punks trying to score pussy then any I know of in America, is a virgin who has managed to escape their attention.”
King’s face became an impassive mask. “Are you asking me why Vida is still a virgin? How would I know?”
“Because my brothers and I did a little digging, and I’m a little interested in what I found out.”
“Exactly what did you find out?” King asked, his jaw tightening.
“That you put out the word for the punks and other unsavory elements to stay away or they would deal with you,” Colton answered.
King shrugged. “I did that for Goldie.”
“I don’t think so. This order went out when she was just a kid, and it covered Sawyer. Seems this is what led Digger to them. He was searching for a way to get to you. How would going after them get to you?”
“If that is why Digger went after them, then that was his mistake. I have no emotional or physical connection to either Vida or Sawyer.” King looked Colton straight in the eye.
Colton looked back at King. He had known him for years, ever since his stepdad had started bringing him in the strip club with the Predators. They had struck up a friendship over the years.
The man was lying, he could tell. What worried Colton was that King was an expert at lying, so if he could tell, his enemies could also, which placed Vida and Sawyer in danger.
The music changed. Colton looked toward the stage to see Vida taking off her red corset. Her pert breasts shone under the lights of the stage. Colton wanted to get up from the stage and punch a few of the men in the front row, but restrained himself this time.
Colton looked up into Vida’s face, seeing her eyes were on him. They were full of humiliation. She was embarrassed she was doing it. Now, it was even worse because he was watching her. Colton let heat flow from his eyes, giving her a smile that let her know how pretty and fine he thought she was. He leaned across the table so that the lighting could catch his expression and let all the lust he had been holding back show in his face.
He noticed she had a small stumble before she managed to catch herself. Colton promised himself that one day, not too long from now, she would be standing in his bedroom, giving him the same exact performance, and he was going to throw her down on the bed and fuck her until she couldn’t walk.
Vida turned red and Colton gave her a satisfied smile. She walked forward when the music changed again, getting close to the men in the front row, letting them slip bills into the string around her waist. One bastard trailed his fingers close to her pussy. Colton started to get up, but King’s hand on his arm brought him back down in his seat as King motioned to Henry to escort the overzealous man out of the club.
After several minutes, Vida went to the stage, giving the men their last show of her ass.
“If she bends down and waves at them from between her legs, I am going to turn her ass bright red to match her outfit when I get her home,” Colton threatened.
The words were no sooner out of his mouth than Vida did that exact move. Colton’s jaw tightened.
“I don’t think she heard you,” King said with amusement.
“She’s never going back on that stage again. I don’t care how many women’s lives she’s trying to save.”
“I agree.”
Both men watched as Briggs ordered another whiskey.
“I hope you’re giving him the good stuff.” Colton eyed the liquor in Brigg’s glass.
“What he’s drinking is almost pure alcohol. Vida will be heading upstairs after she gets redressed and takes a fifteen minute break.” King started to get out of his seat.
“King, what’s the connection between you and the girls?” Colton tried one more time.
King opened his mouth then closed it sharply. “There isn’t one, Colton.” He moved away from the table, but not before he gave Colton a warning look to leave it alone. Aware they didn’t know which areas of the club were bugged, Colton didn’t go after him to find out what he needed to know to keep Vida safe.
Instead, Colton sat at his table and continued nursing his beer. Not long after, Briggs managed to stumble up the steps after he finished several whiskeys. Colton waited until he saw Vida climb the discreet stairway before he started after her.
As he was going up the stairs, he noticed several of the Predators entering the door, taking front row seats. He should have known Max wasn’t going to miss Sherri’s show.