CHAPTER 2 - DE LUCA

One month later

I have settled quite nicely into this world, the girls are all great except for Hillary, she really thinks she's the queen of this place and it gets annoying. It's also Saturday night one of the most busy nights of the week and I am doing one set and opening tonight and then waitressing, which I don't mind because Mari gets the main stage tonight after I'm done dancing. I realised its a burlesque and strip club, which makes it a lot better for me.

Romeo POV:

It's been a long day, being a Mafia boss is tough, we just got off a flight which was from a month stay in Italy, I'm glad to be back in New York. I'm definitely looking forward to a night of some Angels and darlings, star age for me to say but why not, I could use a distraction. The club is one of ours, exclusive to the De Luca family, its a playground for the boys, we keep business at a minimum, unless we use it for a meeting and the boys usually unwind here after work, there are lots of important business men here and its imperative that it's exclusive.

Luciano or Luc my brother, Dario and Leonardo – Leo are my cousins, are my trusted few, my inner circle. Its a given we all go together, we work hard and play hard. My father stepped down and I became the head of the family, and have been for the past five years, I'm now twenty six, so I was young and had to learn but I'm a natural, guess it's in my blood. I have a reputation sure, ruthless, cold and unfeeling, but that is what I should be, I have to be able to kill in the blink of an eye without hesitation, and so do my boys.

Valencia has been running the business smoothly, and my men and me are satisfied on the business front, so we make our way to the VIP booths where we have a really good view of the stage. "Please welcome Ali, Mari and Hillary to the stage for burlesque darlings." I instantly realise there are two new names, now we don't hire easily and Valencia is a tough sell so this should be interesting.

The lights are low shining purple, so we can only see silhouettes. I instantly notice its not Hillary in the front, that curves and that rack is definitely not hers. I watch with interest and they start moving in their routine, the girl in front is quite good, I think idly as sip on my bourbon. The lights go on and I freeze, wow. I don't think I have ever seen a girl that beautiful in my life. I get up and walk down the steps to get a closer look, she has long waist length raven hair, plump lips, and the most gorgeous blue eyes I have ever seen. She moves so easily and seductively, I feel my dick twitch. What the fuck? Since when does a bitch make my dick twitch? I keep watching her, she has black lingerie on, with black stiletto heels and fishnets, pretty standard I guess, but she looks fucking amazing, this girl does a solo and works the pole differently to the other girls, she doesn't make it look cheap at all and doesn't use it much. I'm impressed, I wonder where Valencia got this one from.

Alina POV:

As I'm moving on the stage totally in my element actually enjoying the solo I have tonight I can't help but feel someone is watching me, and intensely at that. As I move I look around and try to not make it obvious, and I notice a few guys I have never seen before in the VIP section. I can't see much but I know they are watching intensely. Us girls finish up the last of the dance and we get roaring applause and some huge tips, which is always welcome to any of us. We all go change after the set and I change into a white tank, black waist coat and shorts with fishnets and high black pumps and I'm ready for waitressing, it's much better than doing booths. Mari and Hillary are changing into different lingerie and wearing their wings, for private dances.

I walk out onto the floor and go over to Jake who is our bar man. "Hey gorgeous, can you take this to table nine and these to eleven?"

"Sure Jake I'm on it," I answer winking and saluting and he laughs. Jake is very cute, he's slim but muscular with brown eyes and shirt sandy blonde hair, the girls love him here and he's such a sweetheart, I think he has a thing for Mari though or maybe he's gay, because he definitely isn't looking at the women. I make my way to table nine and there's a group of men in suits, I spot wedding rings and cheap cologne, but put on a smile and they hit on me as expected and throw a lot of cash my way. One grabs my ass, "how about a private dance sweet thing?"

I raise my brow. "How about you find someone with wings to do that for you? We have a fine selection of girls for you to choose from. I will let someone know you are interested." I turn to walk away but he pulls on my wrist harshly. "Sir please let go!" I say loudly, wincing in pain.

"I asked for you not some other whore," he says as pulls me on to his lap as I struggle to get free and I scream due to how hard he is squeezing me. I feel a hard slap right over my cheek as he tries to shut me up.

Right then I hear a deep voice. "You better let her go now!" The voice is calm but yet so authoritive, the man let me go and I get up off him, stumbling a bit and only then do I see who the voice belongs too. "Get this fuck out of here!" His voice booming to the bouncer and they do as he says immediately. As this is unfolding I have a look at him, he is really tall about six one or six two, he is definitely muscular I can see that through his ridiculously expensive suit. I take a look at his face, I actually think my brain has shut off, he is tanned, has dark brown hair, styled to perfection, fuller on top and shorter on the sides, looks soft to the touch though, and has beautiful darker blue eyes. I glance at his lips which are full and perfect, a straight nose and a very light stubble, this man is fucking gorgeous. He's been speaking to me shit! "Are you alright Miss..."

"Johnson, Alina Johnson, I'm fine, thank you," I say more clearly, clutching my face as I feel the sting and it actually really hurts. Mari comes rushing over and pulls me into her arms taking me to the change room, and Jake rushes over with some ice. "Thanks Jake."

I sit in the back and ice my cheek. "Ali are you alright?" I see the concerned eyes of my best friend.

"I'm ok, just some asshole that got a bit hands on that's all. I will be fine, you can go back out, I'm just going to ice my cheek a bit more and gather myself," I assure her.

"Call me if you need me." Mari says as she kisses my forehead and walks back out on to the floor. I'm sitting icing my cheek and I check in my make up bag for a mirror and it's definitely going to bruise. I sigh and try to cover the redness and go back out on the floor.

Jake calls me over, "Ali, could you take this to VIP, they have requested some drinks and their waitress is busy."

"Sure Jake, bottle of bourbon and a few glasses?" I ask. He nods and flashes me a huge smile. I walk over to the VIP section and see Valencia sitting with the men that are all ridiculously good looking and slightly scary.

"Alina my sweet girl I heard what happened are you alright?" She asks concerned. I nod and smile, that's when I notice him. The beautiful man that saved me, I pour the drinks and place them down.

"Sir, I know we are not supposed to speak unless spoken too, but I just wanted to say thank you for saving my ass back there." I shrug, he just stares at me coldly and shows no emotion at all and just nods and turns away. I then notice he has a tattoo sticking out his collar up the side of his neck - hot and tattoo's? Well shit!

I make my way back down and overhear Valencia, "you saved my sweetheart? Thank you, she's a rare gem." I see he looks over to her, I can't hear what he says since I'm too far away, but Valencia laughs and he shakes his head. Well into the night I can't stop glancing at this beautiful man, he can't be older than twenty eight. His two men are laughing, smoking and drinking, I notice him pull on his cigarette and I see he has tattoos on his wrist peeking out, now that's hot. I take my well deserved break and go out back. I need some air, the club is warm and I need the coolness, I take my book with me and decide to sit down at one of the chairs we have on the terrace for staff only and have a coke light and I start reading. I'm so engrossed in my book I don't notice someone standing right in front of me.

"Good book?" I hear a deep voice with an Italian accent, not too thick but it's there and I nearly jump out of my skin. He looks at the cover, "The professional" he mumbles, and I go blood red when I look at him. Not only is this an erotic mafia book, it's the hot man from earlier seeing me read naughty novels. Oh kill me now!

I finally find my voice. "Yes it's a good book, sorry I am on my break, is there anything you needed?" I ask not understanding why he is here and outside in the staff area no less.

"No, I just thought I would check on you. See how your cheek is doing?" He asks looking most uncomfortable.

"It's good thanks, nothing make up can't fix." I answer shrugging and he nods and walks away. How strange. I finish the rest of my shift and notice he has left. I wait for Mari and she meets me out front and we greet the girls and we leave.

"I made some amazing tips tonight!" Mari says beaming and I can't help but laugh.

"Mari? Do you know who that guy was that saved me from that creep? I have never seen him before," I ask her trying to seem nonchalant.

"No, I didn't catch his name, why?" She asks.

"He left me a massive, thousand dollar tip." I say shrugging. She looks at me with big eyes and shakes her head in disbelief.

"You sure, you never gave him a lap dance or slept with him?" Mari asks half joking and in shock.

I shove her and answer. "No neither, I just served them a few times tonight and he seemed I don't know weird, that's all." I brush it off and we carry on walking home. It takes twenty minutes and we are home. It's late and I turn in after a shower, Sundays are usually slow so I will be glad for some peace. We don't perform on Sundays, just waitress and lap dances. I sleep in till about eleven and check my phone. Its Valencia.

Ali, could you please work

earlier today from two?

You have been requested. It's

a big client and well they want

you. Text me back!

I am shocked to see the message. I guess it's good over time and I type a quick answer.

Sure be there after one.

I wonder who it could be. I get up get showered and make some lunch for Mari and myself, chicken and salad, as if she can sense the food, in walks Mari. "Smells delicious!"

"Thanks Mari, I'm going in earlier, have a request for today. Some huge client," I say rolling my eyes. I decide get ready for work, wear my hair straight and put more make up on my cheek it's a bit bruised and it's almost one, so I leave and take a cab. "Hi Valencia," I greet her after arriving at the club.

"Hello sweetheart, I'm so glad you could do this for us today. I know you don't like private clients but this one insisted, I couldn't really say no." She shrugs and I wonder who could be that important.

"It's ok I guess. You have never asked me to do anything I didn't want to do, so this once I can do this for you." I smile even though I would literally be anywhere else but here right now.

I go change into the more classier uniform, a form fitting black thigh length dress with three quarter sleeves, a low v neck and a black belt. I pair it with high black pumps. I make sure my make up is natural but still covering my bruise. We have to look good at all times, sometimes it can be a curse I swear, I'm just glad the swelling isn't bad. Valencia comes into the dressing room, "you look perfect Alina, now I'm going to tell you who you are serving, and the rules." I nod and she explains. "You are serving Romeo De Luca and his three trusted men, Luciano, Dario and Leonardo, or Leo if you will. Only address them as 'sir' if spoken too. It is a private meeting so the club will only have you, Jake and myself in it. You just get them what they ask for and we are having food delivered so that will be one of the things you need to serve. I had the place set up already so it's all good to go, any questions?" My stomach dropped when I heard Romeo De Luca, but I shake my head as if I didn't know whom she was speaking of.

"No Valencia. I have no questions." I say quietly, slightly panicking. This is going to be interesting.