Vincent (11 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

They Like the ‘Scared Kitten’ Look

Lake pulled back the see-through pink curtain, unable to walk into the casino. The instant the curtain went back, all heads turned to see who would come out next.
Nope, nope, nope
—

Sadie slapped Lake’s ass. “Let’s go. Time to make that money, honey.”

Oh, my God, could my life get any worse?

Keeping her eyes on the floor, she followed Sadie to the bar. There was no way in hell she wanted to look the lions in the eyes.

“Okay, honey, this is how the game works.” Sadie pointed to a section closest to the bar. “It’s your first night in heels, so I’m going to give you those tables. It’s easy. Ask them what they want, write it down, come to the bar, and give the bartender the order. Then bring their drink back. Everyone has their own system, and you’ll eventually get yours. In no time, it will be wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am.” Sadie handed her a pad and pen. “If you mess up, that’s okay. Just push out those tits and play the dumb card. Remember, winking, flirting, and hair flipping will get you those extra points.”

Lake nervously nodded over and over again, attempting to retain all the information while she tried to avoid rattling in her stilettos.

Sadie gave a little push to Lake’s hair. “They like the ‘scared kitten’ look, so keep that going. If you need anything, let me know, and don’t worry. They are
not
allowed to touch you because we charge extra for that,” she finished with a wink before she headed off to the tables.

Because
that
was what I was totally worried about.

Squeezing the pad of paper and pen like it was her favorite hoodie, she walked up to her first table. “H-Hi. What can—”

“You’re new.” An older red-headed gentleman in a suit smiled.

Looking around the card table, she noticed all the men were getting a good look at her.

She tried her best to smile. “Yes, this is my first night.”

“Well then, let’s celebrate. Give us your best bottle of scotch,” he said, handing her a gold, plastic card.

Lake smiled, taking the card before heading to the bar. Even though she didn’t have eyes at the back of her head, she could feel their gazes on her ruffled ass.

Quickly, she told the bartender his request.

She was happy the bartender explained how to deliver it to the table, but she had to admit it was a little hard to focus on the drinks and not the huge fake melons the woman had. She’d had no idea boobs could even get that big.

Lake grabbed the tray and walked extra slow, careful not to trip over her heels. It took her a while to manage setting down a glass in front of them while balancing the tray. Then she began to fill each glass with liquid from the expensive bottle, and while she poured, they took their time to check her out. Finally, she set the bottle down on the table closest to the man who had purchased it.

“What’s your name?” the ginger-haired man asked with another smile.

She could sense the thoughts behind his eyes, so she had to drop eye contact. “Lake.”

The man raised his glass in the air. “Thank you for that new, sweet ass of yours. To Lake!”

“To Lake!” the other men yelled, clinking their glasses.

She had to literally bite the end of her tongue to force herself to put a smile on her face as she left the table.

Lake continued on through the night, serving the drinks. She was a little slow, considering it was her first night, but Sadie had been right about her a few quick notes. The men had clearly been there so often they knew how everything worked to a T; therefore, all she had to do was follow their orders.

The bartender was super-friendly in teaching Lake what drinks were what and how to handle special requests. Lake had even picked up a few tips here and there. At first, she didn’t know where to put the money until Sadie had told her, “Our tits are like purses. That’s the fucking greatest thing about them.” She then proceeded to show her how to shove it down there using her own tips. She explained it was like a mini-show for the men, and Lake figured that was why they had introduced it—to get more tips.
Give me more money, and I’ll shove it down between my boobs.
Thinking back, she finally understood the long faces when she had only replied thank you to them.

She also understood why it was an underground casino as the night went on. Without a doubt, she knew Dante made most of his money not from the casino hotel, but from down there. The cash drops were so high at one table, Lake could have paid her father’s debt a thousand times over in one night.

She was certain very illegal stuff happened down there, even after only a few hours, because no way was she the only girl under twenty-one. There were also side rooms men exited from throughout the night, most of them coming out drugged up on something. Not to mention, they continued to serve alcohol to some very inebriated people.

Dante was clearly not reporting most of the income, if any of it, or he was funneling in some of the illegal money to the legitimate business upstairs. The boss was clearly ticking some highly illegal boxes of tax evasion and money laundering, and Lake didn’t need to know more or understand how he did it.

She had to give Dante credit, though.
The best way to hide an underground casino is to put a legal casino on top of it.

It wasn’t as bad as she thought it was going to be when she had started her first table. Most of the men were concerned about winning or her various co-workers who weren’t as shy as her.

As a matter of fact, the only guy who really creeped her out throughout the night was the red-headed one. Thankfully, he didn’t try to touch her, but she figured it would take a big man with a huge set of balls to try with the security around there. There were suits lined up against the walls everywhere.
It’s like the Great Wall of China
.

She had seen a few drunken men try to cop a feel, but the suits always managed to escort them out. Like Sadie had said, touching cost extra. The rest of the men must have been too scared to try, seeing they all had to leave if they did.
Apparently, they didn’t want to risk going home to their wives and children.

Lake was happy when the red-headed man asked to pay his tab. Going to the bar, she grabbed his card and receipt then headed back to his table.

The man quickly jotted a few things down on his receipt. “When’s the next time you work?”

“I haven’t been added to the schedule, but it will probably be all week.” Lake managed another smile.

“I can’t wait,” he said slimily, handing over the black book which held the receipt and pen.

She didn’t know what it was about him, but he seriously rubbed her the wrong way. Most of the men traveled a bit to other sections and games; however, that man strictly stayed in her work area, constantly eyeing her.

Taking the book, she hoped it was the last smile he would get. “Thank you.”

Lake didn’t linger, quickly going back to the bar. She only hoped that, by looking at his wedding band all night, he wouldn’t be able to make it out the rest of the week. Although, something about the “I can’t wait” told her otherwise.

Her feet screamed in pain from the pumps and walking back and forth. She was going to have to go to the store to buy Band-Aids for all the blisters she was sure to have.

Looking at the clock, she realized she had finally reached the end of her shift. Quickly she counted her tips, seeing she had made quite a bit of money. Certainly more than she would have expected a cocktail waitress to have made. Her largest tip had been from the slime ball, and even though the amount was big, she felt dirty taking it.

Sadie came up behind her and gave her another slap on her butt. “I told you everyone would love you. I’ve received many compliments on you. They just can’t get enough of the new girl. Besides your feet hurting like a bitch, how bad was it?”

All in all, Lake had to admit it hadn’t been that bad. Only one customer had affected her night, and truthfully, she was used to all the waiting around. John treated her much worse than all the men there combined.

“Okay, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” she admitted. “But I am
so
ready to get the hell out of here and crash.” It had been a hard day for her with all the emotional ups and downs. She was practically dreaming of her pillow and mattress and blanket…

“You didn’t forget your wax, did you? Trust me, you are going to shit a brick when you see all the nooks and crannies which stash hair like a squirrel during hibernation.”

Lake turned ghostly white. “So … I have to get that … today?”

Sadie tried to coax her. “Oh, honey, don’t worry; I’ll hold you down.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

We’ll Be Too Outnumbered

Lake woke up the next day with the pillow plastered to her face. She had cried herself to sleep the previous night from the shame and horror of her trying day.

Reaching for her phone on the scuffed-up wooden chair, she looked at the time and was surprised to see missed calls from Adalyn. Quickly, she dialed her number.

Adalyn answered the phone immediately. “Why haven’t you answered my calls?”

Lake yawned. “Because I was sleeping.”

“Yeah, but you wake up at the crack of dawn. Did you do something yesterday?”

You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.

She had decided she would take the waitressing in an underground casino at the age of eighteen to her grave. “Nope, now what is so important?”

“Get up, wash that beautiful face of yours and be at my house in thirty minutes. Okay, thanks. Bye. I love you!” Adalyn spoke as quickly as she could before she hung up on her.

There’s no telling what mess she’s going to get me into today.

Getting out of bed, she took one step. “Son of a bitch!” She immediately remembered where half of the tears had come from—the waxing. Literally the whole thing had been torture. She had no clue how in the world she was supposed to get them on a regular basis. Trying to walk to the bathroom was more of a hobble as she grabbed her crotch area and walked like a penguin.

It didn’t take her very long to get ready; she just washed her tear-stained face after she brushed her teeth. She decided to put her hair up in a messy bun, considering it was still full of curl and hairspray, worried Adalyn would question why her hair looked like that. It was a shame to put it up because second-day curls were actually amazing, but then again, her bun looked pretty stylish.

Going to her closet, she could feel the warmth from outside.
Probably because we can’t afford to turn the AC on.
She decided to grab a loose, white tank top and light-colored blue jean shorts. The shorts were way too short, but it didn’t really matter because she was only going over to Adalyn’s.

Going to her purse in the tiny living room, she saw her father’s car keys right where she had left them the night before.

“Dad?” she yelled, walking to his bedroom.

Lake knocked then opened the door when she didn’t get a response. When she saw he wasn’t in his room, she grew a little worried. Grabbing her cell out of her back pocket, she dialed his number.

It only rang one time before the call was declined.
What the
—
?
A moment later, she received a text.

I’m at work. Catch you later, kiddo.

The pit in her stomach had ceased and putting the phone back in her pocket, she grabbed the keys along with her purse and headed out the door.

Lake’s eyes slammed shut the moment the brightness from the sun hit her. “Jesus Christ!” She quickly went back in the house. Going through a junk drawer, she grabbed a big pair of sunglasses.
So this is what it must feel like to be hungover.

In her second attempt of going out the front door, thankfully, the sun wasn’t as harsh. Getting into the Frankenlac, she drove straight to Adalyn’s house.

“Dammit, Adalyn,” Lake said, slowing the car down when she saw several Cadillacs parked in the driveway, knowing one of them belonged to Vincent.

Lake had two options. One was to park the car and go see what shit Adalyn was getting her into. And the second was driving straight past the house and calling Adalyn to tell her some story she would think up on the drive back. Sure, she would be lying, but Adalyn purposely didn’t tell her what was going on, knowing Lake would never agree to whatever she had planned.

Reminding herself of the last encounter she’d had with Vincent, she made her decision.
Nope, definitely not stayi
—

Boom
!

Lake pulled the car to the curb and rested her head on the steering wheel. God was giving her no choice. You could hear that noise all the way to China so there was no way Adalyn didn’t, and she would know exactly what the sound was.

Groaning, she got out of the car and slammed the door as hard as she could, cussing and mumbling under her breath as she walked up the driveway. “Stupid car … Adalyn is dead…” Halfway up, she had to start penguin-walking again. “Fucking Sadie … See if I ever wax again...”

“Um, Lake, what are you doing?” Adalyn asked.

Lake looked up from the ground to the front door where she saw Adalyn, Maria, Elle, Chloe, Nero, Amo, and Vincent staring at her like she was a freak show.

Quickly closing her legs, she stood up straight. “Nothing … What are you all doing?”

“Well, we were pretty sure we heard a bomb,” Vincent said, looking at her car.

“Nope, it does that,” Lake responded, laughing and hoping that would be the end of the conversation.

Amo crossed his arms. “Does it do that, too?”

She looked back at the huge smoke cloud. “Yep, totally normal.”

They all only continued to stare at her like she was more of a freak show.

Adalyn came up to her. “Are you okay, Lake?”

“Yes. What are you”—she swatted at Adalyn’s hand to get it off her forehead—“doing—ow! Stop it.” Lake closed her eyes to the bright sun and pulled her sunglasses back down as she smacked harder at Adalyn’s hand.

Adalyn shook her head. “Something’s wrong with you. Why are your feet covered in Band-Aids?”

Lake looked down at her feet. She’d had to cover all those blisters from the previous night, and the only thing she was able to put on her feet afterward were flip-flops.

“Your feet will eventually get used to being in pumps,” Maria chimed in.

Adalyn laughed. “She doesn’t wear high heels.”

“I got them from an old pair of shoes,” Lake agreed.

Maria continued, “I’m pretty sure they came from some seriously high—”

Nero lightly hit his sister’s arm with his to shut her up.

Lake could feel everyone eyeing her up and down again, and the way Vincent was doing it reminded her of the looks she had received from the men in the casino. She desperately needed to get the attention off her.

“Can someone please tell me what is going on?”

“Oh, yeah, we’re going shopping!” Adalyn revealed, smiling.

“Even them?” Lake said, pointing to the three guys.
Please say no. Please say no.

Maria sighed, rolling her eyes. “Yes.”

Lake wondered if she would look like a bitch if she simply turned back around and started walking away.
Maybe I can smooth-talk my way out of this.
She had always felt left out when she went shopping because she could never afford clothes, and when she
did
buy some new ones which had some style, Ashley always stole them.

“You all don’t need me. There’s already enough people.” She made sure to smile before she turned on her heel.

“No, you’re going with us, Lake. Why are you being weird?” Adalyn said, grabbing her arm to stop her.

Lake didn’t know how to respond. “You’re being weird!”

“No, you’re being
freaking
weird!”

“No,
you’re
freaking weird!” she said. The two continued to argue, but they were clearly playing with each other, laughing.

*  *  *

Vincent stared at the two girls, shaking his head.

“Are they always like this?” Elle whispered.

“They aren’t really mad at each other, are they?” Chloe whispered even lower.

Maria squinted. “I don’t know. I can’t see if she’s mad under those big sunglasses.”

“Fuck this. I’m not going. You two can take them,” Amo said to Nero and Vincent.

“No, we’ll be too outnumbered,” Nero commanded.

Vincent could feel his rage starting to boil, although the voice inside his head was trying to tell him to calm down. He was getting a headache from all the arguing, and looking at Lake’s long legs wasn’t helping his thoughts.

“You
both
are fucking weird. Now can we
go
?” Vincent roared.

“Sheesh, Vincent, you don’t have to be so mean,” Adalyn said, putting her hand on her hip.

He had to take a long, deep breath.
Calm the fuck down before you murder your sister.

*  *  *

“Yeah, Vincent, you don’t have to be so mean,” Lake mimicked her friend, smiling. She could tell he was about to blow but if she was going to be stuck with him all day, she was going to at least have fun.

Maria covered her ear closest to him. “I agree. You yelled right in my ear.”

“Mine, too,” Chloe added.

Elle turned to look at Vincent. “You should try taking some deep brea—”

Nero quickly grabbed Elle and started dragging her to the car, away from Vincent’s grasp. “Time to go.”

Never mind, this might be fun,
Lake thought as she looked at Vincent’s face. The child inside of her wanted to stick her tongue out at him for the dirty look he was giving her. Everyone knew Adalyn could get away with talking to him like that when he went psycho, but it was a very short to non-existent leash for everyone else.

Nero opened the backseat of a black Cadillac Escalade for them to get in. It looked brand new and was huge, with three rows of seats.

“Whose car is this?” Adalyn said in awe.

“Lucca’s,” Maria answered.

Adalyn’s mouth dropped open. “Why would he let anyone borrow this? I wouldn’t even let my mother touch it. It’s so beautiful.”

Vincent gave his sister a little shove. “Well, that’s good to know.”

Lake looked at Amo’s face, quickly sensing how he felt about the conversation when it was Chloe’s turn to get in.

“He knew a bunch of us were going out, and we could use a big SUV is all,” Nero replied.

Mhmm … right.
She felt the way Nero had said it had almost been to cool down the fire building in Amo.

Lake quickly did the math. “Adalyn, let’s take your car since there’s not enough seats, and I would rather not be squished.”

“I-If Nero and Elle sit up front, then Maria will have to sit beside one of you two,” Chloe said to Vincent and Amo. “But that will leave me squished beside the other person.” She hadn’t even gotten in the car yet, clearly worried someone would end up touching her.

“Fuck it. I’m driving my car.” Amo stormed off toward his vehicle.

“I’ll go with you.” Vincent quickly went after him.

She quickly pulled Adalyn to start heading to her car. Adalyn’s eyes had lit up like she had an opportunity to ride in the beautiful machine, and Lake was afraid she would jump in beside Chloe, unaware of her problems.

Vincent’s loud voice rang through their ears. “Adalyn and Lake, you two ride with us.”

“Say no, say no,” Lake whispered to her, holding a tight grip on her friend’s arm when Adalyn started heading toward Amo’s car.

“Sorry, Lake said no!” Adalyn yelled to Vincent.

Lake rolled her eyes. “Do you want me to kill you today?”

“Do it!” Vincent yelled before he slammed the car door shut.