34

The following evening, I found myself inside the Vault. It was a high ended strip club, but more like a club. It was crowded, people were back to back. It was a twenty-one and up club. However, I hadn't even been carded. I guess that rule only applied to the guys. I paid half price and walked in, followed by Sara and Camilla.

The atmosphere was meant to intoxicate. It did the trick. Painted women hung from cages randomly, as they danced. The black light made certain areas glow, while others grew darker for people seeking privacy. The servers were all topless and the bottoms they wore left little to the imagination. The club was jumping. If I weren't here on business, I would definitely enjoy myself.

We all looked like bad bitches. I had on a tight black halter dress and thigh-high purple boots. I had on a wig, it was curly and gathered on one side. On just one ear, I wore a feather earring, and I had put on bright red lipstick for the occasion. Camilla had on a silver two-piece. I had been surprised at first that she was showing off her still flat stomach, but the outfit did the trick. She looked good. Sara had on a red jumper and she looked like she wanted to be anywhere but her. She still looked like any man's dream.

Christian and Joey were already inside, saving us seats at the bar. So, after walking through the metal detectors and being patted down by a lady cop, we headed to the bar. As we approached, the guys vacated the seats and went to find a better view of us. We sat down and ordered sodas with cherries and limes in them. There would be no drinking tonight. Not on duty.

As the music blasted, I couldn't hear anything that was going on around me. I looked across the sea of gyrating bodies to look at the VIP section. There Ace sat surrounded by women. I peeped at the two guys that stood close but not too close. They were some of his bodyguards. Dale and Reese had also spotted three guys in his car as well. He had five guys. The two guarding his booth would not be making it outside.

I just had to get his attention, and I would. The opportunity presented itself an hour later. He rose from VIP after not being able to get the attention of the busy server. He made his way to the bar. He stepped right between me and Sara, pulling out a wad of cash to pay for his drink. He ordered five shots of Louie thirteen and then stood waiting. I saw my chance then.

"Make that a bottle of Louie thirteenth," I said and laid down twenty-four hundred dollars. Which the bartender snatched up quickly and went to get a fresh bottle of the cognac. He turned to me quickly and smiled.

"Do I know you?" He asked, his voice had a slight slur to it. Five shots would have had him out cold.

"No," I said, looking into his eyes for the first time. "But you should."

"Why is that?" he said, trying to flirt. It was a pitiful attempt.

"Because I'm the type of girl who will buy you a drink, instead of you always footing the bill. That's your party in VIP, right?"

He nodded, and I knew I had his attention. So I leaned close, letting my cleavage peek out of my dress. "You shouldn't have to pay for all the drinks at your own party."

"You're right," he said, scowling toward the VIP booth. "Nobody ever buys me drinks."

"Well, there's a first time for everything. Enjoy." I said and turned away.

Just as I thought he would, he zeroed in on the boobs and asked, "Do you want to come over there? I was bored as fuck. You're actually waking me up."

"Only if my friends can come too," I said, motioning to the women behind him. He turned and looked them over. Finding no threat, he nodded, and we followed him to the VIP booth. It had been almost too easy.

It had taken thirty minutes for the guards to go to the bathroom, but only about ten minutes for Ace to get pissy drunk. He was all over Camilla. She gritted her teeth and bared it until the guards left. When they did, I knew they wouldn't be coming back. I was on Aces' left and he had his hand on my thigh. I gripped his hand to get his attention. When he turned to me, I knew he was seeing double.

"What's up baby," he slurred. "You want some of daddy attention?"

I held up a bag of china and dangled it in his face. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to the moon," I said.

"You buy me a drink and get me high." He said, taking the bag with heavy fingers. "You're the girl of my dreams. He started opening the bag, and I stopped him.

"Not here," I said while caressing his hands. "Let's get a private room."

He stared at me for one full minute. I held my breath. For a moment there, I thought he was going to refuse. Instead, his hand tightened on my thigh.

"Lead the way," he said, smiling and showing his gold teeth.

As we walked through the floor of people, I pass my guys. They were all in place. Lord willing, we did this quick and got out of here. Ace didn't seem like a bad guy. It could have been the liquor, but he was an open book the entire time we were sitting in VIP.

I almost felt bad, but he had caused us a lot of problems. It was his fault that we had static with Corey. It was his fault that we even had to kill Corey. His greed had caused a downward slope of unfortunate events. His guys had also shot Reese. There was no returning from this. No loose ends. So far all the drama was necessary to save our life, but this one was personal.

We led him to a room that was already set up. It was all red and black and dark. It was perfect. In no time, Ace was sniffing the drug and Camilla was between his legs, giving him head. He had sat his own gun down when she began to work him. It was on the seat right next to him.

I sat across from him, as he worked on what would be his last nut ever. Camilla gently removed the gun and handed it to me. With his head thrown back, he never even noticed. At least until Camilla stopped her movements and stood up.

He looked confused at first. That quickly turned to anger, when he saw me holding the gun on him. He tried to stand, but Reese was behind him and pulled him back in his seat. I guessed the least I could do was explain why he was about to die. I wasn't much for talking, but I wanted to see the look in his eyes as he realized he wouldn't be getting a skate for shooting Reese.

"Take it easy," I said.

He actually growled, "You bitches better let me go. My guys will be here in no time and they will kill you all."

"Your guys are dead," I said as I sat the gun down next to me. Reese had a knife to his throat now, and he wasn't going anywhere.

"What do yall want?" He spat. "Are you robbing me?"

"No," I said, standing. "But we should. After all, you robbed us first and had your goons shoot Reese."

"I don't know what you are talking about, but you're making a mistake. I have...," he was saying.

I cut him off. "No, sweetheart, you made a mistake when you fucked with us. You thought we were kids or something. We are young, but we have seen a lot. We been through a lot. The result is that we have learned to do what we have to. To survive. You shot Reese your own fucking cousin, but your mistake was shooting my brother."

"He ain't your brother," he yelled.

"He's part of my family," I said, walking towards the door. I stopped to say. "I hope you die slow."

I stood there with my back to him. I heard the tussling as he tried to get away from Reese. I heard his blood spill as Reese slit his throat. He gargled, still trying to talk even as he died. I opened the door and walked out without a backward glance. At that moment, I accepted my fate. There was no going back from this. The streets had taken a toll on me. I am what I am. It is what it is.