Baby brushed past Lolli. She couldn’t bear to look at her in the face. She was too far-gone. The poor girl beamed at Slade as if he was her only saving grace.
She headed upstairs. Music filled the packed room. She made out the top of Coral’s red hair peeping from one of the private sections giving a lap dance. Lolli came up the stairwell from behind, shoving Baby in the shoulder.
“Hey, I don’t know what kinda shit you’re trying to pull, but you need to keep your grimy paws off Slade. He’s mine.” Lolli cocked one hip to the side and wagged her finger in Baby’s face.
Baby’s lips pressed together as she leveled her stare. “You’re out of your fucking mind. I don’t want anything to do with that asshole. He’s all yours.” She was getting sick of the drama, and the last thing she needed was to get mixed up in more of Slade’s bullshit.
“You’re not fooling anybody. I see the way you try to play all innocent. It’s not gonna work. You need to find some other dick to ride because that one is taken,” the young girl sneered.
Baby snatched Lolli by the throat, slamming her into the wall. She squeezed tight enough to see the girls glazed over eyes widen. “You are such a fucking little twat. You want to sell yourself for a piece of shit crack rock, that’s your fucking business. But you lay one more fucking hand on me and I’m gonna splatter your ass across the fucking floor. No one would ever want to touch you again, including Slade. You understand what I’m saying?”
Lolli’s heartbeat thumped against Baby’s hand. She felt the girl’s neck move as she swallowed before attempting to nod.
“Good.” Baby let go of Lolli’s throat and brushed off her hands before she turned and sashayed away, silently daring the girl, or anyone else to say one more snide comment. Her adrenaline was pumping and she was ready to kick some ass.
Some other cock to ride? Who the hell talks like that? Lolli had seriously transformed into Slade’s newest plaything. It wasn’t that long ago when she was a scared little newbie. Now she was taking the bull by the horns. Of course, Baby was ready to knock those horns in the dirt. It is going to be a sad day when Slade decides to take her down a notch or two.
Mickey did a quick introduction for Barbie, who came out from behind the drapes looking flustered, before he met Baby Jade in the middle of the room. “What was that all about?” He threw a thumb toward Lolli.
“It was nothing. That girl has some loose wires.”
“Whatever, but there better not be any shit started tonight.” Mickey’s face was hard and his eyes were serious. Baby knew he was trying to refrain from blowing up about the night before.
“It won’t be coming from me. I’m not usually the one to start crap around here anyway. Look, I know I shouldn’t have run out last night. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t dance with Slade showing his ass like that.”
“I get it, but you also know you don’t want me picking sides when it comes to you and Slade. You will lose.” Mickey’s tense forehead softened. “You owe me hours from last night. Now go ahead and get to work. Don’t forget to babysit the stud over there. Keep Jewella out of arms reach.”
“Are you serious?”
Mickey’s silence was the only answer she needed.
She placed her hands on both hips and tilted her head to the side. “Fine. I guess I’m in no position to argue.”
Mickey’s eyebrows shot up and he rubbed his hands together. “Oh, we can work on finding that position.”
“No thanks.” Baby walked away, her stomach rolling from his ogling stare. She searched the room for Lucky. He was at a table a few feet from the entrance. A group of men still wearing construction uniforms surrounded the table and one of the gophers was helping clean up shards of glass from the floor. From Lucky’s hand gestures, she could make out that he was trying to diffuse a situation. One of the men stumbled backward, sending a beer bottle crashing to the floor.
Lucky clenched his fists, opening and closing them every few seconds. He took one step forward and stood with his legs planted like a predator ready to pounce. Baby made her way to his side as he released the breath of air he had been holding. His nostrils flared and she could see the toll the restraint was taking on his pride.
“Hey, fellas. What’s the trouble?” Baby flashed her flirty smile and tossed her hair to one side. The group of men stopped bickering and stared at her.
“Hey, sugar,” one man slurred.
“Come sit that fine ass over here,” another mumbled.
Lucky’s jaw tensed and he closed in on the men. This was going to end badly if he lost his temper.
Baby batted her eyelashes at the group. “Why don’t you fine gentleman have a round on me. Let me go take care of that and I’ll handle this big brute.” She patted Lucky in the center of his chest. He glared at the men as Baby drug him away by the arm.
“You’re not seriously going to give those jackasses more alcohol are you?”
“No, of course not. It’s something I like to do to calm the situation. The bartender knows to give them shots of water with a little lime juice. I tell them it’s a tequila shot.”
“Is that legal?” Lucky asked.
“Sure, they’re not paying for anything.” Baby leaned across the bar and told the weekend bartender to serve a round of douchebags to the rambunctious table across the room.
Jimmy replied with a wink. They had been serving the appropriately named drinks for years.
“I have a set, and then I’m on stud duty. That ok with you?” Baby’s lips twisted into a knowing smile.
“It’s better than ok.” Lucky’s deep voice dripped of carnal innuendo. His hand brushed hers as she sauntered away.
The remainder of the night was smooth. Mickey went about his business. Baby Jade finished up all six performances without a problem, and enjoyed the back and forth banter with Lucky in between sets. Although, he wasn’t too happy when she had to perform a few lap dances. Most of the customers were on their best behavior. Baby wished she could say the same for the girls.
Jewella and Barbie drank the night away, and by the way they were both twitching all night, they had done their fair share of dope too. She suspected that Jewella was smoking crack when she couldn’t get the good stuff. Dumb bitch. If she wanted to waste away to a crackhead, that was her business.
Baby sat on the stool next to the entrance waiting for Lucky’s shift to end. He had gravitated between her legs, and they were sharing an intimate moment, reminiscing about the night before when Jewella crashed the party.
“Well, aren’t you two chummy. You two hooking up?” Jewella leaned against Lucky. His face warped into repulsion and he threw his hands in the air, not wanting to touch her. The slut-red negligee she wore appeared to be three sizes too big, hanging off her bony frame. She had lost at least twenty pounds over the last year.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Baby asked. It made her stomach lurch, leaving her wanting to hurl watching Jewella slither on Lucky’s hip.
“Oh, honey. I wouldn’t wanna be anywhere else.” Jewella ran her hand over Lucky’s chest, making Baby’s skin crawl.
“Yeah, well. I can’t keep an eye on the club when I’m distracted. I’m gonna get back to work.” Lucky pushed her hand away.
“You don’t find Baby as a distraction?”
“Mickey assigned her to the door for a reason.” He took a step backward trying to put some distance between them.
“Jewella, go take it up with your man if you have a problem. Remember him, your man? Mickey?” Baby added sarcastically.
“Don’t be such a smart-ass, Baby. You need to know your place around here.” Jewella stumbled and kicked off her heels.
“What the hell’s going on here?” Mickey’s voice boomed from halfway across the room. Baby spotted him stalking in their direction, already brooding.