A Commitment to Love, Book 3 (50 page)

However, the freaking security guard had been doing everything he could to block my efforts.

“Ma’am, why are we at a strip club? We’re supposed to be at the caterers. Mr. Stone won’t be pleased.” Sweat beaded around the poor guy’s forehead and I knew it wasn’t the Miami heat. On edge, Chase had been screaming at security left and right all week.

No one relished in a silent Benny. It was like walking through a dark forest at night, hearing leaves crumble off in the distance and a low growl, and not be able to see where the danger was coming from. That being said, Vivian and I had been careful to keep our plans away from all ears.

I tossed him an innocent smile. “I want to surprise Chase.”

“Mr. Stone doesn’t want any surprises right now.”

“He said that?”

“No, but—”

“Then relax.”

“This is an exotic dancing place.”

“Yes,” I nodded, “I’m aware of that.”

A cool breeze blew through the palm trees, and the guy wore a thin linen shirt and beige pants which went great with the shoulder holster packing his gun. Yet, still the man sweated as if it was a hundred degrees and he was wearing a turtleneck sweater.

“Ms. Montgomery, I don’t think I can do that.” He wiped away the sweat and rubbed it on his pants.

“It would just be a few hours.”

“This isn’t the schedule that Mr. Stone approved. He was adamant that there be no surprises and that everyone follows it.” He unfolded the white page he’d been holding. “I’m supposed to take you to the caterer right now. We already have a team over there, waiting inside the shop. You’re going to do a food tasting there to pick the engagement party’s menu and then—”

“Correction. Vivian is going to do the food tasting for me. Chase doesn’t know that because this is a surprise. I already told you this.”

“Ms. Montgomery, we cannot do surprises right now.”

I held up both of my hands. “I understand.”

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“Then we can leave this place?” He wouldn’t even look back at the strip club.

The Doll House stood behind him—all black brick and metallic gold outlines around a towering black and gold checkered roof. A huge billboard hung above the place and displayed a big doll house with shapely nude women peeking out of the windows. Music boomed inside. Anytime a man opened the door as he walked in, a heavy-hitting bass filled the parking lot. Several males had left due to the club closing down for me, during these designated hours.

I did my best at an innocent smile. “I just need two hours here and then—”

“I can’t, Ms. Montgomery.”

“You have to.”

“I can’t. We have to stick to the schedule.”

“We’re talking two hours.”

He glanced over his shoulder and surveyed the parking lot. “This doesn’t look like a good neighborhood.”

No other business, but two bars were located on the block. Broken glass littered the corner. Vacant lots and abandoned factories surrounded the area. However, expensive cars crowded the front. Vivian had discovered the club and claimed that it was the most talked about spot in the city of Miami—the area where the tourists didn’t go.

We both hoped to keep this surprise away from the paparazzi, but not be in a dump either.

The Doll House seemed to be the best option. We called the manager. He agreed to let me rent the place out for the day as well as hire four of his hottest dancers. His top girl was going to give me a sensual routine to a song named “Seduction”. The other girls would dance in the background of the stage to add to the erotic performance.

“It would be better if you did this another time,” the guard said.

“I need to do it now.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Excuse me?” Annoyance dotted each word. “Is this how you talk to Mr. Stone?”

He looked away. “Mr. Stone will fire me if I get you harmed.”

“Then let’s make sure that I’m safe.”

He sighed. “I’m unable to do that, if you don’t listen to me.”

“I’m not completely helpless.” I tapped my hip. I wore a heavy duty wilderness belt and holster with my jeans and shirt which displayed the Sesame Street gang at the bar telling dirty jokes. The funny tee covered the holster and belt enough, but not entirely. Anyone with sense would get that I was packing.

He didn’t even glance at where I kept my gun. “I understand that you’re not helpless, but you’re going to have to turn around and ask your driver to take you to the scheduled activity. I cannot let you go inside.”

“I’m going inside there, and you and your three guys over there in the car can watch my back in here. Not to mention the fact that if something happens, I’m more than prepared. This holster allows me to naturally press the release, when I pull my firearm out in a quick-draw self-defense scenario.”

“Quick-draw self-defense scenario?” His expression shifted to worried.

“I’ve been taking a class at the gun range.”

“I’m aware of that, but I still don’t think you should—”

“What’s your name?”

“Martin.”

“Great name.” I winked at him. “Martin, trust me on this. The surprise is going to blow Chase’s mind. He may be upset if you spoil this for him. And besides, I’ve purchased everything.”

Vivian and I had picked out all of the costumes. Diamonds served as the theme. Those gems sparkled over the background dancers’ corsets and tiny G-strings. Diamonds even covered the tips of their nine-inch heels.

I would wear an outfit made from several straps of rubies. They would wrap around my thighs, breasts, behind, and the space between my legs, revealing so much and hiding very little. Red nine-inch heels went with the outfit. Rubies decorated the points. A makeup artist and hair stylist were supposed to show up later that night for the true performance.

“Could you let me know what you’re going to do?” Martin folded the paper back. “Maybe if I understand, I can give you permission in other ways.”

“Listen.” I shook my head. “I hate to do this to you, buddy, but I don’t need your permission. But I will explain the plan. I’m going to do a dance routine for Mr. Stone tonight at eight.”

Wrinkles formed around Martin’s forehead as he unfolded the paper again.

“Don’t bother looking at the schedule,” I said. “It’s not on there.”

He muttered a curse word.

“I’m sorry to do this to you, but I need these two hours to practice the routine and then later tonight, we were due to go to a play, but that was just a lie to have him ready for that time.”

“Does anyone know about these details?” Martin asked.

“Only Vivian and my driver as well as all of the people in the performance with me.”

“And the owner?” Martin asked.

“Yes.”

He mumbled another curse word. I thought it might have been shit buckets, but wasn’t sure. He dove his hand into his pockets and pulled out his phone. When he pressed several buttons, he placed it on his ear. “We’ve got several serious changes of plans. I need as many people as possible over to the Doll House, immediately. I’ll send the address at the end of this phone call.”

I gave him a thumbs up.

He responded with a frown.

Well, we all can’t be friends.

I headed into the club without Martin, confidant that he’d follow me in as soon as he finished the phone call.

I pushed through the doors. Thankfully, no cigarette smoke hit me, just the lush scent of perfumed women. Five dancers stretched on the stage and talked to each other. Most lay on the floor touching their toe as they wore yoga pants and tiny spaghetti-strapped tops.

A tall girl with long blonde hair and red shorts and a matching shirt waved me over. “Are you Jasmine?”

“Yes.” I strolled to the stage, excited about the performance.

And then gun shots boomed outside.

There was no mistaking it. Tires screeched. Men yelled. Women screamed. All of this outside. And inside of the club, I stood frozen with my hands out to their sides.

Benny.

The dancers snapped their faces from side to side as if wondering what the other girl was thinking and wanted to do.

“Were those gun shots?” The blonde turned to the other girls. “It’s twelve in the afternoon. Why would there be gunshots outside?”

My heart hammered in my chest. The whole thing could be a coincidence, but with the way my month had been going, I needed to treat everything like an emergency.

More shots boomed in the front.

“Is there a back entrance?” Taking out my gun, I hurried to the stage, checking my back every few steps. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

“Are you a cop?” the blonde asked.

“No. Is there a back entrance.”

“Why does she have a gun?” one of them asked.

Another boom hit.

“Fuck. We’ve got to get out of here.” I jumped on the stage and pointed the gun at the front door, unsure of who would be coming inside. “Where’s the back entrance?”

“What the fuck is going on?” one of them shrieked.

Outside, something crashed into something else—metal to metal and glass shattering against concrete. Men screamed. Women howled.

“We’ve got to get out of here now! There’s a guy out there trying to kill everyone.” I shook a little, but not my gun hand. I just hoped whoever walked into this place was the one to get shot, because I didn’t think I would wait to check their face. I was done with the walking around in fear bullshit.

Troy’s death had hardened me.

Benny had cut out the only gentleness left in me.

Chase had remade me back to whole, but the woman I became wore heels and kept a gun by her side. She loved harder and would murder anyone who stood in the way of her heart.

The dancers barreled me with questions, but like true survivors they kept it moving—grabbing their bags and trucking it toward the back.

How did you know I was here, Benny? You followed us? Or did you know I would be here?

In the back, shadows filled the space. If not for the red and white exit sign, we probably would’ve had no ability to see where we were going.

“Who turned off the lights?” someone said.

I followed behind them, worried that I would end up shooting one of them in the dark.

“How do we know the motherfucker won’t be right in the back?” One of the chicks yanked off her heels and pushed ahead of me.

“Fuck. You’re right.” I stopped.

I think because I had the gun they paused with me and waited for my direction.

Did you know I would be here, Benny? Only Vivian and I knew. I just told the driver. Security thought we had got lost at the club. And the manager knew.

Gun shots boomed from the back.

“Oh, hell no.” The only white dancer ran past us and headed back to the stage. “Their asses are in the back, too.”

“Let’s go to the locker room.” The blonde turned to the right and everyone rushed after her.

Pounding came from the back. “Ms. Montgomery! Are you okay?”

The door is locked back there, too.

Remaining in the hallway’s shadows, I let the girls run ahead of me and dipped into the shadows at the end of the hallway. Energy prickled my skin. Not the good kind. Or maybe it was that sick adrenaline rush that coursed through the worn and wary soldier’s veins, when they were faced with yet, another battle.

Then shouts sounded from the front of the club. “Ms. Montgomery!?”

“The doors are locked in the back and the front!” another man yelled from outside.

Benny locked them out. He knew I would be here. How did he know? He’s probably inside. How did he get inside? How the fuck did you know about this idea?

“Ms. Montgomery!?” Something slammed into the door. The guards were probably trying to break in. Logic told me to stay quiet. If Benny had planned this, then I needed to act in a way that he wouldn’t predict.

You expect me to yell out to them. Let everyone know where I’m at? I run to the front or the back, and you get me?

I tightened the grip on my gun and kept it in the air in front of me. Edging away, I kept my back pressed to the wall and scanned the area. The girls chatter came out of the locker room. They mumbled their fears and wondered what would be happening next. They all talked about texting their boyfriends and another had dialed the police.

Booms continued at the front and back doors.

No sound came from inside.

With each loud noise, I took a step to the side, moved one hand from the gun, and touched the shadowed hall, hoping for a door.

Boom.

I found a door handle, possibly to a closet.

Bang.

I turned the knob and opened the door.

Slam.

I got into the small dark space without taking the time to look inside.

Crash.

I got to the side and closed the door behind me.