Don First.

The rest of my shift flew by, and I managed to earn a butt ton of tips. I hadn’t had a chance to count them yet, but judging by how full my cups were, it was more than enough to call this a running start. I’d noticed Luciano’s eyes on me most of the night, which kept pulling my attention toward him. But I guess every man up here was obviously going to stare at the seductively dressed woman dancing on a stripper pole. His friend Luca, though... He kept giving me these overly excited looks that almost broke the mask I was wearing a few times. He had that contagious sort of smile that made you want to smile back. Back in the dressing room, I told the girls about my night. Candy asked if I needed a lift home, but I politely declined, lying straight through my teeth that I had a ride. I don’t need people getting close. I take what I need and nothing more. That’s the safest option, for everyone.

When all the girls had left, I slipped into the wardrobe area to find the outfit I’d ditched earlier today. I paused when I noticed a section of clothes that looked like everyday wear. Odd. It was strange for a club to provide normal clothes for the girls, but I wasn’t about to question a good thing. I snagged a fresh pair of jeans, a white shirt, and a black hoodie. The early morning air hit me the moment I stepped outside. Most women would think it safer to take the main roads with streetlights, but I knew better. Back roads. Alleyways. The dark of night, they were my friends. I’d grown used to slinking around in the dead of night, unseen. My way of thinking was simple: If no one knows you’re there, how could they grab you? It took half an hour to get back to the hotel with all my detours.

I immediately devoured the biscuits I’d stashed away, then started counting my tips from the night. Almost two thousand dollars. Holy hell. I’d never made that much at Thrive.

Tomorrow, I’d start looking for a shitty apartment, hopefully one that took cash. I’d also need to find a gym to test how rusty I was in a fight. I’d kept up my stamina over the years, I liked to work out once a day, usually in public parks since they were free, but if I was going back into the ring, I’d need a bag. Something to build muscle memory back up before Monday. Two days of prep would have to be enough. With my plans sorted out, I dragged the comforter off the bed and made a little nest on the floor. It always felt safer there.

Luciano

I sat with my men in the VIP section for most of the night. There was plenty to discuss, upcoming shipments, deals, movements. Once business was out of the way, I checked in on their families. Family meant everything to us. We’d all been raised together, like brothers. Our parents had treated us like siblings, and that bond never faded. While we talked, I kept my eye on Violence. I tried to be discreet about it. Luca? Not so much. He wasn’t hiding the fact that he was practically drooling over her. I wanted to stay until her shift ended, just so I could offer to drive her back to wherever she was staying. Kevin hadn’t been able to get much personal information from her earlier in the day while handling the paperwork. When he’d asked for a home address, she told him she didn’t have one yet. When he asked for the hotel she’d be staying at, she’d said she hadn’t checked in yet but promised to update him when she had.

By now, she should’ve checked in somewhere. I wanted to know where that somewhere was. I wanted to see it. I wanted to know where I could find my little angel. An hour before the club closed, Matteo got a phone call. He excused himself and took it in my office off the VIP lounge. When he came back, the look on his face told me the night was about to get longer.

“Boss,” he said grimly, “we just got word. There’s been a sighting of Angelo near your sister’s club.”

“Well,” I said, standing, “then I guess we’d better head out and check it out.”

Angelo Salvatore. Number one on our hit list for the past five years.

He put my father six feet under. They were supposed to meet to discuss a potential gun trade alliance, but instead, the bastard put a bullet in the back of my father’s head before he even saw it coming. He’s been slipping through our fingers ever since. As much as I wanted to make sure Violence got home safe, I had to be Don first. Downing the last of our drinks, I motioned to my men. We headed out, prepping for the eight-hour drive to my sister’s club. Maybe I could get some more information on my little angel while I was there. We took a few cars, left a couple of men behind with Tony to handle things while we were gone.

If we could get a real lead on Angelo, I’d follow it like a hound. I’d dedicated my life to killing him. My men had too. You don’t just kill a Don and get away with it.

I’d follow that son of a bitch into the pits of hell if I had to, just to get revenge for what he did. He was like a damn cockroach. Every time we got the slightest tip, he vanished. But one day... he wouldn’t.

And when that day came, I’d be there, waiting.