Page 11 of Dirty Ruck (Ruck Boys #5)

Chapter Eleven

Chelsea

"Sweetheart, you can't stay away, can you?" Divina bustled over to hug me. "Are you sure you don't want to come back and work for me?"

Music pumped through the club, loud and provocative, but I didn't know the curvaceous girl who danced on the stage today. Judging by a hint of awkwardness in her moves here and there, she was new. The way she peeled off her bra and dropped it aside spoke of her self-consciousness.

I was reminded of the first time I was up there, certain customers would walk away after taking one look at me.

Of course, they hadn't. They hadn't been able to tear their eyes away as I slowly peeled off the layers I was wearing, revealing more and more of me.

If I was a little slow, no one seemed to give a shit.

The men avidly crowded around the stage now didn't care either. They'd come to watch a gorgeous woman dance. That was all they saw. They loved every move of her curvy body, skilled or not.

I squeezed Divina and kissed her cheek before stepping back. "I'm absolutely sure. I miss you, but that part of my life is in my past. Sorry." In a not-sorry kind of way.

She pouted playfully. "I don't think you are sorry, but I'll forgive you. What can I do for you? You and those men of yours here look intense." She didn't seem concerned. If anything, she was curious, regarding each of them in turn. There wasn't much she hadn't seen in her years owning Flirts.

I wondered what it'd take to really surprise her. The only time I remembered seeing anything close to that from her, was when we found India. Even then, she didn't seem shocked. Sad and worried, but not surprised. I wished I could be as strong as she was. As hard to rattle.

"Can we talk in your office?" I jerked my head towards it.

"It must be serious." She gestured for us to walk ahead of her. Dallas, Frost and I did, while Jay lingered behind.

Storm, Atlas and Ramsey were gathered outside, keeping an eye on things there.

"It is," I said.

She stepped inside, turned and sat on the edge of her desk.

I stood in the middle of the room, Frost on one side of me, Dallas on the other.

Jay stayed in the doorway, standing sideways so he could keep an eye on us and the rest of the club.

"Out with it then." Divina gestured with her fingers. "What's so important you'd come all the way down here with a contingent of bodyguards?"

"We aren't bodyguards," Dallas mumbled.

Frost, on the other hand, looked pleased to be referred to that way. Jay seemed indifferent.

"I was wondering if India was close with anyone, as far as you knew?" I saw no reason to beat around the proverbial bush. Divina was a busy woman and wouldn't want us to waste her time.

"Someone suspicious," Frost added.

Divina raised a shapely eyebrow at him. "I thought that was what you meant." She smirked slightly, but he grinned and shrugged. Typical Frost.

She hummed and slid her gaze from him, back at me. "You know what she was like. She was friends with everyone. Everyone loved her. I don't think there's a person here who wouldn't have called her friend."

It was my turn to hum in response. She was right about that. We all adored her and, as far as I could remember, India gave everyone an equal amount of her time.

Divina would have seen a lot more than I did though. She practically lived here.

"Anyone in particular though?" I pressed. "Someone she was tight with? Someone working security? A customer even?"

Divina toyed with a huge ring on her finger. Silver with some kind of purple stone. I'd never seen her without it.

"If I had to suggest she was particularly close to anyone, I'd say Tina and Sierra.

Tina left right after you did, but Sierra is still here.

She's been guarded since India was killed.

I mean, keeping her thoughts to herself, not literally guarded.

" She eyed the guys again. “But we've all been on edge. "

In the corner of my eye, I saw Dallas look down toward the floor.

Quickly, I said, "I can't blame you. When things like that happen it's… Scary." I glanced around the space as subtly as I could.

Divina probably had more weapons in her office than the laptop that sat on the desk.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a gun in the top drawer, or a knife or two.

She wouldn't hesitate to use them if she had to.

Divina was as tough as they came. She had to be.

If anyone around here was a badass, it was her.

She also had the biggest heart of anyone I ever met. The staff loved her for a reason. She took care of everyone like they were family. She was like a second mother to me. Or a wise aunt. If I could be half the woman when I was her age, I'd be doing very well for myself.

"Yeah, they are scary, and if Sierra is involved, she can hit the road," Divina said unapologetically.

"I don't want any more of that shit here.

The girls that work for me, I want to keep them safe.

They shouldn't have to look over their shoulders all night, wondering if they'll be next.

If Sierra is into some shit, or going to cause any trouble, she can get the hell out. "

"Do you mind if I talk to her?" I asked. "She might not be involved in anything, but if we can get to the bottom of it, it'll put your mind at ease."

"I'm not sure I'd go that far, but you can try," Divina said. "Do me a favour and don't make a mess."

Frost was quick to say, "We won't."

Dallas slid him a look, but he didn't say anything.

Frost shrugged. "We really won't."

"You can find her in the changing area," Divina said. "Go and do whatever you have to do." She waved us away and stepped around her desk to sink into the chair. "I'll be busy here for a while."

In other words, whatever we did, she didn't know anything about it. She wouldn't take responsibility for it. She wasn't happy, but she wouldn't interfere either.

"Let's go," I said to the guys. "Thank you, Divina."

She opened her laptop and turned it on, giving me a small glance and nod before returning her attention to the screen.

As we stepped away, Jay said, "Are you sure she's not involved?"

"No," I admitted after a few moments thought. "I have to trust that she's not."

I didn't want to think she was working against us. People like her, they did whatever they had to do to cover their asses. She'd look out for her own interests before she looked out for ours.

I didn't blame her. I'd do the same thing.

I was doing the same thing. Confronting one of her employees could ultimately be bad for her business, but we had no choice.

The fact she was letting us do it suggested to me she wasn't working against us.

She wanted to stay the hell out of any trouble, that was all.

I hoped I was reading the situation right. Otherwise, we could be fucked.

"Are you okay?" I slipped my hand into Dallas' and glanced over into his troubled face. "Being back here can't be easy."

The first time we met here in Flirts was intense. He'd been disgusted at himself for being with me and stormed out of the room. Things certainly had changed since then.

Of course, the last time he was here, he took a life. This place must hold conflicting memories for him. Difficult ones.

"Kind of." He had to raise his voice to be heard over the music as we stepped closer to the door that led into the change area. "I'll be okay." His stoic, football player mask was firmly in place. "Let's just do this."

I squeezed his hand, then turned my attention to Gary, the security guard who stood beside the door. "Hey, Gaz."

"Hey, Chels!" The gentle giant leaned down to give me a hug. "You coming back to work here? We've missed you."

"I missed you too." I squeezed him quickly before letting him go, not wanting the guys to get the wrong idea.

Gary and I were friends from the first day I started at Flirts.

No one looked after the girls better than he did.

If anyone tried anything, he'd escort them out the door, whether they liked it or not.

I never saw him hit anyone, but they didn't get away with any shit while he was around either.

Honestly, most of them took one look at him and backed right off.

"I'm not coming back to work, I just came to have a quick chat with Sierra.

Divina said she was out back?" I smiled sweetly, hoping he wouldn't become suspicious.

If he thought we were up to something, he wouldn't hesitate to escort us out too regardless of what Divina said.

He wanted trouble even less than she did.

"Last time I saw her, she was," he agreed. "Go on in. It might make you nostalgic enough to change your mind and come back." He winked.

"You never know," I said with a laugh. I couldn't help but appreciate the way he and Divina made me feel welcome here. They always had. We were a little family, even after I left.

He pulled out a key, unlocked the door and held it open for us to step past. All the while keeping an eye on the crowd in case anyone thought to slip in too.

I exchanged glances with the guys once Gary closed the door behind us. Being back here should have felt familiar, even comforting, but the click of the door made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The same feeling of unease I felt in the infirmary came crashing back.

"We’re right here," Frost said. "I've sent the others a text to tell them where we are. Nothing is going to happen to us." He tucked his phone into the pocket of his track pants and patted it.

"Yeah I…hope so," I said. There were more dangerous places in Dusk Bay than the back of a strip club, but the unease lingered. "Let's get this over with."

Still holding onto Dallas' hand, I led the way down to the dressing rooms. "She should be in here." I stopped in the doorway, mindful that there might be naked people inside, who wouldn't appreciate the intrusion.

Only a couple of women sat applying make-up, both fully dressed. Milly sat to the left, Sierra to the right. Blonde hair in a stark contrast to dark. One slender, the other curvy. Divina offered variety, so there was a dancer for every eye.

"Hey," I greeted them both cheerfully. "Sierra, have you got a minute, honey?" I wanted to appear as non-threatening as possible. I didn't want her to run or clamp up.

She looked up at my reflection in the mirror. "Chels! It's so good to see you again. Of course I have a minute for you, darling." She rose and took in the three large men behind me. Her eyebrows were the next thing to rise. "Well this is interesting," she said lightly. "Is everything okay?"

"Maybe we should talk out in the corridor," I suggested, giving Milly half an eye.

"I was just leaving," Milly said. She shot up out of her chair and hurried out of the room, barely glancing back.

We had to step out of her way to let her pass. I caught a whiff of rose-scented perfume, similar to the one I wore when I worked here. It was mixed with the smell of soap and hairspray. All familiar. If I was inclined to be nostalgic, that would do it.

"She's new," Sierra said. "Still trying to get her head around working in a place like this." She’d seen the same thing a dozen times before, as I had. Even women who loved the work had an adjustment period at the beginning. Taking your clothes off for money took some getting used to.

The first time I did it, I was terrified.

Certain there'd be no audience for all the imperfections I perceived myself to have.

I quickly learned I was the only one who cared about them.

If anything, the guys who came to watch me, embraced them.

They liked that I wasn't perfect, because they weren't either.

They came to see a confident woman, and pretend she was dancing for them.

"I'm sure she'll be fine." I gave Sierra a quick hug. "How have you been?"

"Fine, but I don't think you came to ask me how I am," she said. "Is this anything to do with India and what happened to her?"

Her words were immediately followed by the deafening crack of a gunshot.