Page 11

CHAPTER 11

Diesel

I drive to a predetermined part of town, slip in the staff door of an exclusive hotel and walk out the front where Diego meets me with the limo. Playing the part like a pro, he opens the door and takes the driver’s seat.

Pulling into traffic he meets my gaze in the rearview mirror. “You’re rushing this, asshole. You could get yourself killed. Then what happens to that little girl?”

“My team takes care of her. And Willow. I already contacted our lawyer just in case.”

“I don’t like this. Willow’s holding back something important. She could be setting you up.”

“I agree she knows more, but she’s afraid, too. Do we have anyone inside?”

“Not working. But Roja knows you’ll be there tonight and will be there partying.”

“Willow warned me that they drug the drinks, even the closed water bottles somehow. Make sure everyone knows. Have you had a chance to review the baby cam video?”

“Yeah.” He rubs a hand down his face. “Watching that little baby—” His voice cracks. “These fuckers are gonna pay.”

I look out the window. They’ll pay. I’ll personally make sure they’re all taken down.

We set a pickup spot and Diego drops me off. Passing the general admission group, I go to the reserved seating line and show my code. The guy scanning looks at me then looks again. “You look familiar.”

I smirk. I’ve bulked up a bit and had to shave most of my beard down to the old style, but my life-sized image is plastered behind him on the wall. “You may have seen me around.”

“Oh my god! It’s you,” the woman behind me gasps. Turning to her friends she shouts. “D-Man is here. He’s here! OhMyGod. OhMyGod.”

My reputation is still intact and the reaction down both lines is exactly what I’d hoped for. No way current management can miss me now. Or my draw.

She clutches my arm. “Please, please can I have your autograph. Please.”

“Got a pen, Sugar?”

The girl behind her hands me a red marker. “I’ve got this.”

“For that, you can have one too. If you’d like.”

“Yes!”

“How do you want it,” I ask the first woman, and wink.

“How you always give it,” she quotes back the exchange I was known for. She pulls down her blouse exposing the sizable swell of her breast. I didn’t even practice, but muscle memory takes over. I draw a pair of lips and underneath scrawl my signature D-Man. While she bounces in place screaming, I do the same for her friend who lifts her short, short skirt and gives me her ass cheek.

By the time I’ve finished, security has arrived to escort me inside. I pause dramatically at the entrance hoping that Diego was in place with his long-range lens to get a photo. They walk me through the seating area to a side hall and up to the second-floor office. The one-way glass looking down on the floor is still in place, but the wall around it is lined with a dozen camera views displaying almost every corner of the building.

A bulky man a little shorter than me stands behind the desk and holds out his hand. “I’m Carl. I tried to find you when I bought the place, but you were totally off grid. I’d decided you were only a legend. Nice to finally meet you, D-Man.”

“Just Denz. Nice to meet you, Carl.”

We both sit. He’s supposedly the owner, but his hands are too gnarly to be a pencil pusher. His suit doesn’t fit well and he’s trying to hiding a shoulder holster. To top it off he wasn’t smart enough to even have a folder or piece of paper in front of him on the empty desk.

I make a show of looking around the room. “I like the updates. Would have been nice to have the camera screens back in the day.” I smirk. “As long as they aren’t in the star’s dressing room. Not that I mind getting it on when someone’s watching, as long as I’m paid.”

We both laugh.

When you know what you’re looking for it’s easy to spot. There’s a small camera lens hidden in the artwork behind Carl focused on the chair where I’m sitting. I relax into the seat, wondering who’s watching.

“Can I offer you a drink?”

I shake my head and tap my abs. “I have to watch my intake, keep in shape.”

He raises an eyebrow.

“Still got my moves, and the ladies love a hard core.”

“Where you been?”

“Wandering around Europe. A buddy of mine is throwing a big bash, so I came back for the activities. Been reliving the good days. Heard Swagger sold and wanted to see how it was holding up. Thinking of opening my own place.”

“Checking out the competition,” he says lifting his own glass to drink.

“Maybe here, maybe somewhere else.”

His phone lights up and he glances at the message. “There’s an issue I need to tend to. I’m going to have Ryr, my assistant, come in and show you around. We’ll touch base before you leave.”

The door opens and a guy in a midline suit and harried expression bursts in. Obviously, the harried employee. A little too much so. The edge of a watch peaks out from his left sleeve but not enough for me to get a good view.

“I’m sorry sir. Security said you have to handle this. One of the dancers….”

“It’s alright, Ryr. I got it.” Carl stands as do I. “Being the management isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, Denz. You’re always on the job. I’d have more time to visit if I was working for someone else.”

After he leaves, Ryr holds out his hand. “Mr…”

“Just Denz.”

“I regret I never saw you perform. Rumor has it you were the best. Can I offer you something? A drink, or… something?”

“Maybe later. I’m good for now.” I cross to the wall where pictures of past and present dancers are posted. There’s an eight by ten of me and some of my buddies from before.

“Have you been performing somewhere else?”

“I’ve been in Europe mostly. Doing some shows, a couple escort engagements. It was a quieter life. I’ve missed some things about Vegas. And it’s been a while since I performed for a crowd on the dance floor.” I skim my finger over my old photo. “Damn, I miss this.”

“The guests outside are really hoping you’re here to dance. Perhaps we could strike a bargain. Maybe you’d like to headline for us once in a while. Tonight, could be a little teaser?”

“I told Carl I’m thinking of opening my own place.”

“Do you have a timeline?”

“Not yet.”

“Then what better way to start setting expectations. Tease them by performing here once or twice a month. It would be good PR for both businesses. I’m sure Carl would make it worth your while.” He shrugs. “I checked, we still have your signature song in the que. And a house full of willing women. That is, if you’re interested.”

This sly little bastard is the brains. I glance at him and smile. “I could use a workout. Any extra tear away shirts?”

I follow him to the costume room, remembering what’s the same and memorize what’s different in the layout. There’s a room near the exit that has a security lock that looks recent. There are cameras but they must be blocking the feed somehow. That’s I-Tee’s expertise. I’ll let him know.

Ryr grabs a shirt from the costume room and shows me to the gender-neutral changing rooms. His phone rings and he steps aside. There are about twenty lockers, a small couch, table and chairs when you enter. To the left is an alcove of makeup stations, on the right bathroom stalls. Changing my shirt, I slip my jacket back on and turn to leave. And stop dead in my tracks.

A banner hangs on the inset wall that says:

In Memory of Those We’ve Lost.

Stay Safe Stay Drug Free Stay Sober

Beneath the sign are nine photos. The middle one is of Vicky. The one below is Willow. She’s blonde in the photo and the date in the corner is months ago, but I’d know her anywhere.

I follow Ryr up the stairs to the back of the stage. The pulsing strains of my signature song comes on. I feel the beat but I’m having a hard time regrouping.

Rolling my neck, I stretch my shoulders from side to side. Focus.

I love to dance. The pulse and drive of the music are inside me. But dancing for a group of grasping hands that don’t see me, know me, or care about me, lost its appeal years ago. Even then it was only about the money.

Now I only want to dance for one woman. She’s hiding something and in danger, but I’m going to save her. Closing my eyes I take a couple deep breaths visualizing my Willow.

“Ladies, ladies, ladies, have we got a surprise for you tonight. Let’s welcome back one of the original Fanta-Sensual Dancers. He’s been gone for a few years but trust me, he’s bigger and badder than ever.

“Welcome back D-Man.”

I swagger out onto the stage. I’m coming Willow and I’m gonna make you mine.