Harlow turns to Neo, and her gaze softens slightly. A small part of me gets a little jealous of that. “Don't worry, My Pet. We will have our fun,” she winks.
“Are we really here to see if you want to take over this club?” Dean asks.
Harlow grins slyly. “Maybe, kind of. I mean, I’ve been here for ten minutes, and I know this place is trash. I’ve seen how the customers are allowed to feel up the dancers and even how the bouncers look ready to fuck them. Some of the girls look like they enjoy it; some are clearly putting on an act. Either way, I don't like it. This place will be mine. The foundation is set; all it needs is a good deep clean and some renos. The bouncers will need to be vetted, and the dancers will need testing for drugs and STDs. It’s all standard. Dean, if you don't mind, I’d like you to handle the bouncers. Evie has a lot going on, and you're the only other person who is good with looking into background shit.”
“Yeah, I can do that,” he nods.
“Good,” she says, turning to me. “Cass, you're in charge of finding me new men. They don't have to be like my guys. The reason why I have gay men is because the women who work at Evolution are the women who helped me through years of hell while enduring it themselves. They are special cases and will always get top priority. Also, this place needs a new fucking name,” she shudders.
“Oh, oh, can I name it?” Neo grins. “What about The Booty Bouncer?”
Harlow raises her brows and grins.
“No,” she laughs.
“Oh, come on! It’s perfect. They’re up there bouncing their asses anyways!” he pouts.
“How about Redemption?” Dean offers. “If you don't plan on keeping it a strip club.”
Harlow looks at him, thinking over his suggestion. “I like it,” she nods. “Look at you, Mr. Mime, you do talk,” she quips.
Dean actually cracks a smile. Did I get sucked into some alternate dimension? “I do talk. Just normally, I don’t have much to say.” He shrugs.
"Challenge accepted,” Harlow grins. Dean's smirk grows, and he shakes his head.
Yup, I’ve somehow ended up in another world and switched places with another dimension’s Cass.
“Okay. Cassy Boy, you will come with Neo and me,” Harlow says.
“Wait. What about us?” Axel asks.
“You're not useful to me, silly,” she giggles, then pokes him in the side where he got his stitches, making him grunt in pain. “How you feeling, big boy?” Harlow grins.
“Like a million bucks,” Axel grits out, nostrils flaring. Harlow steps up close to him and runs her finger over his chest.
“You know, if you weren’t such a twat waffle, maybe people would want to stop kicking your ass,” she purrs and pats Axel on the cheek, then turns to us, leaving a pissed off Axel behind.
“They will stay here. Let’s go,” she says, then takes off past us and through the crowd.
Neo takes off after her, but I linger a moment, watching Axel take off for the bar. He can't drink because of his concussion, so he’s probably going to just sit there and sulk like a child and mutter to himself about how much he hates Harlow.
Dean watches Harlow leave. His eyes shine with longing, confusion, and hurt. He looks away from her, locking his gaze with mine. He gives me a nod before following Axel. Dean, however, yeah, something tells me he's gonna have a few drinks. I can see his control slipping, but not in the way it normally does. I think Harlow may just very well be slipping past his defenses.
“HELLO BOYS,” HARLOWgreets the room as she barges into the back office. A greasy fucker with a beer belly and slicked back, black hair jerks his head up.Called it.He’s sitting at his desk, his eyes wide, clearly taken by surprise.
Looking around the room, I see two men in the corner. They have their hands resting on their guns in the waistbands of their pants.
“Ah, ah, ah. I wouldn't do that if I were you,” Harlow sings, pulling out her own gun, pointing it at the guy at the desk, then pulls out another one and points it at the guys in the corner.
“Buh-bye,” Harlow tells them, indicating they are no longer welcome. They look at their boss with an apologetic grimace. Guess they are not as dumb as they look. It’s telling from how easily they run away that they know this is Queenie. I mean, it’s kind of hard not to with the knee-high boots, guns strapped to each leg, lace booty shorts, and a black and red corset. Fuck, she looks so sexy right now. I can't keep my eyes off her. Her black hair falls down her back in waves, and her icy blue eyes sparkle with some kind of fucked up glee as she grins with a sick satisfaction at the men’s fear. She looks really badass right now, and I’m loving this new Harlow. I don't get what my brother and cousin see wrong. She’s fucking perfect.
“Umm. So, do I finish sucking you off?” a female voice asks from beneath his desk. He jerks his head down, then back up at us.
“No, Dina, you can go,” he says, clearing his throat. Neo starts cracking up, and Harlow just blinks with a humorous smile.
A woman with long blonde hair, fake tits, and makeup that's caked onto her face pops out from under his desk. She pauses when her eyes land on Harlow and her gun.
“I gotta ask,” Harlow says. “Why?’ she sighs, shaking her head in disappointment at this woman's actions.