“Great, we’ll be there soon,” she says, hanging up the phone.
I clap my hands in eagerness and run off toward the bedroom, heading to the closet and grabbing a black, strapless number which falls mid-thigh. It’s sexy and provocative, and I can’t wait to wear it. I throw my hair up into a loose up-do; apply a smoky eye shadow, light lip gloss, and a spritz of perfume to top it off. There’s knocking at the door as I’m putting on some black heels; my sore feet don’t even seem to mind the squeeze.
“Wow, you look hot!” Cherry says, eyeing me as I open the door. She’s wearing a purple dress shorter than mine which ties behind her neck, and her eye shadow matching it. She’s also wearing her property patch over her dress, which makes her look fierce. I follow her down to the parking lot as she hops into a red Bug. When I climb into the passenger side, Babs and Molly are sitting in the back smiling at me.
“Hey, girl,” Babs smiles.
“I didn’t expect you for a club-hopper,” I joke at Babs.
“Ugh, Locks’ has been gone for days, I’m bored as hell,” she replies, rolling her eyes.
Cherry speeds off from the curb, making the girls in the back squeal. She bobs and weaves in and out of traffic. How she got her license I don’t know; she had to have worn something like she’s wearing now because the girl is death on wheels. We pull up to a building shining in bright gold lighting around the doors.
“The Rogue?” I question, reading the club’s sign.
“Yeah, it’s supposed to be the big thing right now,” Cherry answers, getting out of the car.
“My brother Tyler is ecstatic to DJ here,” she continues, twisting her face in humor. “It’s not all bad. We get free drinks and get in free.” She points to a line of people waiting to get in.
We walk up to the bouncer, who is wearing a black suit, his head shaved. He’s huge and looks like someone you would see playing professional football or wrestling.
“Name?” the bouncer asks, looking at the crowd. He doesn’t even glance at the girls and me. He doesn’t have a clipboard or anything; he must have the guest list memorized.
“Name is Cherry. I’m with Twistin Tyler,” she yells, the music blaring from the club doors making it hard to talk over.
He looks away from the club and eyes us up.
“You going to let us in or what?” Cherry sasses, placing her hand on her hip. The brawny bouncer moves to the side, opening a path to the doors, which lead into the thumping club.
“Dick,” she says, passing him.
“Yo, take over for me.” The bouncer yells at a guy wearing a matching black suit, he looks just as intimidating.
Walking into the club, it’s crazy, like nothing I have ever seen before. There are balconies with sheer curtains for private parties and booths surrounding the walls with gold lamps sitting on the tables. The lighting is dim, except colors of gold from spotlights above swirling around the people on the dance floor. A large bar sits next to the DJ station at the far end of the club, and my eyes go wide at what’s sitting on the bar. It has a silver cage resting on top with a girl in a shiny, gold bikini dancing in it.
We follow Cherry over to a booth next to the DJ station. “Hey, I’m going to go tell my brother I’m here real quick and then we’ll dance,” she says, skipping off. I slide into the center of the booth, making room for the girls.
“Ha. I ain’t dancing, but I’ll drink,” Babs tells us, pointing toward the bar.
“I’ll join you,” Molly says, leaving me at the booth by myself.
I tap my fingers against the tabletop as I watch Molly and Babs order drinks when suddenly a tall, blue beverage is placed in my line of sight.
“This is from Mr. Ross,” the girl states. She’s wearing a gold shiny dress, and her black wavy hair sways down her back.
“Who?” I ask, confused.
“Mr. Ross,” she answers, pointing to a booth across the way. I push myself up to look over the crowd and see a man wearing a white button down shirt wave slightly. He has dark hair and seems to be middle aged. I’ve never met him before.
I look at the drink. Aren’t you suppose to reject drinks from strangers at a bar, or do I watch too many CSI shows?
“Uh, no thanks,” I reply, pushing the drink away.
The girl looks at me surprised then shrugs, taking the drink away.
Molly and Babs come back to the booth with drinks in their hands, laughing about something.
“So, I hear you went on a date with some rich guy,” Babs says, taking a small sip from her shot glass and shimmying back into the booth.
“Yeah, I did. He was a gentleman. Well, at least I thought he was.” I give a weak smile. I still find it hard to believe Parker would treat a woman ill, but Shadow insisted he saw it with his own eyes.
Babs laughs in hysteria. “I bet Shadow fucked that guy up.”