“Age is just a number, right?” Capri giggled. “I mean, it’s experience that matters.”
Poppy withheld the cringe. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“Anyway, yeah, Lit is the best. I worked my butt off to get into Lit. You don’t even want to know what I had to do to earn a spot.”
Poppy ignored the little voice in her head that told her to dig deeper into Capri’s backstory. She couldn’t stand the thought of a young girl selling herself because she didn’t know any better, but she wasn’t here to save anyone. Not even exploited teens who didn’t have the sense God gave a goose to know they were headed down a dark path.
“I’m so nervous,” Poppy admitted. That part wasn’t acting. Her hands were shaking. “I wish I had a drink before hitting the stage.”
“If you’re real nice to Angelo, he’ll take care of you,” Capri said. “He’s a sweetie. And so cute. But watch out because Brandi is a jealous bitch if she thinks you’re moving in on her man. Geesh, you’d think she owns the guy or something.”
“So Brandi and Angelo have a thing?”
“Yeah, I guess so. But can you keep a secret?” Capri leaned forward with an excited gleam in her eye. When Poppy nodded, Capri shared, “Angelo likes me, too. He says he’s going to take care of me, introduce me to the right people.”
“And how exactly would he do that?”
“By introducing me to a sugar daddy, of course, silly,” Capri said with a giggle. “The amount of money that comes through these doors is obscene. You’ll see. Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll catch your own sugar daddy.”
Good lord, she hoped not.
“I mean, I have my regular and he’s pretty nice,” Capri continued, playing with a sequin on her tight body suit. “But a girl needs to spread her wings, see what else is out there, you know?”
“Is he your boyfriend?” Poppy asked.
“God no. He’s not the boyfriend type,” Capri answered with a laugh as if the idea were absurd. “Actually, he’s...let’s just say, he likes what he likes and he doesn’t mind paying for it. But he’s superrich. I’m talking loaded and he’s very generous when he’s pleased.”
The girl had just admitted to prostituting herself. Poppy tried not to fixate on that point. Busting people for underage prostitution was not their focus.
“Are you sure that’s safe?” Poppy couldn’t help but ask.
“You sound like an old lady,” Capri said, giggling. “Besides, he doesn’t ask for too kinky of stuff. It’s like a date but instead of dinner and a movie...you get a fat wad of cash. Can’t beat that, right?”
Poppy nodded as if she agreed, but inside she was horrified. Capri was too young for this.
“Hey, maybe after we get to know each other, I can introduce you. My friend is always looking for new playmates.”
“Thanks,” Poppy said, forcing a bright smile for Capri’s benefit, but inside she was stunned at how cavalier Capri was about selling her body.
This was a foreign world and Poppy was feeling the cultural differences.
“No problem,” Capri said with a sweet smile as if she’d just offered to swap banana bread recipes instead of sharing sexual contacts. “There’s something about you that I like. I hope you stick around. Good luck with your set.”
Poppy murmured her thanks and watched as Capri returned to her vanity to touch up her makeup.
Heaven help her. When this was all finished, Poppy was going to find a way to help Capri see that there was a different life out there waiting for her to grab on to it.
Of course, Poppy knew that people who didn’t want help didn’t appreciate the effort others took on their behalf, but Poppy didn’t care. Capri needed something better than what she was doing.
Whether she knew it or not.
Poppy swallowed as Big Jane hollered for Capri, who then hurried off to start her set, leaving Poppy to try to figure out how she was going to hold on to her position when she didn’t have a clue as to what she was doing.
You’re in over your head, Shaine’s voice intruded in her thoughts, and her gaze narrowed.
Like hell she was.
Moving backstage, she watched Raquel as she finished her set and then Capri danced onto the platform. The girl could move and she could work a crowd.
Pushing aside the concern that Capri might be younger than she let on, Poppy took mental notes, memorizing every move and grind that seemed to garner more attention from the patrons so that by the time it was her turn, she’d have an idea of what to do.
And now taking the stage, a sweet treat, a country girl from Connecticut, Lovely Laci!
Poppy emerged from the curtain, her eyes blinded by the neon lights until they adjusted, and then, of all people, the first person to make eye contact was Shaine.
For a moment she froze, her lungs squeezing with panic, but her desire to win this case was bigger than her fear.
Stop being a pussy. Get the job done.
Any way possible.
Deliberately holding Shaine’s gaze, she slowly gyrated onto the pole, remembering a time when being sexy for Shaine Kelly had been natural.
The rest of the crowd disappeared and it was just Shaine and her.
And when she ripped her tiny dress off, she could’ve sworn Shaine stopped breathing.
Just like that...Poppy was back on track.
* * *
“Hot damn,” Angelo murmured as he rested his elbows on the bar during Poppy’s set. “The new girl is a smoke bomb.”
Shaine forced a casual grin but shrugged. “Not bad. I’ve seen better.”
The words actually felt stuck in his mouth, but Angelo didn’t seem to notice as he was too busy staring at Poppy.
Close your damn mouth, you prick.
Horny patrons were throwing their paychecks at Poppy and she was eating it up, dancing as if she’d been born to it.
A tiny blonde with giant breasts popped up to the bar, practically purring at Angelo. “Can I get something to drink?”
“Sure, babe. What do you want?” Angelo asked, distracted, still watching Poppy.
The girl tracked Angelo’s gaze and then giggled. “That’s Laci. Isn’t she pretty? I think she’s really nice, too.”
Shaine nudged Angelo as if fishing for an introduction, but actually he needed to know all the players coming and going through Lit, and at this point all the dancers were suspect. “Who’s your cute friend?”
“Oh, sorry man, this is my girl, Capri. Capri, meet the new bartender, Rocco.”
Capri exaggerated the hard C with a suggestive look. “Rocco? That’s a hot name.” Then she giggled again before returning to Angelo with a soft pout. “Brandi is being a royal bitch again. Can you please tell her to be nice?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Angelo said, his gaze dipping to Capri’s breasts as he grinned. “I liked your set. Good job, sweetheart.”
“Thank you, baby.”
Angelo looked to Shaine. “Hey, can you hold down the bar for a minute? I’ve got some business to take care of.”
Shaine nodded and watched as Angelo draped his arm around Capri and led her off to the back office.
I