𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝑶𝒇 𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝑩𝒐𝒚

03

CHAPTER THREE
☠️ DANTE VALDEZ
PRESENT DAY
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"Want us t-''' I waved off the men, who were about to chase after the man who just ran out. "Sit. I'll handle it." I nodded at ICE and he understood, he nodded and sat back down. "Continue, what you were saying," I told Lincoln, one of the men I had working for me.

"As I was saying, the club is attracting too much attention, especially for the cops. I think we should open up a laundromat because people need their clothes washed all the time, shit" he shrugged. "Laundromat ?" I questioned and tapped my fingers on the table in front of me. "Yeah b. We can even move bigger amounts of cash through it, won't be too hard and the cops wouldn't think twice about checking a laundromat."

I nodded. "Then we'll settle with that, ICE?" I looked at him and he showed his phone to show he was on it with the nigga who just ran out of here. "We'll close it here then for tonight and.. get someone to clean that shit up," I nodded to the glass and liquor on the floor.

"Yes sir." Lincoln smiled big and I got up, leaving with ICE. "Found him?" I asked. "Yeah, he's with Tovar." ICE said almost robotically, trained him well. I stopped. "Tovar?" I looked back at him and he nodded. I fucking sighed, I didn't want to deal with that nigga tonight or at all to be honest.

"Where are they at ?" I asked and massaged my temples. "Outside. By the back parking lot." He said and I nodded. "Let's go.." I said.

We made it to the back parking lot and sure enough, there they were, arguing and I knew how Tovar took arguing, and it wasn't good. "Tovar." I yelled out his name as I walked closer to them. "I believe this is one of yours?" He looked the tall man up and down. "I'm not-'''

"Yeah." I looked at the man and he blew out an angry huff. "He's sorry." I said, in a matter-of-factly tone. The man looked back at me and I tilted my head, smiling, nowhere near friendly. "Dante. I don't need to tell you to get your men in order, do I? You know we'd both hate to have any...troubles with each other." He said and I sighed and looked at him.

"He's under control. He just knows bullshit when he sees it." I smiled and Tovar was about to say some shit before the man cleared his throat loudly. "I'm not a dog, I'm a person and I'm right fucking here. And you," he turned to me and put a finger on my chest. "If my friend has any sort of complications from when she wakes up, ima sue your ass so hard you'll never be able to get back on your pretty little feet." He threatened as he picked the, now that I'm paying attention, unconscious girl up.

"Seems like you don't, but, I'd hate to keep speaking to you. Have a good night Dante." He smiled and hurriedly walked away. I sighed and put my hands in my pockets as I watched the Tovar leave. "You," I pointed at the man as he was finna walk away but didn't look at him. "Stay your ass right here." I said and nodded to ICE to go somewhere else.

He nodded but didn't go far. "What?" He asked. "I'm not going to keep you long since you're clearly busy yourself but there's one thing you should know about me as you work here, I don't take disrespect." I finally looked at him and he sighed. "I don't do no type of disrespect, that means even threatening me. I don't know what your friend took and surely I don't give a damn. I didn't give her shit and never do to my workers, so you have two choices: you and her quit or get your asses back here tomorrow ."

"Bu-'''

"Yes or no?" I cut him off. He rolled his eyes and mumbled something. "...F...Fine." He hesitated and I shook my head. "Now for my apology?" I put my hands in my pockets and waited. "Fucking apolo-...I'm s..or." He said and looked away. I can tell he's never done shit like this before. I smiled. "Speak the fuck up." I ordered and he gave me a look.

"I'm.." he licked his lips. "Sorry." He shrugged. "Mm. I'm not taking that. Tomorrow, you better have an apology waiting to come out of that mouth or I'm gon force one out of you. Goodnight." Before he could open that mouth of his, I walked away and went back inside of the club, ICE right behind me.

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The next night I walked into the club before the customers were let in and seen the staff present. I haven't seen the guy from last night or the woman yet and i should've gotten their name, stupid me. "Dante." I heard a voice snap me out of my thoughts. I looked behind me to see Janice, my sister in-law. "Hello beautiful," I smiled and she rolled her eyes.

"Leave that for my sister," she punched my arm and we hugged. "Oh, I will." We both laughed. "How's the club going, I just got back in town last week and had my first meeting here yesterday," I said and she nodded. "Fine. I'm really grateful and thankful for you giving me management over this place. We packed every fucking night, I think they just love the bunny costumes." She laughed and I smiled

"Well, I mean who doesn't?" We both laughed again and talked some more before I noticed the man from last night walking in. "What's his name?" I pointed to him and Janice hummed. "Oh, he's the new hire. His first night was last night, you know I don't do hiring for at least six months but one of our great dancers recommended him to me and well," she shrugged. "He's here."

"Mm." I thought. "Why? You know him?" She asked curiously. "No.." I mumbled. "I'll be back." I said and she nodded and went to do her own thing. I walked to the bar and took a seat. He was too busy putting stuff up to notice me yet. "I'd like a drink please." I tapped my fingers on the counter and he finally turned around.

"Sorry no cus- oh. You." He said and put whatever he was doing down. "Yeah, me. Got that apology ready now?" I asked and he sighed, rubbing his temples. He shrugged. "You must not want this job." I threatened.

"Wait! No- I ...fuck...I'm so..sorry." He said and looked away. "Hm." He has a lot of pride, I see. "Okay." I said and got up. "Okay what? I still have my job?" He asked me. I lifted up the number one, "You disrespect me one more time or even get into some shit at this club, you'll leave." I said and his face dropped.

"But i apologized.." he said. "Apologies doesn't fix everything. One more time." I said and left.

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Sorry I've been taking long guys, stuff been happening like fr but it's only in my school life😭 but it's still...yeah, anyways. Hope yall liked this chapter.