DAMIEN: Book 2 of The De Luca Brothers Series [COMPLETED]

7:

I unbox the small, touch screen phone and smile at my accomplishment. My parents didn't buy this for me, nor did any relatives, or I didn't get anybody's money; no, I paid for it. Grinning, I switch it on dressed in lingerie underneath a pair of shorts and a hoodie. As the logo pops up, I eagerly put it on charge before making myself dinner. Half an hour later, after cleaning up and sorting out my phone I'm out of the house, locking the door behind me with my rucksack on my back. Rushing to the club, excitement bubbles in my chest as I think about what I want to do: another date. To get to know each other, not think about the baby, see if we're compatible.

Walking into the club, I wave at Roger before moving backstage, preparing myself to dance on one of the island poles apart from the main stage. Curling my hair and applying makeup, I smile before turning to leave, only to bump into Gufo.

"Hi you! I just got a phone and—"

"Why would you do that to me?" He accuses, voice laced in malice and pain.

"Sorry?"

"How could you? Seriously, I thought I knew who you were, turns out I'm wrong," he mutters, eyes flashing.

"Sorry? What did I—"

"You know what you did wrong, I get it, we're not dating but have some fucking dignity before you go off with someone else."

"Huh?"

"Nathanial."

"He's a friend- Wait, how did you even—"

"And why did you sign yourself up for the brothel?"

"Will you stop interrupting me!" I snap. "I didn't sign myself up, there has to be some kind of mistake. As for Nathanial, he was helping me out today because I was in an angry mood and he was just genuinely curious about our date. Now let me ask you a question: how did you know about him?"

The muscle on his jaw ticks as he doesn't meet my eyes, instead finding the dressing room incredibly interesting.

"Gufo..." I growl.

"Fine, I was watching over you okay?"

"But I didn't see you," I mumble in confusion. "I would have seen you."

He groans and runs his fingers through his hair, "I-I hacked the CCTV footage so I can make sure you're safe. I was worried that people saw you and I together, so thought that by taking you would be a way to get to me. I'm sorry for breaking your privacy, I'm sorry for having a go at you when I didn't know the full story, but please don't be mad at—"

"Gufo," I breathe. "It's fine."

"—me because I don't want to lose you, huh? You're not angry? You're not threatening to castrate me, de-ball me and make me eat them roasted?" He rushes out, words tripping over one another.

I laugh a whole hearted laugh, "Of course, you were just protecting me like you promised. I was thinking, would you like to go on another date with me? This time I'm picking the place; no fancy restaurants, no dressing up, just you and I."

"Holy shit yes," he blurts and engulfs me in a hug. I squeal as he twirls me around and another laugh escapes my lips. Alien to this weird jolly feeling, a fake cough and send him a faux death glare. His eyes sparkle as he sets me down, pecking me on the cheek before pausing. "Wait, if you didn't sign up for the brothel, then who did that to you?"

"I don't know but I need to talk to my boss," I mutter, readjusting myself in the lingerie.

"Did I mention you look ravishing?" He asks me, slapping my ass in a joking manor.

"Smack my ass again and I will castrate you," I point an accusing finger. "And baby? I know I look good. You don't need to tell me."

"Yes ma'am," he mumbles as we walk out into the seating area where he departs to his usual booth and I walk up the steps to Celine. Knocking twice, she calls me in, waiting patiently at her desk, "How can I help?"

"I didn't sign myself up for the brothel," I begin. "Someone else did that, not me."

She raises a perfectly arched brow and freezes me in her icy blue gaze, "Is that so? Well, you see I'm at an inconvenience because you have been our most booked employee tonight."

My heart stops, "Sorry?"

"I said—"

"No, Celine I-I can't do it, you know I won't be able to manage it. I'm pregnant! Plus, I took your advice and the father and I are currently working things out. Celine, please you can't make me do this!"

She pauses and I can see the cogs turning in her head, "If you find me the person who accused you, then I'll promptly fire them for endangering one of their own. Can you accomplish that for me?"

"Yes," I nod. "I can. Give me half an hour and I'll have proof. What about the men?"

"Refunds I presume."

"Thank you! Thank you so much—"

"Clocks ticking."

"Oh! Okay. Where does a person sign up?"

"At the bar."

Roger. "Thanks again." Running down the steps, a barrel into the man of accusation and give him a death glare. His brows raise in surprise, however I spot a person behind him, a scrawny boy with a very obvious boner. "Who's he?"

"Oh, that's Carl."

I brush past Roger and grab Carl by the scruff of his neck, wrenching him to look me dead in the eye; thank God for heels. "Got anything to tell me Carl?"

His eyes blink wide and his Adam's Apple bobs up and down, "N-no. I don't know who you are."

"Crow. Ring a bell?"

His brows furrow, "You're not Crow."

"Hell yes I am, just ask Celine right now or else I'll puncture your ballsack before stabbing you on the eyes for being so blind."

"Fucking hell. What messed you up?"

"Baby, you have no idea," I hiss. "Can you point out fake Crow for me? It'd be really kind of you."

His eyes flash as he rapidly searches the club before they land on a certain blond with a pixie cut, "Her."

"Brilliant, now run up to Celine as I go deal with the hoe." He nods furiously before dashing upstairs. I roll my shoulders back, crack my fingers and prepare for a major catfight. I step out from behind the bar, grab a random guys beer mid stride, continuing to her little island she's swirling on. Gufo catches my eye and he instantly stands up, going to intervene with me, however I slip beneath his arm and flick the beverage onto her, causing the pole to become slippy and her ass to fall on the stage.

She lets out an enraged scream, looking at me in shock, "YOU LITTLE BI—"

"Bitch? Really? Says the gal who signed me up after pretending to be me, almost ruined my date and just genuinely pissed me off."

She scoffs, "Please. He's just using you, pretending your special so he can use your vagina. What the two of us have is real. You're just in the way."

"Real?" I laugh. "Honey, not only are you deaf but you're dumb as well. Gufo doesn't even know your name, do you?"

Honestly, the look on his face is genuine confusion as he tries to place her face, "Emerald?"

"It's Sapphire," she whimpers.

"Sapphire no longer. Meghan, get out of my club," Celine commands, her voice void of emotion but booming nevertheless.

Meghan's shoulders sag and she nods, getting up and jumping off of the stage. She collides her shoulder into mine and I stumble into Gufo, his arms wrapping around my waste. I sigh happily, loving the feeling of his arms that are so warm and perfect.

"Don't think you're out of the way," Celine snaps me out of it. "You're cleaning up this island, like hell I'm having a sticky stage."