Dangerous Desires: Mafia Hearts, #2

Chapter One

The sun beat down on the city of Las Vegas as the cicada bugs buzzed in the palm trees looming over the Sunny Towers pay-by-the-week apartment complex. Music blared from at least one neighbor’s apartment and children screamed as they ran across the parking lot below. Mia Aveni hadn’t pictured this type of set-up when leaving Florida for what she considered her land of dreams. Her heart sank as she stepped into the shabby apartment she’d just rented, and reminded herself that accomplishing what she’d set out to do would make going through this worth living one more month in this shithole.

Her mother had kept her in places like this after Dad had died. He’d had bigger goals for them. Mia would carry those on in his place. However, unlike him, she would conquer and then live the success.

Her gaze quickly scanned over the furnished living room. A bright floral couch sat diagonally in the corner with a coffee table complete with cigarette burns on the top positioned in front. Off to the left side of the room was a round dining room table with enough room to comfortably sit two. A pot of fake flowers decorated the top of the table. One landscape painting hung on the wall closest to the table. She didn’t need to look at the bedroom to know it was as unappealing as the main part of the apartment. She pressed the toe of her dress shoe against the suitcase to slide it farther in the room and walked back out, locking the door behind her. She would have more than enough time in that disastrous space she now called home.

Her heels clicked across the cement walkway toward the stairs. To make the entire place even grander, she’d been granted an apartment on the third floor of the gaudy pink structure. She ran down the first set of stairs and started past a bleached-blond stick of a woman locking her front door. She moved a few more steps.

New here? asked Mia’s new neighbor.

Just arrived to the city. I live up there. She motioned toward the upper floor.

Nice to meet you. Name’s Candace, but my friends call me Candy. Candy placed her well-manicured hand in the palm of Mia’s for a quick shake. Why Vegas? And where ya headed?

Mia didn’t want to take the time to explain her life story or anything else about herself for that matter. She’d emptied her savings to come here and that would only cover her expenses for a little while. Money wouldn’t be an issue once she was employed at a temporary place to get her by long enough before she started working her way up the ladder of her chosen career. And in order to do that, she needed to find her childhood friend, Sebastian Nicoletti. I need a job. I just climbed off the bus and now I’m hitting the pavement.

Candy nodded her head as if she totally understood. I’ve been there.

How long have you been in town? Surely the woman hadn’t been here long if she still lived in this dump.

Two years. Hey, I’m headed in to work right now. Want to tag along? I might be able to help you land your first job here. She shrugged. I can point you in the right direction and you can tell them Candy sent you in.

Anything was better than nothing until she found Sebastian. She’d even change shitty diapers in a daycare center as long as the pay covered the bills. Once she found Sebastian, her world would change. Sure. What do you do?

Waitress in a casino, what else? She gave a friendly laugh as they ran down the last flight of stairs. And we are always hiring.

Mia giggled. Is that a good thing?

It is for you right now. The other good part is that I bet you don’t have a car and the casino is just a few blocks away. She cocked her head toward the complex. The location is why I keep living in this dump. It isn’t so bad once you get used to the place.

The job prospect sent a ripple of relief through her gut. Good thing she had freshened up in the bus station bathroom during the last layover before heading to Vegas. Candy, you’ve just become my new best friend.

Good to know. Candy giggled. I need one of those.

Mia led the way down the remaining flight of stairs and waited for her new friend to show her to the casino. Hopefully, this girl wasn’t trying to sell Mia a bullshit story and Mia would land the job. Waitressing ran in her blood. Her daddy had owned a Vegas restaurant until she’d turned thirteen and then her mother had taken her away, but Mia had landed her first job in a restaurant in Florida at age sixteen. She could waitress blindfolded. Sweat bubbled on her forehead as she hurried down the sidewalk beside Candy. Damn, it was hot already.

So what do you do for fun? Candy asked, her designer bag swinging between them.

Fun? She didn’t know. Back in Florida she’d been so focused on prepping for Las Vegas. That included toning down her body and learning some martial arts. Her goals certainly had consumed her entire life. I just got here. I haven’t figured that out yet.

Back home?

I worked a lot and hung out with friends once in a while. By friends, she meant her mother, but Candy didn’t need to know how sheltered Mia had been. She’d spent most of her life moving from one tourist town to another, her days spent working and her evenings with her mom at the movies or well-populated attractions. Her mom always made it seem like the more people at an event, the easier it would be to hide.

They rounded the corner and merged with the throng of people on The Las Vegas Strip. People were everywhere and dressed in every type of fashion from tourist wear to business suits. Alcoholic drinks were cradled in hands even though it was before noon and cameras hung from straps around necks. Yep, she’d finally arrived in Vegas... The place she’d planned on returning to for ten years.

It’s just right up there, Candy said, pointing a pink glittery nail in the direction of a tall building. A long driveway wound in front. Palm trees and a giant fountain with a nude woman statue made of what appeared to be glass smiled down as visitors passed. A large sign welcomed them to Crystal Hearts Casino.

We need to go around back where the employee entrance is. I’ll introduce you to my manager and don’t tell any of the other employees you were juiced into your job.

Um, juiced? Mia eyed her friend. What the hell did that mean? It certainly didn’t sound pleasant.

Yeah, juiced. It means that you got the job because you know someone in the biz. Don’t tell anyone. People will hate you from the start. Understand?

Mia only nodded as she scurried behind Candy through some gates and down another walkway, free of the crowds. Another turn and they entered a set of double doors marked for employees only.

After a quick introduction to a man who talked fast and whose name Mia couldn’t remember, he asked her a series of questions like if she had her alcohol handler’s card and one for food safety, had her fill out an application first and then a series of forms, and finally shook her hand.

I will offer you the job, but I’m going to warn you that Candy doesn’t keep your job here. Your good work does. I don’t have a work schedule right now, but you’ll be working the extra board. That means you are on call. If anyone calls in sick, you work their shift. Working a shift isn’t an option. Morning, noon, or night. Tell me no to doing a shift, you’re done here. Got it? He twisted his goatee as he stared at her, waiting for her response.

Yes, sir, she said. Not knowing and not being prepared for these kinds of conditions made her uneasy. But she needed a job quickly, so she said, Sounds fantastic.

And you’ll be working with another waitress during your first week. I hope you learn fast, Ms. Aveni. This isn’t the average ma and pop restaurant you’re used to.

I understand. She smiled as she started filling out the forms.

She had to leave out the fact about her dad being the former owner of one of Las Vegas’ up and coming restaurants when she’d been young. Yeah, she hadn’t been old enough to actually be an employee, but her parents had been there so much that she’d tagged along to have some time with them. When things got busy, she’d jumped in to help wherever she could. After that, she’d stayed at touristy locations around Florida. True, most places had Ma and Pa restaurant names, but they were anything but that. The crowds during the tourist season caused an hour wait for tables. She could handle a crowd. Actually, Mia Aveni could handle anything. That’s the reason why she’d returned to Vegas. Her strength and determination was stronger than her father’s past.

***

Sebastian walked by the human resource department of his casino, glancing through the glass door. There she sat. Long, wavy blond hair. Nice face, cute lips, slender shoulders, the perfect handful-sized breasts, and then the best part—long, tanned legs barely covered by her skirt. He was in heaven and he didn’t even know her name yet. But she was meeting with Georgie Ryan, which meant she was applying for a job.

He went to the HR’s secretary’s desk located in the adjacent office. Good afternoon, Mrs. Lemson. Can you call Mr. Ryan out here for me, please?

Her cheeks flushed. It wasn’t every day that Sebastian, the owner of this casino, walked into H.R. Yes, sir. Right away.

He waited as she buzzed Georgie Ryan’s office and informed him of the request. She listened for a minute before lowering her hand over the mouth piece of the phone. He says he is almost done with a new hire. He is requesting ten minutes.

Sebastian folded his hands across his waist. He’d never been a patient man. Now. I’ll meet him in the conference room.

Mrs. Lemson gave Georgie Ryan his instructions before hanging up.

A second after Sebastian stepped into the large room, Mr. Ryan hurried in.

You wanted to see me, Mr. Nicoletti?

Sebastian nodded. Tell me about the new hire.

Yes, sir. Candace Gentry brought her in.

What’s the new hire’s name?

Georgie Ryan took deep breaths, probably to calm his nerves. Aveni. Mia Aveni. Is there a problem, sir? Should I tell her we don’t need her after all?

Sebastian shrugged. What position did you hire her for?

She applied to be a cocktail waitress, but honestly, we don’t have a spot open right now. I put her on the extra board. It should be at least a week or two before I get her a regular schedule.

Sebastian had an itch he needed to scratch and couldn’t find a way around that personal problem if he didn’t know when the woman would be working. An extra board worker didn’t have any type of schedule structure. How the hell did he expect to find her? He certainly couldn’t walk up to her, stick his hand out, and declare his intent to wine and dine her. Then grow bored with her only to end it. Well, he was Sebastian Nicoletti so he could do that but doing so was in poor taste.

I want her on stage in the showroom. Hook her up with Fifi for her training.

Georgie fingered his goatee. What if she doesn’t want to work in the showroom, sir? Some girls aren’t cut out for that line of work. No auditions or anything? Fifi and Margo are going to be pissed.

Except this is my casino and I make the decisions here.

Georgie’s forehead and the tips of his ears reddened. Yes, sir.

Call my office if she doesn’t want the job. I’ll handle it myself at that point. And then he’d just have to go with plan B, introducing himself. Either way, Sebastian wanted Mia so badly. Sebastian always got whatever Sebastian wanted.

***

That evening Mia didn’t believe where she was at. Yes, she’d hoped to get a job at the Crystal Hearts Casino, but really? A show girl? She had zero dancing experience and didn’t even know if she had any ability to dance at all. She didn’t have high hopes for herself. Maybe they would’ve realized their error if they’d had her audition. That manager had returned from the meeting he’d been called out to during her hiring appointment and came back with a bigger offer. A show girl trainee. The manager had explained that a girl had quit the show without notice and Mia fit the role. He kept twisting his stupid black goatee and wouldn’t look her in the eye as he spewed his flimsy story. Oh well. This position paid a lot more and provided a regular pay check, something she could rely on while she searched for Sebastian. And hopefully after finding him, things would be smooth sailing from there. She wouldn’t need to show off her goodies in front of tourists and rich locals for long. She wouldn’t need to live in that shit-dive of an apartment with her bad neighbors. Nope. No more poor, struggling Mia.

You’re a little early. The show doesn’t start for a half an hour, a short brunette with no name tag said as she scurried down the aisle between rows of seats.

I’m supposed to report to Fifi. My name is Mia Aveni.

The woman slowly nodded, her bobbed hair swishing around the edges of her thin face. Oh. The new girl! Come with me. My name is Margo. She didn’t waste any time hurrying down the center aisle toward the stage, leading Mia past the seats and then tables sectioned off by red velvet ropes. They stepped off the carpeted floor and onto some cement painted black directly in front of the stage. Fifi is helping the girls get ready in the back, Margo called over her shoulder. I shouldn’t be surprised that you’re a show girl. You’ve got a killer body.

Thanks, Mia said, wondering how Margo could tell. She figured she’d have to change as soon as she arrived, so she wore a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Neither were form fitting or showed off her legs.

Margo pushed a door next to the stage open and stepped through. Hurry, she said, her voiced echoing down the hallway. Mia followed, squinting at the change in the light’s brightness. Gone were the low lights and deep shadows. They walked down the long hallway and stopped outside of a door that read ‘dressing room’. Mia gulped down the ball of nervousness clogged in her throat.

Here we are. Just to warn you, it’s a zoo in there and the girls can be really bitchy right before the show. They are great outside of this room. I promise.

Oh, that made things better. Mia’s sigh was well hidden under the chaos that erupted when Margo opened the door. Ten or so beautiful women stood in front of lit mirrors with their names stenciled across the top. The group was in various degrees of nudity. Some with only a few rhinestones pasted on their body while others were dressed in full costume. The rest were somewhere in the middle.

Where’s Fifi? Margo called out.

A woman putting on giant fake lashes made of feathers pointed with her free hand to the far end of the room where racks of clothes hung.

Fifi, Margo’s looking for you, another woman called over the noise of the room. With her chubby, round face, the woman didn’t look more than fifteen. Even with that feature, she still had a shapely figure. Large boobs, thin waist, and an apple-shaped butt.

I don’t have any time for more bullshit. Can’t you guys see that? a gruff voice called out from behind the rack of clothes. I need a waitress. Blanca quit an hour ago. Said she’s pregnant and doesn’t need a job now. Such bullshit!

Margo stepped up to the rack of clothes and peeked around a sequined halter. New girl alert.

Someone shoot me now! A body followed the voice coming out from behind the glittery garments. A tall, plump woman with equally big hair held her hands on her hips. So you’re the new girl?

Yes.

What job did they assign you? Fifi asked.

Showgirl.

Damn. I need a cocktail waitress.

Mia held out her hand. Mia Aveni.

Fifi stared at Mia’s outstretched hand for a moment before switching her gaze back to Mia’s face. This isn’t an office and I don’t give a crap-shoot about your hand. Hold your arms up so I can get a good look at you.

Mia did as she was told. Heat creeped over Mia’s cheeks as she let Fifi’s hands wander over her face, down her neck, across her breasts and down to her toes. Once Fifi finished the front side of Mia, she instructed Mia to turn around for a back view.

You need to be fitted and learn the choreography. But tonight you’ll be my cocktail waitress. Fifi snatched a skimpy outfit off a hanger and tossed it at Mia.

Mia smiled. Being a cocktail waitress fit right into her line of experience. I can do that. Where can I change? She glanced around for a dressing room, but when a woman three feet away from Mia pulled her top down, she decided that she’d have to change right here, too.

Fifi cocked her head at the vanity station on the very end of the wall. The mirror was the only one without a name written across the top. That’ll be yours. Either clean the area yourself or wait for me. If you wait for me to do anything for you it might never get done. You can write your name on the glass later. Only use your dressing station and never ever touch anything on someone else’s. Got it?

Okay, Mia nearly whispered as Fifi returned to whatever she’d been doing behind the rack of sparkly clothes.

She slid out of her jeans and scooted them to the side. First went the black spankies that hugged her ass cheeks. Then she twisted and pulled the very small black and silver top over her breasts. The cups made her boobs appear two sizes larger as they threatened to spill right out of her top. Last was a pair of heels that fit her perfectly. Yes, she had cocktail waitress experience but not dressed like this. Then checking out the women in front of her smacked her in the face with reality. She’d be nearly nude on a stage soon. Could she do it?

Then she remembered Sebastian and the need to be here. That outweighed all of her insecurities. She’d do anything to stay in Vegas. Even dance nude on a stage. She needed to find him.

Just as Mia was putting on the same shoes as she’d arrived in, Margo reappeared with a thick slip of paper in her hand. We need to get out to the showroom to seat customers. Here’s your time card.

Mia rushed out of the dressing room right behind Margo, who pointed at a door to the right and told her to punch the time clock. Smoothing her hands over her black spankies, she hurried toward the break room door. She had a total of five minutes to be completely ready for her shift to start, and on a Saturday evening in the showroom, that might be hard to do with the hordes of people and random customers clutching her arm to grab them a this-or-that. And being her first night, she had to focus on getting the routine down in a snap.

She hurried out into the hallway, made a sharp right, and pushed open the door to the casino’s showroom. The booming bass from No Sleep Till Brooklyn bounced her eardrums as people started filling the tables in the room. She rushed behind the counter to check in with Margo, who pointed to the far corner of the club where red velvet ropes sectioned off the small cluster of tables. The VIP area.