1 Month Later

Winter POV

Another uneventful movie night with Ryland and Rusty as me sighing in boredom as I check the time on my phone. It’s only 10 o’clock and I’m sure Noé and Harley are still having dinner or whatever date Harley planned for them. Noé has been coming home late almost every night since Reggie disbanded the mafia.

Like me, Ryland and Rusty have no idea what to do with this sudden free time. Most of our days are wasted smoking, eating, watching TV, or taking one of Ryland’s stupid suggestions. It was cool while I was healing but now that I’m all healed, I’ve been beyond bored.

Milo and I haven’t talked at all, Harley tried to cover for him saying he was busy working. However, in my ennui; a word I learned when I read the dictionary, I saw the mafia tabloids. He’s been going on dates. Once I saw the news, I stashed all of his “get well” gifts he supposedly gave me when he visited every day, deep in the closet.

I’m not upset with him but I’d rather not invest more time and effort if this is how it’ll be. He can date who he wants, but ignoring me is just damn rude.

Sighing again, I lean back into the couch, turning my phone in my hand. The sound prompts the guys to pause the movie and look at me.

“Are you alright?” Ryland is the first to speak as he looks at me like I have 2 heads.

“Seriously, that’s like the 10th time you’ve sighed like that tonight.” Rusty lights a blunt as I sigh again, looking at the message from Noé saying she’ll bring me dessert.

“I’m bored.” Rusty nods in agreement, passing me the blunt which I hit before giving it to Ryland.

“I could get into some shit. Nothing too crazy but where we can still get fucked up.” We all fall silent as we smoke, before Ryland snaps a devious smile on his face.

“I know the perfect place.”

“Oh yeah? Where?” I raise my brow in agreed skepticism as we stare at Ryland who stands from the loveseat.

“A strip club.”

“Hell yeah” Rusty jumps open from the couch and they slap hands while I stare uninterested.

“A strip club, really?”

“Yeah, it’ll get your mind off your phone. Unless you have a better idea.” I guess I wouldn’t mind getting Milo and Noé off of my mind for a few hours. Shaking my head the guys cheer and we start pre-gaming before going to the strip club.

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I roll my eyes as Rusty pulls up to Milo’s strip club. Of all of the clubs in the city, of course Ryland picks this one. Granted nobody knows that this club is owned by the Malone’s but it is. So are a lot of other businesses I didn’t know had ties to the mafia.

So much for getting him out of my head. I’m not upset, just irritated that I considered him a friend. I don’t give a damn if he’s dating but I liked our conversations. He was always easy to talk to, but I’m not one to wallow. I’m just going to enjoy myself tonight.

My tipsy eyes dance around my surroundings appreciatively before I snicker. We stick out like sore thumbs in our jeans and sweatpants while everybody else is dressed in luxury. The guys immediately head toward the main stage while I go to the crowded bar. It takes a while but I finally manage to snag a seat and get the bartender’s attention.

“What are you drinking tonight?”

“Shots, Don Julio.” He nods and begins fixing my drink as the cheers sound throughout the club. They’re moderate but respectful, telling me this must be the 3rd most popular stripper here.

“Thanks, keep em coming” the bartender nods, starting my tab while I look towards the stage. After a few minutes of watching I turn back around, uninterested. I should’ve just gone to a bar. After 2 shots, I suck on a lime and take out my phone, going to my messages.

Still nothing.

I switch to the tabloid that loves to follow Milo and see that he’s gone back home. I thought we were close enough to at least say bye to each other.

Maybe he thinks I’m weak since I got shot or something. Then why bring so much shit to me in the hospital? It doesn’t matter, if Harley is leaving tomorrow I can send all the gifts with her. I roll my eyes at the unstoppable curiosity and irritation bubbling up in my belly.

I shouldn’t even care. My job as an escort is over. I should be grateful that I don’t have to deal with a family like the Malone’s. Shaking my head clear of thoughts of Milo and downing 2 more shots I put my hazy focus on the stage.

The cheers increase but the anticipation is still buzzing in the air as it gets closer to midnight. When the club is the fullest and the high rollers arrive, the head stripper will make her appearance on stage. Everyone is so invested and interested, but for me, it just brings back memories I’d rather not remember.

The stripper leaves and I shake my head, turning back to the bar getting flooded with customers as I light a joint. The shit I have is no comparison to what Milo gave me and no matter how much I asked he refused to tell me his supplier. Now the asshole is gone and I can’t even ask him.

The lights dim and the DJ announces that the highlight of the club is about to take the stage. Whoops, hollers, and cheers erupt befitting of the main money maker. She comes onto the stage and begins her set.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

She’s talented, beautiful, not Noé level but decent with a body that has the bills pouring in by the hundreds. She clearly practices and dedicates herself to her craft judging by the way she’s dancing and maneuvering herself on the pole. She’s good at her job, but I’m still completely uninterested. Even in my drunken state I can’t find her appealing.

With a dejected sigh, I turn back to the bar, putting my attention on the drugs, alcohol, and my dry ass phone. I do my best to smoke, look at my phone, and pour myself another drink but the slow shift in the room makes it difficult.

“I’ve never seen someone look so uninterested in a strip club.” The bartender that I didn’t notice in my struggle, grabs the bottle from me, pouring me a shot before tucking the bottle away.

“Strippers aren’t really my type.” They just remind me of my mother, who at the moment, is the last person I want on my mind. The biggest kicker was finding out she’s married to Maria Bailey. She used her wife to check up on me but never brought me home, instead my mom is living her life like she doesn’t have a kid. So I’d rather act like the mother I knew is dead, she wasn’t the best, but at least she wasn’t a coward.

“So why come to a strip club?” The bartender has a little laugh as I make a wobbly turn, pointing a drunken finger at the other 2 drunk idiots I came with. Ryland is arguing with security about getting on stage and Rusty is ignoring security as he makes out with a stripper on his lap. Soon enough Milo’s security is storming over trying to make sense of the 2 drunk idiots.

“I can see why you guys are friends, you all seem like a handful.” I shrug, paying my tab and standing from the bar.

“Thanks for the drinks Darryl” I squint my blurry eyes at his name tag as he shakes his head.

“It’s Darren.”

“It should be Darryl” He laughs and excuses himself to serve the sudden rush of customers. Ryland and Rusty draw the attention of mostly everyone as they begin fighting and arguing with security and the guys around them. More security, the manager, and the bouncers come over and I use the opportunity to do a little exploring of my own. I stick to the shadows in the hall, hiding whenever a guard passes by.

I know that Milo owns the club in secret, but I’m sure he has an office here somewhere. He’s too controlling not to have one in all of his businesses. After walking through what feels like a dark, quiet maze I finally come to oak doors.

Bingo.

I open the door, uncaring of all the potential security risks, closing it softly behind me. It’s black, wood, gold and, luxurious, beautifully furnished and looks unused. Aside from a few aesthetic pieces, there’s nothing in here. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I answer absentmindedly as I look around Milo’s office.

“Winter, are you in Milo’s office?” Harley’s voice floods my ears as I test out the softness of his couch.

“Mhm, this couch is nice, I don’t really like the green though.” I get up and walk around the expansive office before going to sit behind the desk.

“You shouldn’t be in there. Milo is on his way.” I hum as I kick my feet up on the pristine expensive wooden desk.

“I thought he went back home.”

“I told you to stop reading those tabloids. Now come home, I got dessert for you.” Noé’s voice reaches my ears and I swivel in the chair, noticing a brown box tucked onto the shelf.

“Mm, I need a ride, I’m pretty fucking drunk right now.”

“What about Rusty and Ryland?”

“Drunk and they got kicked out, they probably left.”

“I told you going out with them is nothing but trouble. Where are you at? We’ll come get you?”

“It’s alright, Milo just arrived, he can bring her home.” Harley’s voice cuts through as I open the box, smirking at the box of cigars. Sniffing one I immediately notice that this isn’t just any cigar, it’s filled with the weed Milo wouldn’t share.

“I’ll find my own way home. I don’t need nor want anything else from Milo Malone.”

“I’d believe that if you hadn’t broken into my office. What the fuck do you think you’re doing in here without my permission? And stealing from me, I’ve killed men for less.” Milo’s voice floods into the room as he slams the door closed. I don’t turn right away.

I was getting him off my mind and now he just pops up. This guy…

“It’s not stealing if I pay for it.” The phone call is forgotten but I don’t hang up, ready to call Noé to rescue me if needed. He’s Milo Malone after all, he can kill me right here if he wants too and nobody would be able to do shit about it. However, I’m not scared of Milo, even without us talking I have a feeling he won’t do a damn thing to me.

I can see it in his eyes, he’s not mad or upset, if anything he’s amused.

“Those aren’t for sale.”

“Of course they are, you run a mafia, all of your drugs are for sale. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be a very rich mafia.” I say the words in a duh tone as I finally turn in the chair, resting my arms and the box on the desk. He’s dressed in a white button down with black lightning bolts with nothing but the last 3 buttons done, black dress pants and shoes. His curls are neatly resting against his forehead, looking as soft as I remember.

He is as attractive as ever but unfortunately for him, that’s not enough for me to forget that he was ignoring me. He keeps his eyes on me as he rounds the desk and I don’t dare back down, not when he’s in front of me or leaning down to reach around me.

Milo makes slow work of grabbing the box. His eyes shift to my lips so quickly I wouldn’t catch it if we weren’t so close. He deliberately leaves his lips inches away from my cheek before he stands with the box in hand. Sexy and appealing and still damn annoying. I’m not that easy.

“I’ll take you home.”

“I can get myself home well enough without you, but thanks.”

“Winter-”

“You can go back to ignoring me now.” I stand from the desk and step around him, making my way to the door. Checking my phone I see that Harley and Noé are still on the phone.

“I was working, Winter.”

“Mhm, I was told. Noé, I’ll be home soon.” I take a deep breath to try to compose and straighten my wobbly steps but I can barely see straight, let alone walk without leaning.

“Just let me help you, it’s not safe for you to go out this drunk.” I snicker, opening the door glancing back at Milo who’s insistent on following me.

“I’ve been worse in more dangerous places, Milo. I can take care of myself.” I damn near walk into the door as I turn around, but I catch myself in time, hearing him snicker behind me. Rolling my eyes, I begin my walk through the maze back to the main part of the club. It takes longer than before and I’m sure I go in 4 circles but I finally manage to get outside.

“You can stop following me now.”

“I told you, I’m taking you home.”

“And I told you that I don’t want to be around you, Milo. You can’t just come in and out of my life at your convenience. I deal with that shit from my parents. I don’t need nor want that shit from you too.”

“I’m sorry-”

“I don’t want to hear it Milo, frankly I came here to get you out of my head and you’re ruining that.” His smirk spreads as he steps closer, uncaring about the attention being drawn to us. Mainly by the women.

How popular is this damn guy anyway?

“You were thinking about me.”

“Ugh, don’t you have a date you should be on?”

“Winter-”

“Fuck off, Milo.” I can hear gasps from the nosy bystanders but I don’t care. If he wants to ignore me for a month, he can stay ignoring me. Work my ass, if he was working he could’ve sent a message himself rather than having Harley play messenger.

He stares stunned, probably because nobody dares to tell him to do some shit like that, but liquid courage fuels me. I’m not going to be like the rest of these thirsty girls fawning over him. At the end of the day, I have Noé and Milo needs to know that I’m not that easy.