She became part of the underworld.
CHAPTER 15
It was astounding what people perceived as music. Inéz frowned as she came into the nightclub. The loud sounds irritated her as usual. She was never the type to spend time in places like this partying with friends. It just wasn’t her scene. Rather, the opposite of that. However, this time it wasn’t her choice to go to the club, but Noah’s. He needed her to get the job as soon as possible, and even though Inéz still wasn’t ready, there was no way she could refuse her Capo.
Ever since his Capodecina was killed a week ago, he had been in a really foul mood. Everything always came down to business these days and finding Lynette, and Inéz couldn’t be sure they didn't blurred into the same thing. After flying out for the funeral, the man developed the habit to go out early in the morning, and come back at night. Isaac and Drew were in the Famiglia’s gym a lot, so her only company seemed to be Cristian when she was home, and Nicodemo when they were training. It was only yesterday when Noah decided to wake her up in the middle of the night to tell her that she was going to go to Gastone’s nightclub and ask for the job. According to the Capo, they couldn’t wait any longer. The Capodecina was getting bolder and more untamed.
Inéz leaned against the bar, watching the DJ playing. Girls were dancing on the stage in the tiniest clothes she’d ever seen. Soon enough she would be up there too if everything went well. She had half a mind to leave this place and run as fast as she could.
"Hi," shouted the bartender, making her turn around. "Do you want a drink?"
Julian Herdes was a tall dark-haired man of twenty-five years of age with a cunning smile that probably worked wonders on many girls. He bartended here each night and went to college in the morning.
She had done her homework, and couldn’t imagine anyone she didn’t know by now. Each worker had been religiously memorized at least a few times. Noah’s files had contained more than a handful of information and nothing seemed to be omitted from the notes. Almost as if he had them followed.
Inéz shook her head. "Can you point me to your manager?" she asked, smiling slightly.
"Thinking of working here?"
"Yes. I am new in town and could really use the money. I heard dancers here earn quite well,"she said.
Julian laughed, probably thinking that she was cut out more for a waitress job, rather than a dancer. And she couldn’t blame him at all. One look at her and everyone would come to the same conclusion.
She was wearing a long-sleeved baby blue dress with small, white dots. Not something you could see girls often wearing in such a place. But that was what she wanted to wear for the night.
If she was to step up her game later as a pole dancer, this could possibly be the last time she would be able to be herself in this nightclub. At least to some extent. She intended to make the best of it.
"Ifyou really want to be a dancer, you don’t talk to the manager, but the owner himself," he stated.
Of course, Inéz already knew that, however, she wasn’t supposed to. And as she was focused on staying alive, there was no room for a slip-up. As a new girl in Las Vegas, she didn’t necessarily have to know who the owner was and that he was the one to cast dancers.
"He is sitting in the last booth on the right side of the main stage. Go introduce yourself, sweetheart." The bartender smirked and returned to his work.
"Thanks," Inéz shouted through the music, seeing as the man moved on to a new customer. He nodded his head.
Even though getting to the other side of the dance floor was quite a challenge with all the people there, it wasn’t that long of the way to the earlier-pointed booth. However, Inéz could swear that she managed to change her mind at least ten times during the walk. She found herself wishing someone was there to keep her calm at least. But no one could be seen anywhere near her or the whole plan would go down the drain. Noah assured her that she was safe and he would make sure of it but didn’t explain how he could make such a promise. Was someone watching her after all? And if so, would they act if she was in danger?
Her heart skipped a beat, and she stopped in from of the booth where there were four men sitting. Gastone, Alberto and two younger men who were just two years older than her. Twins - Elio and Fabro. They were Gastone’s sons and already initiated Made Men. The men looked at her curiously in a silent question as to why she was there.
"The bartender told me that you’re the person to speak with if I want a job as a dancer," she said, trying to appear calm which was as far from the truth as it was possible. But thankfully, neither of them seemed to catch on to it. They looked as shocked as Julian had a few minutes before. Inéz fought off rolling her eyes.
One of the twins shamelessly checked her out and smirked, nodding his head. "What’s your name, doll?"
Why did every man in the Famiglia keep giving her nicknames? For that alone, they deserved a punch to the face.
Again, she swallowed down her pride, meeting the man’s eyes. "Layla," she answered.
Her new identity was properly designed, to give her a better chance at success. The Capodecina was going to do a background check on the girl, so Isaac had
