Lev: a Shot Callers novel (10 page)

Chapter Thirteen
Mina

It was Friday, and I’d officially been employed by Bleeding Hearts a week and a half. You couldn’t get the smile off my dial even if you tried. Over the past five days, I’d met every single employee, taking the time to find out a little about them without giving away too much about myself. When asked where I hailed from, I told the majority of the dancing girls that I moved around a lot as a kid, unknowingly earning myself the nickname Gypsy.

I understood that strippers didn’t have the best reputations, but the girls I met were lovely. All but one, of course.

A small Hispanic woman with big brown eyes, smooth skin the color of coffee, strong on the milk, and curves that made men lose their ever-loving minds sneered at me. They called her ChaCha. It was hard to be nice to ChaCha when she looked at you like you smelled of shit.

People heard the girls calling me by my new nickname, and then soon enough, the technical and security staff, bartenders, and even some patrons were calling me Gypsy.

I didn’t mind. It kind of gave me a sense of belonging. I mean, friends normally gave you nicknames, didn’t they?

It made my heart smile.

That is, until Anika told me that Russians did not think highly of gypsies, and looking down at me, eyes lowered sympathetically, stated that she’d tell everyone to stop calling me that.

Putting on my biggest, flashiest smile, I thanked her but told her not to bother, because I liked it.

Take that, Miss Prim and Proper.

As my mind eased into the job, so did my tension, and I was becoming a crowd favorite. People wanted the gypsy to host their bachelor parties and paid ridiculous amounts to have me wait on them exclusively.

I didn’t understand it, but I was sure it had something to do with what Nas taught me when she took me out for lunch yesterday.

The moment we sat down, she sat up straight and laid it out on the line. “We have to talk.”

“Yeah, about what?” My heart started to beat faster.

Part of me thought I was being fired and Lev didn’t have the balls to tell me himself. But what she said next just baffled me. “Don’t take this personally or nothing, okay? But I thought when you settled a little it would come out naturally, and now that I can see it’s not going to happen, I’m going to have to teach you.”

I sipped at my lemon water, running my fingers over the condensation on the outside of the glass. “Teach me what?”

She took off her glasses and grinned. “How to flirt.”

I blinked at her then snorted. “What for? It’s not like I’m looking for a boyfriend or anything.”

She sighed, and reaching up, she rubbed at her temples as if I were trying her patience. “Mina, you’re a bar bitch at a gentleman’s club.” She paused a moment. “I didn’t want to have to put the pressure on, but you’ve been booked to host a bachelor party on Saturday night.”

Momentarily stunned, I gaped. Then I sputtered, “W-what? Why me? Can’t Anika do it?
Make Anika do it
!”

Nas glared, speaking slowly through gritted teeth. “They don’t want Anika. They want the gypsy.” She leaned across the small café table to get into my face. “And they’re going to get the gypsy, or I’m going to kick the gypsy’s ass. You feel me?”

Sliding down in my chair, I whined, “I don’t want to. I’ll spill their drinks all over them. They’ll complain to Sasha, and then I’ll get fired.”

“You haven’t dropped a glass since your second day. You can balance a tray. You’re getting more orders filled than any of us expected of you. And you have the men captivated.” She pinned me with a sincere stare. “You’re doing great. Even Lev thinks so.”

Whining Mina vanishes as intrigued Mina appeared. “Really? He said that?”

“Yes, he said that, just this morning.” Her brow furrowed. “You two are living in the same house. What the heck do you guys talk about?”

I shrugged. “Not much.” I tilted my head in thought. “It’s almost like every time I try to start a conversation, he gets all weird on me.”

Nas’ expression shifted. She spoke quietly but defensively, “It’s not his fault, Mina. It’s just the way he is. I don’t expect you to understand, but trust me—he can’t help it.” She followed this with, “Don’t judge him. He’s not being rude; he just doesn’t know how to be social.”

I blinked at her protective tone. “I’m not judging him, Nas. I just have questions. Like, why won’t he talk to me about himself, and why the hell does he lock us into his bedroom at night?”

Nas sat back, her mouth agape. “You’re sleeping with him?”

“What?” I flushed and almost shouted, “No!” I huffed out an unimpressed laugh. “He doesn’t trust me not to steal from him, so he told me as long as I’m staying with him that we’ll be sleeping in the same room. I sleep in the bed, and he sleeps on the pullout.” She didn’t look convinced. I sipped at my water, my mouth suddenly dry. “I swear we’re not bumping uglies, Nas. I
swear
.”

A small smile graced her pretty face. “I honestly wouldn’t care if you were; it’s just that he doesn’t let anyone…” She faded out, shaking her head, suddenly smiling like a loon. “You have no idea how much of a big deal that is, Mina. But we don’t have time for that, so never mind.” She cleared her throat, sitting up straight. “Right, so, flirting one-oh-one with Nas has officially commenced.” She winked. “Take note, little Mina. Women would kill for the information I’m about to give you.”

Whining Mina was back. “I still don’t understand why I need to know this stuff.”

Then Nas said the magic words. “I guarantee your tips will triple.”

Well, that caught my attention. I listened intently.

She began. “Rule one: Lean in. Close the gap. You’re going to want to get close to the men you’re flirting with. Smile and give them your undivided attention. Don’t forget to make eye contact.” She leaned over the table and, smiling shyly, batted her lashes, touching my arm. “Slight touches are okay, just make it look like you couldn’t hear their order over the music. If they compliment you, lower your lashes and smile shyly. Men love the innocent types.”

That seemed straightforward. “Okay. That doesn’t sound too hard to remember.”

“Never—and I mean
never
—give your name on the first drink. It’ll keep them coming back for more and they’ll order again and again just to have a minute of your attention.” She went on, “I’d advise you to start calling yourself Gypsy from now on, sort of like a stage name. It has men thinking you’re all wild and free-spirited and shit.” I rolled my eyes and she scolded me. “Hey, these men are helping pay your wages.”

Oh, she didn’t need to tell me. I knew it, and I was beyond appreciative, but it kind of seemed like we were treating these men like they were stupid.

“If a guy gives you a solid tip, thank him, fold up the money, and put it in your bra right in front of him. It’s like putting on a little show for him. If he’s feeling generous and leaves a ridiculous tip, lean over the bar, grab his shirtfront into a tight fist, pull him close, and kiss his cheek real slow. Men go bananas for that crap.” I wasn’t sure I’d ever do that, but it was good to know. I listened intently as she explained the art of flirting. “Words of caution though: Don’t offer anything you’re not willing to give. You give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile. Don’t ever kiss a patron on the lips. He’ll take it as an invitation and possibly get grabby.” Her brows rose. “It won’t end well.”

I nodded. Yeah, I could see that ending badly.

Nas finished up just as our meals arrived. “And that concludes our lessons for the day.” She grinned, watching me eye my fettuccini Alfredo with avocado hungrily. “Eat up.”

I ate with gusto, and she chuckled as I moaned throughout my meal. When we were done, I groaned and clutched my belly. “Oh, God, I’m so full.” Then I laughed. “I never thought I’d hear myself say that.”

She smiled, jerking her chin toward me. “You’re looking a lot better.”

I rubbed my belly proudly. “Already gained four pounds this week.” Her lips pursed as if she were impressed. “Eighteen more to go to get to my regular weight.”

Her fond smile warmed me. “We’ll get there, Mina.”

She said it as if we were a team. As if she would see me through. Like we were more than associates. Like we were friends.

It rippled like a bang right in the center of my chest. I valued friendship, especially as I hadn’t had it in such a long time. I realized I was no longer alone, and no one would ever understand how humbling a feeling that was. Most would take it for granted.

I never would. From the bottom of my heart, I vowed it.

Saturday arrived and, aware I would be attending to eight rowdy men, I dressed accordingly.

I wore my tight blue jeans, a white gypsy blouse that showed a tiny amount of my belly flesh, and strappy, white, leather flat sandals. The blouse was thin cotton, long-sleeved, and decorated in navy blue embroider flowers. Nas had given me a headband she had bought but had never worn that she informed me was boho chic.

I didn’t know what boho chic was, but Nas swore it would finish my gypsy look.

The headband went across the center of my forehead and over the crown of my skull, was made of a thin silver chain, had another strand of chain trailing down the middle of my part, holding it up, and had small coins attached to the sides by my brows. The coins jangled lightly, and it was a little distracting, but when I looked at myself in the mirror, it didn’t look as ridiculous as I thought it might.

Nas instructed me to apply three coats of mascara to lengthen my long lashes and finish off with the bright red lipstick she’d given me.

It took a lot of correcting to get the lipstick right, and I felt the need to run my tongue over my teeth a bit. The thought of smiling brightly with red-stained teeth was downright mortifying. I checked my teeth ten times before I made my way downstairs, coat in hand.

As predicted, Lev was downstairs in the kitchen, holding Lidiya. Only this time, when I stepped inside and she held her little hands out to me, I moved closer, took her from Lev, and cuddled her tightly. “Hey there, sweetie pie,” I cooed, pressing my cheek to the top of her head, breathing in her sweet scent. I closed my eyes, taking in her warmth. “My goodness, you’re a big girl.”

Lev, who stood by, not an inch of concern from him watching me with his daughter, took a step closer. “Here, I’ll take her. I know she’s a little heavy.”

But I held her close. “Heavy? She’s adorably chubby, is what she is.” Lidiya sucked her thumb, leaning her head on my shoulder. A wave of mushiness took over. “Oh, you are winning major points with me, little miss. You’ve got me wrapped around your little finger.”

Every morning, when Lev disappeared to work out, I rose and spent some time with Mirella and Lidiya. We’d gone on walks around the complex together, played blocks and dolls together, had exclusive tea parties, and on the rare occasion, I even let Lidiya feed me.

A smiling Mirella told me I’d spoil her if I kept treating her like a princess. I responded that little girls shouldn’t be treated as anything
but
princesses. Something told me I’d officially won over the older woman with that remark, but it didn’t matter to me. It was how I truly felt.

The back door opened and Viktor came inside, followed by Anika and Nas. I was likely the only person who saw the flash of Anika’s eyes. We greeted each other, and the newcomers all doted on Lidiya, as per usual.

When Anika came forward and extended her arms to Lidiya, the little girl turned her head into my neck and held onto me. I saw the disappointment in the beautiful redhead’s eyes, and giddiness rushed through me. But shame followed.

She was visibly upset, after all.

I tried to make a joke of it. “She probably thinks we’re around the same age, being I’m the closest in height to her.”

Anika blinked, smiling at me. But there was no warmth in that smile. I got the feeling that she thought I was overstepping in a big way.

Mirella came down after her shower and pried Lidiya from me, but the little girl didn’t want to let go. After she started to fuss, I offered to put her to bed for the second time that week. Mirella was evidently grateful. She clearly didn’t want to put Lidiya to bed in a state of distress. I didn’t blame her.

I made it up the stairs as Lidiya started to doze. Mirella silently reached for her and I handed the chubby princess over. I waved silently, and Mirella returned it. I headed downstairs and entered the kitchen just as Anika commented, “So Mina’s here a lot.”

Neither Lev nor Nas felt the need to explain, and neither did I, quite frankly. Rather than telling her she was being obvious in a hideous way, I smiled. “Who’s ready to make tonight their bitch? I am. Let’s go.”

Playing host was interesting.

Nas was right about the flirting. The bachelor boys couldn’t have been more generous. I’d screwed up a couple of times, but had the grace to laugh at myself. My excuse for the order mix-ups being, “Well, if you guys weren’t so handsome, a girl could work without distraction, you know?”

With common excuses like that, my charming party upped the tips at an alarming rate, leaving more for me than what they’d actually spent on drinks.