Page 106 of Scarred King
Ilan looks at me in astonishment but pulls himself together quickly. He stretches out his hand and I tuck the fan into my belt and give him my hand. He holds it gently, kisses it, and then looks up at me.
“It’s a good thing you didn’t come to my wedding party like that,” he smiles. “My wife would have killed you if you would have stolen her spotlight.”
I feel an unexplainable affection for this man, and I can’t make the connection to the sadist who ruined my man’s face. I manage to smile back at him, but my expression turns cold as I turn to face the Italians. None of them reach out to me, and I don’t do it first. Carlito nods his head once and so does Mariano and Giovanni. I nod only at the father.
“Let’s sit.” Liam leads me to the corner of the sofa, and I let out a sigh of relief. He sits next to Ralph, and I try to settle myself on the edge of the sofa. The layers of fabric in my skirt don’t allow me to lean back, so I sit stiffly upright.
One of the waitresses puts drinks down on our table, and I’m afraid to move in case I slip off the sofa and land on my backside. Everyone looks tense except Ilan, who’s chatting cheerfully with Mariano, and Mike, who is scanning the club proudly.
“Carly,” Mike calls and waves as she walks to the table. “Look after our guests,” he asks, and she turns around and looks at the naked girls.
“Will you let me pamper you?” she asks the Italians. Carlito shakes his head no, as does Giovanni, but Mariano nods in approval.
“I want my regular girl,” Ilan says with a smile and leans back comfortably in his seat.
I bring out my fan and cover my face, put my hand on Liam’s thigh and he leans closer to me.
“He just got married,” I whisper without turning my face towards him. “Does his wife know that's how he spends his time?”
“I guess she doesn’t ask, and he doesn’t have to lie,” Liam replies calmly and I bare my teeth angrily.
“You also don't tell me because I don’t ask?”
“Then ask,” he whispers in my ear and I shiver.
"Then I'm asking" I answer him as I fume.
“Elena,” I feel him smiling at me and I nearly break my fan, as I'm clutching it so tightly. “I don’t do whores.”
“They’re strippers,” I say suspiciously.
“Same thing,” he answers disdainfully and leans back, and I can breathe again. I decide to stay behind my fan, somehow I feel safer this way.
Carly walks over to a tall, toned girl with black hair cascading down her shoulders, and points to our table. The girl smiles and starts sashaying sensually towards us.
“Irena…” Ilan mumbles and looks at her with pleasure. She pushes her way between the table and the sofa and sits on his lap with her legs spread. She starts moving on top of him and he undoes the clasp of her bra. None of the men looks at them, and I thank Victor silently for the fan that hides my blushing cheeks.
“I have a new girl for you,” Carly says to Mariano, and when I raise my head, my body freezes in panic. Johanna is standing in front of him, smiling sweetly and turning around so that he can inspect her. When her eyes meet mine, she winks naughtily.
“Oh My God!” I mutter in distress and Liam sits up and puts his arm around my shoulder.
Mariano nods once and Johanna looks happy. She makes her way over to him and sits on his lap. He holds her ass tight and she rubs her chest on his face.
“I want to throw up,” I whisper, and feel dizzy.
“What exactly did you think she is doing here?” Liam asks cautiously.
“I don’t know, dances on the stairs or on one of the balconies, but not this…” I almost choke as acidic stomach juices start rising in my throat.
“Keep it cool,” Liam orders and I try to stop watching that delicate body being pawed by that sick man. “We’ll be out of here in a few minutes,” he tries to soothe me. Mariano looks at me, pinches Johanna’s butt and smiles slyly. I turn my head away immediately and look at our friends. Mike is smiling and waving at some men sitting on the sofa behind him. Tommy is yawning with boredom and Ralph is sipping his drink and watching the girl dancing on the main stage. For them it’s just another night at the club but for me it’s a nightmare. I can’t stop thinking about Johanna, but I avoid looking at her. The song ends and the girl on the stage steps down. Someone jumps up on the stage and wipes the pole clean with a cloth rag. He leaves quickly and a girl in a red dress walks on.
“Drink some wine,” Liam hands me the glass and I shake my head no. I can’t do anything that will make me move the fan and remain exposed. I gesture him to come nearer.
“Tell me something,” I say curiously, “Does it make you horny to watch all these naked girls?”
“Right now, only one girl makes me horny and she’s all dressed up.” He moves my hair aside and kisses my neck. I shiver in pleasure but remind myself to hit him for the way he elegantly avoided my question.
“Come on, get out of here,” Ilan says suddenly and pats Irena’s ass. She takes her bra from the sofa and after he stuffs some dollar bills in her panties, she leaves the table.