the Flaming Ruby , but she loved it , every second . She ’ d hate herself later , but she didn ’ t care at that moment .
Ivy was on her hands and knees next as Crossan turned her without asking permission , not that she ’ d want to be asked . He entered her again , thrusting inside her from behind , grabbing her thighs to pull her close while he did . She screamed in ecstasy as Crossan finished inside her , the pain in her thighs telling her he was grasping her hard . He fell behind her when he was done , and she fell to the couch with a satisfied sigh .
“ I do not know what came over me ,” Crossan said , sitting back in the chair .
Ivy pulled her panties back on and sat on his lap again . She kissed him . “ Don ’ t worry ,” she said . “ I won ’ t tell anyone if you don ’ t .”
“ Can I come back to see you ?” Crossan asked .
Ivy smile . “ Of course you can ,” she said . “ You know where to find me .”
7
Bao flipped through the envelope of money Ivy had made on her first shift at the Flaming Ruby . “ Are these hundreds ?” he asked , passing the envelope to one of his associates . There were two other Chinese men and Anna in the room . The men were well groomed and had serious looks on their faces , reminding her of the hardened hitmen she had seen in some random Kung Fu movie late at night .
“ They are ,” Ivy replied . She was used to envelopes stuffed with bills from her work at the diner , but they were usually full of crumpled ones . The pay as one of the Flaming Ruby ’ s whores was way more lucrative than waitressing could ever be . “ Anything to report ?” Anna asked . Ivy hesitated for a moment . Anna and she had become lovers during her training . It was only natural , seeing as Anna was teaching her to use sex to her advantage . “ I had sex with one of them ,” she finally said . “ His name was Crossan .”
Bao nodded . “ He is known to us ,” he said . “ He typically isn ’ t violent , but he can be when provoked . He ’ s normally working for one stronger than him .” “ Lannus , maybe ?” Ivy asked . “ It is possible ,” Bao said , “ but the chances are slim it is him .” “ I know ,” Ivy said . “ Wishful thinking I guess .” “ What can you tell us of the Flaming
Ruby ?” Bao asked .
“ There ’ s one entrance ,” Ivy said . “ Aside from the ones the girls and the employees use . It leads to a single hallway , opening up to the bar and restaurant area . I only saw it once , and I was told I ’ d likely never see it again .”
“ It ’ s a bottle neck ,” one of Bao ’ s associates said . “ We ’ d be slaughtered one-by-one as soon as we ’ re clear of the hall .”
Ivy looked at the man who had just spoken . This was the first she had heard of Bao ’ s plot to take the Flaming Ruby . She knew he had the intent , but she didn ’ t know any details other than what they expected from her spying .
“ I know ,” Bao said . “ If we are to take it , we would have to use the employees ’ entrance .”
“ It ’ s guarded ,” Ivy said . “ Two men with Uzis watch the door . Another makes us strip before entering . If you want to get inside the club , you ’ d have to take all three of them out . Before you even get there , you ’ d have to take out the guards outside and climb the stairs .”
“ Have you made friends with any of the girls ?” Anna asked .
“ I think so ,” Ivy said . “ There ’ s a dancer named Simone . She was the only one who spoke to me . I think the rest of them are wary of any new talent .”