Sure, I've heard the rumors. Everyone in this city— if not this state— has. The Rossi brothers are as hot as they are scandalous. They are as well- hung as they are well- connected to the underground.
They can get any woman they want to do anything they want, and they leave her begging for more. In fact, they sometimes even share one woman.
I was always sure that all of it was true— well, except maybe for that last part. I can't understand why the Rossi brothers would need to share one woman when they're so adept at getting so many. Or how that could be anything but awkward for all involved.
The rest of it has always made sense to me, though. There are definitely women out there who love bad boys. And there's no denying that the Rossi brothers are handsome. Now they're even rich, which of course is an added bonus.
But I guess I also always thought I was immune to the Rossi brothers and anyone like them. Their charms or their asshole ways or whatever it was that drew women to them wouldn't work on me.
Because I'm Jessica Mason. An ambitious, determined woman with political aspirations only half achieved so far. I need to keep climbing all the way to the top. Plus, I'm a good girl in bed, in relationships and in life. I don't need any bad boys to drag me down.
But when Marino Rossi comes to the door, I start to see that I may have been wrong about some things. At the top of the list of things I might have been wrong about is my ability to look away from his dark green, piercing eyes— and the way he looks at me.
People talk about eyes that undress you when they look at you. But Marino's eyes not only undress me, they burn my clothes off and tie me up naked, helpless, and begging to be kept captive forever.
"How you doin', Doll?" Marino asks me.
"F-fine," I stammer.
And then I remember I'm supposed to be an experienced stripper.
"I'm just fine. I'm here for the job."
I show him the classified ad Senator Santara told me to use as my lead-in.
"We're not auditioning tonight," he says.
I roll my eyes, not just to play the part of a busy stripper who doesn't have time to waste in between making those dolla dolla bills, but also because I’m annoyed. I'm a busy senator who needs to get in, out and on with my normal life.
"It says right here to come by any night between 8 and 9," I tell him.
And also to bring appropriate attire to be ready to perform immediately if hired.
I'd stared at that line in the ad for a while, in disbelief. Partly I was imagining myself as a real, out of work stripper, dragging a duffle bag full of stripper clothes across the city, hoping someone would hire me to work that night. But the bigger part of me was focused on reality and scared to death of how I was going to actually be ready to perform on stage when I don't even like to change in the dressing room in front of my sister when we go shopping together.
"Yeah?"
He shrugs, as if not understanding the point I’m trying to make. He clearly couldn't care less about the struggles of this desperate stripper looking for work. I'm sure we're a dime a dozen.
"Well, it's between 8 and 9," I tell him. "It's 8:30, to be exact."
I've always been known for my punctuality. My mother taught me it's one of the essential traits of successful people.
"And it's any night of the week," I add, as he just stares at me.
"We're having a private soiree tonight," he says, looking around as if making sure no one can overhear.
Perfect. They're worried about the public coming in. Or about investigators sniffing around.
If I can get in here— and I'm pretty sure I can, judging from the way that Marino is staring at the cleavage prominently being displayed from behind my mesh tank top— that will make this stupid undercover assignment all that much easier and faster.
I'll find out what they're up to and I'll give the information to Senator Sentara and everyone in the committee will love me and vote for all my bills. This'll be nothing. A piece of cake.
"I might be able to get you an audition, but you'll have to promise to do something really special to wow us," he says, lowering his voice as if he's offering me the chance to win a billion dollars. "It's a private party and no one's supposed to be let in, like I said. And it's the boss's birthday."
So it's Dante Rossi’s birthday and it's also my lucky day. Because I know that if Marino lets me in when he’s not supposed to, he's been blinded by my looks. He'll let his guard down and I can find all the damning information I need.
"I can definitely wow you," I tell him, raising my eyebrows and pursing my lips in my best attempt to be seductive.
"Hold on a second," he says, and nods at me before closing the door.
When he comes back, he leads me through a swanky lounge and to a large stage near the back of the room. Dante is sitting around the stage, as are other rich-looking men. Customers, I assume.
A lot of gorgeous young women are sitting around tables further away, staring at me like I'm trying to take their jobs. And I guess I am, only in a different way than they're anticipating.
"Dante, this is… well, I didn't catch your name," Marino says, looking at me now instead of at Dante.
"Desire," I tell him, with a coy smile.
"Very nice," he says, with an approving nod.
I have to admit that I like the stripper name I picked out well in advance. So I'm glad he does too.
"Goes well with Dante," Dante says.
"Well, you wanted this spot, and now it's yours," Marino says, gesturing to the empty stage. "So let's see what you've got."
What do I have?
Lots of hours of YouTube prep and pole dancing classes but no actual experience at this. And everyone is looking at me rather skeptically. I'd better put on one hell of show. I don't want my cover to be blown before this whole thing even has the chance to get started.
As I climb the stage and see both Marino's and Dante's eyes watching me, I start to think I might be better at this than I thought. Sure, I'm scared of making an idiot out of myself. And I'm still in denial that I'm even doing this.
But this rush of adrenaline could be addicting. As could two pairs of handsome dark green eyes watching my every move and obviously wanting to be with me.