The club was loud and grody, the smell of cigarettes and alcohol a heavy blanket over the people sitting and walking around. The rhythmic beat of the music(Closer by NIN) was pumping and everybody was wired, even now, at midnight.

Vincent Plum looked around, searching. He made eye contact with a girl at the bar who smiled as she looked him over. He smirked and looked away, unimpressed.

Where the hell are you, Star? Lucy's probably already pissed that I'm not home yet.

He'd been careful to shed his cloak, forgoing his pointy shoes and skintight suit as well as the chains, rings, and hair gel. He rubbed his chest.

But I couldn't get rid of all the fake tan. I look like a freaking oompalumpla.

He scanned the place again, the dim lights and smoke making it difficult to see well.

Suddenly an announcement went off as a bellowing voice said,

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, for the main attraction...Staaaarla Wickedd!"

Vinnie quickly turned around as the lights dimmed even more, focusing on the stagelights centered on a single figure who stepped out of the gaudy purple, sequined curtains.

The crowd went wild as she performed. Bills were tossed on stage and more than one drunkard made an attempt at groping.

After the performance ended, he made his way through the floor to the dressing room. As soon as he stepped inside he was accosted by the girls (and quite a few male dancers as well). They crowded around and made grabs at him. He batted them away.

"Hey, hey! I'm only here to see Star."

"Gee Vinvin!," said Electra, "You don't come visit us anymore! We get lonely without you!" The others murmured in agreement. He walked past them.

"Sorry, I'll come visit soon okay? I'm going to Star's." A chorus of boos followed him as he made his way.

Electra was beautiful but, contrary to popular belief, he had no inclination towards men.

The door was adorned with a golden star-shaped plaque.

Very Hollywood.

Without knocking he opened the door and stepped inside, shutting it behind him.

Inside, a very startled, and almost entirely nude, Star turned and attempted to cover herself. As soon as she realized who it was, though, she relaxed and sat on a fluffy, pink couch nearby.

"You scared me to death Vincent! How naughty of you to enter without knocking!" Her platinum blond curls seemed to stand on end as she said it.

He stepped farther into the room and spoke, his black eyes intense as he gazed at her. "You know what I want. We left off with some unfinished business last time." He took a few more steps towards her.

She looked up at him through her long false lashes and stood up. Her hips swung as she made her way towards him, her breasts, only adorned with pasties, stayed perfectly perky. The only other articles of clothing she wore were five inch gold lamé heels and a matching, miniscule, thong.

She made her way over and plastered herself all over him. He stayed still, his eyes unflinching. She purred, "Hmm, unfinished business eh? Well, well, you really are naughty aren't you." She chuckled and looked into his face. His dark eyes glowed dangerously and she said, "I wonder what your wife would have to sa-AARRGGHH!"

She quickly jumped away and looked down at herself. Her right breast was bare and starting to turn pink. She looked back at him.

In between the tips of his thumb and index finger was her pastie. He looked at it with disgust and let it fall to the floor.

Disgusting.

He looked at her and his eyes narrowed slowly. Then, swiftly, like a snake, he pushed her against the wall, his movements fluid. He grabbed a fistful of heavily hairsprayed locks and forced her face towards his.

"Lets not play, I don't have a lot of patience right now," he leaned down next to her and his lips brushed her ear as he said, "You know exactly what I want."

She shivered.

"Yes, okay, I got it Vinnie! I remember now. I'm sorry! I won't play around anymore!"

As quickly as he'd grabbed her, he let go and took a few steps back.

Looking shaken she put on a satin robe and went to take a seat on the sofa again and lit up a cigar. She look a long drag before she spoke again.

"Talk," said Vinnie silently.

"I got it already, geez! You didn't have to be such a brute you know?"

A brute eh?

He looked her over and raised an eyebrow.

"I think I'd believe that if you weren't half hard Star. You've always been a glutton for punishment though, haven't you?" He smirked as Star turned crimson and secured the robe more tightly on 'her' netherregions.

She chuckled. "I'll give you the info you heartless blackmailer." She stabbed the cigar in his direction. "You need to be careful with this guy Vin. A lot of these guys are real bad news, actually. I understand that you're trying to look out for Lucille but it doesn't change the facts. You should've never married a girl who's father has so many enemies. But that's just the opinion of an exotic dancer. Hah."

Vincent held out his hand. Rolling her eyes she handed him a heavy manila folder. She smiled proudly as he flipped it open and looked over the contents. His lips twitched into a smile and he looked over at her.

"Good work." She glowed with the praise.

"It only took me a week too! Valentino Russo and his men are such gossip mongers. They never shut up about their organization and plans towards your wife and her dad! Get them a little drunk and they'll talk your ear off."

Vinnie's hands clenched and he turned towards the door. "Well, I'll be off then-"

"Wait!" she tugged at his black t-shirt and quickly backtracked as he turned back around.

Coyly she twirled her fingers in her hair and said, "Well...ah..You know..I was wondering if you could-would give me a reward? I worked real hard you know! Ahh. Ahem." She dug her toe on the ground as she looked at him hopefully.

"A reward," he asked. Her head bobbed up and down.

This guy...there's no helping it I guess.

He walked towards her without sound and she backed up until she felt the couch hit her knees and his body was aligned with hers.

She blushed again as he touched her chin and brought his face down to hers.

Finally his lips touched hers and she almost melted as he thrust his tongue inside forcefully. She panted and gasped for air as he attacked the inside of her mouth. She felt like she was melting.

Finally he pulled back, their tongues the last to part. A thin strand of saliva connected the two until he backed up.

"Wow."

They both turned to see another dancer at the door. He was beet red and looked both embarrassed and aroused.

"Xander, leave us for a minute will you?" The dancer nodded and left quickly, shutting the door behind him.

Ah. Damn. And another rumor is born.

Vincent turned back to Star. "Satisfied?"

She looked like the cat who'd eaten the canary as she gazed at him.

"Completely, Vincent. I don't understand why you don't reward us, your good little informants, like this anymore." She pouted.

"You're so cold now that your married. You're different."

He reached his hand towards her head and she flinched. He placed it on her head and ruffled her hair.

"Sorry. But things have changed." Her heart almost stopped as she took in his gentle smile.

Changed indeed.

He turned to the door and left then. Outside he heard her yell, "Anytime, anywhere Vinnie! You know I'm always ready and available for you!"

He chuckled and left the club.

On his way over he made a couple calls to acquaintances. That taken care of, he drove home to his little white and yellow house.

He parked in the driveway and made his way inside. He took off his shirt and jeans and entered the bedroom. In the center of the bed lay Lucy. She looked so small curled into a ball, under the sheets.

He walked to her and gazed at her sleeping face, soaking in every curve and plane. He brushed her silky blonde hair away from her face and paused.

The remnants of tears were left at the corners of her eyes which were puffy and pink.

He leaned down and kissed the tears away. Kissed her nose, forehead,cheeks, mouth.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

I'm sorry.

Her blue eyes fluttered open and she drowsily called his name before falling asleep again.

"I'm here Lucy, shh. I'm here."

He got into bed and underneath the covers. He pulled her back to his chest and fell asleep after a while of listening to her rhythmic breathing.

Back at the office the next day his phone rang, informing him of Valentino Russo's incarceration. He sighed.

Another one bites the dust.

He smiled evilly.

Now Russo, what are you willing to do for a bond eh?

There was a racket in the front office so he stuck his head out to see what was going on.

Of course.

"Stephanie," he shouted, " why are you all covered in...nacho cheese?"

She looked at him and turned pink.

"Ahh..well you see...the skip. The skip was trying to leave the 7/11 so I-"

"I don't want to hear it," he interrupted, " All I'm hearing is that I shouldn't have hired you. You're a damn waist of money! What do you do all day, daydream?"

"Hah! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! I heard from a very private source that you were tonguing, or worse, a certain exotic dancer who's rumored to have man bits!" exclaimed Connie.

Why did I hire you again?

Stephanies eyebrows raised as she looked him over and Lula's eyes bulged.

"No shit! You really are one of them sexual deviants! You're so nast-"

He shut the door to his office as they continued to murmur outside. He shook his head.

I think I'm starting to feel a migrain coming on.

The phone on his desk rang and he picked it up. It was Lucille.

She was chewing him out about his late night appearance and was now, apparently, revenge shopping.

He leaned back on his office chair and listened to her talk about new home furnishings, listened to her voice.

"Mmm." he grunted.

He sighed as he listened to the lilt and closed his eyes.

Ah. I think I'm starting to feel better now.

"Yes. I love you too, Lucy. I'll see you tonight." he said finally and hung up. He looked at the paperwork in front of him.

"You're different."

He laughed to himself.

I should hope so.

He smiled and picked up the paperwork.

Time to get to work.