Chapter 2

"Dante? What are you-" Lulu exclaimed, closing the door and dropping to her knees, "Oh My God. Honey, are you all right?"

"Jesus, Lulu you hit me," Dante replied, stunned, cradling his head with his hand, "I feel a bump. Is it swollen? Ouch."

"Oh, stop," Lulu laughed, as she examined the top of his head, "It's just a little bump. You'll live."

"It'll feel a lot better if you kiss it," Dante pleaded, as Lulu rolled her eyes.

"You are unbelievable," she told him, smiling, as she leaned over and placed a kiss upon his head.

Relieved that Dante was fine, Lulu rose to her feet, placed her hands on her hips and glared down at him.

"You followed me," Lulu told him, exasperated, "I can't BELIEVE that you followed me."

"I was worried about you," Dante replied, his eyes getting a really good look at the clothing, or lack of, on her body at the moment. He stood, reached for the Bible in her hands and placed it on the nearby stand.

"Baby, what are you doing here?" Dante asked, taking her hands in his.

Lulu pulled her hands from his grasp, turned toward the bed and and sat upon it, facing him.

"My father's here, Dante. I know he is. I'm just a few steps behind him."

Dante ran his hands through his hair in frustration. He understood her need to find her father. He'd gone in search of his when he was just a kid. But, this place, the element downstairs- that scared the hell out of him. Getting angry with her wasn't going to solve anything. It certainly wasn't going to get her to walk out that door with him. But, when he thought about-

"Did you find him?" Dante questioned, sitting beside her and trying really hard to concentrate when she sat beside him, in nothing but her underwear. Pink sexy underwear, at that.

"Not yet. But, I will. I'm getting close, Dante."

Dante saw the sadness in her eyes, the desperation in the simple movement of her hand. It killed him to see what her father's abandonment was doing to her.

"Did you pick this out just for me?" Dante grinned, while his hand found a delicate bow and ran his fingers along its ribbons.

Lulu wiped the tears from her face and turned to Dante, her eyes alight with humor.

"I did," Lulu answered, joking, "If you play your cards right-"

"Lulu Spencer?" Dante mocked, pretending to be outraged, "I'm not that easy."

"What makes you think I want to work for it?" Lulu laughed, rising to her feet, as Dante reached for her hand.

"I'm worried about you, Lulu," Dante told her, his tone dropping its cockiness and turning serious, "You don't know what kind of fire you are playing with here, baby."

"I'm well aware of what kind of fire, Dante," Lulu teased, as Dante's expression stayed serious.

"I can take care of myself, Dante," Lulu answered, trying to reassure him. She dropped down beside him and kissed him softly on the lips, "I'm a Spencer."

"And you think Luke is here? How can you be sure, Lulu?" Dante asked her, as his thumb caressed her cheek,"Just how much closer do you need to get?"

"It's not what you think? I'm handling it," Lulu said, confidently, as Dante's eyes continued to take in every stitch of her outfit, "Maxie's dresses at Crimson have less."

"I don't care what Maxie wears, Lulu," Dante told her truthfully, his gaze predatory, "You don't know what kind of place this is. The kind of men that come here. Men like Anthony Zacchara."

"And you do?" Lulu asked, suddenly realizing that there was a lot about Dante's time with the Zaccharas that he hadn't shared with her, "Did you?"

"No," Dante denied emphatically, "But, that doesn't mean the Zaccharas didn't. This place Lulu, baby it's not for you."

"I'm not green, Dante," Lulu told him, standing once more, and pointing toward the bed, "I understand what THIS place is. It's a brothel. Women sell themselves here. My father-"

"Is a customer here, Lulu," Dante explained, running his hand through his hair in frustration, "And God knows what else his hands are tied up in. That guy downstairs, Lulu, he doesn't care that Luke Spencer is an alcoholic, that his daughter is looking for him. He only cares about how many tricks his girls make, about the size of the wad in his wallet."

"I told you. I know what I'm doing," Lulu said defensively.

"No, Lulu," Dante fired back, grabbing her arm, "you don't. You're flying by the seat of your pants. Panties at the moment. Very hot panties. But, dammit, Lulu-"

"This could work, Dante," Lulu replied, retracting her arm and pleading with him for understanding, "You'll see. He'll hear that I'm working here and-"

"Absolutely not. You are not going to put yourself as bait," Dante yelled, shaking his fist, his face contorted with anger, "I won't let you."

"I don't recall asking permission, Dante!" Lulu yelled back, "I can take care of myself."

"Right, because you're doing such a fine job of it at the moment, Lulu," Dante answered in frustration," "What would you have done if it wasn't me that came through that door, huh? That book," Dante said, irate, "it would not have protected you from the men that frequent this place."

"I'm not weak, Dante. My Dad taught me everything he knows," Lulu said softly, realizing Dante was coming from a place of fear.

"I never said you were weak, Lulu. Baby, you're the strongest person I know, but-"

"Then, trust me," Lulu said softly, moving closer, "I can do this."

"It's not you I don't trust, Lulu," Dante answered, lowering his voice, "It's what's outside that door."

"I can't leave, Dante. Not when I'm so close," Lulu whispered, tears welling in her eyes, "I just can't."

"I know, baby," Dante replied, pulling Lulu into his arms, "I just don't want anything to happen to you."

"I told you-"

"I know what you told me. I'm telling you," Dante said stubbornly, looking into her eyes, "I'm not leaving you. Not here. Not in this place," he told her, kissing her lips, "Not ever."

"Gabby," Javier beckoned, motioning for her to join him, "Come talk to me."

She recognized that tone, a voice laced with bitter sweetness, the calm before the storm.

"You know something," he cajoled, his hand stroking her long, dark hair. He grabbed a handful, tugging at the strands until Gabby eyes welled and tears threatened to spill forth, the pain ripping through her skull, "Talk to me everything you know about Dominic Pirelli. What's his connection to the new girl?"

"To the blonde? She never mentioned his name. I swear," she whispered, attempting to placate him, "I've never seen him before. Probably, just some rich kid with a silver spoon spending Daddy's money."

"I've seen him somewhere. I know it."

"He said he wasn't from around here. I wouldn't lie to you, Javier," Gabby replied, desperately.

"Good. I like money," Javier said, honestly, brushing a few dark strands from her forehead and pushing her off of him, "Lots of it. Keep him happy. Give him whatever he wants."

"Including the blonde?" Gabby asked, confused. Javier didn't like to share anything, especially the new flavor.

"Not the blonde. She's off-limits. Give her a job down here. Hostess," Javier ordered, as Gabby nodded in agreement, "Let everyone know that she's hands-off. Strictly for show."

"I don't understand," Gabby questioned, as Javier smiled, coldly, "I don't pay you to understand, Gabby. You're on a need to know basis. Right now, you don't need to know shit. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got it," Gabby answered him, turning her back on him and walking toward the bar, "Two beers, please."

"Oh, and Gabby," Javier added, as she reluctantly turned toward him, "Keep your eyes and ears open."

Javier Del Toro waited for Gabby to ascend the stairs, before placing the call and waiting for the caller to answer.

"Mr. Spencer, you've been avoiding my calls," Javier told him, "I don't like to be ignored. I want my merchandise. I don't care about your source. You are running out of time. I'm not a patient man, Mr. Spencer. Tomorrow? Tomorrow, is just fine. I'm glad you see things my way. Gabby? No, I have someone new in mind for you."

"What are you thinking?" Lulu asked Dante, his eyes downcast and his hands folded together, "I'm trying to figure out how the hell we're going to get out of this mess."

"You could just walk out. That girl, Gabby, she could sneak you out the back," Lulu suggested, as Dante looked back at her, flabbergasted.

"No. I'm not leaving without you, Lulu."

"I can't get information on my father's whereabouts if you are hanging around. You'll blow my cover," Lulu informed him, completely flummoxed.

"I'm not leaving," Dante repeated, his tone adamant, as he leaned closer, his eyes focused intently on her.

"You are impossible," Lulu replied, softly, "What are we supposed to do now?"

"We aren't going to do anything," Dante promised her, pulling her close, "at least not outside this door," he told her, kissing the top of her head, "Maybe if we put our heads together we can come up with something."

"You're trying to take advantage of me," Lulu grinned, as Dante lowered her to the bed, his hands toying with the laces of her lingerie, "Is it working?"

"Maybe," Lulu smiled, flipping Dante to his back, "But, I usually like to work on top."

Lulu leaned over and kissed him, her body straddling him, as Dante's hands roamed over the back of her thighs, moving upward, gripping her bottom.

His fingers fumbled over the clasps and ties of the brassiere, a frustrated look upon his face, as Lulu unbuttoned his shirt, parting it and placing her mouth upon his skin.

Neither one of them heard the doorknob turn, until it was too late and she was standing inside the room.

"Do you have any idea the trouble you have put me in? Who the hell are you?" Gabby questioned, as Lulu jumped from the bed and Dante quickly buttoned his shirt.

"Here," Gabby offered, tossing a beer to both Dante and Lulu, "Drink up. You're going to need it. Javier is not someone to be messed with."

"Now, what the hell are you doing here," Gabby asked, "and what does it have to do with Luke Spencer?" she threatened, turning in Lulu's direction.