Disclaimer: You know da drill – I own zip.

Authors note: Hey you guys! Thanks for reviewing, by the way there will – eventually – be a Xena/Steph fight, just keep on reading I promise you there is going to be one soon.

Hope you like this chapter.

Chapter 12

I managed to have a quick shower; shave, wash, shampoo-ing and conditioning everything; slip into my new lingerie and dress and into my FMP's in an hour. That gave me an hour to work on make-up and hair.

My hair was proving to be helpful at the time so I managed to get it into some sexy ringlets that framed my face whilst putting the rest in a messy bun at the back, tousling some small strands of hair from it into gorgeous little ringlets.

Then I worked on make-up, layering my eyes with some lengthening mascara that actually seemed to work; I put on a couple of coats of that, along with light eyeliner, blusher, and a shiny lip gloss. I took a step back and gasped.

It didn't look like me; I had definitely improved on my dressing skills since the last time I had been here.

I fixed some hoops in cute silver studs in my ears and put on a matching silver necklace that trailed down just stopping above my cleavage.

That's right I had a cleavage!

This dress was a wonder!

It was black and gorgeous. It was nothing I had ever really seen before but it was perfect.

It was a small strap dress that didn't hang too low but just low enough for a little cleavage

It wasn't mini but it wasn't too long either so you got a big eyeful of my legs too.

I grabbed my thigh belt and hid it underneath the dress, slipping in my guns, attached another thigh belt to my other thigh and slipped in my spare gun, a couple of knives, a pair of handcuff – you never know – and a travel-size can of mace.

Then I slipped another small gun in my purse for extra comfort and reassurance and I put all my makeup in there before tossing in my keys, a compact and flinging it over my shoulder. I checked the clock and screamed, I only had fifteen minutes to get to RangeMan.

Fuck.

I raced out of the door and locked up record time.

I drove a couple of beats over the speed limit and skidded to a stop as I reached the RangeMan car park where everyone was waiting.

I nearly drooled at the sight of their outfits – very fine – but I got a hold of myself before I could.

I turned off the ignition and was about to get out of the car when Ranger came over and tapped on the window.

"Don't bother getting out, just follow us there, okay babe?" he said to me, flashing me a grin, as soon as I'd rolled down the window.

I nodded and rolled the engine again following Ranger's black SUV.

After around ½ an hour they pulled up in front of a familiar club and I grinned. I hadn't been here since my 21st birthday, when me and Mary Lou came and got so drunk that one of the barmaids had to give us a lift home.

I got pulled away from the memory by the rapping on my window. I blinked and looked through the window to see Ranger and Tank both raising an eyebrow at me. I rolled my eyes at their blatant impatience and put my keys in my bag. I opened the door and hopped out of the Buick, slamming the door behind me.

I ran a hand through my hair and fluffed it a bit before strutting towards the rest of them.

Tank and Lester were in their black bouncer outfits looking very fine, while Ranger was in casual black jeans and a black shirt.

Hmmm…imaginative yet very, very yummy.

Bobby was wearing some dark Levi's and a white shirt, very cute. Woody and Guy were both in just usual black outfits with windbreakers on. I was glad for my long black overcoat due to the cold crisp night air. My dress wasn't exactly designed for the cold.

"Hey guys." I said smiling.

They all smiled politely to me before Ranger handed me the mic, a safety button and a small earpiece. I took them off him smiling before arranging it under my dress, under my coat without giving the guys a peep show.

"Got your gun?" Tank said grinning, hoping to lighten the mood obviously. I grinned at him, "Yes."

Obviously he wasn't looking for that answer because he looked slightly stunned.

Bobby and Les exchanged a few looks before looking back at me, "Bomber, I never thought I'd see the day when you would actually chose to carry."

I raised an eyebrow, guess they didn't know how much I had changed.

"Well, you've seen it, so come on." I said grinning.

Ranger gave the order and we all made for our positions.

"Babe."

I turned to him.

"Coat."

A man of few words.

I mentally rolled my eyes as i removed the coat and handing it to him. His eyes darkened and his mouth hung open a bit as he saw my dress as did, to my embarrassment, the rest of the guys.

After a couple of minutes I squirmed under their gaze.

"Christ you'd think I was a fucking model, knock it off." I said blushing.

"Damn, maybe we should mention that to Celia." Les said quietly.

I frowned, "How did you know the designer's name?"

Les got a small smirk on his face, "Celia is a…friend, as is May."

Something clicked and I turned to Ranger, "They're your sisters aren't they?"

He flashed me 100 watts and nodded slightly.

Bobby rolled his eyes before circling an arm around my waist and ushering me inside.

I stole a glance at Ranger for a reaction and saw him send a scowl at Bobby.

He couldn't possibly be jealous?

I shook my head at that stupid accusation and mentally told myself to stop being so stupid.

Ranger didn't like me in that way; at least I think he didn't.

The club hadn't changed since the last time I came here, the music was still loud and inviting, the dance floor was packed and the bar was swamped with people wanting drinks.

It's a good thing i was a bar maid/waitress in Spain or I would've been clueless as to what I was doing.

I got behind the bar after ten minutes of meeting my 'boss' and explaining who I was.

Ranger had told me, earlier, he had rung up and explained the situation. He said the owner of the club didn't seem to mind all that much about having me fill in for one of his usual barmaid's for the night.

I have a poking suspicion that Ranger may have paid him, but I didn't ask knowing that it was more than likely that I wouldn't get an answer.

The other barmaids greeted me and told me where everything was before shouting at me to stop moving.

"Hey, I need three daiquiris, four beers, two vodka and cokes, and one Bacardi and coke."

I nodded before slamming three glasses on the counter, filling them with coke and adding Bacardi and vodka to them. Then I uncorked four beers, and mixed up three daiquiris, slamming them next to the other glasses.

"That'll be $42.85." I said pushing the drinks towards him.

He raised an eyebrow at my fast service and handed over the cash, and a 5 dollar tip.

"Thanks!" I said to him smiling.

I lost view of him as another guy pushed to the front.

"10 tequila shots please and one for your pretty self."

I bit my lip, before juggling and slamming shot glass after shot glass onto the bar.

I grabbed the tequila from behind me and dragged it in the air, above the shot glasses, filling them up faster.

"That's $26.50, salt and lemon slices are to the left." I said pushing 10 shots towards and taking one myself.

"Thanks." I said to him flashing him a sexy grin.

The orders went on and on for at least an hour or so before the bar actually became a little clearer.

"Your doing great." A voice said and I looked around to see one of the barmaids looking at me with a smile.

I smiled at her, "Thanks."

"No way is this your first time. I watched you serve those shots. You knew what you were doing, and you knew well."

I grinned, "All right you caught me, I have worked behind a bar before, but I was a long time ago and only for a couple of months, so I'm no professional."

"Well you could have fooled me…" she said before helping another customer.

I wiped over the bar a little and ran a hand through my hair.

To my left I saw a few giggling barmaids so I decided to join the conversation to pass the time.

"Hey. Whatcha talking 'bout?" I said smiling.

The three grinned at me before pointing into the crowd, "See that guy…"

I grinned as I saw Ranger talking with some guy, and nodded.

"Who is he?" I whispered to them playing along, I could almost hear the merrymen raising eyebrows at me as they listened to me through my mic.

"Dunno, but he ain't no regular. I would definitely remember an ass like that." Said the blonde called Jinx.

The other two laughed, "Fuckin' A." said the red head, Karen.

I rolled my eyes, "Oh, I dunno."

"What do you mean? His ass should be a statue…I know I'd worship it." Said the other one, Julie.

"I dunno, I've seen better." I said to them causing me to hear laughter in the earpiece in my ear.

Ranger looked up from talking straight at me and raised an eyebrow. I rolled my eyes as Karen, Jinx and Julie let out a squeak.

"Did you see that? He looked at me!" Karen said grinning.

"Oh please, he's totally gay! He's checking out the guy over there…" I said pointing to the right.

The three of them sighed, "Bloody typical, the nice ones are always gay." And they walked away dejectedly.

I heard laughter from my earpiece and knew I was probably in trouble.

Oh well, it was bloody worth it, I thought grinning.

"One beer and one for your pretty self too." Said a voice from in front and I looked up to see my target. I had really thought that this would take all night to grab his attention, I had been doing this sticky eyes routine with him for over an hour now and he hadn't come over, I guess he'd finally taken a hint and come to talk to me.

"Sure thing…" I said to a certain Rio Sentrani.

I handed him a beer and got one for myself.

"On the house." I whispered to him before taking a swig of my own.

He leered at me and nodded slightly, "You're new, right?"

"Yeah, why?" I said grinning, what I thought was, sexily.

"Just haven't seen you before, I know I'd remember someone as sexy as you."

I faked a giggle, "Damn, aren't you the charmer."

He grinned, "Sure thing darling."

"So, what's your name, handsome?" I said leaning on my elbows so he got a nice view of my cleavage.

"It's Rio, and you?" he said only glancing down at my breasts for a second or two.

Man, this guy actually had some manners.

For a Mob boss that is.

"Vivian." I made up on the spot.

Man I was good.

"Say Viv, you doing anything later, wanna grab some food?" he said flashing me a sexy smile.

For a mob boss he was quite cute. With messy tousled brown hair that hung in his eyes giving him an alluring look.

He was definitely on the hottie scale, as me and Mary Lou used to say back in college.

"I'm working until 3." I said apologetically.

"How 'bout tomorrow?" he said smiling.

I nodded, "I'd like that…" I licked my lips temptingly.

He passed a card to me on the counter, "Give me a ring, when you get off work."

I nodded and grinned.

He leaned forward and placed a light kiss on my lips before walking away.

I wiped my mouth on the back of my hand as soon as he was out of view and I shuddered.

He might be hot and everything but he was still a creepy, murdering bastard.

About half an hour after he left i heard my name in my ear.

"Come on time to go. Meet outside." I heard Rangers voice and wondered how pissed he was at me at the moment.

I'd soon find out…

TBC

Authors note: Hope you liked it – below is a little heads up on what 'sticky eyes' is:

Sticky eyes - It's a way of attracting someone's attention. What you do is look at the person you want to notice you, wait until they look at you too then slowly move around, but don't brake eye contact then slowly move your eyes somewhere else, looking back at the person every once and a while – taken from Louise Rennison books ( Georgia Nicolson ) which are great by the way.