“Yes, Miss Sera.”
“Until…?”
“Until Boss says otherwise, Miss Sera.”
“And that could be…?”
“No way of knowing, Miss Sera.”
“You aren’t very helpful, Dimitri.”
“As you say, Miss Sera.” Dimitri tips his head back against the seat, eyes closed, obviously thinking it will be the fastest way to get me to shut up.
“Did you at least bring snacks?” If he wanted me to be quiet, snacks would’ve been the way to go.
“No, Miss Sera. Nowshhhh. My head.”
“Right, right.” I stare back out the window. Why the hell did Alik agree to let me come here? So I could see him go into some mystery location with some stupidly gorgeous woman? Is this his way of telling me that no matter how intense our moment in the pool was, he’s not interested in me?
AsifI want him to be interested. Ugh. I tap my forehead against the glass, wondering what the hell has gotten into me. Everything about the past few weeks, months—no, years—has twisted me up in the head.
I’m not falling for the grumpy Russian who saved me by accident and has regretted it ever since. I’m sure as hell not jealous of the big-chested blonde who seems to have free rein to touch him wherever she wants. Let her deal with his orders and rules and bossiness; I don’t need any of it.
The only thing I need from Alik is for him to keep his promise: to help me exact revenge on the assholes buying and selling women as their playthings. Once we’ve put them in the ground, I’m gone. On to a life I can live on my own terms.
Terms I’m still trying to establish when another car pulls up behind us about thirty minutes later. The headlights are blinding as they hit my sideview mirror, but a beat later they go off. Darkness returns as I hear someone get out of the car, the door closing behind them.
The person is nothing more than a shadow as they follow the same path Alik and the woman took. I’m staring, hoping this will be the moment I get a hint about what’s going on.
The same door opens, the same strobe lights washing across the pavement, the same dump truck of a bouncer sizing up the newest arrival. The new guy is about to go inside when he stops, turning as he pulls something from his back pocket.
The movement puts his profile on display, the sharp edges highlighted by the trippy lights coming from inside the building.
I know my eyesight is still healing but I could be a mile away and still recognize that face. It’s one I haven’t seen in years. One I hate so much I instantly taste bile.
What the fuck is Renzo di Salvo doing here?
20
SERA
I’m half out the car before Dimitri realizes what’s happening. He tries to stop me by grabbing the back of my coat, but I slip my arms free and take off toward the door at the end of the path. The guard has just waved di Salvo through. The wedge of light is shrinking rapidly, and I put on a burst of speed, surprised and immensely grateful that I’m able to move fast enough to slip through the opening before the metal door closes with a heavyclunkbehind me.
The man I chased in here has vanished beyond the nondescript vestibule, down a hall currently guarded by the nasty looking bouncer. He’s a brick wall, blocking the way. As he glares at me, I realize I’m standing in this unknown place wearing nothing but sneakers and pajamas.
No weapon. No cell phone. No coat to stop the hulking brute from staring at my braless chest, my tits barely concealed by the thin fabric of my tank top.
The door behind me shakes. Dimitri is yelling on the other side. My eyes on the bouncer, I feel behind me for some sort of handle, doorknob, anything to get me out of this very rash, very stupid decision I’ve made. I don’t find a thing.
“You shouldn’t have come,” the guard says to my chest.
“You’re absolutely right. My mistake. So how about you...?” I point at the door behind me, the one that’s starting to shake as Dimitri tries to break it down.
“You need to go.”
“Yup, I totally agree.” I move so he can open the door, but he just shakes his head.
“Not that way.” He jerks a thumb over his shoulder toward the hallway behind him. Lights are pulsing from whatever is on the other end, filling the space we’re in with trippy patterns. “That way.”