Page 19 of Dancing for the Devil

“I just don’t want people to think you’re anything but the savvy leader you are. People talk, you know? Start calling you soft or some shit.”

I laughed. “Let them try to say it to my face.”

“That’s not the point.”

“No, I get you. You want me to be the biggest, baddest wolf in the shed. What you don’t seem to get is that I already am.” I snapped, clenching my jaw.

“It doesn’t matter if you are… if nobody sees it.”

I nodded sagely, not letting his doubt get to me. He didn’t deserve my anger. “I get it, Kirill. You’re worried. There’s no need to be. I got this.”

“Fine. We still need a new connect.”

“I know.”

“Want me to put some feelers out?”

“Nah, but I got some ideas.”

“Oh yeah? Who?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. I have nothing concrete. I will let you know when you need to.”

He subsided finally, knowing he’d overstepped. I took a deep breath. “Given this whole thing though, I need you to organize an escort.”

“Okay. Who for?”

“Katya. She’s arriving in three days. I need her picked up and transported safely home.”

“I’ll see to it myself, boss.”

I nodded and gave him a half smile. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

My sister was coming to visit, and that was a source of both joy and trepidation for me. I didn’t want her to get caught up in all this bullshit. But having someone who Iknewloved me unconditionally around was a rare treat. I was looking forward to it.

“Well, go on then. Get out of here,” I told him.

I had a lot of shit to think about and resolve, and I would feel better if I did it all myself.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was under siege.

CHAPTERNINE

NORA

Icould hear Alexei’s deputy talking about me as I left his office. Frankly, I didn’t like the way the deputy looked at me like I was a piece of meat. It was by no means foreign to me, but I hated it all the same. To be honest, I was kind of dreading getting up on the pole. I thought I’d left that life behind me. Scrambling for money. Taking whatever I could get. But here I was, right back where I started, except now I was short one sister.

It was disappointing that I hadn’t really learned anything from my sojourn to his office. The whole thing had been a waste of time. I almost blew my cover for nothing.

I need to be more careful.

I tried to think about what my next move would be. As I walked across the floor, I could see some of the girls warming up. Maybe if I spoke to them, I could learn something. I really hoped I would soon be one of them, so they would talk to me. I exited the club, collected my bike, and began to ride towards the hospital. I hoped to have enough time to eat lunch with Jodie before my shift started.

I was just pulling up at the hospital when my phone began to ring. I dug it out of my purse and saw that the number was unfamiliar.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Nora. Good news.”