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“What arrangements would those be?”
Stall, Addy. Think.There had to be some way to apply the brakes.
“Teresa is returning to close. Once the club is empty, Arturo’s cousin Dimitri will engage the alarm. He’ll be on the premises to make sure the club and your sister are secure.”
My brow pinched. In other words, she was his bargaining chip. “I don’t know Dimitri. I don’t want him alone with my sister.”
“I know him. I trust him.” Martin waved away my protest. “You’ll have to trust me.”
Impossible. “I trust only myself.”
“You’ve been burned by that boy, but you shouldn’t give him another thought. He’s a fool. He had you, and he treated you like trash.” Martin stroked the skin over the back of my hand with his thumb. “I’ll take excellent care of you. Give you everything you desire.”
I had major doubts about that. “I want to see Rachel before we leave,” I said, worrying my lip.
“You can see her in the morning.”
I frowned, knowing that once Martin had what he wanted—me, apparently, without delay—I would have nothing left to barter. “I want to see her now. Rachel has to hold the guardianship paperwork if you want me to go with you.”
Rachel’s safety and that paperwork were what mattered. The rest were just secondary details to be negotiated. Martin liked bargains. I needed to quickly come up with a new one that benefited me.
“I won’t go anywhere with you,” I said stubbornly, “until I see her first.”
He stared at me a long moment. Unwaveringly, I stared right back.
“Very well.”
I closed my eyes, exhaling my relief.
When I reopened my eyes, I discovered Martin wasn’t looking at me. Following the direction of his gaze, I saw Andy moving toward us. Not of his own accord, though. Two men were dragging him forward. Arturo was one, and the other was a guy just as big as he was, a man who resembled him. His cousin Dimitri.
“Here he is, Boss,” Arturo said when he reached us. Releasing Andy, his escorts stepped back.
“What the fuck?” Andy jerked up his chin and glared at Martin. “I was busy.”
“You won’t be busy anymore inside my club,” Martin said in a soft tone that might as well have been a shout. Even seated, there was no doubt that he was in control. “You’re fired. You and your band are no longer welcome on the premises. Get your things and get out.”
Andy glared at me. “This is your fault.”
“This has nothing to do with her,” Martin said sternly. “Look at me, not her, when I’m speaking to you.”
Wisely, Andy looked.
“You were late tonight, and my assistant found drugs in your dressing room. Your performance tonight suffered. Neither I nor the RDA rep were impressed.”
Had a rep from RDA been around? I hadn’t noticed one, nor had I noted how much the crowd in the VIP section had thinned out. Martin had a way of commanding my attention.
“We already have an intent to sign.” Andy threw back his shoulders, affecting indifference. But I didn’t buy it, and neither did Martin. “We don’t need to play here anymore.”
“You have an intent for now.” Martin stroked his chin. “I wonder how long that will last if RDA finds out the lead singer has an issue with drugs.”
“How will they—”
“Word will get around,” Martin said, a triumphant gleam in his gaze.
“Are you threatening me?” Andy’s eyes narrowed.
“I don’t threaten. I act.”
