Gianna sat beside me in my car, and I swallowed, afraid I was going to throw up from the smell of her perfume. She chattered on about how I was a disappointment to her, how I let her down, howonce a cheater, always a cheater,and how she was merely giving me achance.
I kept my foot on the gas, staying as sympathetic to her delusions as I could. Finally, I turned onto the street and sped up into the parking lot before she could launch into her protests.
“I just have to pick something up from a friend here. Come with me.”
“Um, no? Is this a fucking strip club? I’m not stepping into that hellhole!” Gianna grimaced, and I smiled with understanding.
I exited my car and approached her side, opening the door and offering my hand. “I don’t want to leave you here all alone in the dark. As you said, it’s a hellhole, who knows who’s walking around the parking lot.”
She thought about it for a second, but then took my hand, sealing her fate.
A short, stocky man let us in through the back entrance, and Gianna clung to me in the dim light. It smelled of cigarettes, perfume, and God knows what else. The hallway was narrow, the paint on the walls was scuffed and peeling, and the music pumped from the main room, muffled.
“Oh my God. You havefriendsin places like this?”
“Mm-hm. My friend owns this place. It’s one of the nicer ones in town, actually.”
The short man turned right and continued down the dark hallway, deeper into the club. Finally, he stopped in front of a steel door and turned his back to us, punching something on the electronic keypad. The door unlocked loudly and he pulled it open for us, revealing a large office.
“Alex…” Gianna started, but I put my hand on hers, assuring her.
“It’s okay.”
She looked up at me, the worry in her face slightly dissipating. We took a step inside the room, and the bass from the music disappeared.
“Sasha!” Nikolai exclaimed, as if it had been a decade since we’d seen each other. He rounded his oversized desk and walked over to us, keeping his eyes on me.
The door behind us clicked closed.
“Skolko let, skolko zim. Spasibo Kol’. Ya u tebya v dolgu.”I thanked Nikolai, assuring him I was in his debt. We shook hands and hugged, and then Nikolai did exactly what I asked—completely ignored Gianna’s existence.
“Nah, man. All good. Come in.” He headed back to his desk, and I stepped forward, pulling Gianna behind me, paying no attention to the way she resisted.
“Here she is.” At this, I ripped my hand out of Gianna’s and took a step back.
“Alex,whatare we doing here?” she whispered loudly, glancing at Nikolai with apprehension.
“This part?” I stepped behind her, lowering my voice. “Doesn’t require your opinion.”
And that’s when she understood. Understood that she was way out of her depth. All the color drained out of her face, and she blinked at me, no longer as clueless.
Nikolai leaned back on his desk, finally letting his eyes settle on Gianna. He looked curious, like he was truly considering her. “Hmm.” His gaze moved slowly from her face to her legs and back again. “Pretty.”
Gianna sucked in a breath, turning to me again, “A-Alex, what the—”
But I raised a hand, interrupting her. “Remember what I just said? No one is interested in what you have to say.”
Her jaw dropped when she realized the betrayal.
“First time?” Nikolai asked me, pushing off his desk and stepping closer to a petrified Gianna.
I nodded. “She’s shy.”
Gianna turned toward me in disbelief, her voice breaking. “Alex, stop! What are you doing?”
Nikolai circled her once, like he was inspecting a piece of furniture.
“She’ll need confidence,” he said. “But she’ll get that after a few shifts.” His eyes flicked to me. “She danced in the past?”
