11
LEONORE
It’s been almost a week since my last run-in with Silas, and it’s put me on edge for all the wrong reasons. He pushes and shoves so hard to get his way and then simply vanishes. I should be relieved by the fact, but I know, instinctively, that it’s not a good thing when Silas goes quiet. I suspect I’ll most likely have more bodies than usual come across my table.
I haven’t managed to see Nessa since my last sleepover, so when I walk into her work, I spot her right away. She’s standing at the bar talking to Soph, who immediately sees me and waves me over. I don’t know a lot about Soph, just that she is always friendly when I come in, and I like to tip her. Nessa told me that she is caring for her mother who is bedridden and has to pay for a nurse full-time. Other than that, I don’t know much else about her. She is young, with a pep in her step, much younger than my thirty-three years, and always seems positive.
Nessa turns to look at me, and as soon as I am close enough, she reaches for my hand and pulls me in, so I am by her side.
“Soph was wondering if we were a thing,” Nessa laughs as she tells me, and Soph’s eyes go wide. Clearly, she is not used to Nessa and how she loves to blurt things out. Even things sheshould not. She is the outspoken one. I have always been the more reserved one. I guess our jobs reflect that as well.
“I wasn’t…” Soph shakes her head, and her cheeks go pink.
“It’s fine; no, practically sisters,” I tell her, to which she picks up a cloth and starts wiping down the counter, avoiding eye contact with us.
“Nessa, a group of wealthy men walked in. I need you to be your best for them,” someone says from behind me. Nessa immediately straightens her spine and pulls her robe down her shoulders as I pull out the stool and take a seat.
“You fine waiting for me, possibly only an hour, then we can go and eat?”
“Yes, I’ll just play on my phone.” I wave her off. She leans in and kisses my cheek before walking off.
“Just a water again?” Soph says, avoiding eye contact with me.
“That would be great.” She gets me a bottle of water, and I put a fifty on the counter.
“You tip awfully well. I didn’t want to ask Nessa, but what is it you do for work?” Now she is looking at me.
“I’m a doctor.” And leave it at that.
“Nessa said you work mostly at night, which is why you visit here when she’s finishing.”
“I do. I work best at night and choose those hours mostly for myself,” I inform her.
“You must be good to choose your own hours. You look so young.”
“Thank you.” She nods and takes the money from the counter and walks off as a few men walk over for her to serve them.
Soph is dressed in her usual outfit of little booty shorts with no top, her hair down, and glitter all over her chest. I don’t pay attention to the men she is serving. Really, there is no reason for it. I couldn’t care less about a man coming into a strip club to gethis rocks off. That is, until they start talking to me. For example, I know the chair next to me is pulled out, and in it sits a man. But I choose not to look his way or give him a lick of attention. That is until Soph is back and leans over the counter so her cleavage is on full display as she smiles at the man next to me.
“What can I get you, handsome?” she purrs. I silently smirk at her words, how different she speaks to them than when she talks to me.
“We will both have whiskey on the rocks.”
That voice.
My body locks tight as I realize exactly who sits next to me.
Him.
Silas Vescari.
Think of the devil, and he shall appear.
I look up at Soph, whose eyebrows are raised, silently questioning me, but before I say anything, she says, “Just you; she is happy with her water,” and I still don’t look at him, impressed by Soph having a backbone on my behalf.
“You know what she likes?” Silas asks Soph, and I have to give it to her—she doesn’t falter at his dark, commanding voice. He owns whatever room he walks into; I know that without a doubt. The energy shifts whenever he speaks. And ordinarily, his presence is as cool as my morgue. That’s the kind of power he has. Except this time, I didn’t even notice. Have I become too used to his commanding presence?
“I do, so just one, or would you prefer a double?”
