AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He pulled the car into a mostly empty parking lot in the middle of the desert. The associated building was small and unassuming. It was a one-story, ranch-style structure made of brick, wood siding, and gray roof tiles. There was a chain-link fence encircling the building and a gate partly opened, from which a stone path led to the front steps. It had a large porch with a few wicker chairs and a small table. The building itself was unmarked, and the only indication of what was inside came from the carved wooden entrance designed to look like saloon doors. Right above the entry hung a wooden sign, gently rocking in the breeze, with the wordsKatja’s Cathouse - Vodka and Vixensengraved into it, along with a simple illustration of a black cat arching its back next to a martini glass. String lights twinkled along the eaves of the porch, beckoning patrons inside with folksy charm.
Mikhail cut the engine and said, “Alright. Let’s go.”
“Wait, what are we here to do?” Annika asked as she rushed after him.
“Put down a threat,” he said vaguely.
“Put down… as in kill someone?” Annika hissed, horrified.
Mikhail smiled and knocked at the door, not answering her panicked question. He could feel Annika tensing up beside him, but he needed to see how she handled things in the moment. They heard the clicking of high heels approaching and then the door swung open to reveal five drop-dead-gorgeous women from ages nineteen to thirty-two, all dressed (barely) in lingerie. Their hair was teased out and voluminous, their makeup flawlessly sultry. Their eyes seemed to double in size as they drank in Mikhail’s appearance. They giggled and shoved past each other, trying to get a better view.
“Ladies, ladies, get hold of yourselves. Back to your rooms, please,” said a maternal voice from behind them. The young women hesitantly stepped out of the way, disappearing into the building behind them.
A woman in her fifties, barely over five feet tall in heels, grinned at them both.
“Ah, Mikhail! It’s been too long, kiddo,” she greeted him warmly. “And who is this gorgeous creature? Wow, that body and those eyes! She’s perfect. I can think of a few clients off the top of my head who would justlovea booking with her.”
“Um,” Annika squeaked.
“She’s not a recruit, Mama,” he said, holding back laughter as he patted Annika on the back. “She’s with me.”
The older woman frowned for a moment, then gasped as the realization crossed over her. She stared at Annika with a whole new interest, stepping closer to inspect her.
“Ohhhh, I see. That makes more sense. I was wondering why the great Mikhail Sokolov would take time out of his busy schedule just to bring me a new hire,” she chuckled, waving them inside. “Lovely to meet you, Annika. Come on in, you two.”
They stepped through the threshold into a large space that resembled more of a living room than a lobby. There were sofas and loveseats, a few cushy armchairs, a coffee table, and pillows galore. A rustic wooden chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the place was decorated with cutesy, tongue-in-cheek knickknacks and signs. There was a vintage statuette of a young woman glancing coquettishly over her shoulder as an imaginary gust of wind lifted her skirts to reveal the lacy black panties underneath. On the wall hung a street sign that readSPEED HUMPS AHEAD. On the coffee table, there were several magazines displaying women in various stages of undress, as well as a gilded copy ofThe Kama Sutra. Soft oldies music warbled from a tiny antique radio on the counter separating the living room space from the small kitchen. Two long hallways jutted off from each side of the living room, each with framed portraits of beautiful young women hanging along the walls.
“Looks great in here,” Mikhail pointed out.
The older woman beamed at him proudly. “The girls and I have been working hard in our off hours to make it cozy again. You would never guess the place got robbed last week, eh? Let me get you two some tea and treats. Our newest recruit, Regina, is quite the baker.”
“No need for all that, Mama,” Mikhail told her gently.
Annika looked beyond confused as to why he was calling this woman ‘mama.’ “That’s not your actual mom, is it?” she whispered, standing on tiptoe.
He shook his head. “An old friend,” he murmured back.
“You’ve always been just like your father. All work and no play,” Mama Katja chided fondly. “Well, in that case, we’ll get right to it. The girls did a pretty good job tying up our little thief in the Red Velvet Room, but the sooner you get him out of there, the sooner I can book the suite. It may look quiet in here right now, but you should see our numbers on the weekend.”
“Your numbers aren’t under question, Mama,” he assured her. “I know how valuable the brothels are to us. There’s no better businesswoman than you.”
It was true. Katja, originally called Cathy, had been a civilian associate of the mafia since she was arrested by cops on payroll for prostitution decades ago when she was only eighteen. The officers who brought her in recognized instantly that she was no fool. Young Cathy was pretty, clever, and cajoling, the kind of woman who could handle a man and handle her business. She was more useful to them as an asset than as just another woman thrown into jail for sex work, and Vasili was quick to recruit her to their newly acquired brothel.
Back then, the place was rundown and under the radar, making barely enough business to stay afloat. But from the second Cathy—renamed Katja by Vasili himself—had taken over the place, it had boomed in success. The new madam rapidly established herself as a trustworthy ally and incredible manager of the site. Not only could she entertain a client herself, but she knew how to keep the brothel running smoothly. She kept the facility clean and comfortable. She cared for the women working beneath her like daughters. It was how she gained the moniker ‘Mama’ Katja, and the name stuck. Mikhail had known her all his life, and considered her a sort of distant aunt.
“I was so sorry to hear about your father, Mikhail,” she said, putting a hand on his arm. “He was always good to us here at the Cathouse.”
“He thought of you as one of his great successes,” he told her. He rolled up his sleeves. “Now, take me to the Red Velvet Room. I have an appointment.”
“Every family has its problem child,” Katja said sagely. “He needs punishment, but don’t go too hard on him, Mikhail.”
“Can’t make any promises,” he replied, striding along the hallway.
“Where are you going?” Annika called after him.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” Mikhail replied.
He heard Mama Katja say, “Take a seat, dear. He won’t be long.”
