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Who do I trust?
What’s coming next?
Will I have the chance to get the hell out? And if so, where do I go?
* * *
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
Charleigh
Niko’s office door flies open, startling us both. I drop my Perrier bottle, and it tumbles to the plush carpet below, where it begins to empty.
I gasp and snatch it up as fast as I can.
Vadik looks between the two of us and scowls. My heart jumps into my throat. Have I done something wrong?
But Niko is unfazed and without hesitation, crosses the room in two long steps and grabs a cloth napkin from the bar cart. I move my knees aside to make room as he dabs at the wet carpet next to my stocking feet.
And hell if he doesn’t smell nice. With him crouched so close, I watch a lock of blond hair fall onto his forehead, and have a strong urge to push it off his face. I sit on my hands to resist the temptation, and he finally scrapes it back with his own free hand.
What the hell is wrong with me? These guys are keeping me here basically against my will. I say basically, because I signed that damn contract, but what choice did I have? It was me or Pops.
Or Evie, God forbid.
Urges aside, I am not here to be Niko’s friend, nor his brothers. No, I’m here to ‘work,’ whatever the hell that entails. So far, it means serving cocktails to creepy, handsy men, and avoiding slimy troublemakers in the corridor.
Oh, and trying not to piss off the mercurial Dominika.
Dream job, yo.
What a hellhole I’ve fallen into.
Vadik places a hand on my bare shoulder. It’s warm and soothing, and once again I’m cursing myself for thinking it could be anything more than it actually is.
These guys don’t give a rat’s ass about you, idiot.
He gives me a light squeeze. It’s neither sexual nor inappropriate. Just kind of… friendly. “Charleigh, it’s time for lunch. We’d like for you to join us.”
There they go again with the being nice bullshit. But I know it’s just a matter of time before the other shoe drops. I’ve watched enough crime drama to know I’m being groomed. They make you think you’re special, that they are there for you, and that you’re safe. Then one day it all blows up. They do something horrible, worse than you could ever imagine. And you’re surprised because you didn’t see it coming through the flattery.
God help me when that happens. Because I know it will.
My feet are happy to have had the little break they did while I chilled on Niko’s sofa, but when I pull my shoes back on and get to my feet, they silently start to scream again. Vadik gestures toward the door and both brothers allow me to pass first, as if they are real gentlemen or something.
Gentlemen who are ready to off my father at a moment’s notice.
And as I step into the dimly lit hallway, trying my best not to limp, who do I nearly run smack into but Dimitri. Again.
This should be interesting.
He smiles, his yellow teeth failing to hide a waft of his cigarette breath, and my head snaps back in involuntary disgust. With more presence of mind, something I clearly need to work on, I could hide my revulsion.
“Well, if it isn’t my pretty new friend, Charleigh,” he booms, grabbing my hand before I can think to move out of his reach.
I back into the wall behind me, anyway.
And what does he do, but move closer.
