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Silas storms in and spins in a circle, making eye contact with each of us. Pushing his suit jacket back, he rests his hands on his hips. “What the hell is going on in here?”
I shrug a shoulder, grab my lipstick, and swipe a fresh coat of red lipstick over my lips as though nothing happened. “Same old, same old.”
KONSTANTIN
“Gentlemen. My apologies for keeping you waiting,” Silas says as he finally joins us in his office. He runs a hand through his hair as he circles around his desk and gestures for us to sit.
“We’ll stand. Is she ready?”
He scoffs. “Yeah—” He meets my hard gaze and stammers, “Uh, yes. Sorry. She’ll be joining us in just a few moments.”
Something has the man rattled. My lips twitch as a I bite back a grin, wondering what my Pcholka might have done to knock him off-balance.
“I’ll hold the payment for forty-eight hours. You do understand, I’m sure. I have to make sure she follows through on your investment before I compensate her.”
“Understood.” The money will be out of his possession by sunrise, but he doesn’t need to know that. I flick a glance to the door. Where the fuck is she? There’s no way she would abandon the money. Where would she go? What would she do?
“I require a damage deposit. In the event you return her in less than presentable condition.”
“Waive it.” Eyes locked, neither of us blinks. Music thumps through the walls in a muted, dull thud.
“I’m a businessman. This is—”
I slam my palms down on his desk and loom over him. The words he’s forcing me to say to get her out of here only adding to the promise of certain torture for him later. “She’s a whore. You have half a million dollars, most of which is your fee, I’m sure. You have plenty to keep you satisfied no matter what condition I return her in. You will waive your deposit.”
My men move into place beside me, their hands tucked in their jackets and on their weapons.
His eyes dart between them. When neither of them so much as blink, he snaps his gaze back to me and bows his head slightly. “As a courtesy for your first purchase and generous full price offer, I’ll waive the fee.”
Straightening before him, I smooth my fingers over the lapels of my jacket. “Excellent.”
A soft knock at the door draws our gazes and seconds later, Nikoletta steps in wearing the same dress she performed in. How the hell am I going to get her out of here without someone spotting us?
Her blazing copper eyes meet mine and she juts her chin, proud and defiant. And thankfully quiet. Dmitri’s gaze widens with recognition and slides to mine. I don’t have to say anything. I don’t have to so much as move; with one look, he knows to stay silent.
No doubt he’s already piecing together a plan in his head which is exactly why he’s always by my side.
We still need to get out of here before anyone recognizes her, because if we don’t, we’ll have a war on our hands. A cabaret full of men who’d be all too willing to brave snatching her to claim advantage with the Romanoff family. I like to know my opponent and here, there are just too many unknown variables.
“Jacket,” I snap.
She dares to narrow her eyes on me, the little shit. “I don’t have one.”
“Find one.”
Silas comes around his desk and curls his hand around her upper arm. “Behave.” The word is barely audible, but punctuated with the way his fingers dig into her flesh.
I’ll slice his tongue out first. Followed by each and every finger on those bold fucking hands of his.
She drops her bag to the floor and steps out. Less than a minute later, she’s back with a cape.
A fucking cape.
Actually, that might be good.
Slipping it from her fingers, I wrap it around her, satisfied when the fabric swallows her whole, leaving very little skin exposed. Pulling the sides together, I cinch them in place with the belt. My lips brush her cheek as I lean in where only she can hear me as I draw the hood over her hair. “You’d do good to lose the attitude. The childish bullshit will only get us all killed or worse. You’re lucky I’m the one who bought you.”
She pulls back, hatred in her eyes. “So you can return me to my father? I’d rather die.”
