AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I shrugged noncommittally. “I don’t know. Probably. Maybe. I’ll be careful.” I looked intently into her warm brown eyes. “You understand that Ihaveto know, right?”
She sighed in resignation, giving me a kiss on the cheek. “I do,Princesa. You and Cece were always…” She crossed her index and middle fingers together, holding them up to me. “You were more of a mother to her than my poor Carmen.”
I blinked at her, unable to find words. “Yeah well…” I cleared my throat, dashing away tears. “She was my Cece, too.” My voice broke on her name. “And I can’t just let her be gone without trying to find answers.”
My grandmother nodded sadly. “Sí, mamita. I know.”
I kissed her cheek, hitched my backpack higher on my shoulder, picked up my coffee cup and left.
Work was a blur. I avoided Jodie because I didn’t want to tell her about the club or Alexei, and I knew she would ask. Between her and Dr. Cole, I felt like I was playing an elaborate game of hide and seek while trying to do my job at the same time. I was surprised he hadn’t said anything to my supervisor about me working at a strip club.
Or maybe he had, and she decided to keep it to herself. Add that to the myriad of things I had to worry about.
By the time my shift was done, I was pretty fed up with myself and everybody. I stopped off at an Ethiopian restaurant on my way to the club to have myself a wholesome meal. I sat by myself, legs crossed and tried to empty my mind of all thought as I ate. I couldn’t afford to make mistakes. Katya was out there, supposedly doing her part.
All I could do was sit on my hands and wait for her to get back to me. Meanwhile, I had to be alert and avoid whatever unthinking traps might come my way. Just the other day, I’d been caught wrong-footed with Alexei talking about the non-existent pendant I’d supposedly lost in his office.
I didn’t know if he was starting to question my motives. I took a deep breath, vowing to myself that I’d be more careful. I used the staff entrance at the back of the club. It was nestled in a well-lit alleyway and guarded by a burly guy named Jesus. He gave me a friendly nod as he opened the door for me.
I sneaked into the blue-lit hallway that led to the kitchens, hearing the clang of pots and pans and the cook’s irritated voice. The club didn’t exactly run a five-star restaurant, but they made some pretty tasty cheeseburgers and their fries were like crack. The strippers got courtesy platters in the changing rooms, and I’d had a chance to taste it all.
I walked past the kitchen and took the stairs to the second floor where the changing rooms were. I put my bag in my locker and then went to lay down on the sofa for a power nap. It was still early evening and most of the performers had not arrived yet. I resolutely closed my eyes and slept.
Later, I could see Alexei watching me as I performed my piece. His hazel eyes pierced the dark in the room like lasers as he stared at me up on stage. I hardly registered anyone else—he was all there was. He was sitting alone tonight; no Katya or other people with him. I could feel myself getting soft and wet just imagining what we might do later. Vaguely, in the back of my mind, I realized the crowd was cheering, but I had eyes for only one person.
As soon as I got off stage, I walked right up to him.
“Did you enjoy the show?” I asked coyly.
He smiled. “Go and get changed. We’re getting out of here.”
I couldn’t obey fast enough, even though it made me everything I’d hoped not to become: sex-obsessed, clingy, and needy—following Alexei around like a lap dog. I could hear the other girls whisper it. Hell, I whispered it to myself.
You’re here to find out what happened to Celia.
Repeating it to myself time and again wasn’t having the effect I hoped it would. My body had betrayed me as I let Alexei take me by the hand and lead me to his car. Even as he walked beside me, the sane, sensible part of me wanted to turn on my heels and run—just get as far away from him as I could—before he managed to break my bodyandheart.
There was only one way this thing between us could end. Badly.
I knew it, but it didn’t stop me from smiling up at him and letting him tuck his hand between my thighs as we drove to his apartment. The flimsy material of my jeans was not enough to block out the warm weight of his fingers on my thigh, the way his touch made my skin light up and tingle like it had been zapped by electricity.
His effect on me was worrying on so many levels even as it intoxicated me. I knew I’d never felt like this before, and I was terrified of my own feelings. We arrived at his place way too soon, and then we were ascending the lift and stepping into his vast studio apartment.
Alexei was carrying a bag which he set down on the kitchen island. “Why don’t you go freshen up? I just gotta sort some things out here.”
I nodded, climbing the stairs to his bedroom slowly, even as I questioned this unabashed domesticity we were playing at. Marci hadn’t said anything about Alexei bringing his conquests home. I supposed I could ask Jules, but I didn’t think she’d be inclined to tell me.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Even though I was ashamed about it, I really wanted to know what all this meant. No, the truth was that I wanted it to mean I was special. That he didn’t bring all his conquests home.
That I was the first.
Might as well wish we were in a fairy tale.
Focus, Young!
I gave myself a tiny slap as I waited for the water in the shower to heat up enough. I stepped into it, letting the water drown me in its hot, high-pressure spray. I washed the smell of the club off me, using Alexei’s shampoo and body wash liberally. I stepped out of the shower and wrapped myself in his terrycloth robe, closing my eyes and breathing in the smell of his cologne—Bleu de Chanel, I remember— just feeling my insides melt with anticipation.
