AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dasha turned to see Andrei come stalking into the old general store with a murderous glint in his eye. He began to writhe on the floor, half terrified of his approaching fate and half enraged by the sight of his old enemy.
“Bastard! I should’ve killed you when I had the chance!” Dasha screeched.
“I feel the same way,” Andrei snarled. “But I won’t make that mistake again.”
“No. N-no! Wait—” Dasha stuttered, but it was too late.
Luka watched with a smile as Andrei raised his gun, aimed it at Dasha’s forehead, and pulled the trigger. He admired the spray of blood through the air, the way Dasha’s cry fell abruptly silent, the echo of the gunshot through the ghost town. He stayed to watch the scarlet pool around Dasha’s head as the cavalry rushed in to take Inessa to safety.
It was beautiful in a hideous, final kind of way. Even hours later, when Luka finally climbed into the shower at the end of a nearly two-day stint, the thrill lingered. And when he dropped off to sleep, his dreams were colorful fantasies of future violence.
CHAPTER2
KIRA
On a sunny blocknear downtown Las Vegas, a red-winged blackbird perched on a turquoise privacy fence. Its inky-black plumage and scarlet shoulders shimmered in the light of the late afternoon sun. The bird hopped along the fence, its shrewd eyes taking in the city surroundings. The neighborhood was located within minutes of the halogen-lit, twenty-four-hour party that comprised downtown. It was late afternoon on a Friday, and within hours, the nightlife would reach a level that sent vibrations down the sidewalks of the surrounding residential area. For now, there was a feeling in the air of anticipation. The city was taking a deep breath before diving into the deep end of sin and excess.
The blackbird on its perch turned to catch a flicker of repetitive movement through a window with the curtains pulled back. It tilted its head to watch for a moment, almost as though it was intrigued by what it saw.
A young woman was standing in the cramped bathroom of a studio apartment. The bathroom, while small enough to touch both walls with arms outstretched, was decorated so lovingly and meticulously that it made up for the size. There were bottles of inexpensive perfumes and lotions lined up on the shelves, accentuated with little thrift-store knickknacks collected over the years. A ceramic rabbit with big mournful eyes sat at one end of the top shelf, and a lavender-chamomile wax candle flickered softly at the other. The shower curtain was a delicate light linen, clearly handmade, and dyed with flowers and vegetables to make artsy swatches of purple, pink, and gold. It had been a birthday gift from the young woman’s mother, and she treasured it deeply. The studio was filled with personal touches like that.
The girl who lived there, Kira Rudavin, was twenty-three years old. Most of her neighbors lived in nearly identical ranch-style studios arranged on the block with turquoise privacy fencing. There was a mix of older retired folks on a fixed budget and young single people looking to live as close to the dancing flame of downtown Las Vegas as they could afford. Kira, however, didn’t exactly fit into either group. Looking at her, it was easy enough to categorize her as the latter. She was beautiful and lush, a freshly blooming flower with her sweet countenance and thick hair. The contrast of her dark auburn waves and silky-smooth pale skin was dramatic. Combined with her eyes the hue of a robin’s fragile blue egg, Kira was striking to look at.
But she was no party girl. She was single and she was young, but it wasn’t the lure of decadent fun that drew her out to the neon-tinted Strip night after night. Kira actually tried to stay away from the bright lights and noise in her downtime. It was more her style to curl up in the papasan chair in the main room of her studio with an e-reader and a cup of tea. She wasn’t particularly interested in wiggling into a bodycon dress, strapping on some uncomfortable heels, slathering on a full face of makeup, and waiting in line for an overblown nightclub full of drunk men trying to hit on her.
She received quite enough of that experience at work. Kira was a cocktail waitress at the Shining Star Casino, a popular hangout for locals and tourists alike. Truth be told, the job wasn’t a natural fit for Kira. Shewasgood enough at it, mostly because she was an overwhelmingly earnest person who tried her best at everything she did. Kira had the skills to balance a flimsy tray of clinking cocktail glasses up over her shoulder, even while weaving through a packed casino and keeping that perfect, winning smile on her face. She had tons of energy, especially since she tended to spend her days off resting and recuperating so that she could give her all at the Shining Star. She was willing to go the extra mile for the casino’s clientele, even if it meant more work. As far as her bosses were concerned, Kira was a real asset.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that she was also stunningly gorgeous. Kira wasn’t self-conscious, but she wasn’t vain either. She suspected she was thought of as ‘pretty,’ mostly because she fielded compliments like that all the time at work. The men she had to indulge even when they were sloppy, slurring their words, and smelled like body odor mixed with tequila were big fans of Kira. They flocked to her like flies to honey. She often found herself entertaining groups of men on their nights out on the prowl. No one could seem to resist Kira after seeing her walk by in her skimpy uniform. They piled on the compliments, the sly or less subtle invitations, and the concentrated attention. A more conceited woman might have let it go to her head, but Kira always reminded herself that these guys were intoxicated. On top of that, they were often vying for her attention. Kira knew they would sayanythingif they thought it might make them look cool in front of their friends.
It was all part of the job. Just like the outfit she reluctantly pulled from the in-unit dryer. She held it up and shook out the wrinkles before slipping out of her cozy house clothes and into her nightly alter-ego. She held her breath while she reached back to zip herself up, the dress conforming to the shape of her body. It was a flashy red and black ensemble, meant to evoke a traditional deck of playing cards. The dress was all one piece, but with one cutout around the stomach to show off her toned abs and another heart-shaped window at the chest. Kira’s heart fluttered as she looked at herself in the mirror. The amount of cleavage she saw made her nervous. Hanging around her house in an oversized T-shirt and baggy pants, it was easy to forget the vixen-like shape of her body, but the uniform made it impossible to ignore.
Kira pulled on a pair of black fishnets and her standard-issue sleek black work heels, which bumped her up to five-foot-eight. She brushed out her long, shimmering waves of red and slicked them back into a high ponytail. Continuing the transformation, Kira set her black-rimmed reading glasses on the bedside table and carefully popped in a pair of contacts. She brushed her thick lashes with mascara, applied a little sheen of red lipstick to match her uniform, and blotted it on a napkin. She took a deep breath, gave one last longing look at her comfy little studio, and stepped out into the late April evening.
Keys jangling, she slid into her old car and fit the keys in the ignition. It took a few tries to get the engine running, but Kira knew the precise angle and force it required. She took a tiny amount of pride in knowing most people would struggle to start her car. It was a fifteen-year-old two-door compact in a very common shade of silver. The paint was scratched in several places, there were dents in the passenger-side panel, and the back bumper looked like it had been through hell. The odometer had an alarming number of miles on it. The stereo was crackly and only worked if Kira thumped it with the heel of her hand just right. The car chugged and vibrated slightly as it puttered along. By no means was it a flashy ride.
But Kira didn’t mind. Just like people, she knew the appearance of her car didn’t matter so much as what was on the inside. The engine was picky, but it still ran. The leather seats were cracked and peeling, but still firmly in place. The stereo had its moments, but for the most part, Kira could jam along with the radio as she drove to work. It got her from point A to point B, and that was as much as she could ask for.
As she drove, the city lights flashed and blurred around her, blending together along the bustling downtown streets. The sun was gone by now; just a faint grayness in the sky remained in its place. The stars were invisible in the midst of the bright lights. Kira rolled down her window to feel the fresh air, knowing she was about to be cooped up in a smoky, boozy casino for the night. As she often did, Kira let her cell phone connect with the struggling stereo system so she could listen to any messages out loud while she drove. She wouldn’t have much opportunity to check her phone once she was clocked in for the evening.
There was one voicemail received earlier while she was getting ready for work. The automated recording beeped, and Kira grinned instantly at the sound of her mother’s voice coming through the stereo.
“Hi, Kira-bug,” her mom began cheerily, “just calling to say thank you so much for the sweet little care package you left on the doorstep. Your father was tickled to see that you remembered his favorite aftershave. It’s getting hard to find at the shop around the corner nowadays. Oh, and these oatmeal cookies are just to die for, honey. I don’t know how you manage to cook up such amazing treats in such a tiny kitchen. You do too much for us. Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks, and I hope you have a good shift at work tonight. Send me a message when you get home later. I don’t care how late it is! I need to know that my little girl is safe. I love you, bug. Oh, and Dad says he loves you too. Bye!”
Kira smiled the rest of the drive. It made her heart happy to know that her parents enjoyed their little gift. Kira was always looking for ways to brighten up their day and help them out. Her parents were her greatest supporters. They made sure she knew she was loved. Kira knew her parents would do anything they could for her, and she felt the same. When she’d been growing up, her mom and dad had often struggled to fully provide. They were immigrants, and not by choice. It was only after ‘home’ became too dangerous to safely raise a child that Kira’s parents had left for America. Kira had been only a toddler then, and didn’t remember Russia at all. In fact, she barely knew more than a few Russian phrases. Apart from her last name and the traces of a Russian accent in her parents’ voices, Kira felt totally removed from that world. She had grown up in Las Vegas, surrounded by American people and culture.
Her parents had fought tooth and nail to keep the bills paid and the lights on at home. As a child, Kira had known two things for sure: her family had very little money, but they had more than enough love to go around. Kira learned to help out from a young age, to cherish what few possessions she had, and to be thankful. Her mother was no longer able to work, and her father dedicated every day to being her caretaker. She had watched her parents work their asses off to take care of her, and now she considered it her turn to take care of them. Kira was more than happy to share, except she had little to begin with.
That was what brought her to the employee parking lot of the casino. The Shining Star Casino was lit up like a beacon. It was an impressive building, a glorious work of architecture that stood out even among the stiff competition. It was intimidating.
Kira gave herself one last glance in the car mirror. She locked her car, swung her purse over her shoulder, and assumed an air of confidence as she strode across the parking lot to the rear entrance. Kira ignored the hoots and hollers from various passing vehicles and groups of guys on the sidewalk. She was in work mode now. She was not about to entertain any guy who wasn’t paying her for the privilege. She needed to make money, for herself and for her parents, and that meant turning on the charm.
Kira typed in a code at the inconspicuous back door. It swung open to reveal a pair of security guards, who let her pass without a word. She dropped her belongings at her locker, clocked in for the night, and hit the casino floor.
As soon as she stepped through the doorway, Kira wason. Her posture straightened and her hips swung a little wider, making her legs look longer and her breasts jiggle oh-so-slightly as she walked. Her ponytail bounced. Her blue eyes smoldered. The corners of her full lips ticked up in the faintest seductive smile. Everything about her begged for a second look… or more.
These guys didn’t stand a chance. Among the jingling slot machines and poker tables, Kira stood out. She liked to enter the casino floor this way, crossing more ground while making her beeline to the serving station. That way, she could catch as many eyes as possible before she even picked up the first tray. Her clients would already have their first impression and be on the lookout for her, specifically. By the time she sidled up to her coworker, Lily, there were several people staring at her.
“There you are! I knew you’d be early. As always,” Lily chirped. “Too bad you just barely missed Mr. Muscles, though.”
