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I just need to get out of here…I waited two hours until it was just past midnight, hoping that would be enough time so neither Sadie nor Kimmy would get suspicious about why I wanted to leave early. What other explanation could I even give them? That there are two men here who have a problem with my family and possibly want to hurt me? Definitely not.
“Guys, I think I might call it a night.” I stifle a yawn, hoping I can get my friends out of there without the two men attempting anything. If I can just get Sadie and Kimmy away, then Blake can handle the intimidating monsters in the corner. I’m not sure they know what Blake is, which would at least give him something of an upper hand.
“Seriously?” Kimmy shoots me a look. “But the night just started.” I glance uneasily at the door. I don’t want to just leave them here. Not if these two men have seen them hanging with me most of the night.
Sadie frowns, studying me. “Maybe we should all call it a night. I have work early tomorrow anyway.”
I let out a soft sigh of relief. Thank God for Sadie and her intuitiveness. Kimmy glances between us, pouting.
“I guess we can go.” She rolls her eyes, setting her last drink on the bar top. “This place was getting boring anyway.” I know she’s only saying that to convince herself to leave, but right now, I’d take any excuse.
“Well, let’s go.” I link my arm through theirs, heading towards the exit as quickly as possible. I try to spot Blake again so he knows we’re leaving, but can’t find him in the quick scan I do of the room. Unlinking my arms from theirs, I send him a quick text to meet me outside.
As soon as we step out onto the street, I spot the few cabs waiting around to take home the early leavers. Glancing behind me, I don’t see the two men, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. I know they’re still in there somewhere, most likely trying to find their own way through the crowd to follow us. Men like that wouldn’t just let me get away.
“Here.” I hold open the cab door, letting Kimmy and Sadie in first before closing it.
“You’re not coming with us?” Sadie pokes her head out the window, looking worried.
“Ah, no. I sent a text to my driver. He should be here soon,” I lie.
Sadie doesn’t look entirely convinced, but she nods anyway. “Text me when you’re home safe.”
I smile, waving them off until the taxi disappears around the corner. As soon as they’re gone, I can feel a bit of the weight falling from my shoulders. Now that they’re safe, I can focus on getting myself home. Swiping open my phone, I send two texts; one to Blake asking if he’s got eyes on me, and the other to my driver, telling him to get here as quickly as he can. If he doesn’t arrive by the time those goons come out, I can always just hop into another cab.
Blake responds right away, letting me know he was almost out. I tuck my phone into my clutch, taking out the nail file knife I’d tucked in there earlier. It’s not much, but it’s at least something. All I can do is stand there, watching the front door. There’s no line into the club now, most of the occupants either having gone inside or found somewhere else with a shorter wait time. It’s not like the Ivy Night Club is in hot demand around here. One security guard stands out front, which makes me feel a tad bit safer, though I’m not sure how well he’d fare against two Bratva men.
I’m so focused on the door that I stop paying attention to the street behind me.
Too late, I hear the sound of screeching tires. Doors open just as I whip around, catching sight of two more men lunging from a black limo. They grab me before I can make a sound. One twists my wrist, forcing me to drop the knife as the other tries to yank me through the open doors. I lash out, smacking one with my clutch as hard as I can, but the man’s made of stone, apparently. It doesn’t phase him. Desperately, I look towards the front of the club. The security guard is already down, the two men from inside looming over his unconscious body. At least, I hope he was just unconscious.
“Blake!” I scream as loudly as I can before a hand claps over my mouth.
The door of the club opens. Blake steps out. There’s no way to warn him. I watch helplessly as the two stalkers jump him, their fists flying. Blake doesn’t stand a chance, going down with only a few hits. Someone orders the car to drive, and I force myself to look away.
There are four men in the limo. The two who grabbed me sit on either side, locking me in place. The other two lounge on the seats that line the car’s sides. The entire interior is colored black, from the carpet to the seats and ceiling. In the dim lighting, it’s hard to make out their faces, but I already know who they are.
Bratva.
My breath catches in my throat, my heart hammering against my ribcage. Sweat slicks my palms as I grip my clutch. It’s my only weapon now, though it’s not much. The windows are tinted too dark for me to make out anything, but I can feel the car moving. I try to calm down. It won’t do me any good to panic now. Instead of focusing on my fear, I study the two men across from me.
One looks to be in his forties, with dark blond hair buzzed close to his skull. His blue eyes are stunning but cold. Distant. There’s a certain look to him that just screams predator, and I know I won’t be getting away so easily. The other is younger, and there’s clearly some family resemblance. The same blond hair, though his is longer on top. The same icy blue eyes that seem to burn through the shadows.
“Ms. Ryan, I’m so very pleased zat you could join us.” The older man’s Russian accent is thick, causing the hair along my arms to rise. “I hope zey didn’t trouble you too much.” He sneers as he studies me, those blue eyes scanning me from head to toe. I freeze, unable to speak.
The man crosses his legs, undoing the lower button of his expensive-looking suit jacket. “Do you know who I am?”
“I—” The words stick in my throat. I know exactly who he is. “Savin Petrov. The Pakhan,” I whisper. His name tastes bitter on my tongue.
“Very good.” He seems pleased with my answer. “I have message for your father.”
I tense, knowing well enough not to reply. Ice pricks along my spine at his words. Knowing the Bratva, this message could very well mean shipping my dead body right to my father’s door.
Savin seems to relish drawing out the suspense. He waits for a beat, letting his words sink in, letting them illicit the fear he so badly wants to see in my eyes. “Your father owes us a great deal of money. But it seems he’s unable to pay.” Something dark flashes in his eyes. “Running to ze Italians. Brave for a man vose businesses are failing, no?”
“I don’t—” I choke on the words, my tongue feeling as heavy as lead. I have no idea what he’s talking about. Steeling myself, I catch his eye. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Savin chuckles, seeming amused. Leaning forward, he reaches across the seat. Rough fingers brush against my cheek to my hair, letting the strands call across his hand. “So innocent,” he murmurs. Abruptly, he leans back again as if he’d never touched me in the first place. My skin burns from where his skin had met mine.
