Page 12 of Betrayal and Vows

This is personal surveillance.

It’s not even my shift, but I volunteered. Which is unlike me. I’ll never admit it to Dmitri, but I’m hoping to feel something. A spark. A twitch. There are fifty women below me and I know a crook of my finger is all it would take.

Getting laid would solve so many problems.

At least that’s what Dmitri thinks.

I’m not so sure. Maybe it would make me feel alive. Feelsomething.

I’ve been picking fights I don’t need to pick. Bashing skulls harder than necessary. Dmitri says I’m tense.

He’s not wrong.

Below me, the crowd undulates like a single writhing beast. From my vantage point, I imagine it’s a snake sliding and slithering. Lights pulse over glistening skin covered in shimmering glitter and sweat. I spot two guys near the DJ booth. One of them bumps into a girl and doesn’t apologize.

I watch him for exactly twelve seconds before deciding I hate him. I’ll keep my eyes on him. If he does anything else, I’ll throw his ass out.

And then he does. I watch him grope a woman.

That’s not always wrong but it’s the woman’s reaction I monitor.

She doesn’t like it.

“Stay here,” I mutter to the junior enforcer at my side.

I’m halfway down the stairs before the guy can grab her a second time. I shoulder through the crowd, my height doing half the work, my reputation the rest.

I grab his shoulder. “Leave.” It’s a simple command.

I don’t like words. Words are obnoxious and pointless.

His brows rise. “What the fuck for?”

“I don’t like your face.”

“Are you serious?”

“Very.”

The friend opens his mouth to say something brave and stupid. I grab him by the collar and slam him against the cement wall. The music keeps thumping and people keep dancing. No one pays us any attention.

They know better.

Security swarms in, finally getting the message. I don’t say another word. I don’t have to.

The bouncers drag the two out the back like sacks of garbage.

“Thank you,” the woman that had been groped sidles up to me. “If you want to touch me?—”

I walk away, not entertaining her offer.

I climb back to my perch, back to my drink and my careful surveillance.

Dmitri stands next to me. “Feeling better?”

“No.”

“That’s a shame. The brunette over by the bar has been eyeing you like you’re a prized bull.”