“You met Kiley?” he asked.
“She’s…” I paused, trying to think of a nice but realistic term. But I ended up slipping into sarcasm. “…cheerful?”
But it worked; amusement flashed over his face. “She’s interesting. The best in her field.”
“What’s going on with Grant?”
Zaid adjusted his posture, sitting forward in his seat. Now was time for business; he had his mind on something. “There’s a meeting at the Great Pleasures Palace soon.”
“Like the other night on the Strip?” I asked. Though if my eavesdropping was right, this one included sadomasochism.
“Yes and no,” he said. “We are in talks with a potential client. This particular client has his own guards, but I need to convince him that he needs my services too. It’s a complicated situation.”
“Then what’s with the sadomasochism?”
“I should’ve known you’d pick up on that.” Zaid grinned. “This client happens to be an enthusiast of sadomasochism.”
“Like a regular at Club Hades?”
“He was banned from Club Hades. His Afterglow membership was revoked.”
It was hard to imagine. I had seen people beaten black and blue at Club Hades, people drawn up in ropes, bodies teased with knives. What could be so bad that they revoked his membership?
Then I realized the answer.
“It’s Eric, isn’t it?” The recognition straining his jaw showed that I was right. “Is this it, then? The final night?”
An offended expression covered his face. “We have some time before I can offer you as a gift.”
“Because I’m not ready?”
“Because, Heather,” his voice harsh, “I need to make sure everything is in place. Not just you.”
I shrank down in the seat. Zaid linked his fingers, looking at me like I had disappointed him, made some grand mistake. But it had only been a question.
But there was more to it. This thing with Eric. But I wasn’t sure what.
And there was one way to find out.
“Can I go with you?” I asked.
His jaw dropped. “Why would I risk—”
“You want to find out more about him, right? His weaknesses.” Zaid’s eyebrow twitched. “I can get closer than any of your men can. As a woman, you know? They have auctions, right? There must be something like that at the Great Pleasures Palace—”
“No,” Zaid said.
“No what?”
“You can’t come, Heather.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“You don’t know Eric,” Zaid hissed. “One interaction with him, and you could be marked. Branded forever. Under his control.”
“You underestimate me.” I knew I was echoing Grant, potentially pushing Zaid too far, but I had to stand my ground. I needed to help. It wasn’t just about Zaid’s revenge. It was about my sister too. “Even if I don’t talk to him, I can talk to some of his followers. He has women, right? There’s gotta be something I can do to help.” An idea crossed my mind; I sprang on it. “You’re going to offer me as a gift, right? What if we use this party to tantalize him? Tease him. Make him want me. Make it part of the bargain. A tie to the negotiation. Not just a gift for signing the contract.”
Zaid’s furrowed brow relaxed; my idea made some sense.
