Mason’s expression tightens. “Yes.”
I blink. “I don’t understand.”
Mason blows out a breath. “My father isn’t at the club, and it’s safer than visiting your parents…”
“Is this you trying to compromise?”
Mason frowns. “Take the win before I change my mind. Katia will take you.”
I don’t know how I’m supposed to respond.
All I know is that there is a warm buttery feeling in the center of my stomach because I know how hard this is for him.
Maybe there’s some wriggle room after all.
I pause, a small smile hovering on the edge of my lips. “Okay. I appreciate this.”
Mason grunts then his mouth is scorching against mine.
Before I can deepen the kiss, he wrenches himself away and walks out. I touch two fingers to my lips and wait for my heart to stop pounding. Katia is waiting by the door when I come out a short while later. In silence, she leads me down a series of hallways that end at the back door.
The late afternoon sun is on my back, but the warmth does nothing to ward off the chill in my bones.
Miss Deveroux lets us in through a back door, her usual kohl-rimmed eyes flicking to me and moving to Katia. Then she motions to us, and we follow her in, and my eyes water from the thin plume of smoke and the stench of hard liquor. The dimly lit hallway spills out onto the main floor, and it takes a minute for my eyes to adjust.
My eyes dart all around, taking in the circular booths with well-dressed men and women in skimpy clothing who are draped all over the men. Now and again, one of these men is led past, and I don’t miss the hungry glint in their eyes. Katia’s glare helps them steer clear of us.
I’m becoming oddly attached to having her nearby, even if she knows how to get under my skin.
She knows how to do that because you let her and because a part of you wonders if what she says is true.
I try to shake the thought as Miss Deveroux steps behind the bar and tilts her head. Katia pushes me in front of her, and we find an empty table in the back. Once I sit down, Katia disappears into the crowd, and I sit there alone, listening to the rhythmic music pumping through the speakers.
Is this my life now? A series of dimly lit rooms and danger around every corner?
I’m not sure why Mason thought letting me come here was a good idea.
All being back here does is make my skin crawl and remind me of the endless months when I tried to keep my head down and focus on the job.
Already, it feels like a lifetime ago.
I’m not even sure I’d recognize that version of me.
I’m not sure I’d want to.
I lean back against the booth, scanning the area intently but not registering anything until Katia walks back with two drinks in hand. She hands me a sweet-looking drink with an umbrella and sets the other one down. Her posture is erect, and she keeps one hand at her side, close to where I know she keeps her dagger. I see a flash of movement, and we turn toward it.
Several bulky-looking men emerge, half-dragging, half-carrying a light-haired man between them.
A shudder ripples through me as they stride past. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”
Katia doesn’t look at me when she replies. “I’ll be nearby.”
I sit up straighter. “Aren’t you going to sit?”
Katia raises an eyebrow. “I’m not here to socialize, and definitely not with you.”
I gesture to the other drink. “Isn’t that for you?”
