“Yeah, Rosa. It’s only because the man looks like he could crush our skulls with his bare hands. Nothing to worry about.” Kara rolls her eyes.
“You know I’ll be safe,” I say.
“Don’t get dead.” Kara hugs me.
“I won’t.” I promise, holding up three fingers like we did in girl-scouts when we were kid.
Another round of drinks shows up just as I turn to leave.
“Have fun!” Kara calls after me.
Dmitri stands in the doorway waiting for me with his hands in his front pockets. He’s not staring at his phone doomscrolling; he’s watching me.
Intently.
“All set.” I breathe a sigh when I get to him.
“They know where you’ll be?”
“Yes.” I think about making a joke about being sure to keep my cell separate from my body should he decide to kill me but then think better of it.
Just in case.
“This way.” He slides his hand down my arm, then links our fingers together.
He leads me downstairs, out of the club, and into a black SUV idling outside the front door. The man driving the car keeps his eyes firmly set in front of him, not even glancing in the rearview mirror at us.
“You always have a driver?” I question as we pull into the traffic.
“Not always.” He pulls out his phone. “I’m sorry, I have to take care of something.”
“Of course. Sure.” I turn my attention out the window, watching as we make our way through the city.
Dmitri is busy on his phone, tapping away on one message after another. I leave him to it, privately enjoying the silence of the car.
There’s no music playing or sounds from the city outside. Just calming quiet.
The late fall chill has followed us inside the car, crisping the air. I realize then I left my jacket in the coat check at the club. The ticket for it is in my purse, so Kara and Rosa won’t be able to get it for me.
I’ll need to make a trip back tomorrow to grab it.
“Sorry about that.” Dmitri puts his phone away just as we pull up to the Mark Hotel.
“No, I understand. Work.” I smile. It’s small, and probably shows how nervous I am.
I wish the bravado I had ten minutes ago when I agreed to this insanity would return. Now all I seem to have is frayed nerve endings and a wobbly spine.
“Stay there,” he says as he pushes his door open and climbs out.
Briefly, I consider the idea that I might’ve made a stupid decision.
Is this where he locks me inside and the driver pulls away, taking me to a horrible location where I’ll be locked away in a basement or a shipping container?
A moment of panic grips me, and I reach for the door handle.
The door pops open as I lean into it, and I nearly spill out onto the street.
Dimitri catches me, helping to right me before I fall out.
