“He laughed,” I say before taking a sip of my drink.
“He laughed? Really? That’s all?” Seb says, his brows furrowed in confusion. I see he’s still retained some of his civilian morals.
“Ethan is particular, beautiful. Don’t worry about it,” Dima reassures just as a waitress delivers a drink for Dima and a bottle of water for Seb, who from the look of how he’s dressed in all black with a red waistcoat, is working tonight. He runs the bar here.
Dima watches me for a moment, then tilts his head. “You look… focused. Haven’t seen that look in years.”
“I am.”
“On?”
I think of sweat drenched fabric and uneven breathing, and the way Leo looks at the ground when he’s bracing himself.
“A man.”
Dima sighs. “Of course.”
“I’m going to offer him money.”
Dima blinks. “For what, exactly?”
“One night.”
He chokes on his drink. “You’re joking.”
“No.”
He studies me carefully now. “You don’t do people beyond their purpose. That’s why you only ever fuck.”
“I know.”
Silence hums between us, threaded with the music.
“One night,” I continue, “he will understand the terms, so he will step into it willingly.”
“And then?” Dima asks.
“Then I keep him. After I’ve dealt with the wife.”
“He’s married?” Dima asks, and I nod.
I look over at Seb who just stares at me. “You can’t just keep people, Ethan,” Seb says, and I roll my eyes before meeting his.
“Watch me.”
Seb looks at Dima who shrugs and continues to enjoy his drink, and then turns his focus back onto me. I don’t know why this man thinks his opinion means anything to me.
“You’re talking about kidnapping with better manners,” Seb scolds.
“I’m talking about an arrangement.”
“And what about the wife?” Seb says.
The word irritates me more than the laughter earlier.
“She’s a loose end.”
“That’s one way to put it,” Dima says.
