One street before Restaurant Row, they passed a darkened alley tucked between two towering, old world brick buildings. A woman suddenly emerged from the alley on shaking legs, startling them all.
It was Genni who recovered first. “Mrs. Langley?”
Mrs. Langley looked to be in her mid-thirties and her perfectly dyed blonde hair told Eve how Genni knew her.
“Oh hello, Genni, dear,” Mrs. Langley replied, giving her a warm smile before leaning forward to give her two kisses on both cheeks. Even next to Genni, Eve could smell the faint hint of perfume, which didn’t quite cover the smell of sweat and…something else.
Even though Mrs. Langley looked slightly disheveled, she screamed of wealth, from the softness of her skirt, to her well-manicured fingers, to her impeccable features. If Eve wasn’t mistaken,Mr. Langley just might be the Langley of Langley Liquor and Spirits, which she knew supplied most of the Night District with its booze, a lucrative endeavor.
“What are you doing here?” Genni asked, putting on a polite smile, her eyes briefly straying to the alley that Mrs. Langley appeared from abruptly.
Mrs. Langley flashed Genni what could only be described as a wicked smile and without saying a word, pointed to the small, gold engraving on one of the brick buildings encasing the alley.
It simply read:Madame Allegria.
Shock went through Eve and she looked at the alley with fresh eyes. It was a brothel. But why would a wealthy woman like Mrs. Langley be visiting abrothelin the Night District? Surely she could afford high-end male escorts.
“Is that…” Genni trailed off, before saying, “Is thattheMadame? The one who employs…”
Mrs. Langley smiled and put her finger to her lips. Now, Eve knew that scent she couldn’t recognize was the scent of sex. Now she knew why Mrs. Langley looked so…unkempt.
“Don’t tell my husband, dear,” the older woman said with a wink. Eve realized she didn’t care if her husband knew, that was why she wasn’t being discreet about it or why she didn’t seem worried that Genni saw her.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Genni laughed. “Youhaveto tell me all about them during your appointment on Thursday. Promise?”
A driverless car pulled up next to the curb at that moment. The car was black with tinted windows.
“I promise, dear,” Mrs. Langley murmured, stepping past them towards the car. She nodded to both of them as the car door slid open. “I must go, however. My husband is expecting me at a charity event. Good evening, ladies. Genni, I’ll see you in a couple days.”
Then Mrs. Langley stepped in the car. And Eve swore the older womanmoanedas she sat on the plush seats, right before the door slid shut and the driverless car sped away, leaving them staring after her.
Eve looked behind her at the alley again and on the street they were on. It was practically deserted, though it was tucked between the main Night District clubs and Restaurant Row. Only a handful of drunken couples passed, giggling and swaying, stumbling on the cobblestones.
“What was that about?” Eve asked.
Genni pulled her so they continued towards Restaurant Row, but she was buzzing with excitement and had a spring in her step. “I can’t wait until Thursday now.”
“I don’t understand,” Eve said, looking over her shoulder. “Who is Madame Allegria?”
Genni stopped again, turning to her with shock. “Eve. Madame Allegria.TheMadame.”
Eve’s brow furrowed. “I don’t make it a point to know who runs which brothel, Genni. Am I supposed to know that name?”
Genni shook her head, but she smirked. Pointing at the alley, Genni said, “That’s wheretheyare.”
Eve got frustrated, knowing Genni was just delaying the information for the drama of it.
“Who?”
“Madame Allegria is famous,” Genni said, ducking her head and whispering theatrically, “because she employsthe Krave.”
Eve’s breath hitched and she immediately swung her head back to the alley. Swallowing, she whispered, “She does?”
Genni laughed and pulled Eve back into step. “I’ll get all the details from Mrs. Langley on Thursday, since heaven knowsIcouldn’t afford a session with a Krave.”
Eve’s mind raced and she looked down to the cobblestone sidewalk. “Would you though? If you had enough credits? You would buy a night with one of them?”
“Uh,absolutely. Are you mad?” Genni asked. Then she pursed her lips. “Now that I think about it,youcould afford a night with one of them. Fancy booking an appointment so I can live vicariously through you?”
