“I don’t know who you are, but you would be wise to stay away from him,” she says while fixing a fake eyelash in the mirror.
I apply another layer of lipstick, smack my lips, and move on to fixing my already perfect hair. “Are you interested in Ransome?” I ask.
“Don’t be dense. That’s not how any of this works. If you were one of us, you’d know that.”
“I might not be one of you, but I’m no stranger to this story.”
“So you know that Cinderella doesn’t get the prince in this version?” Her expression in the mirror turns sharp. “She goes back to the dank little house where she belongs so she doesn’t get hurt.”
I narrow my eyes and tilt my head. “I thought Cinderella lived in a big fancy house?”
“You’re missing the point,” Jenica snaps.
“And what was the point again?” I ask.
This time, Jenica turns to actually face me. “Stay away from Ransome Rozanov. Unless you want to end up on a Cold Case episode on poor people TV.”
I match her glare just long enough, then grab my things and walk out. But I don’t go back to the bar and I don’t go find Ransome. Instead, I go out the door I came through.
The night breeze hits and I gasp, gulping for fresh air. It took a lot to keep face in there, going up against a Bratva woman, and I question whether it was even convincing. Either way, I’m not sure if I am cut out for this.
I could run. I could just leave. Grab my siblings and skip town. Back out of the contract and do what he threatened on my own. Become a nobody, find a normal job. Then my brother and sisters and I can just figure it out on our own. New town, tiny house, no Bratva. No Ransome.
No Ransome.
I’m not sure how I feel about that. As tempting as it sounds, it also makes my heart sink. Though I’m not sure why.
“You lost?”
The voice comes from behind me. A male voice. I don’t immediately recognize it, so I make sure my mask is in place before turning around, only to see?—
“Tristan.”
He’s standing only a few feet in front of me, a toothpick rolling in his mouth and a snakelike smile on his face.
“What are you doing out here alone?”
“I needed air.” I take a small step back. He doesn’t move closer, but it still doesn’t feel like a safe distance.
“A little hot in there for you?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“Really? Because you look flushed. I would be too, if I danced with the most important person in the room.”
“You think Ransome is important? I’ll let him know.”
Tristan flips the toothpick again. “You really are ruffling a lot of feathers, you know that?”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I make an attempt to walk around him, but Tristan steps in front of me, blocking my path.
I go on high alert.
“It wasn’t one,” he says. Then he pulls the toothpick from his mouth and flicks it across the pavement, his attention centered on me. “I don’t think you know how many people you’ve upset. And just how dangerous that is.”
“I’m not here to upset anyone,” I say.
“And yet you have. My lovely cousin included.”
