She stares for a second, processing what I’ve just said. “What?”
“I just went for a run and then coffee and I think there were cops watching me. I think I’m under surveillance.”
She gives me a skeptical look. “Em, why would the police be watching you? You haven’t done anything.”
“I’ve let a Bratva boss set up camp in the club,” I hiss. “Somehow, somebody got wind of it and snitched and now?—”
“Wait, slow down. Setting up surveillance is a big deal. Didn’t you used to say that you had to get a warrant and all that just to do all that?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean that someone hasn’t done it.” I look around the balcony. We’re alone, three stories up. The other balconies nearby are empty. It’s just us two in the cool air of the morning. And yet, I still feel like we’re being watched.
“Is that why we’re out here in the cold?” she asks. “I mean, nobody’s bugged my place if you that’s what you’re thinking.”
“You don’t know that, Tash. You’re out all night on the weekends. Plenty of time and opportunity to put bugs all over the place.”
“Okay, you’re starting to sound a little paranoid, Em.”
I sigh and lean against the banister. “I know how crazy I sound… but is it really all that nuts to think that somebody’s watching me? Or you? Or anyone associated with the club? There are real, live Russian Mafia guys around us all the time. If nobody’s watching right now and all this really is just paranoia, it’s only that for now. Eventually, somebody’s going to show up looking for Roman or some other member of his gang.”
She sighs and stands next to me against the railing. “Wouldn’t they have raided us by now? I mean?—”
“They probably don’t have anything. Yet. It’s only a matter of time, though.” I shake my head. The damned inevitability of this arrangement has come way too fucking fast for me. “I’m gonna have to leave. God, it hasn’t even been a full month.”
“Hey, hold on. I thought we agreed that it’s better that you stayed. Remember the whole arson thing?”
“I don’t want to leave,” I say a little too loudly, “but if the cops are looking into me or the club, then what other choice do I have?”
“Okay, Em. Let’s slow this down. You haven’t done anything. You’ve been running the club legitimately across the board, right? They can’t put you in jail for being next to a known criminal.”
“They can if they think that the money we’re making is going toward something illegal. I’m supposed to give Roman part of the take every month. What if the money from that went toward somebody getting robbed or killed? They could bring me in just for being associated with him.”
She regards me, biting her bottom lip. “What about the rest of us? I mean, we work for him. We’re making the money that you give him.”
“None of you hand the money over to him directly like I do.” I cover my face and moan into my hands in despair. “I am so fucked.”
We stand in silence for a long few minutes. I hope I’m being paranoid. But even if I amthistime, what happens on the day that they actually do start following me?
“I’m going to quit,” I say finally. “It’s just too risky. I was a fool to think it would be otherwise.”
I step around her to go for the door and she stops me with a hand on my arm. “Wait, you’re not doing it now, are you?”
“I am,” I tell her. “Roman’s there early sometimes, so I’m going to go up to the office and talk to him if he’s there. And if he’s not, I’ll wait for him and talk to him then.”
She nods. “He’s going to be pissed.”
“He’ll get over it. See you later.”
I leave the apartment. On my way down to the street, all I can think about is whether or not any of this was ever worth it.
8
ROMAN
There’s something about being here in the off hours that feels almost tragically sad. When I walk in, the air is still and there’s that faint smell of perfume under stale beer all around me, as it always seems to be. I’ve been wondering if there’s a way to clean it out. I know Ember makes sure that the place is always cleaned from floor to pole every night before closing.
I’m only here now because, somehow, I left my wallet in my office. I’ve got a full day ahead of me so after dropping Sasha off, the plan is just to run in and get my wallet and leave.
The odd thing I think about is how Ember is here somewhere. Probably in her office. I saw her little blue car from the road. I know she’s an overachiever, but I rarely see her here during the morning hours, if at all. Hope everything is all right.
