Page 70 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

Shameless after hours was a different animal.

The bright flashing lights were dimmed. The rock music no longer vibrated through my bones. The air that had once been thick with fake fog, sweat, and spilled liquor felt almost normal. Almost. I preferred the mosh pits, the live bands, and the raw edge of this place over the body glitter and entitled assholes that filled the more exotic clubs.

A few tables were pushed together near the bar. Cards were spread across the surface, glasses tipped on their sides like casualties of the night. This was the hour when the staff cleaned, and the off-duty guards kicked their feet up.

“Bullshit,” Ivan said, tossing a chip at Marko. “You’re fucking cheating. There’s no way you got four aces two hands in a row.”

Marko grinned, unrepentant. “Hey, I didn’t even deal that hand. Besides, you always fall for the same crap.”

“That’s rich coming from someone who blinks every time he lies,” I muttered, taking a sip of my drink.

Someone whooped from the other side of the room, where Sergey was making out with a waitress against the bar. Her legs were wrapped around his waist like the rest of the world had ceased to exist.

“Hey! Get a room, for fuck’s sake. No sex on Nathaniel’s bar, or you can tell him why he’s paying extra for biohazard cleanup,” I yelled when I heard a zipper.

Sergey grinned and carried the waitress toward one of the VIP rooms. I shook my head. That wasn’t what I meant, but at least those rooms were already scheduled for a deep clean.

“How long have you been with Nathaniel now,” Niko asked. He was our newest addition to the rotation.

I smirked as he finished shuffling the deck. “Too fucking long.”

Ivan snorted. “He means they grew up together. Known each other since they were in diapers.”

“Seriously? Now I’m picturing Nathaniel in a diaper? Fuck, that’s something I didn’t need burned into my brain.” I said, cringing.

The guys laughed as I rubbed my eyes.

Ivan leaned back in his chair. “You’ve been here forever. Ever think about doing something else? You’re not exactly hurting for options. You could sign on with one of those high-paying public security firms and make a mint.”

I didn’t answer right away.

My mind went to Kaylani in the sand arena that morning. She was so focused and radiant. She had ignored me on purpose, which I loved about her. The way Atlas responded made it clear she was the only person who mattered.

I understood that instinct.

“I’m where I need to be.” I glanced at Ivan. “Where I want to be.”

Ivan raised an eyebrow. “You’re a sucker for punishment.”

“Maybe. But Nathaniel is family.” I let my gaze sweep the club. “And this job makes me happy. Leaving for more money doesn’t appeal to me.”

“Not like we could leave if we wanted to.” Niko tossed his cards on the table. “I fold.”

“What do you mean?”

Niko hesitated, then glanced around the room. Everyone was focused on him now.

“I just mean a job like this isn’t something you walk away from. Look at that guy, Ray. Worked for Mr. Mikhailov for fifteen years, tore his rotator cuff, and retired.” He laughed humorlessly. “He retired, all right. They pulled him out of the river with the rest of Dimitri’s castoffs.”

I hadn’t heard about that.

What the hell was Dimitri thinking?

“Nathaniel is not like his father,” I said, the anger at the insinuation burned my gut.

Niko shrugged. “Hope you’re right. I mean, what do I know?” He forced a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

I tossed my cards down and leaned forward, planting my hands on the table so Niko had to stare me in the eyes.