My hair looked bomb. I got a beautiful natural red color and cut my hair, so it swung over, blocking half my face. I looked so different. I was barely recognizable, the point. Plus, the hair in my face made it hard to see my eyes, also the point. Eyes tell too much. When Anatoli saw me, he nodded.

“Makes sense,” was all he said. He got it though and that made me smile. I could give a shit if he liked it. I just wanted him to get it. I wanted him to know I was purposely hiding from them.

My good mood didn’t last long. As soon as were in the car Anatoli turned to me.

“We are headed to Pytor’s. He texted me. Sorry Alex.”

I nodded and bit my lip, retreating back into my numb state.

“Yeah. Should have known.”

Anatoli turned back to face front, but I noticed the tension in his body. His white knuckling of the steering wheel. I don’t know how it happened, but he had become like an older brother to me. I hated it. It was too close. Losing Rex and Mia nearly destroyed me. Now I was dumb enough to let myself care about someone else. Hell no. I silently berated myself the whole drive.

Stupid, stupid girl.

We pulled up to a giant mansion that I couldn’t even begin to describe, because it was so luxurious… and cold. There was nothing warm about this house. Anatoli opened my door and we headed to the front. He pounded on the door and then turned to me before the door swung open.

“Keep your wits about you in here,” he whispered hurriedly. He was not supposed to be telling me this. “His men are dangerous. He is more controlled than them. Not many women come here.”

Then the door swung open and we were faced with Pytor, Tobias and two other older men. I stiffened but managed to keep my cool.

“You look different Alex. Very different,” Pyor assessed me. “Mysterious.”

“That’s the point. Are you going to let us the fuck in or keep us waiting on your doorstep?”
The older men raised their eyebrows and Tobias let out a small smirk.

“Of course, red.”

I rolled my eyes and barged in, pushing between all of them. They needed to know they had no power over me, this was all a choice. Even though it wasn’t.

I could tell they were thrown off by my behavior, but at least one of them seemed to enjoy it.

“How are you Alex?”

I just about shit my pants. That was Tobias.

“Are you seriously asking me how I am?”

“Yes.”

Looking in his eyes was like looking into something empty, void, dark. There was nothing there. He was the kind of man I’d never get a read on. Pure danger.

“Wow, the man who never talks asks me how I am. I'm flattered. I’m just stellar. Life’s a dream. You?”

“She’s unhinged,” one of the older men said with a frown.

“She’s dirty,” the other older man said with a grin. I rolled my eyes.

“I’m just a girl.”

“No. You’re not,” Pytor jumped in with a low tone. “You’re cunning, smart and feisty. It makes this fun, but we have to watch you. You are for a very specific clientele, which is why I have worked so hard for you.” I scoffed and rolled my eyes. It was all ridiculous. “You will show Mr. Petrov and Mr. Ivanov your talents.”             

I looked at both of them. Ew. I shrugged. I’d fucked old friends of my dad before though. “Where’s the room?”

“Tobias, show them.”

Tobias led us to a room where I fucked the two guys, quickly silencing their vial opinions of me. This actually wasn’t so bad anymore. I’d found my zone, the spot where I could shut off. It was brilliant, and no one seemed to notice, except Anatoli, which was fine because I vaguely trusted him to not purposely try and make my life more miserable.

After the two men left I pulled myself together, emotionally and physically. I headed into the hallway where I ran right into Tobias.

“You’ll be staying with me for the next couple days. Pytor is still trying to figure out how to handle you, and he needs Anatoli on a different job.”

It felt like I was sinking. All my dulled senses were brought to life just to feel the total fear Tobias invoked in me. His eyes showed no soul, like Anatoli’s did. Tobias must have seen the look of pure terror on my face, pure weakness, because he continued.

“Look I know you and Anatoli… get along,” he hesitated. “I won’t hurt you either if you don’t give me a reason to. Anatoli is like my brother and he holds a high opinion of you. Therefore, I will be on my best behavior. Now follow me. Pytor and Anatoli have already left.”

“Okay, I’m just along for the ride.”

Tobias turned to face me. “I’m not as nice as Anatoli. Be warned. I’ve committed to this life.”

There was venom in his voice, and I wondered what he meant by that last statement.

“Anatoli isn’t nice.”

Tobias laughed as we left the house and got in his car.

“If you think that this life is gonna kill you.”

I knew he was right, so I stayed silent. What could I say to that? I tolerated the silence for a long time. As long as I could handle, but soon my thoughts were worse than anything Tobias could say to me.

“Is the sex always with old people?”

Tobias let out something resembling a laugh.

“That’s the statement you choose to break the silence with. No wonder Anatoli is a big fucking pussy around you.”

“He locked me in a fucking room!”

“He’s done a lot worse, and no, the sex can actually be good sometimes. Think multiple people. Girl going down on you. BDSM shit. It can get wild. The old people are just sacrifices you have to make for the business.”

“Okay,” I said squirming in my seat a bit. “That is hot.”

“You’re turned on.”

“Who the fuck wouldn’t be?”

“Lots of people. That only sounds good to truly crazy fuckers. I think.”

“You think?”

“Does it seem like I have a lot of experience with average people?”

“No.”

We sat in silence the rest of the ride, but it was a more comfortable silence. I’d won him over too. Sweet, the two big, bad bodyguards.

… Or so I thought.