I WAITED TILL the line of students waiting to receive their dorm assignments at the head office of Thorne University dispersed and made my way on over. It would be much more logical of me to feel safer in a crowd full of students, but the only thing I felt was uncomfortable. Also, the probability of touching someone was really high. I was wearing a hoodie and jeans so if it did happen at least there’d be no skin-to-skin contact. The last thing I needed was to screw up my fresh start by having a reaction or meltdown.
“Hi, I’m here for my dorm room number. I’ve signed and filled out the meal plan form. I also wanted to double-check, I called a couple of weeks ago requesting a single room, no roommate,” I emphasized, “is that in the system?”
The secretary smiled at me so brightly I was almost blinded by it. She could honestly use that as a weapon. “Let me just check, your name is Emerson Monsoon?” she queried, reading my form.
“Yep,” I confirmed, feeling a bit anxious. I was still having nightmares, and the last thing I needed was for a roommate to bear witness to them.
She typed away on the computer, “Yes, you’re down for a single, you’re in dorm room CB.07.489, here’s your keycard. Take care not to lose it, honey, there is a replacement fee involved,” she said, handing it to me. “Oh, and here’s your orientation package, I highly recommend attending one of the campus tours, the number of students who get lost is . . .” she continued babbling.
Me getting lost wasn’t even an issue, I’d already purchased a map and had memorized where everything was located. Katia would be proud. Melancholy filled me. We were supposed to be doing this together.
“Thank you,” I smiled back weakly, taking the package from her. “I’ll be sure to attend a campus tour,” I lied.
I went back to my car and carried out my two meager pieces of luggage. I saw other students and parents around me carrying actual furniture. I wasn’t one for sentimentality, and a fresh start meant that I had actively chosen to leave behind everything in my room, including photos. Like Doctor Fleur had said, I was a different person and in a way I felt like nothing in my old life belonged to me.
I found my building, and walked up the four flights of stairs with labored breath. I was definitely unfit, and immediately right then and there decided I’d join the gym on campus. Keeping to myself and dodging all the girls dotted across the hallway, I finally made it to my room. Thankfully, the student in the room opposite mine hadn’t arrived yet, so I didn’t have to make conversation. Also, my room was on the corner of the building so I didn’t have anyone to my left, which was perfect.
I swiped my key, and pushed open my door. The walls were white reminding me of the interior of the Zaston Institution, and the only furniture there was a bed, bedside table, a large cabinet, and another cabinet and bin in the bathroom. It was everything I needed. Once I’d gotten my luggage inside, the first thing I did was pull out my measuring tape and measure the window and door.
I took down the measurements then walked to the nearest hardware store. I gazed at the aisles, not having much of an idea of what I was looking for. I must have looked as lost as I felt, because a store clerk wandered up to me.
“Do you need some help?” he inquired.
“Yep, I’m looking for ways to soundproof a door and window. What do you recommend?”
“I know exactly what you need for a do-it-yourself project,” he replied. “Follow me.” He led me to an aisle two rows over.
“I recommend you purchase this vinyl threshold with aluminum casing door sweep for the bottom of the door which will block sound and drafts from coming under the door, and that you weather strip the side of the door, that’s where most sound travels,” he advised.
“I’m sold. How about for the window?” I queried.
“The best I could recommend for soundproofing your window without having to replace your existing window is to put an add-on secondary glazing on top. You’ll be able to achieve a fifty to seventy percent noise reduction,” he answered helpfully.
“Perfect, I’ll take one of everything, please,” I replied.
“You don’t look like you’re a bedroom recording artist,” he said, flirting as he double-checked that he’d taken the correct inventory for my order. I closed down right away.
“I’m definitely not a recording artist or anything like that. I’m not keeping the sound in, I’m keeping the outside sounds from coming in,” I said, hoping that made sense. I didn’t want people getting the wrong impression.
“Um, okay,” he replied with confusion, ringing up my purchases.
“Thank you,” I replied as I paid with my card, relieved the ordeal was over.
On the way back to my dorm room, students gave me odd looks as they checked out what I was carrying, but I ignored them.
“What is all that for?” A curious voice asked. I turned and realized that while my back was turned, the girl in the room opposite me had opened up her door.
“My room,” I acknowledged enigmatically.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re an eloquent speaker? No? Well, I can definitely see why!” she commented sarcastically. She had shrewd ocean blue eyes offset by red hair, and freckles, and right now she was looking at me like I was her next project.
“Is it okay for me to leave now? You seem to be having a monologue.” I scorned, unable to stop myself from liking her attitude. It was refreshing and honest.
“Why are you still a dove?” she fired at me out of nowhere, and I found myself having whiplash from the changing direction of her conversation.
“What? That’s got to be the first time I’ve ever been called a dove in my life,” I choked out in shock. If I didn’t have such a tight hold on the things I was carrying they would have definitely fallen to the floor.
“You’ve got this whole innocent, lost vibe look, and you’ve got this whole don’t touch me ward up like you’re a virgin to boot. We need to rectify the situation immediately,” she critiqued. “Haven’t you felt the urge?”
“What?” I repeated like a parrot. I think she deserved to take a small visit to Zaston Institution. With people like her around I question why I was ever admitted in the first place!
“The urge to engage in sexual relations,” she elaborated.
“Er, I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” I replied, feeling sick. The thought of being touched made me want to throw up.
It must have shown on my face because she immediately eyed me with pity. “I’m sorry, I don’t think before I talk, it’s a hazard. I’m Laurina, I obviously live in the room opposite yours and I’m studying to be a nurse,” she listed, putting her hand out for a handshake.
“After that introduction I’d rather not engage in a handshake with you, I might just get electrocuted. You’re a livewire. I’m Emerson and I’m studying psychology,” I declared.
“I don’t blame you, I did come on a bit too strong. I have no filter at all. I grew up with five brothers, and I blame them for the way that I am! It’s lovely to meet you,” she replied.
“You, too,” I replied somewhat flummoxed as I tried to make a getaway, swiping my keycard in desperation.
“Uh-uh, before you hide away you have to promise me you’re going to come out with me tonight,” she ordered.
“Where are you going?”
“To The Den of Iniquity, it’s the hottest club around,” she proclaimed with confidence.
“Um . . . as good as it sounds, I think I’m going to have to say . . .” I responded, trying to find some sort of suitable excuse.
“No. I’m not taking no for an answer,” she exclaimed, wagging a finger at me. “Be ready at nine. Don’t worry about being underage I’ll get us in without a problem. Oh, and just so you know, I know how to break into your room if I have to,” she smiled like the devil.
I closed the door behind me, not knowing how to respond, my heart in my chest.
“I like you, Emerson, we’re going to get along just great,” Laurina yelled through my door.
Laurina was a whirlwind, no, she was much worse—a tornado and she was determined to sweep me up in her craziness. God help me.
I was scared of the very notion of ever stepping foot inside another club, but dammit, she wasn’t giving me much of a choice. If I left and hid elsewhere she’d probably hunt me down. I could just imagine Katia laughing down on me from Heaven. She had always been the more outgoing one and yet somehow she had willfully accepted and embraced how painfully awkward I was.
I put my purchases to the side. It was eight already and by the time I figured out how to attach them to the window and door, my time would be up. I took a quick, hot shower then looked inside my luggage and laughed. I didn’t have a single piece of going out clothing. I opted for a long-sleeve, grey sweater and a pair of tights. It was safe, and I had a feeling that the place that I was going to was going to be anything but. I did need to push myself to get better though . . . And what better way than to throw myself smack bang into the deep end?
It was almost time. I quickly unscrewed the lid of my pill bottle, feeling nervous, and rather than taking the recommended dosage—which was one pill—to relax me, I took two. This was clearly an emergency and the more powerful the effect, the higher the chance that I wouldn’t even react if someone touched me because I wouldn’t care. I’d be so numb that I wouldn’t even feel it.
I jumped as my door rattled, praying that the pills would kick in ASAP, my nerves were already shot to hell and I hadn’t even left the room.
“I’m giving you thirty seconds, then I’m coming in,” Laurina warned in a sickly, sweet voice. I needed to head back to the hardware store later and ask the sales clerk about ways to keep intruders out.
I sighed, and opened the door. Nothing prepared me for how glamorous she looked in an emerald, off-the-shoulder, cocktail dress that beautifully complemented her shoulder-length, auburn hair.
“Emerson!” She groaned as she looked me over. “What are you wearing?”
“No, I’m drawing the line, the line has been drawn,” I emphasized. “You either take me as I am or leave me behind, and I don’t even want to go.”
“You did this on purpose,” she accused, her eyes flaring. “I don’t care how you’re dressed because of how it looks on me. I care because you could look so much better,” she pleaded.
“That’s sweet of you, but I like what I’m wearing,” I replied unbendingly. I could see what she was trying to do, but her mind games weren’t going to work on me.
“Fine, but I don’t get why you’re downplaying your looks,” she relented, walking down the hallway. I took that as my cue to follow, “And don’t even try to set me up with anyone or we won’t be friends…we’ll quickly become enemies,” I warned.
“Trust me, even if I tried, as soon as they get a look at you they’ll get scared and run in the other direction,” she scoffed.
“Come on, that’s a bit harsh,” I threw back, feeling a bit uncharacteristically dejected.
“I’m not saying that to be mean, most college boys just want simple and easy, not messy and complicated, and you definitely fall into the second category,” she explained as we descended the stairs.
“That’s exactly what I am. Are you really sure you want to take the chance of taking me along with you? I’m moody, mentally unstable, anxious, and just about the least impulsive person you’ll ever meet,” I cautioned, listing most of my worst attributes.
“All I’m hearing are good things, Emerson. I don’t get scared off easily, keep going though, it’s pretty entertaining,” she mocked, coming to a halt next to an expensive looking vehicle. A Jeep Wrangler, I read, looking at the brand and make.
“Get in, and be sure to strap yourself in tightly because I don’t want your head going through the windshield with the way I drive,” she instructed seriously.
I looked back longingly in the direction of my room, not sure that testing the waters included risking my life, too.
“Emerson, come on, I was just joking,” she appeased. I shot her a distrustful look but got in, put on my seatbelt, and clutched at the seat with both hands.
Laurina reversed in a rough maneuver that had me gritting my teeth, the wheels screaming in objection, and I coughed as I drew in a breath of what smelled like burning rubber.
“See, I’m just as bad as you, I’m a bald-face liar, and reckless to boot,” she threw back at me before I could yell at her. I opened my mouth then closed it again, it would probably be better if I didn’t distract her, and she clearly needed to focus on getting us to the club in one piece. Instead I turned on the radio and put the volume up, needing something to distract me from her driving skills.
By the time we got to the club, the pills had begun to kick in. I looked at the crowd of people around the entrance and didn’t even feel a shred of fear, just numbness. I stumbled a bit as I got out of the car and giggled at myself.
“Are you okay?” Laurina asked, moving to my side. “Did you start the party without me while you were in your room?”
“No, it’s just nerves and my obsession to test gravity at times. I definitely won the battle against it this time,” I smirked.
“Well, you’re lucky that you’re rolling with a nurse,” she smiled obstinately.
“Woah, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, you’re not a qualified one yet,” I corrected.
“Please, being a qualified nurse just means getting a certificate, I’ve got practical training,” she quipped. I hoped she didn’t mean merely putting bandages on bloody knees or elbows.
She strode to the front of the line with unabashed confidence, and I followed less eagerly behind, feeling the glares of the people waiting in line.
“We’re both with Kristoff,” she directed to the two bouncers at the door. They nodded and immediately moved aside to allow us through.
“Who is Kristoff?” I fired at her, right before a group of girls huddled around her, cutting me out.
“Wow,” I drew out in shock as I looked around me. The club had three levels I saw, reading the sign next to me. Apparently one was for those interested in burlesque shows, the other for exclusive hire, and the bottom one which we were on had a DJ with live entertainment. Around the perimeters were booths encased in slick glass but I couldn’t see inside. Ruby red and black was the theme with gold leaves splashed here and there giving the place a royally classic feel. And there were people performing acrobatics soaring gracefully above the crowd.
I’d never seen anything like it in my life. It was unreal.
Someone bumped into me from the side, making me flinch instinctively. I waited for my body to react but my brain and my emotions were out of sync, it was like I was here, but I wasn’t. I was an outsider looking in, seeing what was happening but not feeling it.
“Emerson, come here, I want to introduce you to some friends,” Laurina ordered. She pointed to the girls around her, saying names that I wasn’t hearing. I nodded my head at the right times, even with the looks of distaste they were sending me.
“I’ll go and get us some shots, wait here,” she spoke to me mostly. “Everything is so much better when you’re drunk,” she advised as if imparting an invaluable life lesson.
“If you say so,” I said with barely hidden disbelief. Laurina laughed smugly and disappeared into the horde of people on the dance floor.
“So have you picked out a guy yet?” One of Laurina’s brunette friends asked me.
“Um, no, I’m off men.” Permanently I added in my head.
“I don’t think I could ever be,” she replied incredulously. “The trick is to always keep your heart out of it. We’re young and pleasure isn’t a dirty word. One night stands are the best, you should indulge in one,” she counseled.
“I’ll definitely take that under advisement,” I replied.
“You shouldn’t be wasting all the opportunities here tonight.” The blonde stepped in to the show—featuring an all-star cast of my embarrassment and me.
“Maybe I’m in recovery and waiting for the right person to present himself,” I parried.
“Darling, the right one doesn’t exist,” she huffed critically, “you need to grow up and quit believing in fairytales.”
“Oh, quit being so harsh, Tash, besides, you’ve been hung up on The Leverager ever since you heard about him. Chasing down every lead to get to him which is why we’re here tonight,” the raven-haired one chided.
“Who is the Leverager?” I queried, my interest piqued.
“No one knows, or if they do, they keep his identity a closely guarded secret,” Tash retorted. “You ask him to do a favor, any favor no matter how crazy, and he’ll do it, for a price in return, of course. He’s exclusive; he meets the needs of his clients one at a time. They say his price is different according to each client. Sometimes it’s money, sometimes it’s trade secrets, and sometimes it’s a favor that you’ll have to repay in the future. The price is always exorbitant…when you make a deal with the Devil, it always is,” she whispered with excitement.
“So how are you supposed to contact this illustrious Leverager? By phone?” I derided with skepticism.
“Of course not! He’s not an amateurish fool,” Tash grimaced. “He doesn’t have a website either. The latest lead I chased down told me to come here, go to the bar, and ask for a Molotov cocktail, and hand over a note detailing what you need his services for. They then somehow give it to him, he screens the potential client, and at his discretion decides whether he would like to take you on as a client. If not, then you won’t hear back from him, but if he does he will track you down,” she elicited.
“It sounds like a myth to me,” I laughed, unable to take her seriously.
“Then you won’t be afraid to see if it’s true,” Tasha challenged, her eyes flashing, “Or are you too scared to?” she mocked.
“Not at all,” I replied. I didn’t have anything to lose. “Do you have a pen and paper?” I inquired serenely.
“I came prepared,” Tasha replied with a devilish smile. “I’ve already made my own submission, but I’ve got some paper to spare,” she replied handing me a sheet she pulled from her handbag and a pen.
“Reliability, I’m sure that’s a quality that men hunger for in a woman,” I jibed. Her eyes narrowed in anger and I hurriedly took off through the crowd, weaving around arms and legs, not quite up to a fistfight at the moment.
“Emerson, where are you going?” Laurina’s voice asked from somewhere to my left. I turned and saw she was holding a tray of aquamarine-colored shots.
“I’ll take mine and Tasha’s,” I said, feeling reckless myself, and downed one shot with disgust then the other. I coughed, feeling it rise back up.
“No, keep it down,” Laurina ordered, “and take mine, too, it gets better the more you drink.” I rolled my eyes, and threw back the other one, feeling powerful.
“I can’t feel a thing, maybe I’m not a lightweight,” I cried with exhilaration.
“Give it some time, you’ll begin to feel the effects. Stay close by, I don’t want you passed out on the floor, you rebel,” she laughed.
“Hey, baby, sorry I’m late, practice ran overtime.” A husky male voice apologized as a man wrapped a corded arm around Laurina. “I also brought the team with me. I couldn’t shake them off, sorry.”
I looked behind him and saw about fifteen or so football players easily identifiable from the red and white-striped jerseys they were sporting. Laurina had turned around to kiss the guy, whom I assumed she must have been dating.
“Ah, sorry, Emerson, every time we’re apart even for the shortest of times it feels like a lifetime. This is my boyfriend, Lukas, he’s the quarterback and captain of the football team here,” Laurina explained.
Lukas moved to look at me and when he did, all the blood in his face drained. Before I could question him, a fight broke out between one of the football players and some other guy.
“Uh, sorry, it’s nice to meet you but I need to go break that up. If coach hears about it, there’ll be hell to pay,” Lukas yelled over his shoulder before he disappeared.
“Ugh, football players and their tempers,” she shook her head in amusement, and then sent me an inquiring look. “Why have you got that weird look on your face?”
Laurina hadn’t seen Lukas’s face because she had been busy looking at me at the time. “Nothing,” I fielded. “Tasha dared me to do something. I’m going to go and do it. I’ll meet you back with the other girls later,” I shared.
“She might seem all highly strung, but she won’t do anything if you don’t go through with it, not that I would ever allow her to,” she confided in me.
“Thanks, but I never turn down a challenge. I mean, if I did, I wouldn’t even be here tonight. I’m on a roll. If I stop I don’t know what will happen,” I wagged my eyebrows.
“Alright then, I won’t hold back a woman on a mission. I’ll see you later,” she snickered.
I saluted, and quickly put my hand back down when I saw a melancholy look pass over her face. It speedily cleared as if it had never been there. I let her go, thinking now wasn’t the right time to get into it.
I looked around and found an empty bar stool. I hastily made my way toward it and sat down. Phase one complete. Now, what to write?
Dear mystery guy Mr. Leverager,
I would like to enjoy employ your services to assist me to scratch an itch with a personal issue.
If you find me tempting suitable, please hunt track me down.
Please do, Kind regards, Emerson Monsoon
I giggled, putting my hand in front of my mouth as my body wracked with laughter. I was soooo drunk, and was beginning to feel a bit dizzy. Phase two now complete…now I had to complete phase three.
I lifted my hand as I’d seen them do in the movies and tried to signal the bartender but failed. Then I realized I was missing the key ingredient—money. I slipped a hand inside my pocket and picked out a five—that would do. I lifted my hand and waved it in the air, then felt it being ripped out of my grasp.
Some asshole had stolen it! I looked behind me and didn’t see any likely would-be-thief. I pulled out another five, this time waving it in front of me. I finally caught the eye of a sexy bartender.
“What would you like?”
“Can I please get a Molotov cocktail?” I asked, wanting to laugh at how stupid I sounded.
“What? This is a fine establishment, we don’t serve that here,” he replied with raised eyebrows.
“Sorry, he’s new,” another bartender intruded, waving him away.
My mouth fell open is disbelief, maybe Tasha was onto something, or the guy was having me on. “Um . . . great, well, can I also get ten shots of tequila with that,” I replied, pulling out more money and handed him the note along with it.
“Sure thing, sweetheart,” he sang, suavely slipping the note somewhere out of sight.
I wiped the sweat from the back of my neck. The heat was really beginning to get to me, but I did owe Laurina that shot. I thanked him once he fulfilled the order and stumbled through the crowd, back over to where I’d last left the girls.
“I’m no tall drink of cold water, but I still come bearing gifts,” I sang. The girls all thanked me and grabbed two each, except for Tasha.
“Well? Was I right?” Tasha asked, practically frothing at the mouth for vindication.
“The bartender took my note, I don’t know if he’s in league with the Leverager guy though,” I said, still unconvinced. “Take some shots, it will help with the nerves. If he is real, then he might be answering your call tonight,” I winked, and then downed one shot.
God that was terrible, so terrible I decided to down my other shot. “Here, take the tray, too,” I drunkenly slurred, making sure Tasha had both hands on it before I let it go.
I wandered over to Laurina, almost deciding to stop when I saw her boyfriend was next to her. But screw his weirdness, she was my friend. “Hey, Laurina, you were right…getting drunk is fun,” I giggled.
“I know, right!” she slurred back, her eyes all dazed.
“Come on, Rina, you’re wasted…it’s time for us to go home,” Lukas said, ignoring me.
“Only if Em-er-son comes, too,” she hiccupped, “And eve–everyone else here, too. We can have another party at home!” she yelled
“Wouldn’t you prefer a party of two—just us two,” he countered.
She licked her lips, and I knew she was gone, lost in his trance.
He hoisted her up over his shoulder and looked at me, thinking carefully for a second. “Look, if you’re going to be Laurina’s new friend you better be a good one to her. She’s surrounded by people who act as if they’re her friends but all they do is use her. She doesn’t have a single, good, dependable one. Her dad was a soldier, he died overseas recently, and she’s been having a tough time of it. That’s what made her want to be a trauma nurse. So, if you can’t be a good friend, then you better stay far away,” he delivered ruthlessly.
I looked down, now understanding why she’d looked so sad before when I had saluted her. “I get it, I do, I lost someone recently, too. The pain never goes away,” I replied sadly. I looked up to see how he would take what I’d revealed but he wasn’t there any longer, and with him he’d taken away my ride home, too.
The room began to spin sickeningly around me. The pills and all the alcohol were finally catching up with me. God, I was going to pass out. I couldn’t leave myself vulnerable to attack again.
I looked over where the girls were and knew I wouldn’t make it over to them in time. Seeing a VIP booth close by with its door wide open, signaling its availability, I stumbled in there. No one was in there, thank God! I almost cried when I saw that the door had a lock. I closed and locked it. Then I fell on the couch, my eyes closing as the world around me faded away . . .
“SO, WHO IS going to be our next client, boss?” Mikhail asked with boredom. We were all sitting in the security room that spanned across all three levels of the club, giving us a view of everything that was going down.
“I don’t know, I haven’t chosen one yet,” I responded honestly, feeling exhausted.
“Lay off him,” Jarek ordered, “we might get some good candidates in tonight.”
“You should probably also lay off the whiskey, too,” Sev added.
“What’s been eating at you?” I asked Mikhail before he could bite Sev’s head off.
“What do you mean?” he asked, his face going blank.
“You’ve started drinking again and been all on edge for the past couple of weeks. I never thought you were doing this for the thrill, but now you’ve got me second guessing,” I pushed, wanting to make him angry so he’d tell me what was up.
“Screw you!” Mikhail swore, his glass of whiskey breaking in his hand. Sev went to go to him, but Jarek pushed him back.
“You didn’t answer me. Is that why you’re here, Mikhail? Did you enjoy going back to the mob, thrilling in the risk of exposure? Because if you’re just here for a thrill, then you put us all at risk, not just yourself,” I yelled.
“No, I’m not here for a thrill,” Mikhail replied, seeing he’d been played. All the anger drained from him. “I’m sorry. I lied to you all, I didn’t get out of the Valentijin mob with the girl without getting caught,” he admitted.
“What? Who caught you?” I barked out.
“Nikolai did. He drew out his gun and put it against my forehead. He told me to fall to my knees, but I didn’t. There was no one else there, just me, him, and the girl. I wouldn’t. He told me I was foolish to come back. I heard the sound of his finger pressing down on the trigger; I thought I’d die there, in the place I hated most in the world. I closed my eyes and waited, and when nothing happened he started laughing at me. He told me that he was playing with me, that he couldn’t kill me because we were family, and then he let me go,” Mikhail whispered forlornly.
“Maybe he let me go because he’s been trying to protect me all along. Maybe he wanted to leave the mob with me but he couldn’t so he did the next best thing, he got me out by exiling me,” Mikhail theorized with wild eyes.
“Mikhail, you can’t trust him,” I warned. “He did all that to play with your head. If he did do all of that to keep you safe then that’s his only redeeming act, but it doesn’t excuse him from all the blood that he’s shed. He may not pull the trigger all the time, but he calls the shots; the blood is as good as on his hands. If you’re right, then you still have to stay away from him, for him and yourself,” I urged.
“He’s right,” Jarek confirmed gruffly. He was the largest out of us all, and for the time he’d been with us I’d never seen him more serious. He was usually the jokester, the one who brought some light to our darkness.
“I’ve hated him for so long,” Mikhail admitted brokenly.
“Sev, stitch him up. Jarek, get some coffee into him then take him to the mats, he needs to get the anger out,” I ordered then turned to Mikhail, “You have to let it go, you’re letting it consume you. You own your anger, Mikhail, you never let it own you. Take some time off…and until you get yourself in order, I don’t want to see you.”
“No, that’s not fair!” Mikhail objected.
“What I said stands; don’t go against me, you know what I’m saying is right,” I replied, standing firm. I wouldn’t budge, not on this.
“Come on, Mikhail,” Sev urged gently, putting a hand behind his back, leading him out. Jarek followed, giving me a nod, and I knew Mikhail was in good hands. Sev would fix him up and Jarek would push him to his breaking point and then he’d go out like a light.
I rubbed my temple, hating that Mikhail hadn’t felt that he could confide in any one of us, without me having to push him. He’d always been there for me, so I’d be there for him. I took a look at the security feeds, and stopped when I saw a girl stumble into one of the VIP rooms. I tracked her progress into the room up until she fell onto the couch, passing out.
“Helvete,” I cursed. She better be passed out from being drunk and nothing else. The last thing I needed right now was a girl overdosing in my club. I took the master key with me.
“Raul, can you take control of the security room? I need to duck out and check on something,” I asked the man standing guard outside the room.
“Of course, boss,” he replied, gesturing to another man to take his post.
I took an elevator down to the bottom floor and made my way through the crowd. I wanted to run to the door, but I didn’t want to alarm anyone. Finally, I made my way to the room she was in and unlocked the door.
My hand went to her throat, and I sighed as I felt a steady pulse. Her eyes opened momentarily, treating me to the richest shade of ebony I’d ever seen and at the same time a smile so sweet my breath caught in my throat.
“Am I hallucinating?” she murmured more to herself than me.
“No, you’re not,” I whispered back in amusement.
“Shh. I can sleep here and no one will hear me,” she whispered.
“Why would you be worried about someone hearing you?” I replied, moving a couple of stray hairs from her cheek.
“Because I’m loud,” she mumbled.
“You snore? That’s disappointing,” I chuckled, she looked angelic but for the fact that she was wearing dark colors. Maybe she was more of a fallen angel I smirked to myself, after all she was in The Den of Iniquity.
“No,” she mumbled cryptically. She was a riddle wrapped up in a goddamn tantalizing mystery that I wanted to unravel.
“If you don’t snore then what are you afraid of?” I gently persisted.
“Shh! Sleep,” she objected.
“Just one more question, I promise. Did you take anything other than the potent alcohol I can smell on your breath?”
“Pills. Prescribed ones. Two of them,” she breathed.
“You probably weren’t supposed to mix them together with alcohol Älskling,” I admonished. But like a typical female she wasn’t listening any longer, her breath had evened out and she was back asleep.
Seeing her purse next to her, I rifled through it and found her ID and laughed to myself as I read her name, finally putting a face to the name that had been branded in my memory. What were the chances? I then found a crinkled letter containing her dorm room details. Rookie error.
I made a quick call to a hotel nearby and booked a room. Then I dialed Jarek’s number.
“Hey, are you still with Sev?” I asked.
“Yep, we just put Mikhail to bed, I read him a bedtime story, too,” he chuckled.
“I hope you acted out the characters in different voices, he loves that,” I laughed. “On a more serious note, can you put me on speaker? I have a mission for you two.”
“Sure, boss, one sec . . . done,” he answered.
“Thanks, okay, Jarek, I need you to break into a girl’s room for me. She took a couple pills, Sev, I need you to see what kind and if I should be too worried that she’s mixed them with copious amounts of alcohol.”
“Mikhail would be unhappy that he’s missing out…he’s out cold” Jarek replied, “I’ll be sure to tease him about it tomorrow. Send me the details.”
“I’ll check out the pills and give you a call back,” Sev replied.
“Thanks, I’ll text you her address and catch you guys later,” I responded, ending the call.
I lifted her up, one hand banded across her waist and the other supporting her neck to keep her from injuring herself. Her warm weight was comforting. But those scars she had on her neck and jaw weren’t. Even more so, I took that as a further reason to treat her as precious cargo. Whether she liked it or not, until she was fully conscious she was under my command and control, and I’d make sure no harm came to her. I couldn’t leave her to wake up alone wondering what had happened to her in the time that she was passed out.
I took her through the back entrance, wanting as little eyes on us as possible. I strapped her into the passenger seat beside me and drove to the hotel. I kept her in the car as I collected the room pass, then drove around the back and went through the employees’ entry. I was thankful that there wasn’t anyone around at this time of the night. I placed her on her side in the king size bed to aid with her breathing and sat in a chair opposite, feeling anxious.
Fifteen minutes later the call that I was waiting on came.
“You didn’t tell us whose room it was,” Sev’s voice announced with interest. “Her name was on the prescription bottle. Are you moving up the timeline?”
“Yes, due to unforeseen circumstances. Judging by the fact that you don’t sound panicked, is it safe to assume that she’s going to be alright?”
“Yep, she just needs to sleep it off, but tomorrow she’s going to be feeling a whole lot worse,” he instructed.
“Good, maybe she’ll learn. So, what were the pills exactly?” I asked with interest as I gazed down at her.
“They’re antidepressants, basically used to help with anxiety and nerves, maybe even panic attacks. They’re pretty powerful, and she definitely shouldn’t have taken more than one which I assume that’s what she’s done,” Sev guessed correctly. “So is she our new client?”
“Why would she be?” I asked, “She has nothing to do with the service we offer.”
“Raul just sent the photos of the submissions from the club to us. And her name is on one of them,” Sev replied slowly. I hadn’t had a chance to look at my emails.
“Send it to me,” I ordered brusquely. Rather than going through them all, it would save me time.
“Jarek hasn’t had the chance to screen her properly though, you’re not prepared for her,” Sev deviated.
“Sev, send it to me,” I repeated with an ominous tone.
“Okay, but it reads pretty weird,” he warned, signing off.
Thirty seconds later my mobile vibrated. I unlocked it and read her submission with a smirk. I was only going to observe her from a safe distance, but now I had a reason not to.