Chapter 18 Episode 18
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Arslan sighs. “Your job is so much better than mine. I mean, Ispend my days gathering information and tracking old drunksaround the city. And you’re in your office having s*x withchicks for collateral.”
“If the promise of s*x will get you out of this room, then go,” Isay. “I’ll pay someone to have s*x with you; just go find theunlucky lady and ask her to name her price. But right now, forthe love of God, just leave.”
“Maybe I’ll double down on the accountant,” he says, wagginghis brows. “I can drop into the conference room on my way
out. No such thing as too much collateral, right?”
Something sharp pierces through me. “Don’t you even fuckinglook at her,” I bark before I can control it.
Arslan’s mouth turns up in a grin. “Message received,capitán.”
“I don’t like to share,” I growl. “And I’m not done with heryet.”
That’s all it is. I’ve promised Belle toe-curling orgasms. Wehave a “next time” to look forward to. And I don’t takeArslan’s sloppy seconds. I don’t take anyone’s sloppy seconds.
“I was kidding, anyway,” he says. “I’m not into being watchedand she has a kid in there with her.”
“Her sister, Elise.” He points to the folder in front of me.“She’s fourteen, a C-student, and she has a secret Instagramaccount her sister doesn’t know about.”
“And that is why you put up with my s**t,” Arslan says,turning to head out the door. “Because I’m the best in thebusiness.”
I roll my eyes. But he isn’t wrong.
As soon as Arslan leaves, I get up and head down the hall.This is an office, not a daycare. I’m not giving up thepenthouse in the Zinc for Elise to lounge around my office allday.
As soon as I turn the corner, I see Belle and Elise through theglass. Elise is pacing around like a caged animal while Belletalks calmly to her.
I edge down the hallway and stop in front of the propped-opendoor.
“You can’t leave the hotel room without telling me,” Belle issaying.
“And I’m working,” Belle argues. “You gave me four minutesto respond before you left. The only reason I know whereyou’re at right now is because the driver—”
“Is a liar,” Elise finishes. “I gave him the address and hebrought me here instead. He said it was on Mr. Zhukova’sorders.”
I smirk. I’m surprised Belle can say it without combusting.
I knew it would take more than unlimited room service andendless hours of TV to keep a fourteen-year-old locked up inNew York City. So I asked my driver, Gora, to agree to takeElise wherever she wanted to go, and then drop her off atZhukova Incorporated instead.
“I would have been fine,” Elise says. “I will be fine. Zach isreally nice.”
Belle snorts. “And you know this because you’ve spent anhour with him?”
“Two hours,” she argues. “I sat with him while he cleaned.”
I frown. Zach. Do I know a Zach?
Belle shakes her head. “Of course. Just my luck. We’re in ahotel that hires twenty-year-old men as maids.”
Shit. Zach is a new hire. A cousin of one of the dishwashers inthe kitchen. I don’t usually keep up with the hiring process,but the General Manager called me herself to ask what to do.They hired Zach as a busboy, but he was inappropriate withthe customers. I told her to put him on maid duty.
“He’ll quit within the week,” I’d told her.
Apparently, the motherfucker had a little more staying powerthan that. Not for much longer, though.
“He’s a good guy!” Elise argues.
“He’s way too old for you,” Belle takes a deep breath. “I’msorry. I know you like him, but he shouldn’t even be talking toyou.”
“He’s the only one who will talk to me!”
“It means you’re never around,” Elise snaps. “You’re alwaysworking.”
Belle’s shoulders sag. “Look, E, this is a big project. I’malready behind schedule, and—”
“Not just here. At home, too. You wake up early and you getto find some humanback companionship.”
Belle turns her head to the side. I catch a glimpse of herjawline. Of the tension she’s holding, her teeth clenchedtogether.
Then, with a concerted effort, she lets it all go.
“I know I’m not around a lot recently, and I’m sorry,” shesays. “I’m so glad you’re living with me, but it costs money. Ihave to work overtime when I can get it to pay for everything.Hopefully, things will calm down soon. But until then, I needyou to—”
“Be quiet and stay out of your way?”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It’s what you meant,” she says.
Belle reaches towards her, but Elise pulls away. She sighs andlets her hand fall. “I want you here with me, Elise. I do. Iwouldn’t have brought you to live with me if I didn’t. But it’sgoing to take some adjustment. I just need you to cooperatewith me until I can figure it all out, okay?”
Belle and Elise aren’t like any sisters I’ve ever seen. Belle isalmost maternal with Elise. And I guess that makes sense.Their mother is a f*****g mess, so unless Belle wants Elise togrow up with a narcissistic junkie for a role model, she has nochoice but to play Mom.
Still, it’s impressive. Maybe Elise can’t see exactly howimpressive it is, but I can.
It takes a lot for a kid to break the cycle of addiction. AndBelle is trying to save Elise from herself.
“Come on,” Belle says, saving Elise from having to come upwith a response. “Let’s go grab some lunch and then I’ll takeyou back to the penthouse.”
I turn and walk away before they can see me.
Some things ought to be left alone.
It’s late when I hear footsteps in the hallway.
The afternoon got away from me the way it often does.There’s always something to be done. Arslan says I’m aworkaholic, but even he doesn’t understand the pressure. Hesees the back half of my work. The underground half.
But Zhukova Incorporated, as much as it’s a cover for theBratva, is a business in and of itself. I have two sprawlingorganizations to run, not to mention the hotel and the bars andrestaurants I’ve invested in. There’s no shortage of s**t to do.
Heavy lies the head, as they say, or whatever the f**k.
When I look up, my eyes have to adjust. I haven’t needed tosee any further than my desk for hours. The doorway is blurryfor a second. But then I blink and it comes into focus.
Belle is standing in the doorway, her chest heaving. She’s stillin the dress pants and button-down shirt she was in thismorning, though they look more disheveled now.
And her eyes are filled with terror.
“She’s gone,” she rasps, clutching both sides of the doorway.
Her cheeks are flushed. She’s clearly upset and even thoughnow is not the time to think about what she would feel like,warm and breathing heavily beneath me, the thought crossesmy mind anyway.
“Who is gone?” I ask.
“Elise,” she whimpers. “I went back to the hotel, but she isn’tthere.”
“For f**k’s sake. Didn’t you escort her back to the penthouseat—” I glance at the clock. “Eight hours ago.”
Damn. It’s been even longer than I thought.
She frowns. “How did you know about that?”
“Then tell me how to get her back!” she cries out.
“I don’t know where she is. Unlike last time, I’m notresponsible for your sister’s disappearance.”
The line between her eyes eases and she chews on her lowerlip. “I know. s**t, I know. I’m not here because—damn it!Why did she do this?”
She’s angry, but not with me. She’s angry with Elise. And withherself.
The only reason she’s here is because…
“You think I can help.” It isn’t really a question, because Ialready know the answer.
“Don’t be smug about it,” she grumbles.
I smirk anyway. “Do you have any idea where she may havegone?”
She holds up a piece of paper with the words “Ruby Room—BBL” scribbled in the center. Elise signed her name at thebottom.
“Okay,” I say, arching a brow. “Then I’m not sure why youneed my help. Just go get her.”
“I tried,” she grits out. “I went to the nightclub, but theywouldn’t let me in. They let in a fourteen-year-old, which Iloudly announced to everyone waiting outside, but theyrefused to let me in.”
“Well, that was your first mistake.”
“Shouting that they were breaking the law. They could losetheir liquor license or worse if the authorities found out theyweren’t carding girls.”
“Of course you’re taking their side. Bad guys stick together.”
I roll my eyes. “Do you want my help or not?”
She presses her pink lips together in a frustrated pout andnods. “Yes.”
“Okay. Then take off your clothes.”
Belle’s eyes fly open. “What? Are you—What? No! I’m notsleeping with you for your help! For f**k’s sake, you’redisgusting. Repulsive. You’re—”
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