Chapter Ten #2
Slowly, Katia leads me around the back of the building, and she punches in a code that opens a door. My eyes widen as we step inside, and the smell of alcohol and perfume hits me. Katia leads us down hallways until low, rhythmic music fills the air.
The hallway opens into the main part of the club, and it takes a minute for my eyes to adjust.
As it does, I glance around at the low light and the few clients scattered around.
Katia clears a path to a table on the top floor that overlooks the club.
I sink onto the couch, and she disappears.
She returns with Miss Deveroux and a tray with a bottle of wine and bowls of food.
Katia gives me a long, measured look and disappears again. Miss Deveroux glances between the two of us and then perches on the edge of a seat. She reaches for a handful of peanuts, her crunching snapping me out of my reverie. Then, she clears her throat and leans back.
“I haven’t said anything about your involvement; don’t worry. Mason thinks we were picked up by a random stranger.”
Miss Deveroux pops open the bottle and pours a generous amount into two glasses. “Do I need to ask about the bruises?”
I grimace and take the glass from her outstretched hand. “I pushed Katia too far when she was training me.”
Miss Deveroux makes a face and takes a small sip of her drink. “I’d ask what you did to deserve winding up with her as your instructor, but I don't think you'd tell me."
I lean back against the couch and grimace. “She’s the best.”
Miss Deveroux’s eyes move over me. “You can still change your mind, you know. About leaving, I mean. It’s not too late.”
I ignore the lurch in my stomach. “I’m not changing my mind.”
I’ll do what I need to do to survive.
“I can talk to her—”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t want you getting more involved than you have to. I know how Mason would see it.”
Miss Deveroux takes a sip of her drink. “I know there isn’t much I can do, but I’m here.”
Slowly, I pull my hood back and turn to face Miss Deveroux. Her mouth falls open as she leans forward to inspect my face. She lifts a hand and drops it. Then she opens her mouth again, but before she can say anything, there’s a loud banging sound.
Fear settles in the pit of my stomach and coils its way around my chest.
There’s another loud banging sound, and I reach for Miss Deveroux’s hand to pull her down.
She flips over the table, sending glasses and bowls in every direction.
My heart pounds as I sit there, calming my racing heart.
Katia appears next to us and pulls me to my feet. She whips out a gun and motions to us.
My stomach lurches as we follow her downstairs and past the chaos.
Men with bulging muscles race past us in either direction. I swallow hard when I see a few inert forms on the floor and smell the unmistakable odor of blood. Miss Deveroux reaches for my hand, and I squeeze it. Katia leads us down a dark hallway to a storage room in the back.
She punches a code and pushes me in. “I’ll be back.”
Miss Deveroux hurries in after me, and a second later, the door hisses shut behind us.
I have no idea how long we sat there, waiting for Katia to return.
When the door opens again, relief floods my veins, and I stumble to my feet. I’m surprised to see Mathew standing on the other side of the door with a gun in his hand. He takes in Miss Deveroux before turning back to me. Then, he holds out his hand.
“Katia sent me to get you.”
“Where is she?”
“You can ask her when you see her.”
“I don’t believe you,” I tell him. “I don’t trust you.”
Mathew huffs and shifts from one foot to the other. “I don’t know what bullshit Mason filled your head with, but we don’t have time for this.”
“Make time.”
Mathew takes a step in my direction, and my heart skips a beat. “Fucking move before I make you.”
“You won’t touch me.”
Mathew’s eyes narrow further. “My brother needs to teach you your place.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I know you’re being cautious,” Mathew sighs, “but you have nothing to worry about, London. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Something about the gleam in his eyes doesn’t sit well with me.
It’s eerie seeing Mathew flip the charm on and off, and I realize with a cold certainty that I can never underestimate him.
“I’m going to wait for Katia,” I tell Mathew. “I’m sure she’ll be back for me.”
I wonder if Mathew has done something to her.
She’s a trained assassin. I doubt Mathew could get the jump on her. But maybe they struck some kind of deal so she can look the other way while he takes care of you.
I ignore the lurch in my chest when Mathew steps toward me. “I don’t have time for this. We’re going right now.”
I steel myself as Mathew’s hand darts out and closes around my wrist.
“I’m doing you this courtesy because you’re a Payne. Now get your hands off her before I slice your fingers off one by one.”
Mathew drops his hand and wheels around, some of the bravado fading as Katia strolls toward us.
Relief floods my system as she stops a few feet away, and her gaze flicks over to me. “The coast is clear.”
Katia and Miss Deveroux exchange a glance, and Miss Deveroux gives my hand a squeeze on her way out of the room. Katia and Mathew are staring each other down.
Mathew blinks first, taking several steps backward. “You’re wasted on my brother, Katia. All you have to do is come to me willingly.”
Katia motions to me, and I fall into step beside her. She levels Mathew with a cold look. “We have things to do.”
I feel Mathew’s eyes on my back as we head back to the basement of the estate.
Katia hands me a water bottle, and I realize my hands are shaking. I force myself to my feet, take several deep breaths, and unscrew the lid. Then I tilt my head back and down the bottle, but it doesn’t chase away the dryness in my throat or the tightness in my chest.
“You could’ve gone with Mathew.”
I toss the water bottle into the nearest trash can and turn to her. “Was I supposed to?”
“He’s a Payne.”
“He gives me the creeps,” I reply. “Besides, I get the feeling he’s not someone you can trust.”
Katia blinks. “Did Mason tell you that?”
“He warned me about Mathew, but he didn’t tell me much else. I’m not going to push him. He’ll tell me when he’s ready.”
Katia frowns. “And you’re okay with being kept in the dark?”
“I choose to believe that Mason will open up to me when he can. If there are things he can’t share with me because they’re not his secrets to tell, that’s fine, too.”
Katia’s eyes move over me. “That way of thinking will get you killed.”
I shrug. “Maybe, maybe not.”
Katia mulls that over. “You can choose something different, you know. Some people aren’t lucky enough to have that option.”
I tilt my head to the side and study her. “I know.”
“You weren’t born into this life, and you’re not well-suited for it like other people are. You don’t even have the stomach for violence, and yet, you choose to stay.”
“Yes.”
Katia faces me again, and there’s a furrow between her brows. “No one should willingly choose this life, Princess. Maybe you’re not as smart as I thought.”
I study the assassin before me, and with a start, I realize what she’s trying to tell me.
Katia isn’t jealous of me because I’m with Mason, or at least that’s not the only reason.
She’s annoyed because I can walk away from all this, and I’m choosing to stay.
Suddenly, I find myself wondering about the deadly woman in front of me and the kind of life she’s had thrust upon her.
“No one ever asked you if you wanted this life, did they?”
Katia’s expression darkens. “A Patrova is meant to serve. Our opinions don’t matter.”
“They should.” A surge of pity rises within me. “You deserve to have a say in your life.”
Katia’s eyes narrow. “And yet, it seems that even with options, some people continue to make the wrong decisions by falling for the wrong people.”
“Katia—”
The door to the basement flies open, and Katia jumps to attention between me and the threat. I glance over her shoulder at the dark-haired man with bright eyes and a frown.
“It’s good to see you, Katia.”
She stiffens. “I can’t say the same for you.”
The man’s gaze moves to me, lingering a bit too long for my comfort. “You must be the famous London I’ve heard so much about.”
“Who are you?”
“I can see Mason hasn’t bothered with the family tree. I’m Oliver Payne.”
Fuck.
If Mason’s younger brother is here, things have gotten much, much worse.