28. Rae
28
RAE
E va’s knock on the door of the VIP room is crisp. She’s close enough her perfume hangs in the air. I breathe through my mouth and count the seconds, half hoping the door doesn’t open.
I reach seven before the door swings wide, revealing a huge security guard with a tattooed face.
“I brought entertainment for my fiancé.”
If Eva’s nervous, she doesn’t sound it. Her choice of words makes the hairs on my arms lift under the tuxedo jacket.
The guard’s gaze rolls down my body. I fold my arms to hide the camera, and his attention stops on my breasts.
“Turn. Arms out,” he states.
Shit. I’m really wishing my security hadn’t been detained at the other end of this long hall at the insistence of Mischa’s men that only Eva and I could pass.
I face away, my gaze locking with Eva’s. Now she’s nervous too.
He starts at my ankles, hands lingering on my calves, my thighs.
“Don’t damage his property,” Eva says lightly. “He’ll be angry if you do.”
“Hey!” The bark has the man freezing, casting a look over his shoulder. “Bring her here.”
Security steps back to reveal four men—two guards and two seated men in suits.
Mischa Ivanov is impossible to miss even reclined on the couch. His suit is crisp, a red handkerchief sticking out of his breast pocket. Cold blue eyes see into me, through me. I feel for the camera, making sure it’s still unblocked. Hopefully, it still works.
“You’re excused,” Mischa instructs his fiancée.
What? No.
Her presence might keep things from getting ugly.
But Eva doesn’t protest, just nods without looking at me and closes the door silently behind her.
Didn’t plan on being alone with the madman. Figured I could get in, provide Harrison and the police the visual confirmation they needed to take action.
Please take some damned action.
“Miss Madani,” Mischa drawls, interrupting my thoughts. “I understand your set was tremendous.”
“It was. I wanted to thank you for the opportunity.”
He spreads his hands. “So, thank me.”
I lift my chin. “I just did.”
One of the guards, who is on his phone, hangs up and taps Mischa on the shoulder. “Third loading dock. In the kegs.”
I straighten. That must be where they’re moving the drugs.
Did my camera pick up the audio? It must have.
Mischa nods to the guard but speaks to me. “A woman who brings Harrison King to his knees. Perhaps I should be thanking you. He’s been distracted enough I was able to sweep this place out from under him.”
My heart kicks, the hard ball of tension in my stomach giving a degree.
“My empire is expanding,” he goes on, and I can’t resist taking a shot.
“Through cheap drugs that kill people?”
His smile freezes. “Every war has collateral damage, Miss Madani.”
“You can’t call it collateral damage when you’re planning a delivery of the same drugs tonight.”
Mischa’s eyes flash. I’ve made a mistake. Maybe he’ll drag Eva back in here. Or he thinks I’ve figured this out on my own.
Armed police will be here any minute.
He shifts off the couch, adjusting his cuffs. “I can call it whatever the fuck I want. I’m more interested in talking about you. You are quite appealing, though you don’t try to be. It’s that attribute that makes you desirable.”
Smug son of a bitch . I’m vulnerable here, but there’s a part of me that won’t be silenced. The assumption that women exist to attract men, that we’re pawns to be desired and manipulated.
“I thought it was the fact that I’m with Harrison. I mean, that seems to be what gets you off. Going after what he has. His parents. His brother. His fiancée.” I glance back at the door, toward wherever Eva’s gone.
But instead of looking angry, Mischa laughs. “I’ve never seen him so captivated by someone. You gave him something his entire corporation never could.”
“What’s that?”
“Hope. And now we’re going to take it away from him.”
Sweat rolls between my shoulders.
Where are the police?
The truth washes over me in a sickening wave.
They’re not coming.
Either they can’t, or they’re not seeing what’s happening. If they could, they would’ve been here by now.
“What are you waiting for?” Mischa drawls. “You’re a beautiful woman. Entertain us.”
The guard behind me steps closer, and something hard bumps my lower back.
When cold metal slips under my jacket and presses against my skin, it’s worse than my nightmare. At least if I fell forever, I wouldn’t hit the ground.
Ivanov’s cruel grin and the gun in my back say I’m about to do just that.