Page 5 of The Red Room

After a few seconds battling the thoughts running rampant in my head, I find my composure, stand tall, and hookmy arm into hers how she did mine. “This is my guest. We will be going in together.”

He rolls his eyes and shrugs his considerable shoulders. “Very well.”

“Natalie?” she asks and elbows my side. “What the hell is happening?”

I’m not sure. Never would I have imagined myself of all people being chosen to skip waiting outside, and by the club owner himself, no less. This unbelievably hot club owner with piercing gold eyes. It seems like a dream; one I will wake from before the doors even open. This isn’t a dream, though. This is real. And Nikolai, NikolaifuckingVostik, personally requested … me.

Finally, I smirk at her. “You’re not making me deal with the creeps in there alone. Nice try.”

She giggles as we maneuver our way to the front and pull apart the double doors. Fog clouds our feet, and when the hinges meet their breaking point, the music hits a different and almost perfect octave for our entrance. Erratic lights shine down to the floor in different colors, highlighting the paired dancers in the crowd.

“Come on,” I say and tug her to the bar, leaving no room for rebuttal. When we approach, the bartender glances up from whatever drink he’s crafting, and his eyes grow wide.

“Vhat vill it be, Ms. Natalia?” he asks and ignores the people lining the bar, some even waving bills for his attention.

I look at Courtney and shrug. The last thing we need is me ruining the start of what could be an amazing night with another White Russian. She steps forward, confidence in her features. “Two shots of Calico Jack and a couple whiskey sours.”

“Right away.” He turns to get started but before leaving takes notice of the credit card in my hand. “No, Ms. Natalia.I insist.” The bartender places two napkins in front of us first, followed by shot glasses at the center of each.

I grab one and raise it until the clear liquor is eye level. “To Nikolai?”

Court nods and we clink them together. “To Nikolai.”

A coconut-flavored burn coats my throat and warms me all the way down to my stomach. I try to keep my composure but lose it when the strong aftertaste makes an unwelcome appearance. Courtney does nothing of the sort. No, she rubs her lips together and appears to want seconds. She motions two fingers at the bartender, and he nods.

“Carevul, ladies. You’re of no use to me if you cannot stand,” someone says behind Courtney, his accent in line with the rest of the staff here. He isn’t looking at us, but merely staring forward at the bottles in a neat and polished row behind the bar. Dark black hair reaches his brow, while the sides and back are bare enough to see the tattoos on his head and neck. He shifts toward us, leaving one arm on the counter. There’s something different in his gaze when he glances to Courtney and me. Taking us in as if we are nothing more than inventory. Those eyes. I see it but I’m not sure if Courtney is able to look past his physique long enough to notice. They’re gray. Silver almost. Creating their own light among the dimness of the club.

Courtney grins at me first then at him. “Is that so?”

The man smirks at her wide enough for a fang to rest on his lower lip. Though leaning over, he somehow remains taller than us both. His black button up flows loosely around his stomach, but the areas covered by his shoulders and arms are taut and practically bursting from the seams. He stands upright and quirks his brow. There’s one word blaring through my head to the thrum of the music, and I have a sneaky suspicion Courtney is thinking the same thing.Fuck.

He extends his palm toward Courtney, and when she accepts, he brings her hand to his mouth. “I am Viktor.”

She turns toward me, biting her lips, and bright red blushes her tight cheeks. “Courtney.”

“Courtney. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” His accent is thick. Thick enough to turngirlinto gail. I don’t think she minds. She might feel like a beautiful gail after this gorgeous man not only bows but kisses her hand. If I know Court the way I think I do, she is melting right now, and in more places than one. Me, however, I take notice of the crescent moon tattoo on the side of his half-shaved head. The same tattoo I’ve seen repeatedly since I first walked through the double doors of Völk. Does he work here too? He surely isn’t dressed the same as the rest of the staff. No, they all have a uniform of sorts. Him? Well, Viktor seems to wear whatever will fit his incredibly large build.

“And you?” he turns toward me, releasing Courtney’s hand and insisting on mine. “Who might you be?”

“Natalie,” I say, and despite the urge to grab his hand too, I wave. It’s awkward. Fucking embarrassingly awkward. Part of me wants to turn around and walk right out the front doors of the club.Did I wiggle my fingers? Fuck, I think I did.I need to fix this. Salvage this somehow.

“My friends call me Natty.” Christ. Strike number two. No one has called me Natty in close to a decade. And before that? Well. The chanting voices in the cafeteria are probably something I’ll never unhear.

“Natalia?” His piercing eyes grow wide. “You are the one that has my brother so conflicted, eh?”

Brother.Did he just say what I think he did? It’s hard to hear him over the music thumping through the floors of the club. His accent doesn’t help either. But brother? Surely I didn’t mishear it. Nikolai’s brother?

I stare at him incredulously and try to regain my composure. “Viktor. As in Viktor Vostik?”

Another toothy grin, and he waves his large arms to the side like an announcer addressing a crowd. His Adam’s apple bumps as he says, “In the flesh.”

Courtney turns to me, keeping herself hidden from him. She mouths,oh my god, and turns back to the large and impossibly handsome man staring at us. Like her, I am thinking the same thing. First: who knew god saw it fit to create not one, but two of these stunning creatures. Two: there’s one for each of us. Three: what exactly was he saying to his brother Viktor, and why is he conflicted? Okay, the third is probably swimming in my head alone, but that’s just something Courtney and I will have to discuss later.

I summon whatever courage I can, and to be honest, the Calico Jack is helping right now. There’s a certain determination in my stance that average, everyday Natalie would never have. No, for once I am confident. I was invited here after all. Told to avoid the crowd wrapping around the block because the club owner, this gorgeous fucking club owner, wants me here. I push aside the nerves begging me to stay quiet and lift my brow. “Is that so?”

Viktor doesn’t speak, but nods, his large, gray eyes illuminating in the room of shifting lights and deafening music.

Play it cool, Natalie. Keep your composure.“And where is Nikolai? He asked for me specifically.” I stand taller in the dress hugging the parts of me I still shy away from in the mirror. When I suck in my stomach for a better appearance, my legs begin to buckle. The fucking price of beauty. Balance on strong legs or hold your breath to have less ridges on a dress you wouldn’t be caught dead in any other night.I really need new clothes.

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