Page 6 of The Red Room

Viktor smirks again. Then, he tilts his head. Not at me. But behind me.

I turn to see what the hell he could be looking at and my cheek crashes against something firm. A wall is my first thought, but walls don’t smell like cedar. At least none I’ve ever fallen into before. And walls surely don’t have a soft, cotton-like exterior. When I peer upwards, I see a shirt collar, a thick neck, and finally, the eyes of Nikolai Vostik. I gulp down the spit lathering my alcohol-soaked tongue.

His mouth crooks to one side in a smirk. “I’ve been here the whole time, Natalia.”

THREE

Somebody fucking killme now.My cheeks tingle with embarrassment as blood certainly drains from my face.“I’ve been here the whole time, Natalia,”Nikolai had said, and now, a grin emerges from his round lips. His hair is combed back, draping to each side of his face like dark brown curtains, revealing the chiseled features center stage. His smile grows wide while I fumble to speak, and his brows raise an inch curiously.

He lowers his head to mine and god does he smell good. The top button of his shirt is undone, leaving his tan upper chest on prominent display. He’s not as big as Viktor, but when Nikolai leans over, every fiber of his pectorals ripples. Part of me, well, the less sober part, would love nothing more than to pop open another button. Two more. Fuck, okay, the whole damn shirt.

“Are you okay, Natalia?” he asks, and wisps of his minty breath kiss my ear.

My heart seizes, then thumps rapidly in my chest. “I’m. I, uhm—”

“We’re great!” Courtney interrupts and grabs me by the arm, adding yet another item to the list of things I am grateful for. “We just met your brother, Viktor.”

Viktor stands tall, somehow taller than Nikolai and almost double in width. “Brother. I vas just introducing myself to these lovely ladies you invited to our club.” He crosses his large arms and smirks at him, but something about it doesn’t seem brotherly. It seems … malicious.

Nikolai matches his stance, and the eyes I couldn’t get out of my head all night, the deep and bright eyes capable of outshining the Völk stage lights darken. “Ne oni,” he says, and a glare stiffens his cut features.

Ne oni?What the hell does ne oni mean?Courtney and I stand between each giant, watching their glares intensify. Despite the ear-splitting music beating the club into submission, there’s somehow an eerie silence, and part of me thinks I might be able to hear the ice rattle in Courtney’s drink.

Viktor’s eyes wince to slits. “Konechno.”

“Is, uhm, everything okay?” I ask, finally finding my voice.

Nikolai breaks from the glare when he turns to me, his smile returning. “Of course, of course. Ladies, this is my little brother, Viktor. Not quite so little though, huh?” He chuckles and places his hand on the small of my back.

Fire radiates up my spine in an instant, scorching each vertebrae until my bare neck burns hot. His touch, gentle yet firm, melts all of my insides. I manage to stand upright but know if he had put his hands anywhere else, they’d have to gurney me out of here.

“How long have you both owned the club, Nikolai?” Courtney asks, looking first at him, and then Viktor.

“Please, please. Call me Nik. We’ve been open for two years now.”

Courtney glances at me, and it’s not difficult to know what she’s thinking.Say something you idiot. Don’t just stand there silent. Say something!

“What did you do before?” I blurt out.God. Why am I struggling right now?Not a hey, you have done a phenomenal job. Or, oh, wow, two years and you’ve made the hottest club in LA? No, I opted to pry into his background. I’m seriously terrible at this.

Nik purses his full lips together and visibly contemplates. “We … were in imports and exports. Nothing quite as exciting as what we’ve done here.”

He’s right. There’s little doubt when for the second night in a row a full line of people eager to get in wraps around the corner. The club featuring the hottest D.J.s on the scene. The one racking up millions of followers on social media. Imports and exports might’ve been a stable living, sure, but this, Club Völk, is known across the LA nightlife. And here I am, standing with the owner, the stunning owner of this club, and his hand isstillon my fucking back.

I stare up at him, and the desire to run my hands through his long hair itches at my fingertips. His grin stretches for his ears.This is where I die.A palm on my lower back and the intoxicating scent of cedar.Bag me up, give my body a number, because Natalie is ready for an open casket.

“You’re amazing,” I say before I can stop myself.

Nik looks away at first and smirks, then brings his piercing eyes back to mine. “I’ve seen amazing, Natalia.” He pauses and leans in close, his breath grazing my ear. “I am far from it.”

My chest magically becomes a front door, and my heart pounds against it like the fist of an unwanted guest. A dull throb courses through me, reaching a lower beat than the bass of the club. My legs clench tight on impulse. Nik couldn’t mean me. No,there’s no way this man just implied what I think he did. But the longer I stare up at him, his gaze unwavering, I start to think maybe he is.

“Might be time for a drink, eh?” Viktor says, taking a step toward Courtney. He wraps his large arm around her, not quite as gracefully as Nik, but she still seems to enjoy his touch. “The night is young.”

Courtney rattles her empty glass and tilts her head up at him. “I could use another round.”

Nik nods in agreeance but keeps his hand on me the entire way to the bar. He might be doing it to make sure I don’t slip or fall in the six steps to the long oak bar top. Yes, I counted the steps off in my head. I wasn’t exactly sober. And anyone that’s worn heels knows maneuvering around in these fucking things, with a slight buzz to fight off, is no easy feat. I manage just fine thankfully enough.

“Alek,” Viktor announces and points at the top of the shelf.

---