Page 87 of Demitri

“You two can catch up later. He’s the one who filled us in on the way down who you were. And don’t worry, I’m not mad. You do what you have to in this life to survive.”

“Thanks. I think I needed to hear that.”

“Anytime. You know I’m good for motivational speaking.”

We both laugh, knowing he’s full of shit but also telling the truth.

“She’s on the move.” Sarge points to the screen beside me. “I’ll go back out.”

“Yeah,” I answer without looking away from the screen.

He doesn’t say another word. He closes the door, and I see him enter the frame a few seconds later. I turn up the volume and zoom the camera in.

“What can I get you?” Mia asks. Only someone who knows her as well as I do could tell she’s nervous right now.

“I’d love another glass of wine, please.”

“Red, right?”

“Yes, please. You remember?”

“I tend to remember people who aren’t beer.”

She laughs, and I want to puke. It sounds so forced, so fake.

“Are you going to visit the campus again?”

“Huh?” she starts, momentarily caught off guard. Ha! She’s not perfect. “Oh, uh, no. Not this time.”

“Did Brodie start a tab for you?”

“No. He offered, but I wasn’t sure how long I’d be here tonight.” She looks distracted, like Mia is throwing her off with her questions. Or not asking the questions she thinks Mia should ask. “I’m sorry, it’s just really loud in here. Do you have somewhere we can talk? I have a question for you, and I’m sorry it’s during a busy Saturday, but it’s business related.”

“Oh, well, sure. Let me get Brodie back out here. We can go to my office.”

Mia turns to the window into the kitchen, her eyes wide and wild, looking up at the camera like she hopes I’m listening. Like there was any doubt about that. I look around her office. It’s a plain room without much in it, but she does have a small half bath. I immediately turn off the monitors, knowing everything will still be recorded, and head into the bathroom. Closing the door most of the way, I perch on the toilet seat and hold my breath. I pull out my phone, opening the voice memo app, and get ready. I don’t know what this woman wants, but whatever it is, I’m pretty sure I’m not going to like it.

CHAPTER THIRTY

MIA

I hate this.With every fiber of my being, I do not want to be in a room alone with this woman. But I lead her down the hallway into the office, trusting that Demitri heard everything and is hiding.

I slowly open the door and glance inside, internally breathing a sigh of relief. I step in and allow the woman to enter before softly pushing the door mostly closed.

She looks at the crack like it’s offending her, but this is how it is.

“Brodie is out there alone on a Saturday night. If shit goes sideways, I need to hear it,” I offer by way of explanation.

She seems to accept it and sits on the couch across from my desk, crossing her legs.

“My name is Katya Sokolova-Pavlov.”

She says it slowly, watching my reaction. I keep my face a mask of indifference. She can’t hurt me. She can’t touch me. Nothing she can say will surprise me.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Mia Alexander.”

“And you own this bar?”

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