Page 60 of A Brother At My Back

“I told you, there’s no one up here,” I heard Alan declare. “We have no dancer by that name at this club. Now, as I told you downstairs, the police have been notified about you striking my bouncer. You can clearly see there is no one up here, so please leave.”

I heard the bathroom door swing wide and bounce against the wall and the fear swarmed over my skin, sweat standing out along my spine under the short, light silk robe Alan had gifted me after my first year here. He did things like that on all of the girls’ anniversaries.

“Fine,” Silas grated. “But I don’t believe you. What is it? Her night off or something?”

“I swear to you, there’s no ‘Tiffany’ here.” Alan maintained.

“I find out you’re lying to me, I’m coming back here and burning this place to the fucking ground with you in it.”

Their voices receded and I squeezed my eyes shut, hot tears tracking down my face. All he’d needed to do to find me had been to pull back the curtain. He just hadn’t thought to do it. Dumb luck on my part? Who knew? All I did know was that he was going or gone and I found myself choking on a silent scream that I would not let out from behind my teeth.

I slid down the wall onto my butt against the cold tile and shuddered, sweat slick against my palms where I clutched my phone with both of them over my heart, like it would protect me or something. The blood rushed in my ears and when the curtain jerked back I screamed and cringed but it was Zeke that knelt down, a purple knot swelling on his jawline. He put his hands on mine and said, “Easy, Tiff! Easy it’s just me.”

“Is he gone?” I cried and a hand fell onto Zeke’s shoulder. Zeke jumped and turned but immediately relaxed and got out of the way of our boss who knelt down in front of me.

“He’s gone,” Alan assured me.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure, I’m so sorry. I had to get him out of here. You did great.” He patted my cheek, the side without the mask, and he looked sorry.

It was something we had discussed before, but it was a long time ago. Alan knew everything about Silas and had given me a chance but only because Delia had practically begged. He really was a nice guy. In his late thirties, maybe early forties, just beginning to go slightly grey at the temples.

He looked me over with light colored eyes and sighed, saying, “It’s okay now,” and “I think you should take her home.”

I looked up past him to Nik who was standing hands at his sides, fingers flexing with a want to do something with them, the look on his face scarily cold.

“I think that’s a fine idea, Cuz,” he said, and I pushed my way up and past Alan and flung myself into Nik’s arms. They automatically went around me and he held me tight.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get here any faster,” he breathed into my hair and I sniffed.

“It’s alright, you’re here now.”

“Police are here,” Zeke called from out in the office and Alan excused himself and slipped back out the bathroom door.

“Roll back the footage and save it to a flash drive for them. Tiffany, I believe they are going to want to speak to you.”

“Bloody hell,” Nik muttered and I was with him. I’d talked to the cops countless times about Silas, yet here he’d been, again.

Nik led me out of the bathroom and to the black leather couch in Alan’s office. I couldn’t stop shaking. He sat me down next to him and ran his hands over my shoulders and arms, finally putting a hand over my heart against my chest, leaning in and putting his forehead to mine, his jaw clenching, his eyes closing as he willed me silently to be calm.

His quiet strength calmed me. Allowed me to close my eyes and echo his slow, even breaths with my own which in turn slowed my racing heart. I was vaguely aware of Alan watching us while Zeke clicked around through screens and on the mouse and keyboard of the security systems.

“I have you, Girl,” Nik whispered and I nodded, which was awkward with our foreheads pressed like they were.

“She okay?” Zeke asked.

“She’ll be right,” Nik told him.

“Good, because the cops are here,” Zeke said dispassionately.

“A lot of good they’ll do,” I said and let out a shuddering sigh.

“I know that, and you know that,” Alan said and sighed, “But we all know the right man for this particular job has already shown up.” He cast a meaningful look at Nik and Nik pulled back from me to give him a nod.

“Too right, Brother,” Nik said and the men left it at that. Alan nodding once and dropping his arms from where he had them crossed.

He turned and gave Zeke a meaningful look and said, “I’ll go fetch our guests.”

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