Page 72 of Devious Truth

It’s a complete lie. While those three have been rounding up free drinks and phone numbers for the last hour and a half, I’ve been corralling my thoughts and trying to keep them from wandering too often to what Ivan was doing tonight.

Lev said he was needed. Which meant there’s a problem. Could that problem end in gunfire? Am I going to find him bloodied and unconscious on that metal slab in Alexander’s dungeon with a hole in his chest?

It’s not lost on me that every time Ivan goes to work, he’s opening himself up to violence and murder. Even with all the protection he has, it doesn’t mean someone can’t get to him. Kaz is evidence of that reality.

Be there in ten. How many drinks have you had?

I could tease him; tell him I’ve had half a dozen glasses of wine. It would be even more convincing if I misspell half the text.But the image of his frown, the deep creases etched across his forehead that appear whenever he's upset with me, makes my thumbs hover uncertainly over the screen.

Just one.

His response is instant.

Good girl.

There has to be some medical diagnosis that can explain why my body melts when he says things like that. And he didn’t even say it this time. His thumbs just typed it out on a screen and carried the words through the air on radio waves to my phone. No voice. No look. Just the two words.

Yet, as I read his words, I can feel them deep inside me. It’s as if he’s right here, his lips brushing my ear, whispering his praise.

A thick cloud of candy cane scented smoke envelopes me. More people have come out to enjoy the fresh air and destroy it with their vapes and cigarettes while I’ve been pondering Ivan’s seductive voice. Waving a clear path for air, I go back into the club.

While this air is slightly cleaner, the noise assaults my senses. The club seems to have gotten even more crowded since I stepped outside. The crowd has to be some kind of fire code violation.

“Hey!” Caroline pops out from behind me, sliding her arm through mine. “I was just coming to find you.”

“I just needed some air. It’s so hot in here.”

She pulls me close. “I know what you mean.”

She nudges her chin toward our right where a man wearing a black button down and a pair of dark gray slacks leans with his back against the bar watching her. He brings his drink to his lips, while keeping his eyes completely fixated on her.

“What about Jeremy?”

She laughs. “He’s a boy. That guy is all man.”

“Just don’t leave with him, okay?” I sound like a mother hen, but there’s something sinister looking about him. Maybe it’s the way his hair is slicked back, or it’s the tattoo on his neck. Whatever it is, I’m getting a bad feeling.

“I’ll be safe. Promise.” She squeezes my arm. “We were able to grab a table over there. The girls are waiting for you.”

“Seriously, Caroline. Don’t go home with him.” I hold tighter when she starts to pull away.

“Hey.” She turns a softer smile on me. “I’ll be safe. I promise.”

As she approaches him, he puts his drink down and holds his arm open for her. She steps into his embrace, reaching around him to grab his glass. He gives her a sexy reproachful look as she takes a sip.

“Hey. We’re over there.” Max taps my arm. “Oh, yeah, she found that guy.”

“You don’t approve?”

“Of his looks, fuck yes, but I get a little skeezy vibe.”

“Me too. Maybe I should go over there.”

“And do what?” She frowns.

“I don’t know, convince her to hang with us instead?”

Max rolls her eyes. “She promised not to leave with him. Let her hang on his arm for a little while; she’ll be okay.”

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