Page 112 of Nails
Her answer seemed to appease those asking.
One of the men, Santino, looked at Adam.“What the hell was her problem?”
Adam didn’t hesitate.“Jealousy,” he said bluntly.“She’s been jealous of Riley ever since she started.”His tone carried no apology, only finality.
“You'd better deal with her,” one of the others stated.
Adam nodded.“Don’t worry, Anya won’t be a problem anymore.”
Riley stiffened at those words.
Not a problem anymore?she thought.He didn’t say suspended.Or fired.He said, “Won’t be a problem.”
Her gut twisted.Knowing Adam, that could mean anything.She didn’t have to imagine too hard to guess what permanently removed might look like in his world.
She took a breath and straightened her shoulders.“Really, I’m good,” she assured him.“Let’s not let one meltdown ruin the night.”
As if on cue, the suite doors opened again and a steady stream of women began entering the room, dressed in barely-there outfits, heels clicking on the marble floor, eyes glazed with forced smiles.One after another, they were paraded in front of the men like prizes at an auction.
Riley swallowed her disgust as she stepped back to her duties.For the next two hours, she moved through the suite with practiced ease, handing out drinks, clearing empty glasses, pretending not to hear the way the men talked about the women like they were products.A few of the girls were escorted to the back private rooms, and each time, Riley had to clench her fists to stop herself from intervening.
Hold it together,she told herself.You’re here for the bigger picture.
But the entire time, she could feel Chen’s gaze, fixed on her like a hawk sizing up its next meal.Every time she passed his seat, her skin crawled.
It wasn’t until she returned to the bar to grab another tray that her ears perked up.Adam and Chen stood just off to the side, speaking in hushed tones.At first, it sounded like gibberish.Then her brain clicked into gear.
They were speaking in Mandarin.A language in which she was fluent.
Riley pretended to fuss with the setup behind the bar as she inched closer, angling her body just right so it wouldn’t seem obvious.
“…Rizzio’s still holding Anna,” Adam was saying in Mandarin.“She’s in his dungeon in Shanghai until the buyer returns.”
“She’s not causing problems?”Chen asked.
Adam shrugged.“I’m sure if she were, Rizzio would handle it.He’s not a patient man.”
“I’m surprised he kept her around.If that were me, I’d get rid of her.She’s too much of a liability,” Chen said.
Riley’s blood ran cold.
Anna.She was alive.Locked away in Shanghai.And this “Rizzio” bastard was the one holding her.
She needed to alert the team.Yeah, they were watching and listening, but none of them knew Mandarin.
Her mind raced as she worked out a plan.She needed to get to her phone.Fast.
Turning from the bar, she walked over to Adam and touched his arm lightly.“Sorry to interrupt,” she said smoothly, flashing a sheepish smile.“Would you mind if I ran downstairs for a minute?I wanted to grab something for my headache.”
Adam’s expression softened with genuine concern.“Are you alright?Do you need to lie down?”
“No, no.I’m okay,” she assured him.“I’ll be fine once I get my meds.”
He studied her for a second, then nodded.“Take your time.Most of these guys are occupied right now.”He motioned to the back rooms with a smirk.
Riley nodded, turned, and forced herself to walk, not run, toward the door.But the second she stepped into the hallway, she picked up her pace.
She needed to get downstairs.Because now they had a name.A location.And confirmation that Anna was alive.
