I have to say, I was surprised not to have heard from you in weeks when I’d barely shared anything with you the last time,” Leskov told her.
My body tightened at his words. He must have been Jada’s supplier. Whatever the age-old adage was about drug dealers not doing their own shit, Leskov seemed to have ignored it.
“I’ve slowed down a bit,” Jada said.
“Because you are getting married?” Leskov gave a disgusted sigh. “What a disappointment.” He turned his eyes to Violet notched up against me. “But who is this lovely creature, and why have you hidden her from us?”
“This is my friend, Violet, but she will be of no use to you. As you can see, Dawson would rather kill you than see you near her, and she isn’t into the games you play,” Jada told him.
“Another disappointment,” Leskov said with a grin that made my skin crawl. “But still a pleasure to meet you, Violet.”
He stuck out his hand. If I could have prevented his slimy skin from touching hers, I would have, but it would have looked ridiculous and caveman-like. Violet deserved better than that, but when she offered her hand, and he raised it to his lips much like Dax had, I was tempted to shoot the asshole anyway. Vi laughed, but I felt the shudder go through her as she drew her hand away.
“Dance, my dragon?” Leskov asked Jada. The song had turned to the slow one I’d been waiting for, and Jada agreed without a second thought, letting him pull her back onto the floor. Their bodies twined together, moving seductively and sensually. All I could do was thank God that neither her father nor Ken’Ichi were still in the room, because it would have continued to provoke them beyond their limits.
My gaze flicked to the edge of the room where I’d last seen Dax. His eyes met mine across the room. He tipped his hand, gave me a salute, and headed for the front doors. He’d had enough, and I couldn’t say I blamed him. If I had a choice, I’d be ending the night and hauling Violet back to the B&B so we could take over where we left off.
I tugged Violet’s hand. “Dance?”
She smiled and nodded.
We moved onto the floor, our moves so much tamer than Jada and her partner’s, and yet, I felt as if we were on display just like them. I felt like everyone could see the desire and longing coasting between Vi and me. The lust that had not been cured at all by one night in each other’s embrace. Instead, it had been like the lighting of kindling, waiting for the full burst of flame to come.
I leaned down to kiss her, to touch those sweet lips to mine, and that was when an agent posing as a waiter approached and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned, and he nodded toward the door. I didn’t want to leave Vi. I didn’t want anything to happen to her or Jada, but I also needed to handle this. Finish it.
Violet seemed to read my hesitation.
“Go,” she said. “We’re here with a hundred guests. We’re fine.”
I looked at the guy who’d come to retrieve me. “Stay with them,” I told him quietly.
He looked like he was going to object but then nodded casually.
“Don’t leave the room,” I said to her. It was a plea and a command.
She nodded, and I left with dread and anticipation flowing through me.
Violet
SIGN OF THE TIMES
“Stop your crying.
Baby, it'll be alright.
They told me that the end is near.
We gotta get away from here.”
Performed by Harry Styles
Written by Salibian / Styles / Bhasker / Rowland / Nasci / Johnson
Worry hit the pit of my stomach as I watched Jada dance with the man she’d introduced as Malik Leskov. After he’d shaken my hand, I’d realized, with a shock, that he was Raisa’s brother. Whenever Raisa talked about him, it was with displeasure in her tone, and now I could see why. My Spidey-senses had been raised the moment I’d joined Dawson while they talked.
Malik’s red nose and sniffles were a key indicator of his drug use, but I also had a feeling he was part of whatever was going down around us with Dawson and the FBI. Raisa refused to talk about her family’s business whenever I asked. It made me wonder how I’d become friends with not one, but two wealthy females with ties to illegal activities. True, I hadn’t known Jada’s