I can’t see anyone beyond the door, so I sneak into the corridor and wander quietly down it to find somewhere I can have a quiet minute.
I am surprised there’s not more security down here. Considering this place is run by the Volkovs, I thought it would be crawling with goons. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and adrenaline has my senses kicking into high alert. Do the Volkovs think they’re so untouchable that they don’t need anyone watching their backs?
Maybe I should have a cheeky wander to see if I can find out anything interesting. I stroll further down the corridor, looking for an office or something. Knowing my luck, I’ve probably found the corridor with all the supply closets.
I pull my phone out and dial Kai. The phone barely rings before he’s saying my name.
“Echo. We’ve got a problem.”
“Figured. What’s up?”
“What’s up? Don’t give me that shit. Are you in that fucking Volkov club?” He seethes, his voice a sharp whisper.
“This is what you rang me for? Fucking hell, Kai, I thought it was serious.”
“Itisserious. If your father knew—”
“Have you told him?”
He scoffs. “Of course I haven’t. I like my head where it is.”
Thank fuck for that. That was a drama I didn’t want to deal with. My dad was a handful at the best of times, but pissed off Rory Quinn was a fucking nightmare. I’ve seen guys lose fingers, teeth, and hands. One guy had his tongue removed for talking back. Safe to say, I try to stay on my dad’s good side.
“I have Veon with me.” Somewhere. I left him stalking the boundary of the club, but he’s got tabs on my phone, and he knows exactly where I am at all times. It’s one of the things I like about Veon. He trusted me and trusted the fact that I can take care of myself.
Unlike Kai.
“What if one of the Volkov lot finds out who you are? You’re going to need more than Veon.”
Tension pulls at my shoulders at his words. I know Kai’s concern is coming from a good place, but it still annoys me. “Well, I best stay away from those pesky Volkovs, then.”
Kai lets out a frustrated sigh. “Echo, come home. I know—”
A door opens further down the corridor, and I quickly glance around for somewhere to hide. Kai is still ranting down my ear, but I’m no longer paying attention.
“Sorry, Kai, got to go.”
“No, wait—”
I hang up and head around the corner, slamming into something firm.
And warm.
Something that unfortunately feels like a man’s chest.
Fuck.
I bring my gaze upwards, taking in the pressed white shirt, black silk tie, wisps of a tattoo crawling up the side of his neck and the grim set of a strong jaw. Half his face is hidden behind a black leather mask, but his eyes are dark behind the slits.
“You shouldn’t be back here.” His voice is deep and smoky, a rasp that I can feel against my skin.
“I was just looking for the bathroom,” I say with as much sugar as I can muster, but the guy doesn’t fall for it.
He slowly tracks his gaze down the length of my body, and I feel it like a physical thing. It’s angry and dark, a caress that sends a shiver dancing along my spine. He looks wicked with that mask covering half his face. I have no idea who he is, and I can’t quite tell who is behind that strip of leather. He must work for the Volkovs, and judging by the expensive Italian loafers on his feet, he’s pretty high up in the hierarchy. Maybe even on the top table.
“And let me guess. You missed the words ‘Staff Only’ on the door in your desperation to pee?”
“How did you know?” I say with a grin. I take a step forward to try and move past him in my ‘search’ for the loo. “Is it this way?”
