Page 88 of Cruel Love

“There,” Lucy says. “After her dance, she follows Gio into the back.”

I watch and she’s right. In fact, Gio waves to the bouncer before he even steps forward to pull the girl off the stage.

“He chose her,” I say.

“Does she ever come back out?” Fox asks, saying it as I think it.

Markov had the same thought, as he’s already scrubbed forward several minutes before Fox finishes the question.

“Yes,” he says. “Here.”

We watch the curtain as it moves to the side. The girl reappears, looking as inebriated as she did when she walked in, but the strap of her dress has been ripped off and hangs down her side.

I flex my jaw. Real classy, Gio.

“Ten minutes later,” Markov says.

Yuri exhales. “At least she’s alive.”

Markov scratches his chin. “We can send in a girl?” he muses.

I nod. “Get him alone, dope him, and drag him out by his ears.”

“Where can we find a girl?” Yuri asks.

“That’s always been a problem for you, hasn’t it?” I joke.

He sneers at me.

Lucy shifts a little closer. “I’ll do it.”

“No, you won’t.”

Dante’s voice booms, making Lucy turn away from the monitor.

“Dante, they need a dancer,” she says. “That’s kind of my area.”

“Not you.” He steps forward. “We’ll call Lilah. She can do it.”

“Lilah’s in France. There’s no time,” she argues. “And she’ll never make it through the front doors with her tattoo. I’m not mafia or Snake Eyes. They won’t know me. I’ll blend in with the other tourists.”

“I said no.”

Lucy grows an inch taller. “I can do this,” she says. “I’m not helpless.”

“It’s not about being helpless,” he says. “He’s dangerous.”

“I’m from Chicago. I can handle a handsy Italian guy.”

He frowns. “Lucy, this is serious.”

“So am I.” She turns to me quickly, prompting me to take a step back. “I’ll go in tonight. If I see Gio, I’ll do a little dance, get him alone, and chloroform his ass or whatever.”

Yuri laughs. “She’s good. I like it.”

“I don’t,” Dante says.

Lucy ignores him. “Does Sofia have dresses?” she asks me. “Something short and skimpy?”

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