Page 103 of Remy

“I’m sorry.” I pout. “I don’t have much more to offer.”

“That’s a shame.” He retreats back into his alcove, his attention turning to the dance floor.

“Please.” I sidestep into his line of sight. “It’s important. I…” Come on, Liv. Come up with something to convince him. “I, um…” Fuck, why is this so hard? “I just found out I’m pregnant with his baby.”

The guy’s eyes snap back to mine, his narrowed stare holding a hint of distaste.

Shit. For a smart woman, I can be so fucking dumb under pressure.

“I’m not after his money.” I hold up my hands in surrender. “I’m not even after any sort of commitment. I don’t need anything. I swear. I only want to tell him what’s going on.”

The bouncer contemplates me, the sliver of resentment slowly fading from his features. He gives me another once-over, his expression unreadable, the vibe temperamental.

“Fine.” He shrugs. “I can take you to him.”

My heart skitters around my chest. “Really?”

“Yes, really. He came in to do a liquor stock take. I’m not sure how long he’ll stay.”

“Thank you.” I clasp my hands as if I’m a nun in prayer and glance over my shoulder, not seeing Ivy or Allison and hoping they don’t see me either. “Thank you so much.”

“Follow me.”

He leads me away from the dance floor, behind a roped off area, past VIP booths, and through a staff-only door to an empty hall.

It’s quieter back here. Marginally. But enough so I can finally hear myself think for the first time since stepping into the club.

Fluorescents beam down, the harsh light making me squint. We continue along the thoroughfare in silence until we reach an elevator at the end, the guy pressing the call button with the doors opening instantly.

“Ladies first.” He indicates for me to step inside with a wave of his hand.

I hesitate, the hair on the back of my nape awakening.

I glance around for cameras. For surveillance.

There’s a small round dome on the ceiling at the far end of the hall where we came in. Another inside the elevator. I slide a hand over my pants pocket, my cell giving me a renewed sense of safety.

“Are you sure Remy’s still here?” I take a dubious step into the elevator.

“As far as I know.” He follows and yanks at a fob attached to a retractable cord on his belt, scanning his security pass against the button panel.

My neck doesn’t quit tingling as the doors close, but everything inside me has been off-kilter since last weekend. My nerves. Hormones. Sleep cycle. I’ve become super awkward. Majorly stressed. And impulsively paranoid. It’s not the time to start listening to my body’s messed up signals.

I lean against the back wall and brace to ascend, but the elevator goes down with a jolt.

I gasp as anxiety lodges itself in my throat. “Where are we going?”

He remains facing the button panel, his back to me. “All the liquor is kept downstairs.”

I eye the security camera. Palm my phone. Question whether I should place a message in the group chat with Allison and Ivy to tell them where I am… but that would require an explanation of why I stepped into this shady situation and that isn’t a favorable option unless I want more lives to be on the line.

In seconds the elevator comes to a stop and the doors open again, exposing a cement jungle.

The bouncer strolls out, then pauses to wait while I contemplate my existence. “You coming?”

I shouldn’t. It’s quiet down here apart from the muted thud of a far off base. But goddamnit, I need to speak to Remy.

“Look, lady. I’ve gotta get back to work. Do you want to see him or not?”

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