Page 1 of Nikolai (Kansas City Reapers)

Prologue

Maddy

“One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time.” — Barbara Walters

With a roll of my eyes,I cleared the notification from the stupid motivational quotes app I received once a day before pocketing my phone again. When I’d felt the buzz of the phone in my pocket, I had hoped it was my friends letting me know what was taking them so damn long, but no such luck. I sank back into irritated boredom as I stood out in the night air. The line into this club was too long, my friends had not shown up yet, and I was innomood for stupid motivational quotes. Not even ones from Barbara Walters herself.

“Maddy! Hey!” a voice called from behind me. I turned to see my best friend Jess running along the line, shouting insults at the men griping at her line cutting. About fucking time.

“Hey, you made it!” I said with a plastered-on smile asshe approached, joining me in the line. “Where is everyone else?” Peeking behind her, I scoured the crowd for the rest of our group. We had all begun the night at Juniper, a local bar, but the vibe was just not vibing for tonight’s theme: my breakup.

“Kerri ran into some guy she recognized and—”

“And now she’s totally side-tracked by the thought of some good dick. As usual. I assume the others are with her?” I tried my best not to grumble, but it was a losing battle. Crossing my arms over my chest, I tried desperately not to wish death on the lot of them.

“You know how she is, Maddy,” Jess whispered pleadingly. “Plus, I’m here now! And do you really need anyone else?” Sliding her arm through mine, she offered me the companionship I desperately needed.

“Yeah, but does she have to lean into it so badly? Like, seriously, would it kill her notto let her pussy lead her every decision forone night?” I grumbled, but the corners of my lips lifted into a small smile I could not hold back.

The line moved slowly as we chatted, and another twenty minutes passed before the sound of heels clicking quickly against the pavement drew our attention.

“Maddy, what the hell?” Kerri scoffed, walking up to us like she owned the place, Lily and Melissa in tow.

“Kerri, so nice of you all to finally show up,” The utterly disdainful smile I shot her way was anything but pleasant.

“Why are you guys sitting in line?” Her face twisted into a supremely judgemental scowl.

“Uh, because we’re waiting to get in, obviously.”

“Oh, my God! You’re useless.” Prying Jess away frommy arm, she reached into the top of my crop top, grabbing my boobs one after the other and shifting them until my cleavage looked more Pamela Anderson than the subtle tease I had meant them to be.

“Christ, Kerri. Boundaries!” I scoffed, tugging away from her. Though I had to admit, the girls were looking much better after her little jiggle and lift number.

“Come on, losers. We’re too good to wait in line like the riff-raff.” With a tug on my arm and a vivacious smirk to the rest of the waiting crowd, Kerri waltzed all five of us up to the front of the line, where two bouncers sneered menacingly at us. I couldn’t blame them. We were cutting in line like it was nothing.

“The group of us, please, and thank you,” Kerri purred coquettishly. Surely a bat of her eyes and the size of our breasts falling out of shirts was not enough to —

“Right this way.” I stood in a moment of shock as the large man in a suit unlatched the velvet belt between two stanchions for us all to pass in with a wave of his hand.

The music pounded away at a deafening volume as we entered the club. Bodies pressed together, and the pervasive smell of sweat mixed with an overwhelming blend of cologne and perfume stung my nostrils.

Perfect.

The five of us headed to the bar, and a few minutes later, I was halfway through my second martini. While I was normally a fruity drink girl, tonight called for something different. I didn’t want sweetness. I needed the bite of a hard drink — a dirty gin martini, in particular. The strong, smooth flavor played over my tongue like a symphony, complex and rich.I gulped down the rest of the cloudy liquid, embracing the heady buzz that began winding its way through my body.

“Let’s dance!” I yelled back at the group, a wide smile on my face. This was exactly what I needed to get that dumbass Bryce out of my head. Hand in hand, we bobbed and wove our way through the crowd until we found ourselves somewhere near the center of the dance floor.

I pushed all thoughts of my asshole ex away from my mind, letting the music take over me. I didn’t even mind the pulse of the bodies around us as my devoted group of friends and I raised our hands in the air and danced like there was no tomorrow.

I lost track of time as one song blended seamlessly into the next. The DJ was spinning the perfect mix for the vibe I desperately needed tonight. Desire was the best club in town, and it was not easy to get in. Unless you were Kerri, apparently.

“Oh, my God! I love this song!” Kerri and Melissa screamed out simultaneously, their shouts barely heard above the thumping music. Bodies pushed us this way and that until we were all essentially grinding on each other, losing ourselves to the music.

I sang the lyrics at the top of my lungs, laughing as we danced together until someone knocked into me. The blow between my shoulder blades pushed me forward, straight into Kerri.

“Hey, my bad!” An oddly familiar voice called directly behind me. I turned slowly, suddenly oblivious to the press of bodies around me.

This was not happening.

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