Page 14 of On Your Knees

I scrub a hand down my jaw, the stubble rough against my palm, and let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know, Vin. I feel like there’s something we’re missing. Something big.”

Vin leans forward, his eyes narrowing, trying to read me. “Like what?”

“I don’t know yet,” I admit, shaking my head as frustration surges through me again. “But we’ve been listening in on these meetings for months, and we’re no closer than we were when we started. It feels like we’re chasing shadows.” I take a long pull from my beer, the bitterness of it doing little to dull the knot of anxiety tightening in my gut. “Honestly, I don’t know if we’re close at all.”

Vin clears his throat, his gaze hardening. He’s always the one to keep pushing, to tell me to hold on, but I can see the doubt flickering beneath his words, too. “Listen to me, we’re close. I know something big is about to go down. We’ve got inside sources saying they’re moving something huge soon. We just need to stay sharp, stay on top of our game. This is what we trained for. You can’t back out now.”

I nod slowly, but my mind’s not fully there. I’m trying to believe him, trying to convince myself that all this waiting, all this stress, is about to pay off. But there’s that nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach that tells me otherwise. “I know,” I murmur, though the words feel hollow as I say them.

Stay sharp, which is code for don’t let anything, or anyone, distract you from the mission. That’s easier said than done.

Chapter 7

Evangelina

The club’s packed halfway through my shift, and my eyes keep clocking the door, wondering if Benedict will be stopping by. It’s been a few days since I saw him last and the anticipation adds a jittery edge to my movements, a mix of nerves and excitement. I’ve got my black wig on, the sleek bob framing my face and transforming my appearance into someone bolder, more mysterious.

As I prance around, taking drink orders and ensuring customers are happy, I can’t help but get excited about the idea of Benedict coming tonight. The crowd is buzzing, the energy electric. The dim lighting casts a sultry glow over everything, with neon accents and flickering candles adding to the ambiance. The bass of the music thrums through the floor, vibrating up through my heels and into my bones, syncing with my racing heart.

I weave through the throng of patrons, balancing trays of drinks with practiced ease. Each table presents a new set of faces, all eager for their own slice of indulgence. The scent of expensive cologne mingles with the aroma of top-shelf liquor. My interactions are smooth and polished, a flirtatious smile here, a light touch on the shoulder there, all part of the role I’m playing.

The night progresses in a blur of orders and interactions, the club growing even more crowded and lively. Every time the door opens, my pulse quickens, my gaze flickering to see if it’s him. The suspense is almost too much, but it keeps me sharp, my senses heightened.

Then, just as I’m beginning to think he might not show, the air in the club shifts. It’s subtle, a change in the energy that ripples through the crowd. My eyes snap to the entrance, and there he is. Benedict. He steps into the room with an air of confidence, his presence commanding immediate attention.

His dark hair is perfectly styled, and he’s dressed in a tailored suit that fits him like a glove. There’s a magnetism about him, an undeniable charisma that draws every eye in the room. As he scans the club, his gaze lands on me for a split second, and I feel a thrill of excitement shoot through me.

This is it. The moment I’ve been waiting for. Benedict is here, and the night suddenly feels charged with endless possibilities.

He stalks across the tiled floor, making his way right to me. “Hi,” he says like there’s nobody else in the club tonight. “Are you allowed to join me in a private room?”

Oh my god. Is he really asking me this?

“Um, I can check.” I’ve got tables I should be focusing on, but as I head across the room to speak with Adele my nerves race with excitement. “Benedict’s asked me to join him in a private room,” I explain to her.

She glances over at Benedict, and nods. “Thirty minutes. That’s it. Transfer your tables to Honey. She’s looking for extra money.”

My mood deflates slightly at the idea of losing out on potential money, and it’s like Adele notices.

“I’m sure he’ll pay you great for joining him. Just remember, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, and he knows this.”

I nod, biting my lower lip between my teeth. “Okay.” I head back across the club toward Benedict and to say I’m nervous is an understatement. Am I really doing this?

“Thirty minutes,” I tell him. I want to ask about money, but I keep my mouth shut.

“Follow me,” he says, leading me past the bouncer, Hector, and into a room at the end of the hallway.

As soon as the door clicks shut, he locks it.

I lick my lips nervously. “I’ve never really done this before,” I tell him, wondering what he’ll be asking of me.

“What are you doing here?”

My eyes widen. “What do you mean?”

He flips the bottom of my hair. “This? This wig? The makeup? What are you doing, Eva?”

I seriously want to cry knowing he’s caught me. However, anger overcomes me. “What business is it of yours,Father?” I snarl at him.

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