Page 74 of Defiled Innocence

When I dove into running the center and the foundation, I spent all my time focusing on the daily stuff. I learned who needed to be credentialed with what organization to be able to perform certain services at the center.

My focus was on how to get help to people. Lucas handled the money stuff.

But maybe it’s time I started getting more savvy with it. I can’t expect Dmitri to help me. That wasn’t our deal.

A startup company needs like three hundred thousand investment. You could get double back in two months.

Double return in a few months for a new company?

Can you send stuff over and I’ll look? I need to think about it.

“What’s going on?” Sarah leans over to see my phone. “He okay?”

“He wants me to go into some investment.”

His next text is immediate.

Yeah, but need an answer by tomorrow night, and best to keep that guy out of it. He shouldn’t be involved in your money.

My eyebrows rise with that message and when I look up at Sarah, she has the same look that I feel.

“That’s a huge red flag.” She leans back on her heels.

I shoot another text going along with him and put my phone away. Whatever he’s up to, I’ll deal with it later. I can put it on the bottom of my list.

“Hey, you ladies wanna do a round of shots with us? Two of our buddies took off before we got them, and we have extra.” A dark-haired man taps on Sarah’s shoulder.

I look beyond him to where his friends are watching us from the bar. The bartender is still holding a tray of shots.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Fireball.”

“Oh, those are dangerous,” Sarah laughs.

“Why not. One won’t hurt, right?” I nudge her. “It’s been a long week and next week is going to be worse, let’s have some fun tonight.”

Anything that will erase Dmitri from my mind for a little while. It’s too confusing to keep thinking about him without getting angry at his existence.

“All right.” Sarah nods in agreement. “But just one!” she yells as we follow the guy back to the bar.

Several shots later, I lean against the bar laughing at something Sarah said.

“Wait. What’d you say?” I ask when I can’t remember why I’m laughing so hard.

“I said the big guy’s here.” She taps my shoulder too hard then points behind me. “And he’s bringing the cute one with him.”

I turn a little to find Dmitri parting the sea of drinkers just by his presence and Boris marching behind him. Both have heavy glares.

“Oh.” I swallow. “How… how many shots did we do?”

“I dunno. Two?”

I start laughing again, because I’m sure we passed two a long time ago.

“Why does he look so mad?” Sarah asks.

“Did I miss a call? He gets so angry when I ignore him.” I pull out my cell phone, but drop it before I can swipe the screen open.

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