Page 10 of Master Vidar & Vali

Before I could get a better look and maybe guess at what some of the stranger things were for, a voice called out. “Can I help you? We’re not open yet.”

I squealed in surprise. Crushing the urge to run screaming from the room was harder to resist than I’d like to admit. Before fear overrode reason, I found the source of the words. Ahandsome man, maybe six feet tall, and built like a bodybuilder. The look on his face was that of annoyance not anger.

“Dottie, did you forget to lock the front door after you came in?” he yelled toward the back.

“Sorry boss!”

One of the sexiest women I’d ever laid eyes on came hustling from the back, her figure-hugging clothing showing off generous cleavage, a trim waist curving into a wide flare of hips that were attached to legs that went on for days. The man she called boss slapped her ass on her way past him.

“You know that’s called sexual harassment, right, boss?”

“Consider it a punishment for leaving the door open.” Her light mocha skin pinkened for a moment, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. “I sure hope you can do better than that, boss, or I may have to do more shifts at Valhalla and get me some real action.”

She winked over her shoulder at him, while missing the daggers he tossed back with the scowl on his face. I wondered if they were a thing. She stopped in front of me, cocking out one hip and placing her fist on it. “Now who might you be, darlin’?”

“My name is Zara Foster. I’m, uhm, looking for Colin Kinnaird. He gave me a card and it has this address on it but no phone number. Maybe his office is upstairs?” The thought of Colin working above a sex club sent all sorts of wicked thoughts chasing through my brain.

Mr. Dark and Swarthy at the bar came over and joined us.

“Nice to meet you Zara, I’m Rafe, the manager of Club Midgard. Can I see the card?”

“Sure.” Handing the card over made me nervous, but after a quick look, he handed it back.

“How did you meet Master Vidar?”

“Master who?” I was starting to feel like I’d stepped out of my nightmare and into an alternate dimension.

“Colin.”

“Colin is Master Vader?”

His laugh was musical but it made me feel uncomfortable. “Vidar not Vader it’s the name of a Norse God. How did you meet him?”

Oh my god. Colin came to a sex club and used the nickname of a Norse god. Could things get any weirder? “He was at my work doing security consulting and gave me his card and told me I could contact him.”

“I think he might have given you the wrong card. This is a VIP guest pass.”

I slumped forward and wanted to bang my head against the nearest pillar. I probably would have if I hadn’t known how badly it would hurt. My movement must have put me into the direct light of the bar making the bruising on my face visible, because the next thing I knew, I heard a sound that had me look directly at him.

“Who hit you?” Rafe’s growl was impressive but I had nothing left inside me to get nervous.

“It’s a long story and no offense, but I don’t know you. Do you know how I can get hold of Colin or not?” My heart ached at the thought that it had all been for nothing.

“I have his number. I’ll give him a call. Dottie, can you get Zara a drink and keep the lady company?”

“If I say no, will you put a little bit more effort into another smack on this succulent ass?”

“Dottie,” he almost groaned, “not now.”

Despite feeling like I’d landed in an alien colony, I couldn’t hold back the giggle at her shenanigans.

“What can I get you to drink, girlfriend?” Before I could answer she said, “You look like you need something strong, how about a scotch on ice, side of water?”

Damn, that was exactly what I wanted. I felt the tension ease a bit from my shoulders.

“That would be great.”

“Take a seat at the bar and I'll get you that drink.”

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