Page 5 of Nemesis

“What else?”

“Paul has a scheduled day off, and Barry isn’t here yet.”

Fires, fires everywhere. Paul is one of our security guys. He basically wanders around and makes sure people aren’t causing trouble in the club. Barry is the club’s door bouncer. To have them both out? Not good.

I wave off Mel, assure her I’ll be downstairs soon, and reach for the phone.

What feels like fifteen thousand phone calls later, I’ve got everything sorted. Barry has been located, plus another on the security team will be coming in to assist. Mel will have help on the floor, and I will be behind the bar. Which just leaves one missing piece.

I head out to find Antonio and give him my best, award-winning smile. Well. I don’t know if it would win anything, but I’d like to think so.

“You have a scheming face,” he calls across the counter. He’s got little slips of paper in his hands, pausing in his orders only to spare me those words and a quick glance.

“How do you feel about managing the nightclub tonight?” I force a bigger smile. “I’ve volunteered to be behind the main bar, so you can give me shit for moving too slow.”

He rolls his eyes. “Done.”

I pump my fist.

“But only if you call the missus and tell her why I won’t be home until dawn.”

Fuck.

I head back to my office to tell Vittoria, Antonio’s wife. She’s strong as nails and twice as scary, but their relationship is pure gold. They have three children, only one of whom is still living with them. But not for long.

Soon enough, she’ll be heading to college, and they’ll be empty nesters.

“Tony?” she answers when I call.

“Better,” I greet her.

“Tem! To what do I owe this surprise?” She pauses. “You’re keeping him late again.”

I wince. “Is that okay?”

“I suppose it will have to be. We’ll be seeing you by the house this week, right? I have some new plants to show you, plus some nodes for you to take home. They’re rooting already.”

“Yes, of course. Thank you.”

She makes no mention of any birthdays, for which I am relieved.

“I’ll be over soon,” I promise. “The club is closed Mondays…”

“Excellent. Talk soon, dear. And keep my husband safe while you work together.”

I tilt my head. The tone of her voice makes me think…

Nah.

“Bye, Vittoria.” I hang up and stare at the phone for a long moment. The weird feeling is creeping back, and I stand abruptly. This is the last place I want to get caught up in that.

I lock my office door and head for the stairs. I have an apartment downstairs for emergencies. My brother’s used it before to hide from his enemies, but now I mostly use it to stash extra clothes. And sometimes I sleep there when the condo feels too cold.

The apartment is empty. I change into a slinky gold dress and release my thick hair from the clip it had made its way into, then slick on even more makeup. I trade my tennis shoes for heeled boots that grip at my calves, plus necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings.

Full-body transformation.

I meet my gaze in the mirror and try not to cringe.

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