Page 84 of Savage Vows
Oleg meets us downstairs, already looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. He barely says a word on the drive, just fiddles with his phone and keeps glancing in the rearview mirror as if we’re about to disappear.
The mall is new, all glass walls and gleaming white tile, the kind of place where sunlight seems to bounce off every surface. There’s a wall of designer stores on one side and a wide central corridor lined with coffee stands, jewelry counters, and clusters of expensive-looking seating. In the center, a wide atrium opens to an upper floor, where the cinema sits behind a row of neon signs and candy-colored posters.
It’s busy but not packed—families shopping, groups of teenagers clustered around the bubble tea kiosk, the air thick with the smell of buttered popcorn and fresh pastry. Everything feels glossy and normal, but I can’t help glancing at every face, wondering if anyone is watching us for reasons I can’t see.
Bella heads straight for the ticket counter and buys two tickets together—one for her, one for me—then gets a third, a single seatas far to the opposite side of the theater as possible. She hands Oleg his stub and flashes him a saccharine smile. “We figured you’d enjoy your own space,” she says sweetly.
He just grunts, pocketing the ticket.
I take out my phone, my fingers trembling just a little, and stare at Alex’s last message:He’ll be behind the service corridor, next to the alley by the parking lot. Wait for the handoff. Don’t approach until he’s alone.
I swallow and send a quick prayer that I’m not too late or too early. The exit near the arcade lets me slip through a fire door and into the less friendly part of the mall’s perimeter. It’s just half a block, but the street turns quickly from well-lit to shadowed, the distant noise of moviegoers fading behind me.
My heart is thudding. The night air is damp, tinged with old fry oil and cigarettes. I almost turn back twice, but then I see them—two men in the mouth of the alley, one of them hunched, face shadowed by a ball cap, the other with a restless edge, glancing over his shoulder every few seconds.
I hang back, watching as the taller man—skinny, wired—hands off a small package, his voice low and urgent. The buyer tucks it into his jacket and vanishes into the street without another word.
My heart pounds so hard I think I might be sick, but I force myself forward. The dealer doesn’t notice me at first, busy shoving his hands into his pockets, scanning for the next threat or opportunity. I step into the alley’s spill of light, voice steady despite my nerves.
“Are you Mik?”
He startles, eyeing me with suspicion, gaze darting from my face to my shoes and back again. For a second, neither of us speaks. Then he spits on the ground, sizing me up.
“Who wants to know?”
I force myself to smile, slipping my phone deeper into my pocket. “A friend recommended you. Said you have the best deals on MDMA.” I let my voice go casual, like I’ve done this before.
That gets his attention. He straightens up a little, some street swagger settling over him. “Yeah? You looking to party tonight, or stocking up?”
“Just a party,” I say, glancing away, letting him think I’m nervous for all the usual reasons. “I heard you’re the guy to see.”
He pulls a small pouch from his jacket, tossing it from hand to hand before offering it out. “First-timer special. You get three tabs for five hundred. You won’t find it cheaper this side of the river.”
I slide the cash across, keeping my smile easy. “A friend said you’re reliable. You helped her out once—Samie, I think? She said you always came through, never shorted anyone.”
He pauses, one eyebrow lifting, thrown for just a split second. The street bravado flickers. “Samie, huh?” He tries to recover, hands tightening around the pouch before handing it over. “She used to run with a lot of crowds. Didn’t know she talked me up.”
I tuck the pouch into my bag, glancing up at him with practiced curiosity. “Yeah, she said you always had the best stuff. Said you even got her out of a jam once at Portello. That club’s got a weird vibe now, doesn’t it?”
He stiffens, gaze darting away for a moment before snapping back. “That place isn’t the same. Too many new faces. Too many problems.”
I lean a little closer, voice light, pretending to be in on some joke. “Sounds like more trouble than it’s worth. Guess I’m lucky I ran into you and not some of those creeps.”
He exhales, the hardness returning to his features. “Yeah, well. Not everyone’s lucky.”
I tuck the pouch into my bag, then look up at him, voice soft. “Did you know she disappeared? Samie, I mean. No one’s seen her in months. Her mother’s terrified.”
His face goes blank for a heartbeat, then shutters over. “People disappear all the time,” he mutters. “That’s not on me.”
I push a little harder, letting the concern in my voice show. “She really trusted you, you know. Said you were one of the only ones who ever helped her out when she needed it. I just thought maybe you’d want to know.”
He narrows his eyes, suspicion flaring. “Are you really Samie’s friend? You don’t sound like you knew her. What’s your name?”
My heart jumps. I know I’ve pushed too far, but I keep my chin up, forcing myself not to back down. “I just want to help. If you know anything?—”
He cuts me off, stepping closer, voice low and rough. “You got no idea what you’re messing with. Whatever happened to Samie, it didn’t start with her. There’s people up the chain, people with real power.”
His grip tightens on my arm, his face inches from mine now, eyes wild and desperate. “Dirt like me? I could never dosomething like that and get away with it,” he spits. “You think people like me make girls disappear and no one cares? Ask too many questions and the real people in charge, they’ll make sure you’re gone too.”
