Page 54 of The Bratva's Christmas Bump
“Great!” Lara claps her hands together for warmth. “Let’s get you paid!”
19
HOLLIE
Ispend most of the day resting, tending to my violin, and talking over my schedule with Tiffany for the next two weeks while waiting on Maxim. His invitation to join him at work last night remains at the forefront of my mind throughout the day while something he won’t talk about keeps him busy. By the time late evening rolls around, I’m convinced he’s forgotten.
Until he calls me down to the car and we drive until we reach one of his nightclubs, Plumme. Unlike the last time we were here, music booms from inside and a queue of people lines up around the block. The neon lights flash in time to the pulsing music, and a burly man at the door moves to stop my approach until he glimpses Maxim just behind me.
Stu and Toto follow us at a distance while Rex, Maxim’s head of security, walks on ahead.
“Aren’t you worried?” I ask, leaning against Maxim as we walk so he can hear me over the music.
“About what?”
“That everything I see you do here will just be more ammo for me to hold over you.”
“I’m not worried.” Maxim takes my hand as we step out onto the upper balcony overlooking the main dance floor. He brings my hand to his lips and kisses my ring. “You’re not going to tell anyone anything.”
“You’re sure about that?” Pulling my hand away, I cross my arms over my chest. “So, what’s the big secret? What’s so important about what you do at a strip club that you have to show me?” I hear the words coming out of me laced with venom, but I can’t stop myself. Last night, in the snow under the trellis, I started to see him differently, like he was someone I could genuinely fall for and the crush that pulled us together hasn’t faded. I almost felt like there was something real between us, so now I’m on the defensive.
“Go to the bar,” Maxim replies, seemingly unfazed by my attitude. “Have a drink and relax.”
I do just that but insist it’s because I want to and not because he told me to. Toto follows at a distance but soon melts into the crowd of surging people hungry for the girls dancing and performing on stage. Thankfully, the bar is mostly empty other than a few skimpily dressed waitresses darting back and forth with trays filled with drinks.
“What can I getcha, chick—wait a second.” The bartender pauses on her rush past me and points at me with one long, manicured finger. “I know you.”
Our eyes meet and she breaks out into a wild smile.
“You’re Hollie, right? Maxim’s girl?”
My gut knots slightly as I nod. “Yeah. That’s me.”
“I’m Xena.” She sticks one hand over the bar. Her wrist is covered in bracelets that jingle together in a light symphony while she waits for my hand. “I was at your wedding, remember?”
“How could I forget?” I shake her hand slightly to be polite, then press my hands together in my lap. “Could I get some water?”
She raises one perfectly penciled brow. “You came to a place like this for water?”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, we serve all sorts here, chick. But you’d be better with a soda. The water ain’t exactly…” She purses her lips. “Just trust me.”
“Fine. A soda.” Is this what he wanted me to see? A bar where the water isn’t drinkable and a building filled with half-naked women dancing and grinding for the men lusting after them?
Xena flashes me a smile and ducks under the bar, returning with an ice-cold can of soda. “Can I get you anything else, chick?”
I shake my head, welcoming the chill of the drink as the heat within the club builds. “No, thank you.”
“So, what brings you back here?” She places both her hands on the bar and leans toward me. “Another wedding?” She winks.
“Do you help a lot of women get married when they don’t want to?” My eyes narrow. “Is that the business he runs here?”
“Who, Maxim?” Xena scoffs. “Listen, I may not be a lot of things but I know when someone is babbling some crazy bullshit, and you, chick, you had no idea what you were talking about.”
“Are you kidding me?” Annoyance rises within me like a wave of heat. “I told you the truth and instead of helping me, you threw me back into his arms!”
“From where I’m standing, you’re looking pretty okay for a woman claiming she was kidnapped.” Xena’s polite expression melts into one of annoyance. “Maxim did you a favor.”
