Page 18 of Gilded Cage (Kovalyov Bratva 1)

“You girls have fun in there.” He unhooks the velvet rope and ushers us in through the VIP entrance.

I laugh as we tumble inside, feeling a strange sense of euphoria settle over me.

Tomorrow, I have to go back to my claustrophobic, Papa-controlled world.

But for tonight, I’m in control of the next few hours.

I’m going to make them count.

Tamara is still holding my hand as we emerge from the darkened VIP hallway into the main area of the club.

It’s a booming, overwhelming maze of sweaty bodies and bright lights. The music is so loud I can’t hear myself think. I’m sweating already, too.

Tamara screams something in my ear, but I can’t make out what she said.

“What?” I scream back.

“I said, let’s get someone to buy us shots!”

I give her a thumbs up and a hesitant smile. I’m just overwhelmed, that’s all.

But if I stop to try and gather my thoughts, the image of Miguel beaten and slumped over in that tiny room flashes in front of my eyes.

I shudder.

Can’t be doing that. Look at Tammy—she’s dancing already, having fun, arms in the air and not a care in the world.

I try to smile and mimic her.

But I can’t help feeling like I’m being watched.

I tap Tam on the shoulder. “Does it feel like someone’s staring at us?” I yell.

She makes me repeat it a few times, but eventually she gets it.

When she does, she laughs out loud. “Of course we’re being watched!” she yells back. “We’re the hottest girls in the club!”

I feign another smile and try to breathe.Follow Tamara’s lead.

But I still can’t shake that feeling of being watched.

And when I turn around, I realize why.

Someone’s staring right at me from a small, innocuous doorway along one wall. He’s got dark hair raked back carelessly from his forehead. Tattoos trace over his brawny forearms, and more peek out from beneath the open collar of his henley shirt.

But it’s his eyes that draw my attention the most.

Even in this chaotic club, they stand out.

They’re darker than anything else.

Angrier. More intense.

And they’re locked dead on me.

6

Esme

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