Page 80 of For Your Eyes Only

“You might not be on his payroll, but you are in this.” Andre polishes off his vodka drink, giving me an evil grin. “I’m simply keeping track of the things you cherish, things you wouldn’t want damaged or destroyed.”

Fury erupts in my chest, and my poker face is gone. He was there for Gia’s last performance, and he watched me carry her off the stage. He knows what I cherish.

Slamming the glass on the polished bar, I step to him, my voice a barely contained growl. “You touch one hair on her head, and I’ll make sure you die slowly, one piece at a time.”

His eyes flash, and he nods, grinning wider. “Sounds like for both our sakes, you’d better stay in line.”

My blood flames hotter with every heartbeat, and the back of my neck sweats. I’m ready to get out of here, to get back to south Florida before this guy does.

Grish stands at that moment and gives me the signal to go. I shoot the rest of my vodka, doing my best to recover my calm disposition. I thank the bartender, leave a tip, and turn my back on Andre without another word. He won’t leave New York as long as Simon is here, and I need Grish to tell me how much longer that will be.

We’re on the street, and my friend fills me in. “He’s giving me three weeks to come up with the money. I need to meet up with Ivan and the other guys to see where we can put our hands on some quick cash. You coming with me?”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’ve done enough for one night. I’m headed back to the Andover, then I’m returning to West Palm.”

Famous last words.

* * *

I haven’t beento The Vogue in two years, and I don’t particularly want to be here tonight. However, when I got back to the apartment, ready to change my return flight to Florida to now, Hana stopped me, saying we should go out since I stood her up for our lunch date.

I noted she wasn’t awake at what is universally consideredlunchtime(not even close). Instead, I pulled up the flight schedules on my phone, searching every possible airline. I was willing to fly coach, but when I saw I wasn’t getting out of the city tonight, I relented to her begging. At least I know Andre isn’t going anywhere tonight.

Debbie claimed to be feeling under the weather, so it’s the rare occasion where Blake, Hana, and I are out together, just the three of us. Blake is dressed in a light brown tank and jeans, and she keeps checking her phone while she nurses a glass of white wine. She’s only here to keep an eye on her sister, something she’s been doing more and more, from what I understand.

Hana’s on her third cosmo. She’s dressed in a flesh-colored sheath dress with tiny sparkles all over it. If she had any curves at all, it would remind me of Gia’s last dance, but Hana still has her ballerina figure, even though she abruptly quit dancing at thirteen and started partying.

I’m pretty sure it had something to do with her mother’s accountant Victor, who took over running the family finances after her father died. That creep was always sniffing around the sisters, trying to touch them. If I’d been a little older… hell, I don’t know. I was only fifteen and managing my own adult “admirer.”

“What’s so interesting in south Florida all of a sudden, anyway?” Hana shimmies over to where I’m sitting, phone in hand.

“You’d be surprised.” I’m nursing a vodka neat while keeping tabs on what’s happening at Gibson’s.

One of the doormen is a friend, and he promised to text if the Russians cleared out tonight. Actually, I slipped him a hundred, and he’s keeping me apprised on anything that happens there tonight. So far it’s been pretty quiet.

I’ve been so preoccupied, I haven’t checked in with Gia. I also haven’t heard from her. I’d be worried if I didn’t know Andre is still at Gibson’s and Franco promised he’d keep her safe, although I’m not sure Franco’s ready for this level of thuggery.

I’m not sure I am.

“Did you meet somebody?” Hana perches on the arm of my chair, and my eyes drift to the dance floor then up to her as I consider her question.

“No.” The fewer people who know about Gia, the better.

I’m not worried so much about Hana spreading gossip, but she might say something to Debbie. Then everyone would know. Hell, Debbie would probably say I had broken her heart and gotten engaged.

Hesitating over this, I realize the thought of being engaged to Gia makes me calm. It’s a life I could see myself living happily for the rest of my days. My stomach twists with dread as I realize Andre is right. I’ll do anything to protect her, and he knows it.

“Yes, whatareyour interests in Miami?” Blake turns her attention to me. “I swear, I have no idea what you do anymore since you dropped out of Columbia.”

Blake and I were both enrolled at that prestigious university here in town. I realized halfway through my degree I didn’t need it. I have enough connections to make my own deals in this city.

I think for Blake, a college degree set her apart from the other party girls. She despises that scene, and she’s smart enough to stay out of it.

Still, for whatever reason, she feels responsible for what happens to our fragile, China doll, and it keeps her hanging around, even though her massive trust fund would allow her to live wherever she wanted.

“China Girl,” I say, holding up a crisp twenty to Hana. “And anything else you want.”

“Yes!” She immediately snatches the bill and dashes off in the direction of the jukebox.

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