Page 71 of Defy

“I’m not sure if that look means something good or bad. I’m leaning towards bad.”

A hint of amusement lit her eyes. “She’s not our usual type of volunteer, but considering where she started in life, I can understand her desire to help.”

“Meaning she started down and out but made it big? Is it a celebrity?”

“More notorious.” She smirked and then patted my arm. “But her heart is like yours.”

“How did she find out about you?”

“It was more her husband. He knows about us and occasionally donates to our causes.”

A thought crossed my mind, and I asked, “Would this person happen to be here because her husband wants her to like him again or something like that?”

“No, I do this for me,” a Russian voice said behind me.

Then, a second later, Oliana Dominik came around the corner. To my surprise, she looked understated and ordinary, wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt that looked remarkably like the ones I had on and with her blonde hair tied in a messy bun.

“No designer duds tonight?”

“No. I like the people here. They’re important.” She scanned me. “You look tired. Is it lack of sleep from too much fucking or worry?”

Suzette coughed. “Sophia, I see you two are old friends. I’ll leave you to it.”

Suzette hurried toward the kitchen, and I shot Oliana a scowl.

“You’re a menace.”

She shrugged. “Suzette has eight children. She knows how sex works.”

“Okay, now I see why Nikki sent you here to volunteer. He thinks seeing a seventy-something-year-old who popped out kid after kid will influence you to give him more babies and not stab him in the junk with your earrings.”

“I kissed it and made it better. Nikki isn’t angry anymore.” She winked at me.

“I hope you’re keeping track of your birth control.”

She rolled her eyes. “Doctor, give me the shot. No more babies means no more babies. Five is good.”

I led her to the large storage room, stocking all the donated fabrics and clothes.

Once inside, I cocked a hand on my hip. “What do you want with me, and how the fuck did you find out about me coming here?”

“You’re very smart. I knew I liked you.” Oliana smiled in a catlike way and scooted onto a set of storage bins.

“I’m waiting.”

“Remember when I told you what I did in my home country and that my orders were to “take care” of my Nikki?” She air-quoted the, take care, part of her statement.

I nodded.

“Well, the occupation that sent me to him is why I looked you up.”

Uneasiness skimmed along my skin.

“Okay. Go on.”

“It isn’t something a child dreams of becoming. I didn’t pick that job. It was picked for me when I was eight years old.”

I watched her, unsure whether to grab the door behind me and run for it or keep listening. “What does that have to do with me?”

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