Page 48 of Brutal Unionn

Before I can answer, another woman’s voice cuts in. “Dolly, don’t make me clock you out for the night.”

“Sorry Madam,” she squeaks. “I just-”

“You were just leaving,” she answers, and I finally look over my shoulder at her. She has tanned skin, curves, a tight red dress that clings like it was made for her. Long, curly black hair frames her face, and her smirk is knowing and confident.

The blonde bows slightly and walks off like her ass is on fire.

“Don’t mind her. She’s new,” the woman says, extending her hand to me. “I’m Gwedolyn Petrov.”

“Petrov?” I repeat, sliding my hand into hers.

She flashes me a pearly white smile. “You wouldn’t be?—”

“Yes,” I nod, pulling my hand back. “Sorry for almost fucking up your kidnap rescue.”

“No worries. I’m alive, and free now.” She shrugs like it’s nothing, then waves to the bartender. “Hudson, two shots of the top-shelf hot sake.”

“Got it, darling,” Hudson replies winking effortlessly, already moving to the other side ofthe bar.

I glance at her. “Your husband know he talks to you like that?”

“Yup,” she says, grinning. “Hudson doesn’t really value his life.” She turns slightly, eyes shifting to Bhon. “Now, Mr. Matsumoto, why are you staring at one of my favorite customers?”

“He’s an old friend of mine.” I rest my elbow on the bar. “Why is your husband trying to dethrone Nadia?”

She laughs lightly. “Right to the point.”

“I prefer a straight shot.”

“He’s not.”

I click my tongue, putting more weight on my elbow. “Bhon says different.”

“Bhon is a trickster.” She shrugs, just as Hudson slides two steaming glasses of sake in front of us. “That’s the polite way of saying he’s a liar.”

“And why would he lie?”

“Because he lives in the dark but wants the light. He craves attention more than he admits.” She raises the shot glass in his direction, and I look over to see Bhon is off the phone. The girl is gone, and he is staring at me.

I chuckle, grabbing my shot glass, the dull heat tingling my fingertips. “And whose attention does he want?”

“Well, he’s not looking at me, is he?”

We clink glasses and take the shot. She sets her glass down and leans in slightly.

“Nadia’s iced us out,” she says, voice low. “And that’s becauseyour little buddy lied. My husband has taken many losses lately, he cannot also lose his sister.”

“And what do I do about that?” I tilt my head, looking down at the empty shot glass in my hand.

“It is your job to make sure she knows she can still trust us.”

“And why’s that?” I ask.

“Because from what I hear, you were in that room when she threatened Nik and Alek. That makes you one of the last people she still trusts—outside of Lily.” She replies, then glances toward a hallway lined with velvet curtains. “I recommend the conversation you have with Bhon be in room three. It is especially sound-proof.”

She steps away from the bar, her heels clicking against the floor. “I trust you will do your job?”

“I’ll do what I can,” I say, setting the glass down. “No promises. Your man said some fucked up shit to my girl.”