Page 114 of Kane

“Myka.” She doesn’t smile, but if I had to guess, I’d guess she likes Myka, as well as Inez could be said to actually like anything, or have any kind of emotions for anyone. “Miss Sharma. My name is Inez. I manage Club Sin.”

Anjalee rises. “Miss Inez. It is my pleasure to meet you.”

Inez nods formally. “Yes, quite. We have a few things to go over, once you’re settled.”

Anjalee shrugs. “I have nothing to settle, Miss Inez.”

“You have nothing to unpack?”

A shake of her head. “No, I do not. What I am wearing is all I have. My father provided everything for me, and when I left, I left all of it behind.”

Inez frowns. “That will not do. I will provide you with a company expense card and Myka will take you shopping. Rev will provide security, I’m sure.”

Anjalee shakes her head. “I cannot accept anything I have not earned, please. I thank you, but I…I cannot. Not any longer.”

Inez smiles—a real, actualsmile. A small one, tight-lipped, but a smile nonetheless. “I respect your position, Anjalee, more than you know. I have need of an additional set of eyes in the command booth, so if you are willing, I would like you to begin there. It is not difficult work, but it requires constant attention. Do you think you would like to try it?”

Anjalee frowns thoughtfully. “I do not know what is this command booth, please.”

“The whole club, including the common areas down here, are monitored by video cameras. That includes the main club, Hel, and Fisticuffs. I need someone that’s not one of these men to sit in the command booth to which the security cameras feed and monitor them. It means watching multiple screens at once, scanning for signs of trouble. When you spot something suspicious, you would contact the security team on a radio.” She pulls back the edge of her suit coat, revealing a walkie-talkie clipped to her waist, a cord trailing up to the earpiece in her right ear; she’s also got a 9mm pistol in a shoulder holster rigged for a right-hand draw. “I understand you do not have experience, but I am confident you will learn quickly, as long as you have the desire to earn your keep.”

Anjalee swallows, licks her lips. “That sounds like quite a lot of responsibility.”

“It is.” Inez doesn’t sugarcoat shit. “Are you willing to put in the effort, Anjalee?”

A firm nod. “I am.”

“Then you’ll do fine.” She nods again, a formal dismissal, and turns away, heels clicking. “Kane, you’re on the Hel door this evening. Everyone else, you know your positions.”

Myka watches until Inez is gone, and then she looks at me. “Is it me, or was she…” she trails off, unable to finish the question.

“Downrightnice?” I finish.

Myka nods. “Yeah.”

I shake my head. “Never seen her speak that way to anyone.” I look at Anjalee. “Workin’ your magic again, babe.”

She frowns at me. “I do not think I have done anything magical, Kane.”

“Never seen her smile once, till just now,” I answer.

“The command center—Kane, what is it like?”

I shrug. “Dunno, really. Only ever seen it once or twice. Chance is there a good bit, though.”

Chance ambles over, moving his massive bulk with a lithe grace belied by his size, lowering himself to the couch next to Anjalee. “It’s a fascinating place,” he answers, his voice a deep, gravelly rattle so powerful it damn near shakes your bones. “Got angles on just about every inch of this whole fuckin’ building, except our rooms, the public restrooms, and the top floor.”

“What is on the top floor?” Anjalee asks.

“That’s where the big boss lives.” Chance swipes his fingers to cut off her question. “All I’ll say about that. Our boss is…private. Reclusive private. You’ll never meet or even see him. Best bet is just to pretend Inez is the boss, because for all intents and purposes, she is.”

Anjalee nods. “I understand.”

Chance grins. “I’ve taken a turn or two in there, watching the monitors while Inez handles other shit. It’s fun, if you like watching people. And this club, there’s always some shit goin’ down.”

Anjalee looks at me, then at Chance. “Kane has not told me anything about this place. What is it, please?”

Chance barks a laugh. “Oh shit. He brought you here, pulled you into the Arrows, got you a job in the command booth, and you don’t even know what Sinis?”