Page 66 of Violent Possession

Being seen with them is just part of the package.

The apartment is too silent.Too luxurious. Too clean. And I can’tstandbeing here anymore.

A black sedan is parked across the street, headlights off, the moment I step onto the sidewalk. It’s not really trying to hide. Mybabysitters.

Alexei isn’t hiding me anymore. Every expensive display piece comes with insurance.

I cross the street. I stop by the passenger window, dark with tint. I wait a second.

Nothing.

Then, I knock on the glass. Twice.

There’s a moment of hesitation inside. The window rolls down a few inches.

One of the men inside is one of the ones who picked me up from the locker room. Stone-faced, empty eyes. He looks bored.

“Seriously?” I say.

He is impassive. “Mr. Malakov’s orders, sir,” he says. Calling mesiris ridiculous. “Just ensuring your safety.”

I roll my eyes. Fuck. I can take care of myself.

I walk down the sidewalk with my hands in my pockets. The black sedan follows me at five kilometers an hour. It’s the most expensive, most intimidating babysitter in the world. The situation is so ridiculous it makes me laugh. I walk slower on purpose.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. Marcus’s flood of messages, which hasn’t stopped since I left that locker room.

GRIFFIN FOR GOD’S SAKE ANSWER

Where are you?

Did they take you?

Are you okay?

What the hell is going on?

I roll my eyes, typing a short reply as I walk.

handling business

Business with the Malakovs?!?!?!?!

those guys are CRAZY

You know what I heard the other day?

That they COOKED a guy

Poured oil on him, put CEMENT on his feet and left him there to boil in the midday sun

I ignore it. I put my phone back in my pocket.

The neon light of the 24-hour convenience store on the corner comforts me. This place isn’t as fancy as all the others from the past few hours.

I walk in, and the bell on the door makes a shrill sound. The black car stops across the street, waiting.

I go straight to the counter. I automatically stare at the brand I always smoke, but the name doesn’t come to my tongue.