Page 39 of We The Depraved

There’s three missed calls from Reese and even more from Silver. I loose count as I scroll but finally I call my best friend.

“Where the fuck are you?” Silver picks up immediately.

I take a breath. “I’m fine.”

“Last I saw of you, Gio was carrying you to that scary fucking Russian’s car.”

A laugh escapes. “Gio’s a scary fucking Russian.”

“Half Russian,” Silver says. “And also like my little brother. Tell me where you are.”

I stand and look around from the porch. “A ranch? I forget the name.”

“Are you okay?”

I assure her I’m fine. The idea comes over me then. “I need you to bring me some things.”

“Like?”

“I have a private dance session set up for tonight,” I tell her.

Silver’s quiet on the other end. “Drop me the location. And when I get there, I want all the fucking details. And by the way, the scary Russian’s asshole brothers have been hanging around. There’s one, I’m going to slap.”

“Oh, sounds like Artur,” I smile.

“He’s not my type,” Silver says. “But he swears up and down I’m his.”

We cackle on the phone like school girls for a few more minutes. Everything feels normal for just a few minutes. Then things turn serious.

“Some guys came in asking about you last night,” Silver says.

“Oh yeah?” I ask. “Who?”

“Some scary motherfucker with tattoos on his face. Hispanic. Girl are you in some shit. You’ve been kidnapped by a scary Russian, and now some scary ass gang member is in here. He wanted static too but Gio and the other guys were on it…the scary Russians were in the vicinity.”

I take a breath.

27 Row.

Fuck.

“Don’t worry about him,” I say. “How’d you know who they were?”

She gives a huff on the other end. “You forget where I come from Rich Girl. I know when someone’s affiliated. Just like Carla’s boyfriend….affiliated out the ass.”

Silver’s dancing around this as if she works the poll and not the bar. “I’m ‘bout to drop you the address for this fucking place. Just bring what I need. We’ll talk more later.”

“Fine, but it might be a while. I have an errand to run.”

We hang up and I enjoy the sunshine just a little while longer. I scroll the clubs social media and find nothing out of the ordinary. Finally, I text Reese.

Is Nana okay?

Oh wow, you are alive.

I take a breath before replying.Yes, I’m fine. Is Nana okay?

She is, Reese replies.