Chapter 33 Chapter 33 The Club
Ivan gives me his hand as I step out of his car. Sparks roll over my skin and down my spine when he touches me. I gulp, my gaze turning to the club. My cousin is doing amazing—a three-story warehouse building spanning a whole block. My uncle bankrolled the first club, but this is number three, so he must be doing great.
The bouncer pulls the rope so we can pass; there is a line of people waiting to get in. We walk into a long corridor. One side has a coat check—the attendant smiles at Ivan. His face remains cool; in all the time I spent with him today, he only made two facial expressions. He turns to the other side, the valet. Ivan slides his keys onto the counter.
"Yes, Boss!" says the boy behind the glass.
What does Ivan do for my cousin? His hand hovers on my lower back, guiding me further in. The last door in the hallway is a nurse’s office. I smirk—how clever. The double doors in front of us swing open, and I am immersed in pink and yellow light. The air is smoky; it smells like alcohol and sex. Three stories of dance floor, a bar on each floor spanning the length of the building. The first floor has velvet booths, the second floor has bar-height tables and chairs, and the third floor looks like a standing area—it’s hard to tell from down here. The DJ is on a podium straight ahead of us; it reaches the second floor. Five large chandeliers hover above the dance floor, multilayered wood planks covered in candles.
The dance floor is full of people, moving in slow motion to the haunting music that fills the space. Ivan’s hand closes the distance between us and lands on my skin, setting a fire inside me. My breath catches in my lungs, refusing to leave. He leans closer to me, his breath brushing my face.
"Your cousins and your sister are all at the bar," he points.
I turn my head toward the bar and spot my sister. She looks exactly like me—Helena, slightly taller, but the same blue eyes and light brown hair, down to her butt too. We could pass for twins. She is six years older than me, from my father’s first marriage. My cousin Elena, Boriana, and Gabriella are all having shots with her. Elena looks just like my aunt—short brown hair and brown eyes. Boriana is blonde now with green eyes; she likes to dye her hair all sorts of colors. Gabriella is the most beautiful—tall and thin, black hair, hazel eyes. She resembles a runway model. Then Stanislav pops up from behind the bar. His shaved head shines, white dress shirt, sleeves rolled up. He snaps his suspenders when he sees me. They all turn. A smile spreads across my face as I make my way to them.
"The dress looks killer on you. I am so glad it fit!" says my sister as she wraps her arms around me.
"Thank you for sending Ivan to pick me up!" I say to Stanislav as he walks around the bar.
"You sent him to get her??? What the fuck is wrong with you?" asks Elena, continuing to curse at him.
"He was really nice! We only talked for a bit, but he was nice! Does he work for you?"
"Ivan is my partner—he is funding this club." He turns to Elena. "Ivan is respectful. I trust him with my life."
"He is a fucking gangster!" yells my sister.
Stanislav waves them off and walks away. I watch him until he slides into a booth next to Ivan and a few other guys.
"He is kind of hot in a scary way!" I say, and my sister rolls her eyes.
Our eyes meet as he takes a sip from a glass half full of dark liquid.
"I would so fuck him!" I admit, and my sister covers my mouth.
Something flashes over his face but fades quickly—then a smirk.
"Holy fucking shit! He is smiling at you!" laughs Gabriella.
"You are so reckless, little sis!" says my sister, still covering my mouth. "Don’t say such things!"
All I can do is shrug. We break out into laughter.
"Let’s drink!" yells Gabriella.
We do shot after shot after shot and make our way to the dance floor. I try my best not to look at him, but I fail. Every time I look his way, he is looking back at me. Gabriella puts her arm around me.
"He hasn’t taken his eyes off of you!" she says.
I shake my head at her.
I let the music take over and relax into the rhythm, swaying my hips slowly as I dip down and back up. The world fades away. My worries melt out of my body. I can feel sweat mist over my skin. A peaceful hum buzzes in my veins. My sister and Elena swat away multiple guys from us. They are older than Gabriella and me. I am the youngest girl in our family. My sister has a boyfriend—they live together—and so does Elena. Gabriella is single, and so am I, for now anyway. Stanislav, I know, has a girl, but they don’t do labels, he always says. He lives in my aunt’s old apartment.
My sister misses a guy—someone really warm is suddenly very close. My arms are up as I move down and back up. The back of a hand brushes against my arm, moving from my wrist down to my ribs, pulling away without grazing my breasts. My sister twists around, her eyes widening. She grabs my hand and pulls me away. Turning, I see Ivan standing there.
Shit.
Stanislav walks around him.
"You are staying at my place with Ivan!"
"You have two bedrooms???"
"I am staying at my girl’s place. I have been for a while now." He rubs his hand over his head. "You take my bedroom. I will see you tomorrow. Ivan is tired—leave with him. He has my keys!"
I hug my sister and cousins goodbye.
"Lunch tomorrow! We can talk!" says my sister.
I smile before I turn and follow Ivan out of the club. We stand there waiting for the valet to bring his car. The cool night air makes my skin pebble. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to keep warm.
He drapes his jacket over me.