Page 23 of Be My Vengeance

CHAPTER TWELVE

Danny

Getting into Pricilla’s wasn’t difficult. I slipped the bouncer at the door a card. It was one we used any time we needed to get into places discreetly. It had GH written on it and a number. If they called the number, they’d get Gideon…but he hated when they called. He always got upset with the person, asking why they couldn’t just believe the card was genuine.

Inside, it was easy to see what set Pricilla’s apart from any other gay club—or any club, for that matter. While the typical scents of mixed perfumes, sweat, and the plethora of different types of alcohol lingered in the air, the ventilation was so good, it was pleasant. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings, red and gold satin fabrics were draped like expensive streamers. The bar was two levels. On the first level you got your drinks and left, and on the top one you could sit and enjoy them.

The dance floor was pristine white marble with flecks of gold, and every person dancing on it was dripping in wealth. Alex stood beside me, his eyes scanning the entire venue. I too was trying to focus on people’s faces, but the feel of his hand in mine was rather distracting.

“He’s at the bar.” Alex spoke close to my ear, and his breath against my skin made me shiver. I was so pathetic. “You okay?”

“Yeah, fine. Let’s go to the bar, then.” I gently tugged him along, slithering between the dancing bodies to get to the bar.

At the bar we ordered, grabbed our drinks, and slid closer to where we saw Maksim talking to some beefy-looking guy.

Maksim had his hand on the guy’s chest, and the man was eating it up. Smiling, he had a glazed expression. This wasn’t a business deal; this was two seconds from them going into the bathroom for a quickie.

Sure enough, a minute later we watched as Maksim guided Beefy Man toward the back. “We need to follow them.” I tugged Alex’s hand but met resistance.

“You want to go down there…where people are, like, making out?”

A burst of laughter fell from my lips. “Are you afraid of people kissing?”

“No, I just…what can we gain from watching him doing whatever with that guy?”

I grinned. “I don’t want to lose him, so put on your big boy pants, and let’s go watch some men getting dirty.”

“Danny, I…” His words were cut off as I practically yanked him to follow them. He was blubbering away, but I paid him no mind. I needed to figure out where Maksim had gotten off to…no pun intended.

The bathrooms at Pricilla’s were nicer than most apartments I’d seen. The stall doors were floor to ceiling and I guessed soundproof, because it was quiet when we walked in. Two of the stalls were closed.

“How do we know they’re in here?” Alex whispered.

“There’s nothing else this way.”

“Why couldn’t we just watch the bathroom door? Why do we have to be in here?”

One of the stall doors opened and on instinct I pulled Alex to me, pressing his face into my neck. He muffled something, but I shushed him. I peered over his shoulder and saw a rather irate-looking Maksim. He was speaking in fast Russian, trying to sort out his clothes.

“I’m sorry.” Beefy Man rushed out after him.

“Sorry?” Maksim’s arms flew up in dramatic fashion.

“Yes, I usually last longer, so I didn’t realize⁠—”

“That you’d come in my mouth!”

Oh, boy. This was funny. Alex lifted his head—seemed both of us were kind of invested in this argument.

“It came out of nowhere, I swear.”

I snorted, and that of course garnered Maksim’s and Beefy Man’s attention.

I held my hands up in mock surrender. “Sorry, please continue.”

“Oh, I will not be continuing.” Maksim literally harumphed.

“I can…” The guy inched closer and Maksim slapped his hand to the man’s chest, keeping him at a distance.