Pulled me from hell?
No.
She saw me in hell and joined me.
Why would I ever leave?
The day I stop loving you... will never come.
~ Alex Sergeyev
"Eventually, he'll have to show up." Zarri cupped Kashi's face. "Don't let that bother you. Shall we move on to more important plans?"
Kashi laughed. "Sure. What do you have planned?"
Zarri's expression brightened. "How hot can you look by 9:30 p.m.?"
"Depends on where I'll be."
"Good. I've got a party we absolutely cannot miss."
The door opened. Dante walked in.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Demon women."
"Infernal bastard," Zarri spat. She turned to Kashi. "You brought him here? Why?"
"Apparently, I can't go anywhere without him. Grandfather's orders."
"So much appreciation. Thank you." Dante gave Kashi a painfully fake smile.
"You're welcome."
Zarri stood. "Honestly, I don't even care." She gestured at his suit. "Dante, get rid of this disaster. You will not tag along looking like your job."
Dante looked down at himself. "Oh? Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
đź’ś ~~~~~
The club music thundered through the building, bass rattling the floor beneath a sea of people drinking, dancing and losing whatever dignity they had arrived with. Zarri walked in first.
Kashi followed behind her.
Both women looked devastating.
Zarri wore a short fitted dress that hugged every curve, the plunging neckline showing off her chest while the hem barely covered enough to remain legal.
Her hair was swept into a bun, heels adding another few inches to an already dangerous amount of confidence.
Behind her, Kashi wore a short black skirt paired with a fitted top that left most of her back exposed. Her hair fell loose down her spine.
Dante trailed behind them in simple trousers and a white shirt, looking less like a bodyguard and more like someone prepared to personally contribute to the club's destruction.
"I told you this would be fun!" Zarri yelled over the music.
Kashi looked around. "I need a drink!"
"Come on. Bar." Zarri turned towards Dante. "Make yourself invisible."
Dante shrugged and disappeared into the crowd without complaint.
The two women made their way to the bar.
"Two shots, please," Kashi told the barman.
He moved off.
A moment later, the glasses arrived.
Kashi picked up one and slid the other towards Zarri.
Zarri lifted hers immediately. "To terrible decisions."
Kashi raised a brow. "That sounds suspiciously specific."
"It's a lifestyle."
Their glasses clinked and they drank. Kashi grimaced as the alcohol burned down her throat. Zarri slammed her empty glass onto the counter.
"Again."
The barman looked between them. Kashi pointed at Zarri.
"She's paying."
Zarri gasped. "You own a multinational company."
"And yet I remain financially responsible."
Zarri gave the barman a sweet smile. "Another round, please." He wisely said nothing.
Kashi's phone vibrated inside her bag. She ignored it.
It buzzed again.
Zarri glanced towards the bag. "Is someone dying?"
"Hopefully."
"Then why aren't you checking?"
Kashi shrugged. "If they're already dying, what am I supposed to do?"
Zarri considered that. "Fair." The second round arrived.
It disappeared even faster.
By the third, Kashi was warm enough to stop thinking about Damian, Grey Enterprises, boardrooms, contracts and every other irritating thing that had been following her around lately.
Which, frankly, was the entire point.
Zarri grabbed her hand. "Oh, we absolutely have to dance."
"What? No." A laugh escaped Kashi as she looked towards the packed dance floor in horror.
"Yes. Come on, don't be silly."
"I said no. Ain't no way I'm rubbing against sweaty bodies. Ew."
"Ugh, who cares? Somehow, I heard yes." Before Kashi could object, Zarri dragged her away from the bar and straight into the crowd.
The music hit harder in the middle of the dance floor.
Kashi stumbled once, caught herself, then glared at Zarri.
"You nearly killed me."
"You're wearing six-inch heels. That's between you and God!"
Kashi laughed. Then the beat changed.
Zarri threw both hands into the air. "Oh! This is my song!"
Kashi shook her head, but the smile remained.
Zarri started dancing without an ounce of shame, hips moving with the beat, arms raised as though she personally owned the DJ booth.
Kashi lasted approximately twelve seconds before joining her. At first, she moved lazily untill the alcohol settled properly and Kashi Saints disappeared. Not completely. That would have been impossible.
But enough.
Enough that she stopped caring who was watching. Enough that she laughed when Zarri caught both her hands and spun her around.
Enough that when the crowd screamed at the beat drop, Kashi screamed with them. A man nearby started moving towards them. Both women saw him coming.
"HELL NO!"
The poor man stopped so abruptly he nearly stumbled. He raised both hands. "I didn't even say anything."
"Back off, mister!" they shouted in unison and he retreated quickly.
Kashi nearly doubled over laughing. "You didn't even let him speak!"
"He looked suspicious!"
"You scared the life out of him."
"Same thing."
They danced until Kashi's calves started protesting. Then Zarri pointed towards a raised platform near the side of the club.
"Up there."
Kashi stared at her. "That is absolutely not happening."
Five minutes later, they were on the platform. Zarri had somehow acquired a bottle. Neither of them knew from where.
"Where did you get that?" Kashi shouted.
Zarri looked at the bottle and around the club. "I don't know! I grabbed it from someone!" They burst out laughing. Someone below cheered and Zarri raised the bottle triumphantly. "See? They support me."
"They're drunk."
"So are we!"
"I am not drunk."
Both women started laughing again.
Across the club, Dante watched them over the rim of his glass. A man standing beside him followed his gaze.
"Your friends?"
Dante took a slow sip. "Unfortunately."
The man looked towards Zarri dancing on the platform. "Which one?"
Dante's expression flattened. The atmosphere around him seemed to drop several degrees. The man immediately looked away.
Dante took another drink. "I miss my hubby."
Back on the platform, Kashi had abandoned all pretence of dignity. Zarri was singing loudly. And incorrectly.
"Kashi!"
"What?"
"You're not singing!"
"I don't know the lyrics!"
"Neither do I!"
"That explains everything!"
Zarri threw an arm around her shoulders.
Together, they screamed absolute nonsense into the music.
By the time they finally climbed down, Kashi was breathless.
They headed back towards the bar.
Halfway there, Zarri stopped abruptly. An arm hooked around her and jerked her backwards into a hard chest.
"Hello, Princess."
Zarri recoiled. "Hijo de puta!"
[Son of a bitch]
Kashi turned at the sudden commotion. The moment she saw who it was, her smile vanished.
"Alex."
"Hello, Kashi." Alex Sergeyev grinned. He still had Zarri trapped against him. He bent and pressed his mouth to her neck.
"Ahh. I've missed this."
"Let go of me, you fucking pervert!" Zarri thrashed against him.
"Hold on." Alex tightened his grip for another second. "Just a little bit more."
Kashi folded her arms and watched them.
"Kashi, save me!" Zarri stretched one hand towards her. "I do not know this man. Help!"
Kashi gave Alex a tired look. One brow lifted.
Alex met her gaze and he released Zarri immediately.
Zarri rushed to Kashi's side and pointed at him. "You freak! How dare you!"
Alex stepped backwards and raised his hands. "I see two beauties. I can't resist."
Zarri straightened her dress.
She hadn't seen him in weeks and certainly hadn't expected to run into him here. For one horrifying second, she had thought some random stranger had grabbed her and had been fully prepared to unleash hell.
Only for the bastard to be Sergeyev.
Not that she hated it.
He had simply caught her by surprise.
"What the fuck are you even doing here?" Zarri demanded.
"What's going on?"
Dante appeared beside them, immediately positioning himself between the women and Alex. His attention went first to Kashi.
A silent question.
You okay?
Kashi gave him a small nod.
I'm fine.
Alex noticed the exchange. "Who's this?" His gaze travelled over Dante.
And what exactly was with that look between him and Kashi?
Was he— Ah. Not his problem.
"He's Dante," Zarri said. "Dante, Alex. Alex, Dante."
Dante regarded Alex for a moment before easing out of his defensive stance. He turned towards Kashi and flicked a loose strand of hair back over her shoulder.
"I'm all right," Kashi said. "He's an acquaintance."
Alex walked past them and stopped in front of Zarri. "I missed you."
Zarri looked away.
A faint flush had already reached her cheeks.
"Saints." Alex glanced towards Kashi. "You don't mind if I steal her for a few minutes, do you?"
Kashi looked at Zarri.
Then at Alex.
Before she could answer—
"Great. Let's go." Alex caught Zarri by the hand and started walking away but not before throwing one last look at Dante.
"Kashi!" Zarri twisted around as she was dragged through the crowd. "You just sold me off—"
Dante watched them go. "I don't like him."
Kashi looked at him. "You don't like anyone."
"No, it's not that." Dante frowned after Alex. "He gives off a chilly vibe. I don't know. Makes my skin crawl."
"He's a Sergeyev." Kashi caught Dante by the hand and pulled him towards the bar. "It's what they do."