Knights Lady Read online

  He shrugs. “What can I say, I’m a business man. What about you, Lucy? Where has your path led?”

  I scrunch my nose up and study him. This conversation is flowing way too easily. He can’t think I like him. That would be bad. “You know I don’t like you much, right?”

  His grin gets bigger. Swoon.

  “Oh, I know. You never have. That’s what I like about you.”

  Pfft.

  So he’s charming. Get over it. It’s no big deal.

  “Well good, I just wanted to establish that before I continued chatting with you ...”

  “It’s established, now answer the question.”

  His voice is smooth, yet firm. Nicolai is used to getting his way, there is no doubt about it. He’s powerful, and he knows he’s powerful.

  “Are you always so nice to people?” I mutter.

  “Always. Are you going to answer the question?”

  “I’m working, same old same old. Nothing exciting to see here. In fact, right now, my job sucks. So, I’m looking for a new one.”

  “I have waitress jobs going all the time if you’re interested.”

  “Nope,” I tell him, “I saw what happened to the last girl that worked with you.”

  “Ouch,” he mutters, but he’s still grinning.

  Yes, I’m definitely starting to see why Shania found such an obsession with the man.

  “I better get these drinks back to the ladies. It was good seeing you, Nicolai.”

  He studies me and then says, “If you want to see the rest of the club, let me know. I’ll take you upstairs.”

  Dang it.

  Why did he have to say that?

  Because I really do want to see the rest of the club.

  What? I’m curious.

  “I’ll take you up on that later,” I say, and then take the tray and disappear.

  When I reach the table, Sasha leans over and takes a drink, but not before she says, “How fucking hot is Nicolai?”

  I shrug. “Meh.”

  Both of the women look to me, like my response is the most horrifying thing they’ve ever heard. To be honest, I shocked myself.

  “Is there something wrong with you?” Mya asks.

  “Are you a lesbian now?” Sasha throws out.

  I laugh. “Look, I don’t like Nicolai. We’ve never seen eye to eye.”

  “You were seeing eye to eye then.” Mya wiggles her brows.

  “Shania and him have history, you know that, they also have a child together, so no.”

  I change the subject as quickly as I can, and we talk about other things. We laugh, we drink, and the night rolls on.

  I’m drunk.

  I know I’m drunk.

  Gosh, it has been a while since I’ve drank so much alcohol. It feels good to have fun, to let go, to laugh.

  I decide now is a good time to go and find Nicolai. I want to see this strip club. I saw the old one, and even though I never told Shania, I always found it really super cool. It fascinated me. I mean, if I was a man, that’s totally the job I’d want.

  I find Nicolai at the bar, talking to the bartender about something. When he notices me, he wraps up the conversation and walks over.

  “I’m ready for my tour, but don’t think this is me liking you, because it isn’t. I just really like strip clubs.”

  I frown.

  “That sounded bad. I just mean they fascinate me, that’s all.”

  Also sounds bad.

  “Anyway, just take me up!”

  Nicolai grins, and then says, “You always were different, Lucy. Let’s go.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I call after him as we start walking toward the stairs that lead up to the other club. Of course they’ve got security at the base of the stairs, checking I.D. and screening who goes up.

  “It means you’ve always had spunk,” Nicolai calls back.

  I’m not sure if that’s a compliment. I don’t really care.

  We reach the base of the stairs, and the bouncer immediately opens the little chain he has blocking the stairs off. Nicolai nods, and we both walk upstairs. Halfway up and I swear the atmosphere changes. It completely changes. Gone is the airy, club feel. Now it’s sex. Dripping sex. You can smell it. Feel it. Masculine energy in every square inch of the place.

  The moment we step inside, my mouth drops open just slightly and I peer around in complete and utter awe. Four massive stages line the space, and each stage has two poles. There are women dancing, spinning, twisting, and well, stripping. There is a massive bar behind it all, and what would appear to be some private rooms off to the side.

  Holy wow.

  This is a step up from the last club, that’s for certain.

  This place is absolutely incredible.

  Dressed up with modern blacks and blues including the blue neon light that brings the stages to life. Everything is sleek, new, and it all just works together in the most incredible way.

  “Wow,” I say, giving Nicolai a thumbs up.

  He glances at me then leads me through the club. I get eyeballed by every man that doesn’t have their eyes on the strippers. I keep a big grin, because, well, this is fucking awesome, and we move over to the bar. Nicolai greets the bartender, and the two fall into easy conversation. I order a drink then spin around in my chair to watch.

  It still shocks me that Shania ever did this. I don’t judge anyone for stripping, not by a long shot, but she is definitely the last person I ever thought would take to the stage. But she was good, and people loved her, and she made a killing for Nicolai and his old club. She was good at what she did, and it pulled her, us, out of debt. I’ll be forever grateful for the sacrifice she made, no doubt about it.

  I zone in on the dancers moving and wiggling across the stage. One girl is currently upside down, her long, dark hair trickling across the floor. When she swings back up, my mouth drops open. It’s Yana. Fucking Yana. Yana who faked being pregnant to try and get Shania out of the picture again. Yana who has done nothing but cause problems in the past. I thought Nicolai no longer had anything to do with her, so why the hell is she here?

  “You hired Yana!” I practically screech.

  Nicolai jerks and turns around, glaring at me. Oh, boy. Probably a little forward, but what the hell?

  “Have you lost your mind? She’s fucking crazy!”

  Nicolai excuses himself to the bartender and turns to me. “Let’s go outside to speak.”

  Oh, we’ll be speaking.

  That psycho did so many horrible things to Shania it makes me want to gag. I want to stab her in the face just because. She makes me so damned angry I want to go over there, pull her off the pole, and stomp on her pretty head.

  Calm down, Lucy.

  You’re being slightly dramatic.

  I follow Nicolai, very angrily, out of the main area and through an office. The office has a small balcony, and it’s surprisingly quiet considering how close to the club it is. Nicolai shuts the door, and I sit down on the lush, comfortable chair out here. Nicolai stands. Good, I wasn’t going to give him the chair. He probably sits here all the time, anyway.

  “Now, we’ll try that again, shall we?”

  His voice is low, but his tone is pissy. Well, fuck him. He hired Yana, not me. He had to know if I saw her here that I’d lose my shit. I mean, come on. The woman has done nothing but cause problems.

  “You hired Yana,” I say, my voice monotone. I frown, pushing my lips out just a bit to express my disgust.

  “Yes.”

  Yes? That’s not a fucking explanation.

  “Why?” I push, huffily.

  “Because she’s an incredible dancer, she makes good money for my club.”

  I blink at him. He can’t be serious? Right? Right?

  “Have you forgotten what kind of person she is? What she did to Shania? Was she continues to try and do to Shania?”

  “This has nothing to do with Shania. This is business. Yana works for me, but I do not see her. Not th
at I owe you an explanation, but she works the nights I don’t, and she’s under strict guidance. One wrong move, she’s fired, end of story. I do not come in contact with her. But she’s a good dancer, the best I’ve got. As I said, business.”

  I stare at him. “You’ve lost your mind.”

  “No.”

  The word is simple, strong—he’s not bothered by my reaction at all.

  “Yes,” I shoot back.

  “Have you owned a club before, Lucy?”

  I scowl at him. “Don’t be smart, Nicolai.”

  “Then,” he goes on, as if I haven’t spoken, “you wouldn’t understand what it’s like to run something that’s as big as this place. I need to earn my money, there is nothing more to it. Yana brings in the big dollars. I’m not an idiot, I put down terms and conditions. I don’t see her, but it is what it is.”

  “There are a million girls out there that could do a better job than her, I’m sure of it. Hell, I probably could.”

  Okay, I totally could not. I’m certain I’d look at the pole and end up on my ass, let alone touch it. No, I’m definitely not that talented, but Yana isn’t the only woman in this city that can work a pole. Right?

  “Would you like to try it?”

  Nicolai is taunting me, I can tell by the way his eyes are dancing, even though his expression is stern. Damn him.

  “You’re an asshole, Nicolai. Now I can see why Shania despises you so much.”

  I stand and forget just exactly how drunk I am. I topple forward, and who just happens to be right there in front of me to catch me? Oh, that’s right, the asshole in shining armor himself. Hard arms wrap around me, and I land against the firmest, warmest chest I’ve ever been against .

  Alcohol. This is alcohol talking.

  I sniff him.

  What?

  I have always been a little curious as to what it was that made Shania go wild, maybe it was his incredible smell? And oh, it’s incredible. For a moment, I decide to let him hang onto me, just for a tiny, tiny moment. Then I pull back, but he doesn’t let me go, he keeps one hand hooked around my waist and then he hauls me up closer and leans down, murmuring in a husky, dominate male voice, “I’ve always liked you, Lucy. There has always been something about you. If you ever want a job, it’s yours.”

  “Eat a dick,” I snap, but my voice is a little less harsh than it should be.

  Am I panting?

  I’m drunk. So drunk.

  That’s what’s going on here.

  “You’re judging me purely off Shania’s story. Did you ever think to let me tell you mine?”

  “No,” I growl, trying to squirm out of his arms. “Because you’re a douche, you hurt her and took Tommy. I don’t like you. I never will. You don’t have a side here. You’re useless! I can’t stand you, so no, I don’t want to hear your lies.”

  He lets me go. His eyes angry now, his jaw hard. “The feeling is fucking mutual, and for what it’s worth, even though clearly it’s worth fuckin’ nothin’ because you’re as judgmental as the rest of them, you don’t know the story. You know nothing about the fucking story. It takes a shallow human being to only hear one side and judge fully. You can leave now.”

  My mouth drops open.

  And I stand there. Shocked.

  Am I being a judgmental woman because I’m not hearing his side? I mean, it’s pretty straight forward, right? Shania told me what happened. What more could there possibly be?

  But even I’m not stupid enough to know that a story only holds one side.

  Now I feel bad, damn it.

  And I shouldn’t, because I didn’t do anything ...

  Shit.

  “Nicolai,” I say, feeling like shit, because I don’t like being a person to judge without first knowing all sides.

  “Leave, Lucy. I swear to everything, I’ll say something you don’t like. Get out of my club.”

  Shit.

  I don’t argue any further.

  I turn and walk out.

  Well, I royally fucked that one up, didn’t I?

  2

  EARLIER – LUCY

  “DAMON,” I GRIN, WAVING and walking toward the tall and exceptionally handsome man I’ve come to become great friends with since Shania and Lincoln got it on.

  I like Damon, he’s like the brother I never had.

  I talk to him about anything, mostly because he just listens. Now, I can’t be sure if he listens because he’s being polite or if he’s actually interested. Either way, he listens and that’s something. I really really want to tell someone about last night, and the conversation I had with Nicolai, obviously that person isn’t going to be Shania. Say the name Nicolai and she cringes, understandably.

  “I thought I might have had time to run, but no such luck,” he teases when he reaches me.

  I’m not entirely sure how Damon and I became to be such good friends. I mean, I had spoken to him when Shania and Lincoln started their little love affair, but I don’t know, it just kind of grew without either of us noticing. I was drinking with them at Lincoln’s place one night, Damon and I got chatting, exchanged numbers, started texting, and I suppose it just went from there.

  We don’t really know each other all that well.

  But he’s so easy to get along with, so I kind of just adopted him as my best friend, even though we’re still basically strangers that talk a lot.

  Whatever, it’s going to grow into a bestie relationship, he doesn’t get a choice now, I’m part of this little gang.

  I thump him on the shoulder for his little remark and say, “How have you been? We haven’t talked for a few days.”

  “God forbid,” he gasps, pressing a hand to his forehead dramatically.

  “Hey, I like our friendship!”

  “You mean the one you kind of forced onto me and now I have to go along with?”

  He winks at me, and I grin. “Yeah, that one. Anyway, you’re great to gossip with, and a girl needs to gossip sometimes.”

  He groans. “Don’t you have girl friends for that?”

  “Nope,” I say, and it’s not entirely a lie. I have friends, sure, but a really, really good friend? No.

  I do like the girls Shania hangs around with, I must admit. Erin and Ellie. They’re amazing. But as for a bestie, nah, I don’t have one of those. I’ve been told I’m too full-on for most. Probably why I’m roping poor Damon here into a friendship.

  “You answered that alarmingly quickly,” Damon says. “It’s making me wonder if I’m befriending some sort of psychopath.”

  I chuckle. “I guess you’ll find out if you wake up one day and you’re bound and gagged.”

  He gives me a side glance, and I laugh.

  “No, seriously, I have friends, just none I totally trust.”

  “And you trust me?”

  I purse my lips. “Yeah, actually, for some reason I do. Which is random because you could be a complete con and I’d not know.”

  Damon wiggles his brows. “Exactly.”

  “Anyway, if you break my trust, I’ll hurt you. It’s really that simple.”

  He snorts. “Sounds reasonable. Right, why did you text me urgent emergency come quick before I combust?”

  I giggle. Dramatic? Oh, yes, that’s me.

  “Well, I went out last night, to Nicolai’s new club ...”

  Damon’s brows go up. “Nicolai the man I’ve been getting information about for Lincoln? That Nicolai?”

  I nod. “Yup, and what information?”

  He shrugs. “You know, finding out stuff when Shania was looking for him.”

  “Yeah, you’ll have to tell me about the gossip you found out one day.”

  He chuckles. “I can do that. Now back to Nicolai and this club he owns. Didn’t know he had a new one.”

  “Nobody did, he’s kind of kept it under wraps. I’m guessing the party he was throwing was a way of telling everyone.”

  Damon nods. “Well whatever works, I’d love to own a club.”

  I nod,
too. “Same!”

  “Anyway, that can’t be why you called me all the way out?”

  “No, it’s not.” I laugh. “So, Nicolai took me for a tour of the club, and upstairs, he also has a strip club. I wanted to see it.”

  “You wanted to see it?” Damon raises his brows.

  “Yep, I wanted to see it. So he showed me around. It was awesome. Gosh, there is so much gossip I don’t even know where to go right now.”

  Damon chuckles. “How about one piece at a time.”

  “Okay, the first part, Yana is working for him again.”

  “Yana? As in the crazy one who bothered Shania?”

  “The one and only.” I nod. “I got pissed off to say the least, and he told me it was business. She’s a great dancer, she brings people in, and she only works on the nights when he isn’t there. But still, I was angry, you know?”

  “How so?” Damon asks.

  “Because of what Yana did to Shania!”

  “Yeah,” he agrees, “but that’s really to do with Shania, not you, so unless Yana has directly affected you, it really isn’t anyone’s business if she’s working for Nicolai.”

  “Why do you have to be so ... logical!”

  He laughs. “I can’t help it!”

  “Okay, well, you’re probably right. Either way, I was drunk, so I was pissed. After everything Yana did and the fact that he and Shania are on good terms now with Tommy it just made me angry he’d do that. If Shania found out ...”

  “True, and I agree with your point, but unless it directly affects Shania and Tommy, again, not our business.”

  “Shoosh!” I say, pressing my finger to my lips, which makes him laugh. “As I was saying, I was pissed. Anyway, he pulled me up and we got into a heated argument. I told him how I feel about him, and what he did to Shania, and he basically told me I’m judgmental, and never once have I asked him why he did what he did, or for his side of the story, just like everyone else. And then he kicked me out.”

  Damon raises his brows. “He kicked you out.”

  “Yep.”

  “Because you were judging him?”

  “Yep.”

  “I mean,” Damon says, crossing his arms, “I guess I can see it from both sides. I mean obviously you’ve only ever heard Shania’s side, and being your sister obviously you stuck with that side. But I mean, there are always two sides to every story. You’ve heard hers, but you’ve never heard his, so I suppose you did just assume and therefore, judge.”