- DOMINIK -
I'm still shaking when I pull up to the gates outside Club Redwood. Thankfully it's Saturday. With the crowd and live DJ, it's unlikely anyone will notice if I can't get myself together in the next five minutes.
The guard at the gate waves me through without asking for identification or even requiring the window be rolled down, which is against protocol. This is a VIP club, and with this dark window tint, he can't see my face to be certain who is driving.
I'll have to make sure Mark is aware of the security violation. Mark is the Bratva brother who took over the club once Ivan became too preoccupied with his new income source to focus on our legitimate business.
The profit from Club Redwood goes to the Bratva. Despite that and the fact that it's our social headquarters, every aspect of the club is run above board. It's the legitimate direction I had hoped our operations were headed in.
At night, the front of the club is mostly obscured by the giant redwoods around it. The entryway is an impressive tunnel through one of their massive trunks, which gives the distinct feel of entering a secret, magical part of the forest. But there's no doubt as to the type of establishment this is once you're inside. The ornate, wrought-iron doors give way to music and lights that slam into you all at once.
"Hey, Chester," I say in greeting to the security guard at the door.
"Evening, Dominik. Welcome back."
Once I'm properly inside, it's apparent that there's a fire theme tonight. Two female acrobats are hanging elegantly from fire-rimmed hoops near the ceiling. Gold and red laser lights are glinting off of chandeliers and exposed metal beams around the dance floor, and I notice flames at the bar as one of the bartenders mixes a "Red Alert" gin cocktail. It's an impressive sight.
"Hi, Dominik." One of the waitresses carrying a platter of drinks notices me and sashays over.
"Angelique," I smile.
She's wearing the barely-there uniform that identifies all Redwood servers. It doesn't leave much to the imagination, but it gets them good tips and keeps the biggest spenders coming back. Depending on the occasion, the club can do six figures on a Saturday alone. Who knows how much the girls make?
"Need a drink?" Angelique smirks and offers me one from her tray.
"How did you know?"
"Well if you're coming this late, it's probably not for a good time." Her gaze rakes over me as I down the drink in one go. "Or is it? I have plans later, but I wouldn't mind dropping them for you."
"Sorry, not tonight," I tell her, handing the glass back as she pops her bottom lip out into a sulk.
It's always a mistake sleeping with one of the club girls, and I made that mistake with Angelique. Ever since, she's hoped for more. I'm not interested in her or anyone else, but it doesn't keep me from feeling like a huge dick every time I turn her down.
"Some other time maybe. Where are Ivan and Luka?"
"South mezzanine," she shouts when the music gets louder.
I thank her and wave to a few other people before heading the back way to the staircase to avoid the crowd. There are two mezzanine levels overlooking the dance floor. The top, private floor of the building is separated from the lower dance area completely.
That floor is by far the best part of the Redwood. It's classier without all the vibrant lights, and it has its own entertainment and private bar. It also has a pitched glass ceiling, which allows view of the trees overhead. It's stunning when we get rain, or on rare occasions, snow.
It doesn't surprise me Ivan chose to have this meeting in one of the mezzanine rooms. This part of the club is where the action is seven nights a week, and tonight Mark has the acrobats performing. Ivan clearly has a thing for one of them. He never misses a night when she's here.
"Finally," Ivan shouts from one of the cushioned leather chairs, but I can tell by the wide grin that he's not mad. Everyone here seems to be having a good time.
The two business associates don't even notice my arrival. They're both leering at one of the waitresses who plays her part like an absolute pro. She laughs at whatever smarmy thing one of them has said, pretending to flirt right back, and then accepts a generous tip.
Clearly I have not been missed by anyone but my cousin, and he looks like he's had enough to drink that he doesn't even recall why I'm here.
"What took you so long?" He exclaims, making his way to my side. "Luka, he's here!"
Our friend doesn't appear to care, only waving at me briefly before his attention returns to the phone in his hand. Ivan waves him off and guides me to the railing, leaning over with a drink in his hand as he watches the two women flipping and spinning through the air.
"Britney," Ivan calls to the waitress before she can disappear down the steps with a tray of empty bottles and glasses.
"Yeah?" She stops and comes back our way.
"Dominik needs a drink."
"Sure. The usual, Dominik? Or would you prefer something you haven't had in awhile?" A suggestive smile curves on her lips. I may have made that same mistake with Britney, too.
"The usual, thanks."
Ivan chuckles when she walks away. "One of them will get her hooks in you eventually."
"One of the bottle girls?" I ask, 'bottle girls' being what most people call the servers in clubs like this. "Nah."
"I'm not talking about the bottle girls specifically, but sure. A woman. One woman is going to trip you up one of these days and when it happens, you're going to be unrecognizable."
"If that happens, she'll need protection," Luka says, appearing on Ivan's other side to join in.
"Isn't that true for anyone we care about?" I mutter.
"Yeah, maybe from cartels. But yours will need protection from all the women who will have it out for her." Luka's reserved chuckle joins Ivan's, and then he stares down at the dance floor.
It's rare to see him undistracted. It reminds me of how it used to be when we were younger. When life was so much less complicated.
I don't even bother replying and instead lean on the railing, completing the repetitious posture that the three of us now share. A few people below take notice and stare. They must know who we are. There's a kind of lore that surrounds Ivan, Luka, and I, and it's caused some to regard us as underground royalty.
"Here are those numbers you asked for." I hand Ivan the list, glaring at a few of the gawkers as he passes it to Luka.
"Don't you think Dominik is just the type who would fall so fucking hard for the right woman?" Ivan asks him.
Why is he so fixated on this stupid idea? He was just saying how no one would even believe that I had a girlfriend.
"I thought you knew me, brother," I say, pushing off the railing when Britney returns with my drink. "What have I ever done to give you an idea like that?"
Ivan smirks over the rim of his glass as he savors his drink, complete with that cocky little pinky of his in the air.
"You try too hard not to care or get attached," he finally says. "It's what gives you away. So are you gonna hang with us tonight?"
"Is there a choice?"
"This is over." Ivan gestures behind him to the men who are now speaking amongst themselves. "Luka will go over inventory with them, but then he's heading back to the house."
"I have an early morning thing," Luka explains.
"Lawyer stuff." Ivan rolls his eyes. "I have plans with Ava later, so I'll be sticking around."
"Ava?"
Ivan points to one of the women in the air. "I'd introduce you, but she's shy."
Her legs spin open in an elaborate move, and I hike a brow at him. "I can see that."
He slaps me on the shoulder with a chuckle. "I'm not risking you falling for that one if you meet her. She has moves you would not believe. I might even be in love."
"And how does Natalia feel about that?" I ask with a wry smile.
"She's always welcome to join if she wants," he shrugs, now completely absorbed by the performance taking place in the air.
"Well, I guess I'll take off then." It sounds nonchalant, and that's the trick. If I seem too eager to leave, Ivan will come up with a reason to keep me around. It's like a reflex of his.
"Alright, brother." He nods vaguely. "Thanks for running that down here."
"No problem. See you at the house."
Then with a quick wave to Luka, I breathe a sigh of relief and make my way back out of the club. I figured I was in for it, that Ivan would likely be raging about having to wait, but it was quick and easy. No lies were even needed. Thank god for acrobats.