Page 26 of Keeping My Enemies Closer: Pt. 1
“Kasimir, is everything okay-”
Ignoring Stephanie, I stormed over towards Zoya, then grabbed the fucking girl by her arm, yanking her away from the group.“What in the fuck are you doing here?”
“You...uh, you know Montana?”Stephanie asked, and that just made my anger spike to an incredibly dangerous level.
Zoya’s hazel eyes were wide with fear, but I didn’t care.I was too enraged to care about our audience.I was about to murder her with my bare hands, and anyone watching was free to call the police if they wanted to.I heard nothing but music in my head, and it was loud enough for me not to care if I went to prison for the rest of my life right now.
“Kasimir, please...”Zoya whispered, and her begging was enough to pull me back from the darkness that I quite enjoyed.
“Kasimir, is there a problem?”Stephanie asked as she stepped away from the rest of the girls.
Finally looking over at her, I lied.“No, not at all.I just need to speak toMontanafor a second.”
“Oh, uhm...”
Not waiting for or needing Stephanie’s permission, with my hand still wrapped around Zoya’s arm, I dragged her behind me until we ended up in the back of the kitchen, and I didn’t stop until I was tossing Zoya inside a storage pantry, ensuring that we had as much privacy as possible.
Once we were securely inside, I asked, “What in the fuck are you doing here, Zoya?”
“I’m here for the auction,” she answered, and though her voice sounded panicked, she hadn’t stammered.
“Under the name Montana?”
Zoya closed her eyes as she let out a deep sigh, and I just knew that her explanation was going to send me over the edge.No matter what name she was using, she was here to fuck some random man for money, and I could feel my hands shaking with how furious I was.
When she opened her eyes again, she said, “The real Montana couldn’t make it because she’d gotten into an accident, so...so I took her spot.”
“Under false pretenses, I assume,” I bit out.“I mean, why else would Stephanie be calling you Montana, right?”
“Kasimir, please-”
“Please, what?!”I roared.“Please let you go fuck some strange man for money?Please let you join the auction under someone else’s name?Someone who’s been vetted months in advance, might I add.Exactly what are you pleading with me for, Zoya?”
“I need the money!”she yelled back, angry tears stinging her eyes.“Why else would I be here?!”
“Need the money for what?”I hissed.
“To leave!”she answered, still yelling.
“Zoya-”
“I have nothing, Kasimir,” she said, no longer yelling but still desperate to make her point.“My mother has gone through all the money that my uncle left her, and she refuses to work.All that I have coming is what I make at the diner, and it’s barely enough to survive off of.”
“So, you’re resorting to sleeping with men for money?”I asked as I crossed my arms over my chest to keep from strangling her.
“It’s the only way that I can make enough money to leave St.Moran,” she argued, and that one statement was enough to rile me up all over again.“And why do you keep singing?This isn’t funny, Kasimir...this is my life.”
“Oh, baby,” I drawled out as I lowered my arms before reaching for her again.“I am so far from amused that you have no idea.”
“Why do you even care?”she asked as those hazel eyes sparkled with her tears.“What difference does it make that I’m taking Montana’s place?It’s not like I’m going to run to the police or press with what happens here.And since it’s a one-time thing only, after tonight, you’ll never have to see me again.I’ll be long gone from here.”
“Do you think this is about you,lepestok?”I snarled down at her, my hand wrapped around her arm again.“You being here jeopardizes the integrity of the entire auction.We’ve guaranteed both the women and the participants safety and discretion, and you slipping in here under false pretenses is a fucking problem.”
“Kasimir, please-”
“Begging doesn’t work on me,lepestok,”I informed her coldly.
Rage instantly filled those pretty eyes of hers.“I’m here because of you!”she yelled.“If you hadn’t gotten me fired, I wouldn’t be here!”
