Page 13 of The Mobster’s Secret

“That is wild,” she says. “You danced for Ivan Oleff and let him lick your—”

“Yes,” I reply, raising my hand. “Let’s not repeat that, okay? I’m still not sure how I feel about it.”

“Not sure how you feel?” she asks.

Even as I glance down at the briefcase, I feel a pang of guilt deep in my chest. When Greta invited me to go to the club to dance with her, that’s what I thought I’d be doing—getting on stage and embarrassing myself for a bunch of random drunk guys as I did my best to dance.

Never did I think I’d end up in the VIP lounge, on my back, legs spread, with New York City’s most notorious crime boss between my thighs.

“Yeah, I mean, what am I getting into with him?” I breathe, feeling my heartrate rise. “Until last night, I was a waitress. I’m studying environmental science. What do I know about Ivan Oleff’s world?”

She shrugs. “From what you tell me, he’s the one who needs to be worried about having his life turned upside down.”

A knock comes from the door, and I instantly tense up. No one comes to our apartment but Greta and me. I glance over at her, communicating with my eyes. She gets it instantly: Could Ivan have sent one of his men to follow me here?

I raise my index finger over my lips, and Greta nods. We both sit silently, eyes on the shadow snaking in from under the door.

Another knock, louder this time. “Open up, Willow! I know you’re in there!”

My whole body relaxes. It’s Cole, the landlord. He’s probably just here to pick up our second late rent check of the year. I get up and go over to the door, but when I open it, he barges in like an angry bull.

“You’re both here, good,” he says with a deep sigh. He’s keeping his eyes off both of us, which is strange for Cole. “I’ve got some…bad news.”

“I’ve got the money for you,” I say, turning toward the briefcase. But before I can, he stops me.

“That’s not it. I need you and Greta to be out by tonight.”

Cole’s words strike us both like fists. We just sort of stand there for a second, glancing at each other, then back to him, waiting for him to tell us he’s kidding. But he doesn’t.

“Wait, you’re serious?” Greta asks.

He nods, eyes on his feet. “I’m afraid so.”

“I said we have the rent for you,” I repeat. “I’ll even pay for next month if you want—”

“I can’t have girls associated with Ivan Oleff living here.” My mouth falls open. “The other tenants are already talking. I need you both out.”

A fierce mixture of anger and embarrassment twists through me. My feet are cold, but I feel the heat spreading up from my toes, through my legs and belly, all the way up to my face, where I start to blush.

I knew it. I knew getting involved with that prick wasn’t a good idea. But I did it anyway. And I did it for the money. How could I do that? How could I let my principles just slip away like that?

Cole clears his throat, snapping me back to the moment. “I’m sorry about this, but you must be gone by tonight.”

“Who says I’m associated with this guy?” I ask as Cole turns to go. “Have you ever seen me with him…whoever he is?”

“Yeah!” Greta chimes in, leaping to her feet. “Where are you getting your information?”

For the first time since he stepped into my apartment, Cole’s eyes find mine. I see in them something like a fatherly scolding. As if he’s saying, seriously? Without saying it.

“Word travels fast when it comes to Ivan Oleff, Willow.”

He’s got me there. Ivan made a big scene having me pulled off the main stage, and probably an even greater scene taking me up to VIP completely on his own. I hadn’t even thought about it until now, but everyone must have been talking about it. And that gets my skin crawling.

I’m a private person. Greta is the only one I share anything with, and there are even things with her that I keep to myself. That’s probably why it took so long for her to convince me to go to the club last night. And definitely why the idea of gossip about Ivan and me going around New York has me starting to tremble.

“Cole, where do you expect us to go?” Greta asks. “Is this even legal? I don’t think you can do this.”

“I’ll deal with the law over Ivan Oleff any day,” Cole snaps. “And as for where you’re going to go? That’s up to you, ladies.”