Page 84 of Scarred King
“I saw the Russians coming out and that piece of shit, Vladimir, is bleeding,” one says to the others in English, and then they switch to French.
“Even when they get to be first, they screw up. One probably stabbed the other because they couldn’t decide who'll be the boss,” the second Frenchman answers and laughs. “The Russians always were and always will be too proud.”
“What’s going on here?” they're standing over me and I close my eyes, smile and stretch my hand out to the one on the right. He grabs it and I stand up, hug him, kiss him three times on the cheeks and address him in French.
“I owe myself a moment of pure pleasure after I make someone else scream in pain.” I wipe the pocketknife on my shirt again and tuck it back into my belt. He looks at me suspiciously. I hug the other man and kiss him three times on his cheeks as well and do the same to the third man. “Now, may I buy you a drink?” I'm standing tall in front of them.
“Who is this?” the first one, who I remember is called Pierre, turns to his brothers and they shrug and shake their heads in confusion. “Who are you?” he asks me.
I clap my hands twice and the girls stand up. “Charlie, fetch our best bourbon. I want my French brothers to celebrate with me.”
“Of course, Duchess,” he replies respectfully, and the Frenchmen look at each other questioningly.
“Why don’t you explain to us who you are?” Pierre is losing his patience and he grabs me by the neck. I feel his fingers squeezing, and just before I can’t talk anymore, I caress his hand.
“Mon Cheri, that's no way to talk and act to the Duchess. Unless you want me to treat you the same way I treated the Russian gentleman who just left.”
“You look familiar,” he narrows his eyes at me and let’s go of my neck. “Got it!” he laughs, “You’re that stupid whore who came to us with Liam.”
I burst out laughing and pat his cheek mockingly. “The only whores that night were you.” My voice is dripping venom and their eyes are wide with fury. “I was an equal partner even then, but you were so stupid that you couldn’t see it was all an act.”
“It’s that physics student they started the war over,” the second man mutters quietly as he inspects me from head to toe.
“Where’s Ralph?” Pierre looks to the sides and walks to the connecting door of the club. He opens it, and I hear the loud music and pray that the men in there are continuing their act.
“Working,” I answer, and choke back a sigh of relief when he closes the door and comes back to me. “Why? Is there a holiday nobody told me about?” When he doesn’t answer and there is no sign of him leaving, I turn to the girls. “What are you doing, sitting there like miserable whores? Did you get the evening off? Maybe you're sick?” I shout, waving my hands in the air. “Come on, show our guests some respectable hospitality like you’re supposed to.” I hit the brunette’s table and she stands up and sashays over to them.
“I apologize,” she flutters her eyelashes. “Your sexy accents made me forget my manners. Would one of you like to go upstairs with me?”
“Fuck off.” The younger brother pushes her away rudely and I take out my fan, cover up half of my face and stand between them.
“Nobody treats my bitches disrespectfully but me.” I raise my head high. “Now I must ask you to leave.” I gesture toward the exit with my eyes.
They take a few steps back and whisper to each other. "The place looks like it's working,” one of them raises his voice. “We can’t claim ownership without getting rid of a few…” they look around and whisper to each other again. “Everyone’s mad at us now anyway for cutting down the packages shipments. Let’s go. We’ll wait for the next opportunity.”
“Duchess,” Pierre says mockingly, and keeps looking at me suspiciously. I raise the fan slightly so he won't see how pale I am. “Very well,” he makes a small bow. “Tell Ralph that we came by and sent our regards,” he says, and the three men leave.
“I’m sorry,” I turn to the girls. “I didn’t mean to insult you, I just—”
“You're amazing!” the brunette stands up and hugs me. “Just amazing!”
The door opens again…
I sway on my feet in a panic, my heart is threatening to jump out of my chest. Carlito, Mariano and Giovanni enter with the steps that make it look as if they’re dancing. They are followed by three bodyguards.
“Call Johanna,” I whisper to the brunette and she hurries to the club.
Carlito looks around indifferently and sits down casually at the round table. His sons sit down opposite him.
The relative calmness enjoyed for the past hour is wearing off and I try my hardest to muster up courage to deal with this new situation. I take a deep breath, pinch my cheeks to give them some color and walk over to them. The sons stare at me in astonishment and Carlito lowers his head and plays with his gold necklace.
“Welcome to my bar,” I say, trying to disguise the trembling in my voice.
“Shut up and get us a drink” Carlito raises his head and grimaces in contempt. Johanna comes in and stands beside me.
“Johanna, three glasses of whiskey.” I say and remain where I am. She hurries over to the counter. “We’re open for business,” I continue quietly. “You can choose any of the girls…”
“I told you to shut up!” Carlito bangs on the table and my heart skips a beat. “A pathetic student who thinks that she can start a war and then take over the business of the guy who is fucking her!” He spits on the floor, missing my shoes by half an inch. Massive waves of adrenalin flood through me and I stamp my foot and bang the table right in front of his face.