Page 20 of Sinner's Sacrifice

Either they were having a conversation with facial expressions alone or they had paranormal abilities. “How long have you two worked together?” Sam asked.

“Much too long,” Magnus said.

Yvgeny frowned at her, then transferred his focus to Darlene. “You need medical care. After you’ve received that, I’d like to offer you a job.”

Darlene’s head came all the way up so she could stare at him. “What?”

“A job, a real hourly rate paying job at one of my hotels. Housekeeping or running for room service. It comes with a room at the hotel that’s provided as part of your pay.”

Darlene stared at him with her jaw hanging open. After a moment, she closed her mouth, but disbelief had taken up residence on her face. “What’s the catch?”

Yvgeny smiled at her as if she’d asked the only question that mattered. “No drugs, no alcohol, no selling yourself on the side.”

Darlene snorted. “Who do you think you are, my fairy godfather? People like you don’t do shit for people like me for free.”

Magnus growled something under his breath and shifted his weight on his feet as if he were holding himself back.

Sam frowned. There was something going on with him.

“It’s not free,” Yvgeny replied in an even tone after a glance at his driver. “You’re going to work hard and earn it.”

“I’ve been through rehab programs before.” Darlene’s shoulders slumped. “The longest I stayed clean was about four months.”

“Perhaps you needed a more solid foundation to stand on?” he said. “A job that won’t go away despite setbacks.”

When her confused expression didn’t clear, Yvgeny chuckled. “Would you like a contract with it all written up?”

“How long would it be for?”

Yvgeny rocked back on his heels. “Why don’t we start with one year?”

“I still don’t understand why you’re offering me this deal.”

“You’re Samantha’s friend,” Yvgeny said. “What other reason do I need?”

Darlene glanced at her, her eyes wide, clearly asking the unspoken question, you’re sleeping with him? This scary dude?

She wasn’t going there. “We need to get you to the clinic,” she said instead.

Darlene stared at the ground for a moment, then sighed. “Okay. Yeah, let’s go.”

They got into the limo, Yvgeny in the back with both Sam and Darlene.

As the car pulled away from the curb Darlene stared at Yvgeny like she expected him to attack her.

Sam told Magnus the address of the clinic and he pulled away from the curb.

Yvgeny studied Darlene. She looked ten years older than her age with hair that had been colored too often.

He leaned forward and took in a deep breath through his nostrils. “Who cut you?” he asked.

Darlene flinched and scooted away until her back hit the car door. “I’d rather not get into names,” she said, her gaze darting from Sam to Yvgeny and back again.

“I can smell the infection.”

And that wasn’t creepy at all. “Yes,” Sam said.

“The police—” Yvgeny began.