Read Online Nocturnes by Kendall Grey - Free Book Online

Scowling, he shuffles through the papers before him. He produces a printed picture of my videographer, most likely taken by one of the many security cameras hidden in Nocturnes’s crevices. “You recognize him?” He passes the image to me, his gold front tooth catching the low light from the banker’s lamp on the desk.
    Oh boy. I take the paper and nod. “Yeah, I talked to him in the VIP room. Duane escorted him out.”
    “That the only place you talked to him?” There’s the grin I hate. The one that says, I know everything, even when he doesn’t.
    My heart races. Forcing myself to keep cool, I shrug. “I saw him on my way downstairs. A fight broke out, and Duane had to ditch him to deal with it.” Technically, I’m not lying.
    Rico eases into his chair, and rests his clasped hands behind his head. “Who’d you get to video?”
    My throat tightens and blood pressure soars. Now I’m officially fucked. He totally knows I pulled in an outsider. If I tell the truth, he’ll fire me. If I lie, he’ll prove me wrong and then fire me. This angel is damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t. Nothing to do but await my punishment.
    Dreams of my house in the Garden District splinter and shatter before my eyes.
    Hands shaking, I rest an elbow on the arm of my chair. “Okay, it was him. But I can explain—”
    Rico snaps forward like the spring on a mousetrap. “What did I tell you when you signed on for duty with me? Huh? You remember my words, Lola?” He rounds the desk.
    I lower my gaze to my lap. “I remember.”
    He jerks my chin up and forces me to look at him. “Say the words.”
    “Never give up Heaven’s secrets to outsiders.”
    His cold brown eyes narrow. “Or?”
    “Or you’ll make my life hell.”
    Condescension thickens the set of his jaw. He pats my cheek and returns to his fancy leather chair behind the desk. A drawer opens, and he produces a fat cigar in one hand, a gold Zippo in the other.
    “You knew the rules, but you broke them anyway. Do you have any clue how much people pay to be members of Heaven?”
    I shake my head.
    “Five million to get in and another mill to renew every year. Our elite monthly newsletter hits two hundred inboxes around the country.” He slips the cigar between his front teeth and bites down. The top of the Zippo flips, a flame erupts, and he puffs a few times until the entire end glows red. “You see where I’m going with this?”
    Okay, so I’m beyond screwed. In a matter of seconds, my goal for this meeting has shifted from trying to salvage my job and find my ring to walking out of this room with both legs intact. “Yes, Rico. I fucked up. Big time. Will you at least hear me out?”
    He slams his palm to the desk with the loudness of a bullet. “I’m not finished.” A fat cloud of smoke billows from his mouth with the words.
    I won’t say I’m sorry. He’s trying to intimidate me. It’s working. But I still won’t apologize.
    He sets the cigar on the rim of an ashtray and slicks back his shiny black hair. “We ask only a few things of our Angels in Heaven. You don’t talk about it to outsiders. You don’t have sex with outsiders. And you submit fully to insiders. Three simple rules, and you broke number one.” He holds up a document with my signature on it. “You signed a contract for employment with all of these rules clearly stated. As of last night, you’re in violation. This is grounds for termination. Get your shit and go. You’re not welcome at Nocturnes anymore.”
    My breath catches over the hard knot in my throat. He can’t do this to me. “Please, Rico. Give me another chance. Upstairs was insane last night. There were fights. The bartenders were backed up. Waitresses ran around like headless chickens, trying to keep up with customers. Every dancer was onstage except for me. I looked everywhere for someone to help me, but it wasn’t in the cards.
    “The client was waiting in Heaven, and he was in a hurry. I couldn’t hold