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“Happy Birthday!” they scream in unison.

I laugh as I hug each of them tightly. Mabel pulls me in extra hard and grins. “First round of shots, let’s go!”

The server brings over a tray of chilled tequila shots with lime wedges and salt. We clink glasses and bottom them up.

Then the cake arrives after. A chocolate and raspberry creation with candles. They all sing “Happy Birthday” at the top of their lungs while I blow out the candles, feeling genuinely happy for the first time on my birthday in years.

As we keep drinking and cheering, Angie leans over, eyes wide. “This club is lit!”

Lucy grins at me. “How many clubs does your husband even own?”

I take another shot, the tequila warming my veins, and shrug with a smirk. “Several.”

They all whistle and burst into loud laughter.

I pick up my phone and text Andrei:

Hey.

He replies after a few minutes.

Hey you. How’s it going?

Going well. Our table is overflowing with drinks and cake. Perks of being the owner’s wife

I miss you. Wish you were here so I could sit on your lap instead of this couch.

Are you drunk?

Maybe a little

Drink some water.

Very controlling. What do I get if I do?

The next text makes me clench my thighs together instantly: I’ll let you sit on my face when you get home.

Heat floods my body. I immediately reach for the bottle of water on the table and take a long swig.

My phone chimes again: Good girl.

I freeze, then slowly look up at the ceiling. Of course. There are cameras everywhere in here. He’s probably watching the feed right now.

I drop my phone onto the table just as Angie grabs my hand and yanks me out of my chair.

“Come on, birthday girl! Let’s dance!”

I slump back into the plush VIP booth, sweaty and laughing, my heart still pounding from dancing nonstop. I reach for my half-empty drink, but a deep, intense voice suddenly cuts through the noise from right behind me.

“You’ve had enough, plamya.”

A large, tattooed hand reaches over my shoulder and plucks the glass from my fingers before it reaches my lips.

I turn, already smiling, and my heart flips when I see him.

“Andrei! You’re here.”

He rounds the chair with that smooth, predatory grace and drops into the seat beside me. He pulls me straight onto his lap, one strong arm banding around my waist. His other hand cups the back of my head as he leans in and gives me a slow, deep kiss that makes my toes curl.