Page 10

I stop typing. What the hell am I saying? What am I admitting to? I delete the message, then decide to have some damn willpower and not check. I usually don’t even think about checking.

Until Iris, there was nothing to resist. Now, it’s got me too curious.

CHAPTER 5

SERENA

Iapproach Celeste the next morning, feeling foolish. I’ve just dropped Zoe off at school and I’m running on fumes. But according to Mr. Volkov, Celeste should have my payment for me. I’ve got a special phrase I’m supposed to say. It’s like Nikolai is playing a joke on me. No… on Iris.

“Morning,” I say.

Celeste smiles. “Hey, Serena. Are you… helping with the food delivery?” She looks confused.

“No, I just wanted to say… these CCTV stickers sure are nice, aren’t they?”

Celeste grins, then nods to the bar when it dawns on her why I’m here. “The third shelf down, directly under the register.”

I walk around the bar and lean down. The cash is inside a makeup bag. I wonder if he’s playing it safe for the cameras.

“Don’t you want to know why he’s giving me a hard time about the stickers?” I ask.

Celeste narrows her eyes. “I don’t know what you mean?”

I tap my nose. “You’re a better spy than me. I’m learning.”

She rolls her eyes, then mimes zipping her lips shut. I want to tell her that’s the second time someone’s done that gesture to me this week. But I don’t think she’d be interested. It’s probably not the sort of thing spies talk about.

“See ya,” I say, then leave wrapped in my big fluffy cardigan.

Despite the Miami heat, it’s nice to not be on display. Vanta’s outfits are better – another undeniable perk – but it still takes a toll. In my beaten-up car, which is honestly just about holding itself together, I open the makeup bag and almost scream.

I count the bills discreetly, checking the rearview and my surroundings every so often. It’s one thousand one hundred dollars. For one night’s work. That’s on top of the tips I made last night. And my wage. I can pay off over half of Pico’s pet bill ahead of schedule, which means I can start thinking about that business management course sooner. It’ll be tough to fit in, and I have to be there for Zoe, but maybe… just maybe…

First, I need to breathe like a person who isn’t losing her mind. I slowly fill my lungs, let the breath out, then put the cash in the glove box. This is going to help a lot. I didn’t even have to do that much either. It was easy.

I try not to think about what Nikolai will do with the information. This proves he’s the shady man people whisper about. A Russian organized criminal, maybe. Level-minded Serena would never get swept away in thinking about this, but Iris, with her new job, her new self… My mind spirals. Nikolai will find a way to blackmail the man at the very least. What else… get him to commit crimes on his behalf? Worse?

An embarrassing scream escapes me when Celeste knocks heavily on my window. I leap back, then plaster a smile on my face. She returns it awkwardly as I roll the window down. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No, I was kidding.” What did I just say?

“Kidding?”

“As in, imagine if I jumped when you knocked the… No, yeah, you got me.”

Celeste smiles kindly. She’s got understanding in her eyes. She knows I’m freaking out right now. “A few of us are coming in to help with the rearrange today. I just thought… if you pitch in, you could take the night off.”

“Really?” I ask, excited. I could spend the evening with Zoe for once. Rosa does so much… but then I think of the leaky pipe under the sink and Pico’s scrunched-up little face. “Can’t I do both?”

Celeste chuckles. “Well, sure.”

I head inside with her. I’m relieved when I see two other girls already working, Tiff and Catalia. Catalia is a tall, elegant woman with pinkish hair. Some people think she’s rude, but I see her as happy in her own company. Tiff walks over and gives me a hug. Frank and Javier turn up a few minutes later, then a few more members of the bar staff.

The work is simple but tiring. We’re making room for a new temporary exhibition, and we need to move some of the old furniture into the basement. It doesn’t take long. Celeste laughs, hands on her hips, roughly ninety minutes later. “I thought that was going to take a lot longer,” she admits. “But since I called you in, you get double time on that.”

We all laugh. Tiff offers me a high five. I walk back through the club. I’ll be able to pick Zoe up from school, which is always the best. I’m halfway across the club when I spot Mr. Volkov lounging in one of the VIP alcoves, casually holding a steaming cup of coffee. He stares through the swirling steam at us as we leave. Is he wondering which one of us is Iris? Does he care?

He sees me looking and raises the cup. I bow sarcastically. It catches him off-guard and he laughs. I quickly walk out, my cheeks burning.