“No, and neither are you.”
“What?” Gia asked.
“I have a special visitor for you, Jalisa.”
“Back the fuck up, bitch,” Lefty said, rushing forward.
“Oh, how nice, you have an attack dog,” India purred.
Gia placed a hand on Lefty’s chest. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s so much easier to show you,” India taunted.
She tensed. “So, you were with Mylandra all along.”
India shrugged. “Come with me and find out, or stay here and continue to hide for a while
longer. The choice is up to you. Either way. Your time is up.”
“I haven’t been hiding. I’ve been living on my own terms. Something I plan on continuing
to do,” Gia defended, not about to be intimidated.
“You say that now. I think soon you’ll have a change of heart,” India warned.
“Show me.”
India stepped out of the room and Gia moved to follow.
Lefty grabbed her arm. “What are you doing?”
She paused in the doorway. “Facing my past head on.” She met his gaze, willing him to
understand. “Laying low has done nothing. She’s making her move now. The best thing we can do is see what she wants.”
“Fine. But I’m calling in backup.” He dug his phone out of his pocket.
Gia returned her attention to India. A million images rose in the back of her mind. Had
Mylandra sent her enforcers? Would they try to wrest her away from Lefty? Perhaps she’d come herself. Fear spread through her body. Her chest felt tight and her mouth went dry. Her heart beat double time. She forced her face to remain expressionless as the scared child in her head pleaded with her to run. That didn’t work the first time. I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees for the rest of my life, constantly looking over my shoulder. This is my only option. Above all, Mylandra was a businesswoman. She just had to offer the right incentive. They approached the Champagne room and her stomach bottomed out. Lefty placed a hand on the small of her back
and she soaked up his silent support like a sponge.
India paused in the entryway. “You can go it alone from here.”
“If you thinking I’m leaving her, you’re mistaken,” Lefty said.
“Oh no, you’re free to join her. It’ll make the present that much better.” India’s full lips twisted up into a feral smile.
“Why are you doing this? I don’t even know you,” Gia asked.
“Because unlike you, I know my place in the world,” India snapped.
“Sad, you’ve come all this way to America and still learned nothing. Get the hell out of my club.”
India bristled. “We’ll see how you feel soon enough. You think you’re so smart, so much
better than us. You’re nothing. I don’t look up to you for shirking your duty. She took you off the streets, gave you a safe place to stay, food in your belly, clothes on your back, and a way to support yourself. In re