Bloody Heretic by Emily Barker

operation to get the girls out unnoticed. There would be a fight. He was certain. Boris wasn ’ t running a half assed business here that was for sure. The lights and music dimmed suddenly as he was makin g his way back toward the table and he looked right to see a spotlight shine down to the stage. The crowd cheered as they made the ir way forward. He rushed past them before he was swept up in into the maelstrom that was Ivana ’ s fan base. He made it back to the table to see everyone except Jeanne seated already.
        “ Where ’ s Jeanne?” He asked. Alex pointed to the stage. He turned to see and sure enough there she was, standing front row, looking as eager as anyone else to see Ivan a take the stage. He cracked a laugh , unable to do otherwise , seeing the look on her face. It wasn ’ t long before Whitesnake ’ s “ Here I go Again” came on. The crowd went crazy. He sat back fully against the leather seat, determined to have a good time despit e how unsure he was of how the rest of the night would go. When the curtain parted he sat forward in his seat. He looked over to Adam, who looked back at him over Vic ’ s head. ‘ Right? ’ his look said. Ivana was hot. All long legs and long auburn hair. Whites nake was a perfect fit. As she worked her way around the stage, dipping and twirling around in her white dress, every eye in the room was on her. It became quickly apparent why everyone loved her. Hell, if he wasn ’ t used to curbing his nature he might be u p front with Jeanne, clapping and bouncing as she was. His eyes lingered on Jeanne for a moment, transfixed by her glee. You ’ d think she were a groupie. The memory of her ownership of the #1 lesbian club in New Orleans flitted through his mind. As he watc h ed her his conviction of her sexuality waned. She watched as raptly as any male in the room. Disappointment filled him, though it was stupid to think her being gay was the thing keeping them apart. It wouldn ’ t have mattered either way. Perhaps it would be best if she were. Knowing without a doubt that she wouldn ’ t ever touch him would cool his heels, he was sure. He made a mental note to find out the truth as soon as the opportunity presented itself. He looked away from her and continued to watch Ivana spin around the hood of the Jaguar. All told, the performance was certainly entertaining, Valentin hadn ’ t been wrong about that. Ivana ’ s talent for dancing was only eclipsed by her ability to make Whitesnake worth listening to. As she slid to the floor of the stage, finishing her act, Jeanne leaned forward pass everyone else around her to slip Ivana a twenty dollar bill and what looked like her business card. Dom had to give it to her, if he owned a club he ’ d want Ivana dancing in it too. She took the money an d the card and slipped them into her elastic top, nodding to Jeanne in thanks, and then she bowed to the crowd and took her leave behind the sliding curtain. Jeanne bounded over as the pulsing techno music came back on and the crown disbursed back to the da nce floor.
        “ She ’ s better live than on YouTube! Did you see her?” Jeanne asked ecstatically, sliding in next to Dom. He slid away as her hip slammed into his, reacting as if he were burned.
        “ I told you ,” Vic told her. “ She ’ s Tawny ’ s long lost Russi an daughter.” They laughed with her in agreement. Vic went to reach for Adam ’ s glass, thinking it was her own and Adam snatched it away from her.
        “ You don ’ t want that, dear.” He handed her the glass of wine that was sitting next to it. She gaped wide-e yed at what she had almost done.
        “ Let her drink it I say. Bet she won ’ t do it again,” Jeanne quipped. They looked at her aghast. “ Kidding,” she said. Vic didn ’ t look so sure. Dom tried not to laugh but he knew his lips were twitching like mad. She elb owed him in the side and he burst out laughing. He couldn ’ t help it. Eventually