Tatiana climbed off the elevator and headed for the apartment. The club seemed busier than usual, and she wondered if Alexi was down in her office.

Slate opened the door for her with a brief smile. “Tatiana.”

“Hi, Slate,” she said. “Is Alexi downstairs?”

“She’s inside.”

Tatiana moved in and the door closed at her back. “Hi, honey,” she said, moving to the couch where Alexi lounged.

“Hey.” Alexi tumbled Tatiana onto her lap and kissed her.

“Mmm.” Tatiana circled Alexi’s neck with her arm.

“I guess you missed me,” Alexi teased.

“No, I’m just hoping you’ve made something to eat because I’m starving.” She grinned and nipped Alexi’s bottom lip before kissing her again.

“Dinner’s on its way up,” Alexi told her, pushing her hand beneath Tatiana’s blouse.

“Oh, good,” she murmured as Alexi unbuttoned her. “I’m going to take a shower.” She dropped a kiss on Alexi’s forehead and got to her feet. “That meeting was so annoying. I don’t know how my mother does it.”

“It was her job,” Alexi replied.

“But I already have a job, and they expect me to stand in for my grandmother until they find someone. I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Do what you can,” Alexi told her. “Don’t stress over the rest.”

Tatiana sighed. “I know.” She stripped. “If one night is tiring, I can imagine how exhausting keeping up with it after work is going to be from now on.”

“You’ll do fine,” Alexi assured her as she wrapped her arms around her from behind. “You’ve got this.”

“On top of that I have to hire someone to replace Morgan. I still can’t figure where the hell he vanished to. He’s not answering his phone.”

“Don’t worry about him,” Alexi advised, and Tatiana turned to face her.

“I’m just curious.” She leaned towards Alexi. “Why do you want me to hire someone who’s going to be a danger to me?”

“She’s going to be instrumental in getting to someone.”

Tatiana nodded. “Who?”

“His name is Ramon Ortiz,” Alexi told her. “He’s a trafficker of kids and women.”

Tatiana frowned. “Alexi—”

“He’s not going to get you, sweetie, I promise. If he does, he won’t live long enough to regret it.”

“I can protect myself,” she said. “I just don’t want to have to kill that woman.”

“Do what you have to,” Alexi told her. “However, taking her out will be Galli or Sax’s job.”

Tatiana rested her hand on Alexi’s shoulder. “So, why are you in this mess with him?”

“I have something he wants and he’s not getting that, either.”

“Information? Product?”

“Information and a woman,” Alexi told her. “He had her roommate killed and the roommate was a federal agent who handed information over to her. Gracelyn is her name. She works for me here.”

“Doing what?”

“She’s a housekeeper. I’m not allowing him to kill her.”

“So, he threatened my life?” Tatiana withdrew her hand.

“He thought that would make the decision easier for me, but I’ve tightened security around you.”

“What kind of information?” Tatiana demanded.

“Something that could get him the needle.”

“Do guys like that even go to jail?” Tatiana asked.

“They do, and some of them manage to escape or get killed trying to stay free.”

Tatiana nodded. “You’re protecting her?”

“I can’t just let him have her, Tia.”

“No.” She sighed. “I don’t expect you to.” Tatiana gave Alexi a peck on the cheek. “Love you.”

“Tia.” Alexi caressed her back. “No one means more to me than you. I hope you know that.”

“Did you sleep with her?”

“No,” Alexi said, a growl in her voice. “It was never like that, and it never will be. I’m protecting her, but I’d die for you.”

She nodded. “I know.” Alexi had shed blood for her, kept her safe from a family that would have killed her. She trusted her place in Alexi’s life was one of importance.