“I heard what happened,” Cara said. “I had no idea about Brandy.”

I looked at Cara. I hadn’t told her who the culprit was. I was assuming Ivan told her, but that didn’t make much sense since he never came to this establishment.

Being the boss, the leader of us all, he had to hold a certain distance. I often spoke to Ivan on behalf of Cara.

“Prior to hiring any more employees, a full screening will be needed. Drugs, alcohol, anything that raises a flag, they will not be permitted to work here.”

“And what if they’re hooked on the coke Ivan sells?” Cara asked. “We let them go?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” Cara asked.

“I’m not going to talk inner house politics with you. You know the rules. He doesn’t want addicts working for him, and to be frank, neither do I. You shouldn’t either.”

Cara sighed. “You’re right. I’m normally a good judge of character. Brandy’s threw me.”

“Was she a nice girl?”

“The best,” Cara said. “She was … a strong person. She had a kid at home, I think.” I sat back and watched Cara swipe at her nose and sigh. “Oh, well, you can’t help them all, no matter how hard we try.”

I raised my brow and she laughed.

“Tell me, Vik, how long have we known each other? Twenty-five years? Nearly thirty?”

“Your point?” I hadn’t counted how long I knew this woman. I’d known Ivan longer. Cara had come into our life a little later.

“I don’t know, I guess I always imagined that you’d be the kind of guy who would know how to satisfy their woman.”

I tensed up. “What’s your fucking point?”

Cara closed the door, flicking the lock into place, then came toward me. She leaned over the desk, grabbing a single remote.

A television screen in the far corner flickered on.

It was a recording.

I recognized my wife instantly.

Next, the volume went up.

“Did you touch your pussy?” Cara asked.

“Er, I don’t feel comfortable with this.” Aurora glanced around the room.

I turned to look at Cara. “When was this?”

“About twenty minutes ago. Keep watching.”

On the screen, Cara approached my wife. She was a good foot taller, but she always preferred to wear heels while Aurora wore pumps.

“I know you touched yourself, and I know you didn’t allow yourself to come.” Cara touched Aurora’s arms, and she tensed up. “Relax. Have you ever thought about going to Vik, asking him to touch you?”

“He wouldn’t want to.”

Cara tutted. “You’re so very wrong about that.”

She lifted the remote and hit pause. “You’ve been married nearly ten months now, right?”

“Eight.”

“Either way, that girl hasn’t had an orgasm by you. Not a single one. Are you like brain dead? Do you want to be in a loveless marriage? The whole peace-treaty thing is real. No war. No shit going on in the streets and yet, you’re not giving the woman who will one day have your children an orgasm?”