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asked before I handed her the packet.
    Lady Desiree burst out laughing. “Getting cocky, are we? Did you miss the part where this contract can be terminated at any time, for any reason? I can throw you out of here, back to whatever you’re running from.”
    Yesterday that would’ve scared the crap out of me, but I’d learned just enough last night to make me cocky, like the Lady accused me of. “I didn’t miss the part where it said all decisions on the contract would be made between me and Nash. No mention of you.”
    That shut her up. “I’ll take the request, but it’s up to Nash to approve it.”
    He would. With an offer like this, he planned to make me a very rich woman. It may not be enough money to keep me out of jail, but it would give me opportunities I would never have otherwise. It wouldn’t make sense if he didn’t turn me. If he was willing to put up that kind of money to keep me, it was in his best interest to keep me happy. “Sabrina and Sierra. I want them.”
    The Lady’s eyes widened. “They belong to me.”
    “I’m sure we can negotiate something.” I smiled sweetly. “And Olivia, too.”
    “Who’s Olivia?”
    My heart broke. “She’s been here twice before. You told her she was too skinny to get a bid, the vampires wouldn’t have anywhere to feed. Last night she went for two hundred bucks. Where is she?”
    “She left at sunrise with the rest of the courtesans. Staying isn’t standard protocol. We only keep the exceptional girls, and they’re grateful to be here. This list of demands is---“
    “Find Olivia. Send someone out. Don’t tell me you can’t, she gave all her information on her paperwork.” Now I had Lady Desiree playing defense. “I don’t care if she’s never chosen by another vampire, I’ll pay her out of my stipend. But she’s allowed to come here whenever she needs to.”
    Lady Desiree pursed her bright pink lips. “Nash needs to sign off on any amendments to the contract.”
    I nodded and smiled. “Where’s the coffee?”
    The kitchen wasn’t the focal point in the vampire fortress. Sabrina and Sierra studied the coffee maker. Sierra’s shoulders slumped with relief when I walked in. “We can’t figure it out.”
    “Things have changed in the last few decades,” Sabrina laughed. “This isn’t something we usually do. We’re instructed to give the new courtesans wine.”
    I made a face. Wine, like coffee, was an acquired taste. I moved between the two girls, and showed them how to slip the packet into the machine. It made one cup at a time. “I used to work at a coffee house.”
    My request for the girls had nothing to do with a power play, as Lady Desiree probably thought. I wanted friends. I knew how hard it was to find people who were genuinely nice to others when they could give them nothing in return. I had no problem paying to keep those people close to me.
    Nash and I would have a completely different kind of relationship.
    “When will I see Nash again?” I asked as I reached in the tiny refrigerator for cream. Milk. Anything to add to my coffee. Nope, nothing. I shouldn’t have been surprised. I squeezed my eyes closed and braced myself for the first sip.
    “As soon as we get you looking like a courtesan.” Sierra pulled my free arm. “We hear you’re staying with us.” They led me back toward the dressing room.
    “You already know? Wow. No secrets around here.” I stopped in the hallway for another sip. My need for caffeine outweighed my need for it to taste good. I wondered if they knew about my request for them. After all, they were trying to make coffee when I found them.
    “Courtesans hear everything.” Sabrina winked. “You want to know what’s happening with any of the vampires? Ask one of us.”
    “How was last night?” Sierra asked as soon as I sat in front of the vanity. Her fingers were already in my hair. “We’ve only seen Nash in passing, and he was pretty tight-lipped.”
    “Amazing.” The brain fog