CHAPTER THREE

ZOEY

The sunlight streaming through the curtains felt like a cruel punishment after the night we'd had. My head throbbed with the intensity of a thousand drummers, and the mere thought of moving made me want to crawl back under the covers and never emerge. But duty called, and I had a job to do, even with a nasty hangover.

Groaning, I reluctantly threw back the blankets and swung my legs over the side of the bed. The room spun for a moment, and I had to steady myself on the nightstand.

My best friend and roommate, Emma, had promised a night of celebration for our company's five-year anniversary, and she had delivered. But the morning after was a cruel reminder of the price we had paid for our revelry.

I stumbled my way to the kitchen, where Emma was already nursing a cup of coffee that looked like it could raise the dead.

"Morning, sunshine," she greeted me, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

I shot her a withering look. "If this is your idea of morning, I want a refund."

She chuckled, pushing a cup of coffee toward me. "Hair of the dog, my friend. It's the only way to survive a hangover."

I accepted the coffee with a grateful nod and took a cautious sip. The bitter liquid sent a shockwave of life through my tired body. "You're a lifesaver, Em."

She grinned, her red hair tumbling in wild waves around her shoulders. "That's what friends are for, right?"

As we sat at the kitchen table, nursing our hangovers and sipping coffee, the conversation naturally drifted toward the investigation I was conducting on Alexei Pushkin, the enigmatic mob boss.

"Any progress on the Pushkin front?" Emma asked, her green eyes twinkling with curiosity.

I sighed, setting down my coffee cup. "Not much, I'm afraid. The man is like a ghost. There's not a single picture of him anywhere on the internet. If I ran into him on the street, I wouldn't even recognize him."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "A mob boss who's managed to stay off the grid entirely? That's impressive."

I nodded, frustration gnawing at me. "It's also frustrating. I need a lead, Em. Something to go on."

She leaned back in her chair, deep in thought. "Well, you know what they say. Sometimes, the best leads are the ones you stumble upon when you least expect it."

I chuckled, appreciating her attempt at optimism. "I hope you're right, Em. Because right now, I feel like I'm stumbling around in the dark."

As we continued our conversation, the hangover slowly began to lift, replaced by a sense of determination. I couldn't let this investigation consume me, but I also couldn't ignore the burning need to uncover the truth.

Emma gave me an encouraging smile. "You'll get there, Zoe. Just don't forget to enjoy the journey along the way."

I couldn't help but smile back, grateful for her unwavering support. "You're right, Em. I won't let this consume me. But I also won't stop until I've unravelled the mystery of Alexei Pushkin."

I glanced at Emma, who was now sipping her coffee with a newfound sense of enthusiasm. I could see that she was eager to let me get back to work on my investigation into the mysterious mob boss.

But I had other plans for the evening, plans that I hadn't yet shared with Emma. Plans that involved a visit to one of the city's most infamous clubs, The Velvet Shadow.

It was known for its dimly lit interior, pulsating music, and a clientele that ranged from the eccentric to the downright enigmatic. If there was any place to gather information about Moretti, it was there.

"Em," I began, choosing my words carefully, "I have a change of plans for tonight."

She raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Oh? What's on your mind?"

I took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm heading to The Velvet Shadow. I have a feeling that if I want to gather information about Pushkin, that's the place to be."

Emma's eyes widened in surprise, and she set her coffee cup down with a clatter. "The Velvet Shadow? Zoe, that place is like a den of vipers. Are you sure it's a good idea?"

I nodded, my determination unwavering. "I need to take risks, Em. This investigation has become too important to play it safe."

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "All right, but be careful, Zo. And whatever you do, don't draw attention to yourself."

I nodded in agreement. "That's the plan. And I'm thinking of changing into an outfit that'll make me less recognizable in the crowd."

Emma couldn't help but smirk. "Ah, going undercover, are we? What's your disguise going to be?"

I chuckled, realizing how absurd my plan must have sounded. "Well, I was thinking of something edgy, like a leather jacket, dark sunglasses, and a wig."

Emma burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the kitchen. "You're going to look like a character out of a spy movie, Zoe."

I grinned, appreciating her sense of humor. "Exactly. The more incognito, the better."

After a quick change into my chosen outfit, I bid Emma farewell and made my way to The Velvet Shadow. The club was located in a part of the city that was perpetually cloaked in darkness, both metaphorically and literally. As I approached, I could hear the thumping bass of the music and see the neon lights casting an eerie glow on the street.

Entering the club, I was immediately enveloped in a haze of dim lights and swirling smoke. The Velvet Shadow lived up to its reputation, with its eclectic mix of patrons, from the impeccably dressed to the eccentrically styled.

The dance floor pulsed with bodies moving to the beat, and the air was thick with anticipation.

I found a secluded corner and settled in, my dark sunglasses shielding my eyes from prying gazes. From this vantage point, I could observe the crowd without drawing attention to myself.

The atmosphere was charged with energy, and I knew that if there were any whispers about Pushkin, they would be heard in a place like this.

As I observed the eclectic crowd at The Velvet Shadow, my eyes landed on a man who stood out like a diamond in the rough. He had an air of quiet confidence, his dark hair tousled just enough to give him a rakish charm. I watched him from behind my dark sunglasses, unable to tear my gaze away.

From my vantage point, I couldn't make out the details of his face, but there was something undeniably attractive about him. He moved with a certain grace, a fluidity that drew the attention of everyone in his vicinity.

My heart skipped a beat as he made his way through the crowd, coming closer to where I sat.

Suddenly, our eyes met, and a jolt of electricity shot through me. I couldn't look away, couldn't break the spell that seemed to bind us in that moment. His gaze was intense, his eyes like pools of darkness that hid secrets I longed to uncover.

He approached me, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Mind if I join you?"

I found myself nodding, my voice caught in my throat. We didn't exchange names, but the conversation flowed naturally, as if we were old friends meeting in a familiar place. It was strange, the ease with which we spoke, as if we had known each other for a lifetime.

He leaned in closer, his voice a low, soothing rumble. "So, what do you do for a living?"

I couldn't help but smile, my curiosity piqued. "You first."

He chuckled, a deep, velvety sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Let's just say I'm in a line of work that requires a certain level of discretion."

I raised an eyebrow, unable to resist teasing him. "Are you a mob boss or something?"

He met my gaze, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Or something."

I laughed, feeling strangely comfortable in his presence. It was as if the world outside had faded away, leaving just the two of us in our little bubble of conversation.

With a sigh, I found myself opening up to him, telling him about the real reason I had come to The Velvet Shadow. "My boss is an overbearing pain, always asking me to investigate people. He wants me to dig into the life of a mob boss named Alexei Pushkin."

He arched an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Alexei Pushkin, you say? That's an interesting name."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief in confiding in this stranger. "Yeah, he's been on my boss's radar for a while now. I don't know what he's looking for, but I have a feeling it's not good."

The stranger's gaze intensified, as if he were trying to decipher the secrets hidden in my words. "And what do you think? Do you think Alexei Pushkin is someone worth investigating?"

I hesitated for a moment, my instincts telling me that there was more to this man than met the eye. But I couldn't deny the pull of curiosity, the need to uncover the truth. "I don't know yet, but I intend to find out."

I leaned in closer, my curiosity getting the better of me. "Do you happen to know anything about Alexei Pushkin?"

The enigmatic stranger's gaze held mine, and for a moment, I thought he might evade my question. But then he spoke, his voice low and measured. "Alexei Pushkin is not a name to be taken lightly. He's a man with a reputation, someone who wields power in the shadows."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as he continued. "If your boss is interested in him, it's for a reason. But be warned, getting involved with someone like Pushkin can be dangerous."

I nodded, my thoughts racing. "Dangerous in what way?"

The stranger's eyes seemed to darken, as if he were remembering something from his past. "Pushkin is a man with connections, both in the criminal underworld and beyond. Crossing paths with him can lead to unexpected consequences."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at his words. "What kind of consequences are we talking about here?"

He leaned in closer, his voice a mere whisper. "People who get too close to Pushkin tend to disappear, one way or another. If you're going to dig into his life, you need to be prepared for the risks."

I swallowed hard, realizing that I had ventured into dangerous territory. But I couldn't back down now, not when the truth about Pushkin was so tantalizingly close. "I appreciate the warning. But I'm not one to back away from a challenge."

The stranger gave me a knowing look, as if he understood the determination burning within me. "Just remember, not everything is as it seems, especially in the world we find ourselves in."