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Later, when the household goes to sleep, Baba comes to my room and I slip out of the house and climb the wall I tell the cab driver to take me to Noah’s house As we drive up to the road I see it in co I have already planned for My whole body feels cold I don’t think about what has happened to hiive up and die too

The car comes to a stop The driver turns to look at me

My stoed my mind Take me to Rusaki’

Rusaki is Dimitri Semenov’s club It is a Russian stripper club located in the underbelly of the city

This is it now, Tasha There’s no going back

I know I have to see it through to the very end I turnby until the cab driver pulls up outside its gaudy red and gold awning

‘We’re here my love,’ the taxi driver says

I feel my heartbeat rise a notch as I take a deep breath and step out of the car I pass the driver his htly around esture, I turn around to face the club’s neon lights As I walk up to it, I realize what I a confidently, I go up to the entrance There are three bouncers in black suits watching , and expressionless

I’e outstretched palm of the expressionless one ‘Dancers to the side door,’ he says in a strong Russian accent, jerking his head towards a grey side door

Beside me an obviously wealthy Russian man in a camel hair coat and an icy blonde on each arm is respectfully ushered in

‘I’m not a dancer’

The leering one colish

‘I’m here to see Dimitri Semenov’

The leering guy sniggers ‘Sorry darlin’ Even if you suck my cock you can’t hope to see him’

I stare at hihtily as I can, as my father would have done

Keeping my expression blank I issue my instruction ‘Tell him Tasha Evanoff is here to see him’