[Flashback]
“You’re late,” said Salvara, dropping his tablet on the desk.
“I came as fast as I could, Don Salvara,” said Nadya, waltzing into the office with a silver pitcher of wine. The wooden floorboards croaked underneath her shoes. The room stank of cigar smoke and spice, but she’d grown used to the smell. Years of serving guests in the bar and translating for visiting Syndicate crime lords had practically shriveled up her nostrils. Such was life in indentureship.
The House of Glass was a rickety gambling hall deep in Axxila’s lower levels, so far down that not even the Sith might have known of its existence. What fresh air that reached into this foul corner of the world was filtered through tangles of corroded pipework, and the only sunlight that touched its streets was artificially made. The underground levels lived in constant twilight, a dark mirror of the wealthy districts above, where Nadya had once called home.
She had gone a long way from the noble Altaris family to the clutches of Don Salvara and his spice cartel. A long way indeed.
As she poured Salvara a glass of wine, she caught him looking at her up and down, like a predator in the wild. Gods, she would have loved to shatter his nose against the table. “Can I help you with anything else, Don?” she asked, hoping he’d dismiss her before he did something he'd regret.
“As a matter of fact, there is.” Salvara swirled his glass. “I have a guest coming in soon. Says he’s come to negotiate a sale of spice. I want you to stick around, keep us company, make sure he feels right at home. Do you think you can do that?”
Nadya pursed her lips. She wanted to refuse, but she knew she didn’t have a choice. Even if she could tear the crime lord to shreds with just a look, what then? Where could she go next? The gambling hall was packed with armed guards and soldiers. She’d be shot to pieces before she made for the door. “Of course, Don. Is it another Syndicate enforcer?”
“Afraid not. I’m not sure where he’s from, but apparently he’s got lots of credits to trade—and we never say no to business.” He smiled, taking another sip of his wine. For some reason, Nadya smiled too.
@Ginger