Chapter 20
I stare him down, my eyes burning into his, feeling the tension between us thicken with each passing second.
“Nothing for you to worry about, boss.” I sidestep him and move into my bathroom, throwing some water on my face.
My head is foggy, and I feel like I’m about to hit the floor, but I’m not ready to go home.
Tonight has been traumatic for all involved, and I know I need to go check on my girls and make sure everyone is okay.
I reapply my lipstick and fix my eye make-up then straighten my ponytail, catching my reflection in the mirror.
I’m still the same girl I was this morning.
But why do I feel so different now?
So out of place in this club that has been my home for as long as I can remember.
From the doorway I catch sight of Romeo watching me.
I turn back to face him, straightening my shoulders.
“We should do the rounds, make sure things are in order,” I suggest.
“Good idea. Are you okay to walk on your own or do I need to assist you?” He raises a brow, his expression still serious.
“Fuck off, Romeo. I’m totally fine.”
“Keep lying to yourself, Sloane.” His eyes scan over me skeptically, but he doesn’t push it anymore.
“Once we have done the rounds, the two of us are coming back in here and you’re going to tell me what you know about this missing girl. ”
I roll my lips, not ready to tell him anything.
Without a response, I stalk past him, and he follows me.
The two of us walk back into the main bar with Onyx closely behind.
Myriah runs toward me dramatically, her arms outstretched as she embraces me tightly.
“Are you alright? What the hell was all that about, girl?”
“They were looking for a girl who is clearly not here. Just our new commissioner throwing her dick around, nothing to worry about. Can you and Sally clean up the bar and get ready to close? I’m going to check on the girls next door.”
“Done.” She smiles at me, but her normal happiness doesn’t reach her eyes.
Tonight has rattled her.
It’s rattled all of us.
Across the now empty room, I catch sight of Sally.
She offers a subtle nod of acknowledgment, her eyes meeting mine briefly.
I know she’s tough, and she’ll handle looking after Myriah and pack up for me tonight with no problem.
Onyx, Romeo, and I move through to the VIP room, where two girls are back up on the stage dancing, but the place is dead thanks to the cops.
Only a couple of the tough-as-nails guys who are on Jagger’s payroll were keen to hang around.
Understandably.
Romeo turns back to me, a slight frown etched onto his face when he sees the dismal, empty room in front of us.
“Do we call it a night and lock up early?”
“Maybe.” I massage my temples, trying to think on it as I walk toward the bar.
“The girls okay in here?” I ask Erica as she’s wiping over the bar.
She leans into the bar, tossing the cleaning cloth that was in her hands into the sink.
“Totally fine. The assholes lined us up and checked all our IDs then left. What the fuck were they looking for? ”
“Guess they were just making sure no underage girls were here,” I lie with a tight smile.
With a shake of her head and a roll of her eyes, her unimpressed expression is clear.
“How stupid do they think we are?” She huffs out a laugh, taking up a fresh tea towel, moving to the dishwasher.
Steam pours out of it as she flings it open.
“Girls will be down on tips,” she tuts, and I’m not surprised.
If anyone is going to give it to me straight, it will be her.
She might be behind the bar, but I know she takes her job seriously and she has a sense of motherly ownership over the dancers.
It’s why she’s been employed with me so long; I always know with her around, there is another set of eyes keeping watch over this place.
“I’ll make sure they are reimbursed.”
“I knew you would.” She nods, pleased with my response.
An idea comes to me, and I spin back toward the boys.
“Or do you want to test out one of your ideas, Romeo? Invite some of the guys who would be considered top tier to come and play.”
He checks his watch.
“It’s nearly two in the morning.”
“This place should just be getting started then.” I pull out my phone and text Sally to send me a list of the guys she knows that might be up for some fun at this hour.
Romeo’s hand comes to my shoulder, like a weight pressing down on me.
“Sloane, stop. You need to go home to bed. It’s been one hell of a night, and even though you’re trying to pretend you’re okay, you’re clearly not. I’m not sure what happened between you and Detective Wilder, but what I do know is I’m not letting you continue to trash yourself for this business.” Romeo looks at Onyx, his eyes narrowing.
“I know you agree with me,” he says in his direction.
I feel Onyx’s hand on my back gently.
I turn toward him knowing he can’t be siding with Romeo over me.
“Why don’t you let Romeo and Sally close up the front, and I’m sure Erica has this place handled. I’ll take you home.”
I flick my eyes back to him angrily.
“What the fuck, Onyx, are you two teaming up on me now?”
For a split second, pain flickers across his face, a grimace that vanishes as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual stony expression.
“He has good reason to be worried about you, trouble.”
Irritation crawls under my skin.
Have they been talking about me, having secret Sloane meetings when I’m not paying attention?
What the hell! I thought they couldn’t stand each other.
“I don’t need either of you oversized assholes’ pity, concern, or whatever the fuck this is. What I need is to do my job. My girls all missed out on income tonight because of me. I need to make sure they don’t go home empty-handed.”
Romeo’s hand trails down my arm.
“We have a massive event next weekend. You and I both know it will make up for whatever they lost today.” His eyes narrow in on me like the bossy motherfucker he is.
He thinks he’s in charge of me.
“Go home with Onyx or I will march you out of here over my shoulder and take you back to the Moretti mansion with me.” It’s a threat, one I can see he is more than happy to make good on.
In fact, by his expression, I think that’s exactly what his sick mind wants.
“Like hell you…” I stop talking when all the power goes out and I’m left in pitch black.
A couple of girls shriek in fright, and I hear Erica curse out a string of profanities from the other side of the bar.
My already-on-edge heart leaps into my throat.
I feel Onyx and Romeo’s hands on me immediately.
One at the front, the other at my back, caging me in between them protectively.
“Bill, can you check the meter box out back?” comes Onyx’s voice, as he connects with our security guard on the front door .
Romeo flicks on the flashlight on his phone, shining it at me.
“You okay, doll face? You’re awfully pale,” he asks, and I hear the worry in his voice.
But I can’t think about him.
I feel strange. I’m shaking my head from side to side as panic takes over, and everything I have found out tonight comes crashing down on me like a pile of bricks.
The night my mom was taken from me, the sacrifice she made to keep me alive when I wasn’t even her own child.
Being in this room in the pitch black brings it all back.
I can hear her screams, feel my fear like it was yesterday.
Romeo wraps an arm around me, pulling me in tight, and I let him.
“You’re alright. Don’t tell me the big bad Sloane Stryker is afraid of the dark.” He huffs out a laugh, and I can tell he’s trying his best to snap me out of it.
Overwhelmed by a wave of fear, I can only manage to shake my head again, a useless gesture against the rising tide of panic.
I can hear Onyx talking to our security crew from right behind me, his hand still on my waist as he dishes out orders.
Something about the electrical box.
I should be the one taking charge, but my head spins, and I grip onto Romeo to stop from falling flat on my face.
The next thing I know, Romeo’s lips are on mine as he kisses me passionately.
His lips are so soft the kiss almost doesn’t feel real.
Or am I just so out of it and panicked that everything feels odd.
His hand, warm and strong, encircles the back of my neck, a comforting pressure that strangely calms me, so I allow him to continue.
I even kiss him back, clinging to him like my life depends on him and his lips.
Because right now, it feels like it does.
The lights flash on then back off again a couple of times.
Then a whirl of energy is thrust into the room as all the electricity comes back on, including the lights.
I pull back from Romeo immediately, my back hitting Onyx.
That might have been one hell of a kiss, but it’s the last thing I should have been doing.
“What did you do that for?” I snap at him.
His lips twitch up at the sides into a cunning smile.
“Thought it might break you out of whatever fucked-up place you went to.”
I glare back at him, but the room blurs around me, my eyes going all blotchy.
Right before I hit the floor, Onyx’s strong arms scoop me up into his solid protective body.
He pulls me close to him, so close I can feel his erratic heart.
“When are you going to start listening to me,” he snips, and I hear the disappointment in his tone.
“Take her into one of the rooms,” Romeo says, sounding bossy as hell.
Onyx mumbles an agreement, carrying me toward the private rooms.
I close my eyes, letting him, for once.
I’m too out of it to argue with the two of them.
I think they’re right, I need to lie down, at least until this spinning stops and I feel normal again.
They scan me through to room one, and Onyx lays me down on the luxurious bed so carefully it’s as if he thinks I’m made of glass and he’s about to crush me.
I shut my eyes tightly, trying to stop this awful spinning feeling.
Onyx doesn’t skip a beat, hopping onto the bed beside me he pulls me in close, his lips brushing my earlobe.
“Just breathe, trouble, you’re okay,” he tells me on repeat.
He knows it too, I’m having a panic attack, forced to relive the night that still haunts me.
I try to push the thoughts away and focus on my breathing like he’s telling me.
I keep seeing her face that night right before she went onto the stage.
She was so beautiful, so loving toward me.
I don’t understand why she would be so selfless.
Why protect me, knowing it could put her and her family in danger?
I get it now, why Syd hated me so much; I was a massive inconvenience to him.
But he went along with it as well, so he must have been getting something out of having me here.
I wish I had more answers, but right now all I have is a massive list of questions and a hole in my heart where my family used to be.
Eventually my breathing starts to calm, and when I let my eyes flutter open, I find Romeo watching the two of us from the doorway.
“Should I call Ricky?” he asks, concern etched into his handsome features.
I shake my head. I don’t need to be told off by Doctor Ricky for taking too many pills and chasing it with an obscene amount of alcohol.
And if he comes down here, that’s exactly what will happen.
Romeo moves in closer, his eyes locked with mine.
“How many of those pills did you take tonight?” he asks me more seriously.
“I only saw her take two,” Onyx replies for me.
Romeo’s eyes scan my face, unimpressed.
“I saw her take at least four. Two right before she ate dinner and again when we got word the cops were on their way.”
I groan, my head thumping with their judgy words.
I massage my temples, trying to stop the constant drumbeat playing in there.
Why are they watching my every move?
“Trouble, Ricky said no more than two a day,” Onyx grumbles over my shoulder, rolling me onto my back so he can glare down at me.
I want to reel away from their judgmental gazes, but I have Onyx on one side and Romeo staring me down on the other.
There is no escaping the two of them.
“Yeah, well, today was no ordinary fucking day, was it. And now instead of you two letting me rest in peace, I have you ganging up on me. ”
Onyx’s phone rings in his pocket, and he answers, still leering at me.
“Speak.”
“We have a situation,” I hear the person on the other end of the phone say.
Sounds like one of our security guys.
“Can you come out front?”
“Fuck.” Onyx disconnects the call and sits back, running a hand through his stubble, his attention moving to Romeo.
“Stay here with her. Don’t let her out of your sight,” he demands, an air of authority and a no-shit tone to his voice.
Romeo agrees, a twinkle in his eyes I don’t like the look of.
But what I don’t get is why does Onyx all of a sudden trust Romeo?
He leaves in a rush, and Romeo moves over to me.
I shuffle up the bed, needing to still keep some distance between us.
“Why did you kiss me?” I ask him, feeling awkward as hell about it now.
“What did I tell you the first night we met?”
I roll my eyes.
“I don’t know, that you were a lying asshole and I shouldn’t trust you?” I sass just to piss him off.
“I don’t need a babysitter, you can go on with your night.” I shoo him off with my hands, trying to make it clear I don’t want him anywhere near me.
“I think it went something more like, I always get what I want . And right now, I want you, and I’m not going to stop until you’re mine.” The dark and dangerous look in his eyes makes me believe him.
This man is used to getting what he wants, and he is awfully persistent.
His expression and his possessive words also make my panties wet and butterflies take off throughout my body.
Not because I want him, but because I remember how good the night we shared was.
And as much as I don’t want to admit it to him, my greedy pussy wouldn’t mind another go.
I sit up a little, needing the height advantage, with him towering over me looking way too powerful.
“Then you will be trying until the day you die, because after the stunt you pulled, you will never get your hands on this again.” I motion to my body just so we’re clear.
He throws his head back, his chuckle filling the room.
“You’re a beautiful actress, but I see right through your performance, doll face.”
“This isn’t an act,” I snap back at him.
He crosses one arm over the other, puffing out his chest. “Prove it.”
“What?” I blink back at him, not so sure what he means.
He cocks his head to one side, a slight smile playing on his lips.
“Prove it.” He takes a step closer to the bed.
“If I come over there and slip my finger inside your panties and they’re dry, I guess I will believe you.”
Fuck, this man is dirty.
How did we go from you need to rest from your bad choices, to I’m going to finger-fuck you just to prove a point?
“If they’re not?” I swallow the lump in my throat, already knowing the answer.
His knee drops to the bed, his eyes taking in every inch of me.
“Then I guess we both know you want me.” His hand lands on my thigh, and I jump, so on edge even the slightest movement amplifies my senses.
His hand trails up my bare thigh, and I know I should stop him.
Tell him to get his filthy hands off me, but I can’t.
I want him to touch me there again.
It doesn’t matter how much I hate him.
“What’s it going to be, Sloane?” His hand slides under the hem of my skirt, and I suck in a breath, already knowing what he’s about to feel.
As he makes it to my silk panties, his grin broadens.
“So, fucking wet for me, aren’t you, doll face.” He doesn’t wait for a response from me.
In one move, he’s shoved my panties out of the way, pushing his finger deep inside of me, a filthy fucking expression on his face because he knows he has me.
“Romeo,” his name is supposed to come out as a warning, but it’s more of a breathy plea for more .
“That’s it, doll face, you want more of me, don’t you?”
I shake my head no, but my knees widen, giving him better access to me.
My body is betraying me.
The sexual tension between us has been insane all week, and now that he’s this close, I can’t deny it anymore.
He moves his finger in and out of me leisurely.
“See how good we are together?”
My back arches off the bed as my fingers curl into the comforter, pleasure rocketing through my body.
With his free hand, he bunches my skirt up around my hips and pulls my panties all the way down my legs and over my shoes, pocketing them when he’s done.
He watches with hooded eyes as he fingers me slowly, a look of pure satisfaction on his face.
“I have been dreaming about the way you taste for days.” He dips his head, his tongue flicking out to lick me, skimming over my clit, before he sucks it into his mouth.
My eyes roll back in pleasure.
“Fuck, Romeo,” I call into the room, not able to help it.
He adds a second digit, curling his fingers up inside of me, licking me, sucking me, nipping me at the same time, and my pussy clenches around his fingers.
My cheeks heat and my breathing catches in my throat, my orgasm taking over so quickly it surprises me.
I ride his hand shamelessly as he eats me up, devouring every last drop of my pleasure.
I cry out his name on repeat, my body shuddering.
The door suddenly swings open without warning, a loud creak echoing in the near silence.
I jump in fright, flicking my gaze to find Onyx standing there, his presence filling the doorway.
A low growl escapes him when he sees the two of us together, and I feel like my heart might just leap out of my chest.
Fuck.
Romeo lifts his head from my pussy, a devilish smirk on his face, his lips glistening with my arousal.
He knows there is something going on between me and Onyx, and he couldn’t give a fuck.
If anything, this is a major turn-on for him.
Oh, dear God, if they want to tear each other apart, I won’t be able to stop them.
I go to scramble away from Romeo and cover myself up, pissed at myself that I let it get so out of hand with him.
But his fingers are still deep inside of me, and he makes it clear with the hand clinging to my hip that he has no intention of letting me go anywhere.
“Didn’t take my eyes off her for a second,” he comments to Onyx way too cheekily, like the two of them are friends, when I know that’s not true.
The tension in the room intensifies to boiling point, but Onyx doesn’t move.
His eyes travel down my body to where Romeo’s fingers are inside of me, and I see how fucking hard he is.
He’s not furious like I expected him to be, he’s turned on.
I get a fresh flutter of excitement.
Is he into this? Some other dude pleasuring me.
Why do I want him to be?
It’s kind of fucked up.
But he won’t touch me himself anymore, he already told me that.
He steps inside and closes the door behind him, with a click, making it clear he has no intention of leaving us alone again.
“What was the issue?” I ask, not sure what else to do.
“It’s sorted,” he grumbles, not giving me any details.
Romeo moves his fingers inside of me again, the sound of my arousal echoing through the quiet room, making it damn obvious how fucking wet I am.
“It’s sorted, Sloane, just relax and let me play with you.”
My heart races, not sure what to do.
“Onyx.” I glance back to him.
Is he really going to stay for this?
“I’m not worried about your bodyguard, doll face. I want to hear you scream again. I reckon he might like that as well. ”
“Oh, fuck,” I murmur, covering my eyes as he pushes me back to the comforter.
Is he for real? But as I peer up at him from under my hands, I know he is.
He’s quite happy to fuck me in front of Onyx.
“Get your top off,” he demands as he moves under me, unzipping my skirt and tugging it down my legs.
I have no idea why, but I comply, wiggling out of my high-neck top and revealing the bite marks Onyx left on me last night and a black lace bra.
Romeo’s hands move to my neck, his thick fingers running over the marks possessively.
Like he’s imagining making fresh marks of his own.
Then his face dips and he places kisses from my ear down my neck and over my breasts, every one with intention.
I glance back at Onyx.
He’s leaning into the door, his hand palming his cock through his jeans.
It’s one hot-as-sin sight.
I lick my lips, remembering what it was like to have his cock in my mouth.
But he doesn’t move to come and play with us.
He just watches.
Romeo takes a nipple into his mouth, sucking it through the thin fabric of my bra, his rough touch sending goosebumps dancing over my skin.
He pushes the cups out of the way, exposing my skin to the cooler air.
Taking turns sucking each hardened nipple into his mouth, he uses his tongue to toy with them.
It feels so fucking good.
I reach for him, rubbing his length through his pants, needing more, needing him, but fuck if I’m going to admit it to him.
I feel his chuckle vibrate through me.
He pulls back, shaking his head.
“You needy little thing.” He removes his belt, followed by unzipping his trousers, his massive cock springing free.
“Is this what you want?” He palms himself, stroking his length for me.
“Yes,” I whisper greedily, hating myself for it but also needing him more than I need to breathe right now.
I help him unbutton his shirt so I can see his chest as well, the light scattering of dark hair over chiseled perfection and ink.
He’s one gorgeous man .
Romeo watches me as he rolls on a condom.
My hands roam over his ink, finding scars, the kind that could have only been left from a knife.
I wish for the first time I knew more about him.
For the most part, this man is still a mystery to me.
He knows my secrets but keeps his own locked up tight.
He takes my hands, removing them from his chest. “Keep your hands above your head,” he instructs as he shoves my legs out wide.
With a menacing look on his face, he thrusts himself inside of me, balls deep in one move.
I cry out as all air is knocked from my lungs at the sudden intrusion.
All I can do is stare up at him and take it.
His lips drop to mine, and he kisses me again passionately, with every stroke of his tongue helping me to relax and take all of him.
He moves slowly at first, leisurely pumping in and out of me as he continues to devour me with kisses.
I melt into him, letting his body take control of mine.
I shouldn’t like this, like him being so damn domineering over me, but I do.
When he pulls back, the way he looks at me sends tingles over my skin.
I might not be very experienced in fucking, but this feels like more than sex.
He looks at me like he was a starving beast desperate for his next meal, and now that he’s having it, he’s going to make sure he never goes hungry again.
My attention moves to Onyx watching us, not able to stand the way he’s looking at me anymore.
His hand is now fully inside his pants stroking back and forth.
The look he gives me when he sees me watching him is the same.
I know he’s desperate to come over here, but he’s stopping himself.
Romeo pulls out of me, and I miss his throbbing cock instantly.
My attention comes back to him.
“Roll over, hands on the headboard. I need to be deeper. ”
My pussy clenches, wanting that as well.
I turn over onto my stomach, and he adjusts me so I’m exactly where he wants me, up on my knees holding on to the headboard.
A hand stroking down my back and over my ass, he palms my ass cheeks, spreading them wide, then he’s back inside of me.
I try to grip on to the headboard, but it’s no use.
This time he’s driving in and out of me like a man possessed.
His hand comes to my clit, and he toys with me, sending shivers over my whole body.
I start to rock and shudder, taking every deep thrust he has for me but knowing I’m on the edge.
His lips lower to my neck and he sucks and nips.
It feels like he is everywhere, his body completely controlling mine.
I’m seeing stars, my body trembling all over.
“Scream my name, doll face.” His words wash over me.
I glance back at Onyx, and I know he’s close as well.
I keep my eyes on him as I let my body tip over the edge, feeling everything Romeo is doing to me.
The rough way he controls my body.
“Romeo!” I call his name as my pussy tightens and waves of euphoria take over my body.
Onyx is right there with me, and I watch as he shudders, obviously cumming in his hand with a grunt, his eyes locked onto mine as he does.
I lick my lips, wishing I could taste him again.
Romeo keeps pumping into me, his teeth sinking into my neck as he rides out his own release.
Eventually he stills so deep inside of me, but he doesn’t pull away.
He holds me close, pulling us back down onto the bed together, his arms wrapped tightly around me as if he’s afraid to let me go.
My heart races out of my chest, because that was a lot.
I know I shouldn’t have gone there.
Hell, I know I should have put a stop to this craziness as soon as Onyx was back in the room.
But the vixen in me is sitting up and taking notice of the power I hold over these two men.
It’s slightly addictive.
Romeo is obsessed, and Onyx is in big trouble.
Me, I’m truly fucked because I know no matter how much Romeo gets under my skin and Onyx is forbidden, I have started something I’m not going to be able to stop.
I want more. Of both of them.