Chapter 22
Corvinus
Embry rests peacefully, content in bed in my private suite after a couple of long hours filled with sex, a meal of fresh blood, and a little after care for her smarting ass.
My chest fills with pride as I redress, then sit to slide into my dress shoes as she places a hand on my pillow.
Even reaching for me in her sleep. Trusting me to take care of every one of her needs tonight.
“It’s the same for me, love,” I murmur under my breath. Now I need to make sure everyone including my boss fucking knows it. Sleep well, love.
The club has filled up in the last hours with the late-night crowd.
Gone are the minglers who have seductive conversations at the table, testing the waters of their future mates or lovers for the night.
No, they’ve either gone their separate ways, are now in the playrooms, or are part of the heavy petting crowd in the corners of the club.
Discreet but not discreet at all. Secrecy is an illusion.
No matter the heavy price that everyone pays for discretion, one recognition, one small drop of a name accidentally, and suddenly everything is out in the open.
But these men, they don’t care. That’s what I like about Club Descallia.
It’s open to everyone for a price, but with no guarantees.
You come to play, at your own risk, not ours.
A gentleman in the corner with his eye on a pretty little blonde sitting next to him looks up, giving me a nod of recognition.
One of our most lucrative clients, a massive importer of whatever anyone’s heart desires as long as the price is right.
No telling how he gets it done, but he always comes through with the product and then needs our help.
The humans should have been nicer to him, but they all have their own alliances, leaving him in the dark, or so they thought before he took over the game. Now, our partnership is solid, and the humans want what they can no longer have. At least the crime families in this area act that way.
Master Tuscano and Delilah are downstairs having a drink at the bar, but I don’t stop to talk, too intent on finding Descallia and putting any doubt about my relationship with Embry at bay.
A few walks through the first floor of the club, and I retrace my steps downstairs without any sign of them.
They must be in a room. I grin. Fucking Descallia.
I guess even the fearless leader needs to blow off a little steam with his queen every now and then.
I head to the bar and take a seat on a stool waiting for the barkeeper to step down. The minute he recognizes me he heads my way. “Sorry, Lord Corvinus, it’s so busy it’s hard to keep up tonight. What can I get for you?”
“Business is good then, yes? Did the Delmar come in?”
He nods. “I have a private stash tucked away just for a few of you.” He bends beneath the bar to retrieve his top shelf supply. I glance in the mirror behind him and grimace at the reflection moving my way. Before she even reaches my side, I turn, facing her straight away. “Chelise.”
Her eyes turn red, and those fangs of hers are descended over bright red lips. She’s looking for a fight. “Nice of you to politely move me to another Descallia Club with no warning at all. I liked it here. I made good tips.”
I have no interest in mincing words or denying fact, and I don’t do it now.
“We had a great time, and we were done a long time ago. I thought you would move on. It didn’t happen so I helped things along.
If you provide as good of service as you have here your salary and tips should be at least twice if not more.
The place is huge. You should be thanking me. ”
Chelise puts a hand on a curvy hip. “I don’t like being moved around like a discarded chess piece after you’re done with me.
Does the little princess know what you like?
That you’re incapable of a real relationship and as soon as you get her to do what you want sexually, you’ll dump her and move on? ”
“It’s your night off and it’s clear you’ve been drinking, but make no mistake, I’ll not tolerate you running your mouth about things you know nothing about.”
She runs her tongue along her bottom lip, trying to be seductive but not quite hitting the mark. “Yeah, well when the year is up with your little playmate don’t come running back to me.”
Now she’s just pissing me off. “Look, when the year is up with Embry, you’ll be the last person I come looking for. Leave the club, Chelise, before I have you removed.”
She laughs. “Wouldn’t want the little plaything to get the wrong idea about your little bet, think your dark-souled heart actually cares about her, would you?
” She turns slightly and laughs. “Oh, wait, maybe she already did…” On that, she spins on a heel and wobbles toward the exit, and straight out the door.
The fire in Embry’s eyes draws me to them as though the strongest magnet in the world. But the minute our eyes meet, hers spark with electricity, and after everything we said to each other tonight, she fucking snaps her fingers and disappears right before my very eyes.
I intend to go after her, tell her exactly what happened. I don’t know what the fuck she heard or how the fuck Chelise knew about our bet, but I vow to find out and make it right. The barkeep still stands watching us and pours my drink once she’s gone. “Looks like you could really use it.”
“Got that fucking right.” I down it in one fluid toss down the back of my throat, letting the smoothness float over my throat muscles and the alcohol calm my ire with the entire situation. I slide a large bill across the bar. “I’ll see you next week.”
Right now, I have a very furious mate to deal with who knows exactly how to flip my switch. I fully intend to follow and teach her a thing or two about this disappearing act of hers but Overmaster Descallia and Lucianna walk up the stairs from the lower level. “We need to talk,” he growls.