Chapter 1 #2
“Are you always this jittery?” I pressed my hand above her left breast, noting how her heart rate accelerated with each breath she took. Is that because of me? “It can’t be good for your health.”
“No, I…” She glanced down at my hand still resting against her heart. “You didn’t say where we’re going.”
“To dance.” I guided her in the direction of the dance floor.
“Wait.” She tried to stop, but I pulled her into the sea of hot, hyped-up people. “I don’t dance.”
“Of course you do.” I wrapped my arm around her waist and moved against her. “Dance with me.”
She let out an exasperated breath as she examined her surroundings, probably realizing how out of place she looked by standing there and not moving.
“Fine.” She rolled her eyes and synced her body with the music, moving against mine.
“See.” I spun her so her back was against my chest. “You can dance.”
“I didn’t say I couldn’t, I just don’t.” She turned to face me, draping her arms over my shoulders just as the music slowed down.
“I like this song.” I pulled her closer to me, feeling the heat of her skin on mine. “Why don’t you dance?”
“I don’t often have the opportunity.”
“It’s a good thing I own this club then.” I gripped her hips. “Now I can take you dancing whenever I want.”
“What makes you think I’m coming back?”
“You’ll be back.” I slid my hand up her hip, lightly rubbing my knuckles over the side of her breast before tracing my fingers along her jaw. “I’m sure of it.”
She bit the corner of her lip when I cupped her face. Her eyes sparkled under the flashes of light strobing from the DJ booth. This unassuming goddess had caught my attention, and once I set my sights on something, there was no escaping me.
“Why are you staring at me?” Her lemon-scented breath ghosted my lips.
“I can’t look away from such beauty.”
She looked down at the floor.
“What’s the matter, Sable?” I forced her chin up so I could memorize every detail of her face. “Can’t take a compliment?”
She didn’t answer me, but that only added to the intrigue that surrounded her.
“You know what I find interesting?” I tightened my hold on her waist. “The packaging doesn’t match the product.”
“What?”
“Your unique name and those eyes of royalty don’t fit with your appearance.”
“Are you insulting me?”
“Not at all.” I stroked her cheek as I lowered my lips to hers. “If you belonged to me, you would have the best of everything.”
“Too bad I don’t belong to you.”
“You could.” I dropped my gaze to her lips. “Is that what you want?”
“Milo.” Lucas tapped by shoulder. “I need to speak with you.”
“This better be fucking important.”
He leaned into my ear and said, “Do you consider someone attempting to sell drugs to your associates in your club fucking important?”
“Are you kidding me?” I shouted over the music. “Who the hell would be stupid enough to try that?” I let go of Sable. “I have to take care of something.”
“Don’t go.” She gripped my hand. “I want to continue this conversation.”
“We will.” I winked. “Go to the bar and get yourself another martini.” I brushed her knuckles along my lips before releasing her hand. “I’ll join you soon.”
“Who would be so brave?” I asked Lucas as we hurried through the throng of dancers. “Selling shit in my territory is a death sentence.”
“I don’t know who he is, but it appears he came in with Bello,” Lucas said.
“Why am I not surprised?”
Romeo Bello had been a problem for a few months, but lately he had been staying out of my way, so I assumed he came to his senses.
“Over here.” Lucas pointed to the dark hallway that led to a set of bathrooms. “Our guys have him cornered.”
Once I approached my security team, they parted, letting me see the piece of shit who dared to defy me.
“Let me go.” The man with the crumpled dress shirt and no tie tried to struggle out of my guy’s hold. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“We found this on him.” Josh, my lead security man, showed me a few packets of pills. “He tried to sell it to one of our people.”
“Do you have a death wish?” I asked the man who came into my club and tried to profit off me. “Do you know who I am?”
“Yes.” When he looked at me, I saw the fear in his expression, but that wasn’t what stole my attention. It was the familiarity in his eyes. Almost as if I had just been staring into those green depths, except I didn’t find his as spectacular. “I didn’t sell anything.”
“But you tried.”
“No, I didn’t… Look, I’ll leave.”
“The only way you’ll be leaving here is in a body bag.” I motioned for my guard to release the idiot. “But not before I teach you a lesson.”
After security let go of him, I hauled back my fist and connected with his nose, forcing him to the ground. He fell to his knees with his nose spurting blood as he looked up at me.
“Stop!” a frantic voice yelled. “Don’t hurt him.”
I turned to find Sable appearing even more frazzled than when I had first approached her. She stared at the wanna-be drug dealer who dripped blood over my favorite Versace shoes.
“Sweetheart,” I said. “This doesn’t concern you. Go back to the bar and wait for me.”
“I can’t.” Her eyes filled with tears. “He’s my brother.”
“Your brother?” I can’t make this shit up.
She nodded.
“Does that make you his fucking decoy?” As I stepped toward her, she stumbled into the wall. “Because if you are working with him, you’re not going to live to see the new year.”