Chapter Ten | Marleigh
The spotlight of Viper's club hit me like a physical force as I stepped onto the stage, my heart thundering against my ribs. The familiar opening notes of "Moonlight Serenade" floated through the air, a ghostly echo of the countless times I'd heard it on my grandfather's scratchy records. I closed my eyes, letting the melody wash over me, anchoring me in this moment.
"You've got this, Marleigh," I whispered to myself, my lips barely moving. "Just like in Grandpa's living room."
As I opened my eyes, the opulent club came into focus. Crystal chandeliers cast a soft, smoky glow over tables draped in deep crimson. The scent of expensive cigars hung heavy in the air, mingling with the heady aroma of aged whiskey. In the shadows beyond the stage, I caught a glimpse of tailored suits and glittering jewelry—Viper's world of wealth and danger.
I took a deep breath, tasting the hint of jasmine from my perfume, and began to sing. The first notes were tentative, barely audible over the muted conversations. But as I found my rhythm, my voice grew stronger, filling every corner of the room with liquid gold.
"At last... my love has come along..."
The chatter died away, replaced by a hushed reverence. I could feel their eyes on me—hungry, curious, enthralled. A shiver ran down my spine, equal parts thrill and unease. This was what I'd always dreamed of, but the weight of their expectations pressed down on me like a tangible force.
As I reached the chorus, I dared to look out at the audience. Faces emerged from the dim light—a woman with rubies at her throat, her eyes closed in rapture; a man leaning forward, his cigar forgotten between his fingers. And there, in the darkest corner of the room, a pair of steel-gray eyes that I knew all too well.
Viper.
My voice faltered for a split-second as our gazes locked. Even from across the room, I could feel the intensity radiating from him. Possessive. Proud. Dangerous. I forced myself to look away, focusing instead on the glittering rim of a champagne glass on a nearby table.
"You're doing great," I told myself silently, willing my hands not to tremble as I gripped the microphone. "Don't let him get in your head. This is your moment."
As the song built to its crescendo, I let everything else fall away. The club, the audience, even Viper—they all faded into the background. There was only the music, flowing through me like a living thing. I poured every ounce of longing, every stolen dream into the lyrics.
When the final note faded away, there was a heartbeat of silence. Then, like a wave crashing against the shore, applause erupted. It washed over me, leaving me breathless and slightly dizzy.
"Thank you," I murmured into the microphone, my voice husky with emotion. "Thank you all so much."
As I made my way off the stage, my legs trembling beneath me, I couldn't shake the feeling of Viper's eyes following my every move. I'd performed for my life, but I knew the real danger was just beginning.
?Viper
I MELTED INTO THE SHADOWS at the edge of the club, my eyes never leaving Marleigh. She was radiant, her voice a siren's call that had every man in the room leaning forward, hungry for more. Pride swelled in my chest, knowing I had been the one to give her this platform. But with it came a searing jealousy that threatened to consume me.
"She's mine," I growled under my breath, my fingers tightening around my glass of scotch. The amber liquid sloshed, mirroring the turbulence in my gut.
I watched as a young exec in an expensive suit approached her, his eyes gleaming with desire. Marleigh smiled politely, but I saw the tension in her shoulders. She was still searching the crowd, no doubt looking for that piano player, Jasper.
The thought of her seeking comfort in another man's arms made my blood boil. I took a step forward, ready to intervene, when suddenly...
BANG!
The gunshot ripped through the air, shattering the spell Marleigh had woven. Screams erupted as patrons dove for cover. My body moved on instinct, already scanning for threats.
"Jasper!" Marleigh's panicked cry cut through the chaos. I saw her, wide-eyed and trembling, pushing through the crowd. "Jasper, where are you?"
Her fear was palpable, and for a moment, I felt a stab of something dangerously close to guilt. This was the world she had stumbled into, and now she was paying the price.
A blur of movement caught my eye. Jasper, his ridiculous paisley shirt a beacon in the pandemonium, lunged toward Marleigh with a desperate urgency I'd never seen in the usually carefree pianist.
"Marleigh, get down!" he shouted, his voice raw with panic.
Time seemed to slow as I watched Jasper throw himself in front of Marleigh, shielding her with his body. The second shot rang out, and Jasper's body jerked violently. A crimson stain blossomed across his gaudy shirt, spreading like spilled wine.
Shit...
"No!" Marleigh's scream tore through me, a sound of pure anguish that made my chest constrict. Her delicate hands pressed against Jasper’s wound, futilely trying to stem the flow of blood. "Jasper, oh God, Jasper!"
The sight of Marleigh, her trembling form hunched over Jasper's bleeding body, ignited a rage within me that threatened to consume everything in its path. My vision narrowed, focus sharpening to a deadly point.
"Lock it down!" I roared, my voice cutting through the chaos like a knife. "No one leaves!"
My men sprang into action, moving with the practiced efficiency of a well-oiled machine. Doors slammed shut, patrons were herded into corners, and the hunt began.
"I want every inch of this city turned inside out," I snarled, grabbing Mikey by the collar. "Find the shooter. Bring them to me. Alive ."
The last word dripped with menace, promising a fate worse than death for whoever dared to threaten what was mine. As my men fanned out, their faces grim with determination, I turned back to Marleigh.
She looked up at me, her eyes wide with terror and accusation. "This is your fault," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Your world did this to him."
I wanted to reach out, to comfort her, to promise her that I would make this right. But the blood on her hands and the horror in her eyes kept me rooted in place. At that moment, I realized that the real battle wasn't just for control of the city—it was for Marleigh's heart. And I was losing.
?Marleigh
I CRADLED JASPER'S limp form, my hands trembling as I pressed against the wound in his chest. The sticky warmth of his blood seeped through my fingers, a stark contrast to the icy fear gripping my heart. My voice cracked as I pleaded, "Viper, please! We need to get him help. Now!"
Viper's steel-gray eyes bore into mine, his jaw clenching as he surveyed the scene. "My men are handling it," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
"That's not enough!" I snapped, desperation clawing at my throat. "He took that bullet for me. He's dying because of me. Because of you!"
Viper's expression flickered with jealousy and frustration, before his mask of control slammed back into place. He barked orders at his men, and within moments, paramedics rushed in.
As they whisked Jasper away, Viper's iron grip closed around my wrist. "We need to talk," he hissed, pulling me towards a private room.
The door slammed behind us, the sound echoing in the opulent space. Dim lighting cast long shadows across Viper's face, accentuating the dangerous glint in his eyes.
"How long, Viper?" I demanded, my voice quivering with fear and anger. "How long before someone else I care about gets hurt? Or worse?"
He stalked towards me, his presence filling the room. "You knew what you were getting into when you stepped into my world."
"Your world?" I scoffed, backing away until I hit the wall. "Your world is nothing but violence and death. And now it's threatening to swallow me whole."
Viper's hand slammed against the wall beside my head, his face inches from mine. "I can protect you," he growled, his breath hot against my skin.
I met his gaze, refusing to be cowed. "But who will protect me from you ?!"
Viper's eyes blazed with all the fury one man could hold. His fingers clawed at the wall, leaving deep gouges on the surface as his knuckles turned bone white. "You don't need protection from me," he snarled, a feral edge to his voice as he leaned in closer. "I promise, I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you stay safe."
I felt the heat radiating from his body and saw the muscle in his jaw twitch.
"Then, please... let me go."
Despite the fury in his eyes, there was something else there—a vulnerability I'd never seen before. Fear.
"No! Anything but that. You're mine, Marleigh," His tone softened slightly. "Do you understand? I can't lose you. Not to anyone, not to anything."
The possessiveness in his words overloaded my senses. I swallowed hard, gathering my courage. "I'm not a possession, Viper. I won't be locked away in a gilded cage, no matter how much you think it's for my own good.”
My hand found his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat beneath my palm. Cassie's words, a melody in my head. "I care about you. But I won't sacrifice who I am, or the people I love, for your need to control everything."
Viper's expression flickered, a war of emotions playing across his face. His hand moved from the wall to cup my cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle. "You have no idea of the things I've done to build this empire, to keep it safe... to keep you safe."
I leaned into his touch, even as I steeled my resolve. "Then help me understand. Let me in, Viper. Or this—whatever this is between us—it can't work."
Viper's piercing gray eyes held mine for a long moment, searching. The neon lights from outside cast shifting shadows across his face, highlighting the tension in his jaw. Finally, he let out a deep, shuddering breath.
"My father," he began, his voice low and tight, "was a ruthless man. He taught me that power was everything, and weakness meant death." Viper's hand dropped from my face, clenching into a fist at his side. "I was ten when he made me watch him execute a rival. Said it would make me strong."
The revelation hit me like a punch to the gut. I could almost see the scared little boy behind Viper's icy exterior. "That's horrible," I whispered, reaching for his hand.
He allowed the contact, his fingers intertwining with mine. "It was just the beginning," Viper continued, his gaze distant. "By fifteen, I had blood on my hands. By twenty, I'd taken over his empire." A bitter smile twisted his lips. "I became everything he wanted—and I hated him for it."
His words settled like a suffocating blanket, crushing the air from my lungs. The rhythmic thump of the club outside intensified, an urgent beat that matched the pounding of my heart. Viper's exposed vulnerability was like a drug, tempting me closer even as warning sirens blared in my head, screaming for me to run away.
"And now?" I asked.
Viper's eyes snapped back to mine, intensity blazing in their depths. "Now, I have something worth protecting. Someone ." His grip on my hand tightened. "I can't lose you, Marleigh. Not to my enemies, not to your fear of this life. I'm... falling for you."
Oh, my God...
His admission threatened to obliterate any rational thought, dragging me deeper under his hypnotizing spell. A part of me was drawn to his dangerous aura, yearning to surrender and lose myself in his arms, to fall as well. Yet, the other part of me still clung to Cassie, Jasper, and the echoes of gunshots that haunted my dreams.
"I..." I started, my voice catching. "I don't know if I'm strong enough for this, Viper. The violence, the constant danger..." I trailed off, unable to voice the rest of my fears.
Viper's free hand came up to brush a strand of hair from my face. "You're stronger than you know," he murmured. "I've seen it. That fire inside you."
The heat of his touch summoned all my deepest, darkest desires. I closed my eyes, torn between the seductive pull of his world and the terrifying consequences of staying. When I opened them again, I saw a flicker of uncertainty in Viper's expression—a crack in his usually impenetrable armor.
Remembering Lena's wise words, I realized I was his weakness. Then a thought occurred to me, I had more power in this situation than I previously thought.
"I need time," I whispered, my heart twisting at the flash of pain in his eyes. "To figure out if I can do this. If we can do this."
Viper's jaw clenched, but he nodded slowly. "Time," he repeated as if testing the word. "I can give you that. But remember, Marleigh—in my world, time is a luxury we don't always have."
As I stepped back, breaking our physical connection, I felt the weight of the choice before me. In this room, stood a man who both terrified and captivated me. I knew that whichever path I ultimately chose, there would be no going back this time.
My fingers trembled as I reached for my phone; the cool metal was a polar opposite to the room's hellish atmosphere. Viper's presence still lingered, his cologne mingling with the faint scent of gunpowder clinging to the air. I could feel his eyes on me, even as he retreated into the room's shadows.
"I need some air," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. Viper nodded, his face an unreadable mask.
As I stepped out onto the balcony, the cacophony of the city below enveloped me. My thumb hovered over Detective O'Connell's number, a lifeline to a world I once knew. A world without blood-stained shirts and bullets shattering champagne glasses. But was it truly an escape, or just another form of captivity?
"You don't have to leave," Viper's voice came from behind me, low and dangerous. "Whatever you're thinking, we can find another way."
I turned to face him, my heart pounding in my ears. "Can we? Because I'm drowning here, Viper. In all of this." I gestured widely, encompassing the glittering city below and the opulent room behind us.
His eyes softened for a moment, a glimpse of the man beneath the monster. "Let me protect you," he pleaded, taking a step closer.
The heat of his body called to me, promising safety and passion in equal measure. But the image of Jasper's blood-soaked shirt flashed before my eyes, a reminder of the cost of Viper's protection.
"I need to make this call," I said, my voice stronger than I felt. "For Jasper. For myself."
Viper's expression hardened, the vulnerability vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. "You're making a mistake," he growled, his fists clenching at his sides.
I pressed the call button, bringing the phone to my ear. As it began to ring, I locked eyes with Viper, my voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe. But it's my mistake to make."
And with a growl, he left me on the balcony, slamming the door behind him so hard that it made me jump.
It took a moment to catch my breath as the line connected, and Detective O'Connell's gruff voice filled my ear.
"O'Connell here. Who's this?"
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my decision settle over me like a shroud. "Detective, it's Marleigh Simone. I... we need to talk."
"What's happened?" The shift in his tone was immediate, alert and focused.
I swallowed hard. "I want to be an informant. On the Moretti family."
The silence stretched between us, heavy with implications. My free hand clenched into a fist, nails digging into my palm.
"Are you sure about this, Marleigh?" O'Connell asked quietly. "It's dangerous territory you're stepping into."
A hysterical laugh bubbled up in my throat. "Dangerous? My life is already a minefield, Detective. At least this way, maybe I can do some good."
I could almost see him nodding, his piercing eyes narrowed in thought. "Alright. We'll need to set up a secure meeting point. For now, don't do anything to raise suspicion. Act normal."
Act normal. As if I even knew what that meant anymore.
"I understand," I murmured, my gaze drawn to a framed photo on Viper's desk. Viper and I, caught in a moment of rare, genuine laughter. My heart clenched painfully, and my lips fell into a frown. Was I doing the right thing?
"Be careful, Marleigh," O'Connell warned.
As I ended the call, a chill ran through me. I wasn't just playing with fire here—I was dancing in an inferno, praying I wouldn't be consumed by the flames.
?Viper
T HE SLAM OF THE OFFICE door behind me echoed like a gunshot in the empty hallway. I leaned against the wall, my fingers tracing the cool, polished wood as I struggled to regain my composure. Time. The word hung between us like a blade, ready to sever whatever connection we had.
I'd confessed to falling for her, baring a piece of my soul I'd sworn to keep locked away. And Marleigh... She needed time. The ache in my chest threatened to eviscerate me, but I pushed it down, buried it beneath layers of ice and steel. There was business to attend to.
My footsteps echoed off the marble floors as I made my way through the labyrinth of the club's back rooms. The pulsing beat of music grew fainter, replaced by the low murmur of voices. I paused outside the door to my private sanctuary, drawing in a deep breath. The scent of leather and cigar smoke clung to the air, grounding me.
"Boss." Mikey's voice cut through my thoughts as I entered. His eyes, usually dancing with mischief, were grave. "We got him."
My gaze landed on the son of a bitch bound to a chair in the center of the room. Blood matted his hair, his face a canvas of bruises.
Good .
I circled him slowly, like a shark scenting blood in the water.
"So," I said, my voice low and deadly. "You're the one who thought it was a good idea to take a shot at what's mine."
The man's eyes widened with fear, darting between Mikey and me. "I-I didn't know," he stammered. "It was just a job, I swear!"
Rage bubbled up inside me, hot and vicious. At that moment, all I could see was Marleigh's face, pale with shock as Jasper's blood stained her hands. The fear in her eyes when she looked at me, like I was someone she couldn't recognize. And then her words, echoing in my head: "I need time, Viper."
Time . The word tasted like acid on my tongue.
"A job?" I snarled, my control slipping. "You nearly took everything from me."
My hand drifted to the ornate sword mounted on the wall, a family heirloom passed down through generations of Morettis. The weight of it was comforting as I unsheathed it, the blade glinting in the low light.
"Please," the man whimpered, struggling against his bonds. "I'll tell you everything, who hired me, everything!"
With a fierce roar, Mikey lunged forward and slammed his fist into the man's nose. A sickening crunch echoed through the air as blood gushed from his nostrils, spattering the ground with crimson droplets. “That’s not good enough. You almost killed our precious songbird.”
The word ‘our’ didn't sit right with me; however, at the moment their words were just noise. All I could hear was Marleigh's voice, soft and hesitant: "Can we? Because I'm drowning here, Viper. In all of this."
The sword whistled through the air.
Mikey let out a low whistle as the man's head hit the floor with a sickening thud. "Jesus, boss. Remind me never to piss you off."
I turned to him, my breath coming in short, sharp bursts. "Clean this up. And find out who hired him. I want every last person involved in this dead by morning."
As Mikey nodded and moved to carry out my orders, I sank into my chair, the adrenaline draining from my body. The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the steady drip of blood onto the hardwood floor.
For the first time since I was a young boy, regret gnawed at me like a hungry beast as I realized the consequences of my actions. The mere thought of Marleigh finding out about this made my blood run cold. How could I face her knowing what I'd done? How I'd just executed this man without a second thought? No wonder she was terrified of me.
I am a monster...
Yet, I couldn't bear the thought of losing her, even if it meant hiding the darkness within me from her.
"Time," I murmured, the word hanging heavy in the air. "I'll give her time. But I won't let her go. Not now, not ever."