Dark Alliance (Sinful Gods #2)

Chapter 1

One

DAPHNE

The scent of wealth pulsed in the air around me as I made my way through the Underworld.

I couldn’t help but notice how the wealthiest patrons eagerly surrendered their cash to the club’s exorbitant membership fees, which they considered an insignificant price to pay for the chance to rub elbows with Las Vegas’s most powerful.

The allure was irresistible. Seductive. Mysterious. An endless landscape of dreams and broken ambitions.

Aidon Erebus, one of Vegas’s most notorious members of society, had created a sanctuary for the most refined players in the game, making it the place to be seen and to see others.

I lifted my gaze, scanning the crowd until I spotted him at his usual spot, leaning over the balcony of his private office, watching the activity below. He ruled this domain like a king, his presence both commanding and regal.

The empire he’d built here was beyond impressive. Among the many glamorous private clubs in the city, few matched this one’s brilliance.

Aidon crafted a secure sanctuary where the wealthy could relax and network away from prying eyes and public scrutiny, a vital part of a city where major deals often remained secret.

Every detail was meticulously designed, from the lighting to the ambiance.

He cast Sin City’s distinguished guests in a warm, golden amber light, amplifying their charm and influence.

My gown, a sleek black sequined masterpiece that hugged my figure, swayed as I moved. The shimmering fabric caught the overhead lights, drawing curious eyes from the nearby poker table. Men looked up from their hands, lingering a little too long on the woman passing by.

Tonight, I had groomed myself to match the sophistication of this place. I needed to blend in, to become one of them, and most important, ensure they believed I belonged.

My long hair was styled into an elegant twist at the nape of my neck, showcasing a delicate diamond choker I had gifted myself years earlier. My makeup was immaculate, with my emerald eyes outlined in onyx and lips bold in crimson against my golden skin.

I moved through the club with the smooth, graceful confidence of a composed feline.

I brushed past a high roller’s bodyguard, my silk sleeve whispering against his holster. In the three seconds of contact, my fingers found the seam of his pocket.

When I reached the shadows of the velvet curtain, his encrypted security keycard was already tucked into the hidden slit of my garter.

Zeno called me his prize, except he forgot he’d trained me to be a thief. Beneath the sequins and the crimson lipstick, I was a lie.

I wasn't just here to watch. I was here to betray. Every step in my stilettos felt like a countdown. Zeno expected a report, while my body expected a collision. I wasn't balancing on a dark cloud, but I was walking into a cage I’d spent years trying to unlock.

Taking a deep breath, I paused in a shadowy corner, my eyes sweeping across the room to find my target.

The club was bustling, featuring numerous round tables set up for a high-stakes poker tournament.

Some of the world’s top players sat around them, their focus intense, chasing not just the large cash prize but the prestige that came with winning. Most were already wealthy—what they wanted now was the bragging rights, the acknowledgment of their dominance.

I watched them, noticing how immersed they were in the game. Their eyes flicked between the cards in their hands and their opponents’ faces, and I could tell that, like me, they understood that staying calm was just as crucial as the hands they held.

Never let ’em see you sweat.

Thalassios “Thal” Adrias.

He sat at the table, filling the air around it. He looked less like a gambler and more like a man waiting for his prey to tire. I felt the familiar treacherous pull in my gut. The one who ignored that he was the man Zeno wanted me to ruin.

He wasn't just attractive. He was a reminder of every sin I’d ever committed.

Instead, I was forced to endure his captivating face, the magnetic pull of his sultry eyes, and that maddeningly crooked grin he flashed at me so often, drawing me in so fast.

I steadied myself as I continued to watch him. At any moment, his gaze would catch mine. Somehow, it always did whenever we were in a room together.

Meanwhile, I took him in, my eyes sweeping over his broad shoulders, taut forearms, and the powerful presence he exuded.

A flicker of something deep inside me stirred, awakening memories I thought I had buried.

Flashbacks erupted like a slideshow, images of us walking hand in hand along the beach, sunlight bathing him in a tender pink glow, his laughter echoing as he basked in the warmth.

Then, more visceral memories surfaced, him standing over me, his body tense, his hand gripping his shaft as desire pulsed through him with raw hunger.

I sighed, leaning against the wall in the corner, surrendering to the past, even for a brief moment.

Our time together was fleeting but intense and passionate. The chemistry between us crackled like static, leaving behind an indelible mark full of endless memories that haunted and captivated me, no matter how much I’d tried to forget over the years.

Chance led me to a luxury resort in the Caribbean, where I found myself alone, free from Zeno’s usual control. He had sent me on this rare vacation as a reward for my loyalty, and I cherished the solitude, no leashes, no commands.

I remembered feeling an exhilarating sense of independence, checking in under an alias, reveling in swimming, sunbathing, partying, and mingling with strangers, each moment more freeing than the last.

That was where I’d met Thal.

He’d immediately caught my eye. He was charming beyond words, confident, with an aura of sexiness that made my knees weak.

We clicked in an instant, and I soon discovered he was an incredible lover, able to explore every inch of desire with finesse that left me breathless.

We’d spent hours tangled in bed, pushing each other to the edges of pleasure, caught up in a whirlwind of decadence.

Neither of us were aware of the true stakes or our connections to Zeno. He was one of Zeno’s main rivals, and I was Zeno’s ward and understudy.

Zeno kept me, for the most part, in the dark about his business affairs, and I had never even heard Thal’s name before that moment.

When the truth finally surfaced, it shattered everything. Our paradise crumbled into a million pieces, as if our time together had never existed. We went our separate ways, but Thal’s image refused to fade from my mind.

I had spent many hours replaying those moments, questioning whether he thought of me as well and if he ever wondered what might have been.

Right now, all I could think about was how he’d react when he saw me again.

Zeno’s face flashed in my mind. He’d sent me here to get close to Thal, without knowing that I had already been very close to him in a much more intimate way. We’d gone to great lengths to keep that secret. If Zeno knew how much had happened between Thal and me, he would explode with rage.

Not out of jealousy.

No, it was nothing like that. He’d feel like I’d betrayed him. My relationship with Zenobius Theodorus was complicated, if you could even call it that. He believed I owed him so much, and maybe I did. Still, that didn’t stop me from doing everything I could to free myself from his control.

The truth was, Zeno had been kind to me. He’d saved my fucking life when no one else was around to do so. I was fifteen when my parents died. Losing them left me empty and forlorn, just a shell of the vibrant girl I’d used to be before that tragic accident.

Zeno took me under his wing.

He gave me a place to live. He became a father figure when I desperately needed one. He taught me things I never would have learned anywhere else. Now, he was my only family.

But did that mean I owed him the rest of my life?

His generosity years ago had saved my life, sure, but I had never wanted to grow up and be just his loyal servant.

I had my own dreams about what my life would be like, what I wanted it to be.

And that certainly didn’t include hiding out in the shadows and spying on my former lover, but here I was.

Doing just that.

For Zeno.

Some days, it felt like I was living my entire life for him.

A waiter passed by, and I grabbed a flute of champagne from his tray, drinking it before reaching for another.

A slow smile crept across my lips as I watched Thal. His charm was undeniable, and he seemed fully aware of it. With effortless ease, he tossed endearing smiles to everyone at the table, his intense focus and casual demeanor contrasting yet amplifying his disarming presence.

One by one, he drew in those around him, including me, with that magnetic pull. There was something about him that made you crave his proximity.

Unease settled like a heavy weight in my stomach. Seeing Thal again ignited turmoil—part desire to rush into his arms, part impulse to escape the moment and not risk trouble.

My loyalty to Zeno gnawed at my insides, tearing at my resolve.

How could I protect Zeno without risking harm to Thal?

The impossible nature of the situation pressed down on me as I stood in the darkness, champagne in hand, the urge to run growing with each passing second.

Then, as if he sensed I was there, Thal lifted his eyes, his dark, seductive gaze seeming to look straight into my soul.

When he recognized me, he raised an inquiring brow. But I had no answers, not even good ones.

No doubt, he was wondering why I was there. As soon as he learned of my ties to Zeno, he’d lost all trust in my intentions. I was the enemy as far as he was concerned. I was sure nothing had changed in that regard. Neither of us moved toward the other, our eyes locked.

Memories emerged, brief flashes of our forbidden moments. His lips pressed to mine, his hands tracing my skin, his arms holding me close...

I wondered if he had the same images passing through his mind.