Chapter 10
Chapter
Ten
Marcus stood on the edge of the dance floor and enjoyed his Little girl’s fun. At his insistence, Titus had cut down the alcohol in the third drink he’d made for her and eliminated it completely in the fourth and fifth. Carina had never noticed.
To Titus’s amusement, she’d delighted in her Carina drink so much that she convinced practically the entire bar to try her signature beverage.
Now, all her new friends stomped around on the dance floor, inventing moves never seen before and having the time of their lives. Everyone knew his Little girl’s name.
Carina spun around and weaved slightly. Marcus whisked his way through the crowd in a flash to wrap his arm around her waist. “Daddy!”
“Hi, sweetheart.”
“I’m having a blast. Titus invented a drink just for me! I’m letting everyone go crazy over it though.”
“That is very nice of you, Carina.”
“That’s the name! He named it ‘The Carina’.”
The surrounding crowd began to chant, “Carina, Carina, Carina.”
Carina spread her arms wide, giving her dance partners a huge inclusive hug. “Love you guys!”
When she lost her balance again Marcus whispered in her ear, “Time for a break, Little girl.” He guided her toward the edge of the dance floor.
“Aw! Do I have to?”
“Yes, how about if I take you up there?” Marcus pointed to a landing that overlooked the entire public area. “You can wave to your friends from above.”
“Oh, wow!” She leaned back so far, she had to clutch Marcus for stability. “That’s a long way up there. Good thing I like steps.”
He didn’t comment on her statement but guided Carina past the guard at the entrance to the private access point.
He opened the door with the passcode and ushered his Little girl into the hallway that ran around most of the building.
The nightclub had no windows to the outside, so an interior corridor fit easily into the plan.
“Did you have fun dancing?” he asked.
“Were you watching me?” She grinned at him and demonstrated some of her fancy moves.
Marcus enjoyed tipsy Carina. She was adorable. He would, however, have a talk with Titus. He was a genius behind the bar—much too successful in creating addictive concoctions. Already everyone wanted him to mix their drinks.
He loved the smile that spread over her face. Marcus vowed to enjoy every moment with her. For too long, he’d dreamed of finding her. Carina was worth the wait.
Cupping her jaw, he leaned down to press his mouth to hers lightly.
Carina responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and climbing him like a tree.
Marcus pressed her against the wall and kissed her soundly as he walked to the elevator.
A ding made her stiffen into a statue in his arms. He lifted his head.
“Are you okay, Carina?”
The elevator doors opened, and Darius walked out. He held one side to prevent it from shutting. “Going up?”
Her pulse quickened. Marcus focused closely on Carina. Her heart pounded, and there was a fine shine of perspiration on her skin. She was on the verge of panicking. He pulled her close and shook his head at Darius. His clansman nodded and disappeared.
Marcus rubbed his hand over her upper arms. “You don’t like elevators?
“Sorry. I don’t do metal boxes suspended by cables. Can we walk?” Carina looked up and down his powerful body.
Marcus enjoyed how her gaze lingered on his muscles and the bulge in his pants. “The security vantage point is a long way up.”
“I bet we could race up there,” she challenged him.
She was tipsy enough that he wouldn’t risk her falling. Another time, he’d allow her to win. “We could,” he agreed. “Or I could carry you.”
Before she could protest, he scooped her up in his arms and sped up the stairs.
Marcus preferred this mode of reaching the summit but hadn’t wanted to tax his Little girl.
Carrying her up the three-story, winding staircase was the perfect solution.
Conscious of how much she’d imbibed, he did slow down to avoid making her sick.
When he set Carina on her feet, her stomach grumbled as she ran her hands over her hair, smoothing it back into place as she looked around the observation deck.
Someone, bring one of those big pretzels with cheese dip to the observation deck, please.
Got the munchies, Marcus? Darius asked in an amused tone. Their finance guy had reclaimed his spot, holed up in the office separated from the fun. He obviously suspected he was missing out.
Just a Little girl who’s had too many Carinas. Titus, you understand after this you’ll have to create a new drink for every Little girl we find, Marcus growled mentally.
I will celebrate each mate found with my own magical concoction.
Approval flooded in from every direction as the clan weighed in on that promise. Now, it was written in stone. If anyone could be that creative, Titus would meet the challenge.
Carina wrinkled her nose at him when she finished fixing her hair. “I’ve never gotten windblown from speeding up stairs. And you were carrying me.”
“You must have worked up an appetite with all that dancing. I’ll get us something to eat,” he said, ignoring her comment on his fast pace.
“Hey! It’s neat up here. You can see everything.” She rushed to the clear railing to lean over. Marcus steadied his Little girl, afraid she would lose her balance after too many Carinas.
“Welcome to the observation deck. Some security guards are stationed here to communicate with others on the ground. Other employees also work on this level.”
Immediately, Carina spun to wave enthusiastically to everyone before looking back at him. “I like it up here.”
Enchanted by her positive nature, Marcus leaned down to kiss her and loved how Carina scooted close, as if she craved touching him. His body reacted to her wandering hands as he deepened the kiss.
Hearing a mental ahem, Marcus lifted his head and guided her toward the man who approached to introduce her. “Carina, this is Darius. You saw him before at the elevator. He’s brought you a treat.”
She blinked at Darius, who stood in front of them with a bottle of water and the pretzel. “Thank you?” she said tentatively.
“Of course, Carina. I am glad to meet you.” He handed everything to Marcus and excused himself.
“Where did he come from?” she whispered.
“Greece.”
“I mean…. Is he a waiter or something? He has to be one of you guys to get up here that fast."
“He takes care of the clan’s finances. And, yes, he sped the treat here for you.”
“It’s still warm.”
“It cooled slightly as he held the pretzel while your hands were exploring.”
“He didn’t notice that. Did he?” she asked, as her cheeks bloomed with an adorable shade of pink.
“Darius doesn’t miss very much, Little girl. He also would never tell your secrets. Except to me.” Somehow Marcus knew that was a wise addition to make to his statement. “Come explore. This is where I stay unless there is a problem.”
Quickly, he introduced the half-dozen staff members working at desks scattered across the open area.
She enchanted everyone while he tried not to rip heads off for daring to look at her.
All quickly returned to their scrutiny of the camera feeds or their computers after greeting Carina.
He’d guided her to a more private lounging spot filled with overstuffed chairs and sofas when an alert sounded from the bank of computers.
“Marcus, a group is approaching,” one of the guys in a black Nightfall shirt called to him.
That deceptively innocent observation set Marcus on full alert. His trained security forces would not bother him if the new arrivals didn’t signal a threat.
“I’ve got to check that out, Carina. Would you hang out here? There’s a big couch over there you can sit on. Kick your shoes off and relax.”
“I can do that. My feet do hurt. Is everything okay?”
“Absolutely perfect,” he lied and gave her a kiss. As she walked to the lounge area, he sped down the stairs to the front entrance. Close the front doors. Do not allow anyone in.
We’re at max capacity and turning everyone away.
As soon as I get there, we’re going to let a group into the screening area. Tell everyone to get ready.
Marcus lounged against the counter as the men reached the door. He understood why he’d gotten an alert. The group was not dressed for a nightclub experience. Their smiles and interactions set his nerves on edge with their fakeness. These guys needed some acting lessons badly.
Marcus signaled to the doorman to let them in. The screening staff stopped the first man when he triggered the scanners with something metallic. As they directed him outside, the other four dashed through the metal detector together.
They hit the door into the orientation room at high speed and stopped to glance around in confusion. The room didn’t appear to have an exit. Marcus strolled in behind them, and the entrance sealed closed with a bang after Marcus.
“Your manners are sadly lacking,” Marcus told them as he leaned back against the door.
The men grabbed weapons from their pockets. Two guns and two knives. How cute. They’d coordinated.
“Who sent you?” Alaric’s voice boomed from the screen where he always greeted newcomers and guided them through the orientation. This time, however, his goal was not to welcome these intruders.
“Who the fuck are you?” one of the gunmen said when the others squared off behind him.
“I am Alaric, the owner of Nightfall.”
“And chicken. You send that gorilla here and you stay safe?” a man armed with a knife taunted.
Alaric focused on a man in the rear with a gun.
A single shot rang out, and the man who’d taken the lead position crumpled to the ground with a crimson stain blooming on his back.
The shooter whirled to aim at Marcus and gasped at the sight of his own arm dangling at his side at an unnatural angle or, better stated, angles.
Marcus plucked the gun from his rapidly swelling fingers.
“Doctors might piece that together. You’ll need to learn to shoot left-handed.” He caught a knife in midair as it whizzed toward his chest and returned it in the same motion. His target fell backward with his own blade protruding from one eye. He didn’t make a sound.
“And then there were two,” Alaric observed. “Marcus. We only need one to pry information out of. Who do you think would tell us the truth?”
“Mr. Costa sent us. He didn’t approve your existence,” the uninjured man stated, holding his knife at the ready.
“Mr. Enzo Costa, who operates out of the docks?” Marcus asked. The man with the broken arm dropped to his knees as his pain overwhelmed him.
“Mr. Costa runs this part of town. You didn’t respond to his invitation to meet him. That put an unpleasant taste in his mouth. No one disrespects Mr. Costa.”
“I have an opening on my schedule in two weeks at noon. I’ll pencil him in so my staff will admit him,” Alaric said in a completely unaffected tone.
“He’s not coming to see you.”
“Okay,” Alaric agreed pleasantly.
“You don’t get it. Mr. Costa controls everything in this area. You won’t get any deliveries, any customers, any electricity, without his approval.”
“That won’t work for us,” Marcus said.
“Too bad. You don’t want to cross Mr. Costa.”
“Ah, gotcha. He’s the one who sent ten men here last night?” Marcus asked. “I trust they returned safely.”
“Are you holding them?” the injured man asked, struggling to get to his feet.
“No, they’re not here. We sent them back to you,” Marcus assured them.
He didn’t look at Alaric. His staff had put the survivor into one of the vans the two crews had arrived in, along with those who weren’t breathing.
The driver hadn’t chosen to return? “Sounds like you’ve got an internal problem. ”
The two intruders exchanged glances. The man wielding the knife thrust his shoulders back to appear confident. “Nobody bucks Mr. Costa’s orders and survives.”
“We appreciate the warning. Consider your message received,” Alaric told them. “You do not need to visit again.”
“You’ll come to see Mr. Costa now?”
“No.” Alaric’s screen blackened.
“Chickenshit,” the man with a knife commented and spat on the ground.
Marcus knocked him out with an uppercut before turning to the kneeling man. “I hope you don’t have a manual transmission. It looks like you’re the driver. We’ll deliver these to the docks for you.”
The man screamed as Marcus hauled him up roughly by the back of his pants, crushing his phone in his rear pocket in the process.
Half-dragging, half-carrying him, Marcus threw the injured man out the exit door into the alley along with the unconscious man Marcus had towed across the flooring.
“I hope you have the keys,” he said and laughed as the man’s expression froze. He’d have a long walk home.
Marcus called in the cleaning crew before returning to his normal duties.
With everything fine in the interior, he climbed to the observation platform.
Carina had curled up on the cushions and fallen asleep.
With her hand folded angelically under her cheek, his mate snored softly.
His heart swelled with love for his beautiful mate.
Marcus stilled, watching her breathe for a few minutes before tearing himself away.
Costa wouldn’t take this lying down. He considered how to respond to the threat. If Costa was smart, he wouldn’t retaliate. A good offense was much more effective than a skillful defense. Alaric wouldn’t visit Costa, but Marcus could.