Titus (Nightfall Daddies #2)

Chapter 1

Chapter

One

Alessia shook herself like a wet dog when she reached the roof overhang, which provided some protection from the rain.

“Whoa! Thanks for nothing,” the young woman behind her groused as she patted the drops that Alessia had flung toward her from her face.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t think,” Alessia apologized quickly. Everyone else was as soaked as she was.

“I’ll survive. What’s a few more raindrops? Your mascara has run a bit,” her new friend told her as she wiped under her own eyes. “How’s mine? I’m Betsy, by the way.”

“Hi, Betsy. I’m Alessia. Your makeup is great,” Alessia reassured her as she pulled out her phone and checked how badly she looked. “Good lord.” Alessia tried to whisk away the black smudges. Maybe she made them better?

Alessia shook her head in disbelief. Showing up like this, she’d be lucky to get past the bouncer. Ahead, security divided everyone into two lines after checking everyone’s right wrist.

“Do you know what they’re doing up there?” Alessia asked Betsy.

“People who’ve gotten in before have the Nightfall entry stamp.” Betsy rolled up her sleeve and showed off a moon. “Isn’t this glow cool? I’ll get to go straight inside at the door.”

“What happens to me?”

“There’s a welcoming ritual. The owner of Nightfall is drop-dead gorgeous. He greets everyone and leads you through the chant. The sound sent shivers through me. Truthfully, I’d like to experience it one more time,” Betsy told her.

“Ritual? Do I have to do something weird?” An uneasy queasiness in her stomach ramped up into overdrive, but Alessia tried to maintain her cool.

She didn’t want them to focus too closely on her or her ID.

If they suspected Enzo had sent her or were suspicious about her, they’d turn her away.

Her brother controlled the local muscle in the area and had already caused Nightfall problems. She had to get inside.

“No, not really. You repeat the words with the crowd. Then, they give you the stamp. Easy peasy.”

“Oh, good.” Alessia relaxed a bit. Her shoulders settled back into place.

She was almost to the two security guards separating people. Both were monstrous guys. Who would mess with these two?

“Arms, please.” They pushed up their sleeves. The guys sent Betsy to the right.

“That’s it, Marcus,” the younger staff member said to the other man. From his deferential tone, Alessia picked up that the fierce-looking employee, Marcus, was in charge.

Marcus turned to stare at her. His piercing green eyes pierced through to her soul. Alessia froze and immediately put her hands together. “Please! I waited all this time in the rain. Can’t you let me in? I promise I won’t cause any problems. You won’t know I’m here.”

“Sorry, miss. That’s the limit for tonight. You can wait if you want to see if someone gets kicked out.”

Marcus focused past her right shoulder as if someone were talking to him through an earpiece. In a couple of seconds, he shook his head. “This must be your lucky night. Get inside. They’re waiting for you.”

She didn’t hesitate. Racing forward as quickly as her stilettos allowed, Alessia then slid through the doors and found a small bit of space to stand in the crowd.

She scanned the packed room, trying to take everything in.

Completely devoid of furniture, the decorations inside were simple but striking, giving her the impression of posh surroundings with the unmarred paint, sleek light fixtures, and thick carpeting.

The people inside already swayed to the addictive music, facing a large screen in front.

The faint glow of the outside lights disappeared as the door sealed behind her. Could she get back out? An extremely handsome man appeared on the screen, and the hair on her arms rose. Audible inhales sounded around the enclosed space as his presence impacted everyone.

The power radiating from him struck Alessia like a sound wave.

She’d seen others react to Enzo’s appearance and understood why they feared her violent brother.

She cringed away from him when Enzo was on the warpath.

This was different. Studying the magnetic man, she didn’t expect random violence unless she acted against him.

His calm confidence assured her he could take care of any threat.

“Welcome to Nightfall. I am Alaric, the owner of this establishment. Only the worthiest may enter. Are you willing to dare the entry requirements?”

“Yessss!” The crowd’s answers blended together. Remembering Betsy’s advice to act like the rest of the attendees, she opened her mouth to agree.

As if Alaric heard her lag a few seconds behind the others, his image on the screen turned to stare straight at her. He couldn’t really see her, right? Alessia held her breath, repeating in her mind, “Please, please, please, don’t throw me out.”

Those around her followed Alaric’s gaze, focusing on her. Alessia stiffened her spine, meeting his scrutiny. Two incredibly long seconds ticked by as she stood frozen in place. Alaric lowered his head in a brief nod.

“Who is she?” Members of the crowd whispered around the room.

Before Alessia could decide what to do, Alaric asked, “Are you ready for the time of your lives?”

Excited cheers rang throughout the room, only to stop abruptly when Alaric disappeared from the screen.

A video replaced him. Graphic shapes writhed through sensual motions, capturing the attention of the group.

Words wove into the music. A chant of some kind grew louder with each repetition as the crowd recited together.

We are the children of the Night.

Seeking darkness, revelry, and fright.

We pledge our life’s essence to all.

Nightfall! Nightfall! Nightfall!

Bless you, Betsy! Thanks to the kind woman, she knew what to do.

Alessia said the words along with the bodiless voice. Those around her joined in. The sound ricocheted around the room. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, and she realized she’d almost forgotten why she was there.

Alaric reappeared on the screen. “To enter, you must take this vow, becoming one of the Nightfall elite. Read the words on the screen.”

Their voices rose to a deafening roar that filled the gathering room.

Out of the corner of her eye, Alessia noted Marcus scanning the crowd.

Was he checking for any who had not surrendered to Alaric’s influence?

The elevated excitement swept her along with it as she glanced to her left and right without moving her head.

Everyone stared with rapt fascination at the screen.

Realizing she wasn’t as carried away as others, Alessia quickly stopped glancing around.

“You are worthy. Join us.” Alaric’s voice resounded over the group. His deep tone wrapped around Alessia, seeming to single her out again as a sensual heat filled her.

The inner doors opened. The group surged toward the staff standing at several entry points.

As Alessia approached, a female staff member smiled and guided her arm into a device.

Did something prick her? When she pulled her arm back, Alessia stared at the glowing moon on her inner wrist. Her new one matched Betsy’s exactly. The other woman’s hadn’t faded at all.

Alessia followed the eager crowd into the already filled nightclub.

She checked out the interior of Nightfall, searching for an unobtrusive spot to check everything out.

She had to look like a mess, but Alessia pushed that concern away to dive into the job Enzo had assigned her.

The vast space contained a sea of people but still seemed welcoming.

Alessia smiled at those boogying on the elevated dance floor with brilliant flashing lights before she scanned the gorgeous interior.

This wasn’t simply a bar. Nightfall was an experience.

Someone yelled her name. “Alessia! You made it! Come join me!”

She turned to her right and saw Betsy seated at the bar. An empty stool sat next to her. Without thinking, Alessia limped toward her new acquaintance. Her traitorous shoes hurt her feet every step of the way. At least she wouldn’t have to dance.

The gorgeous male bartender paused on the other side of the counter as Alessia settled onto the padded stool. “Hey. Glad you made it. What can I get you?”

Did they only hire super attractive people here?

She opened her mouth to request a soft drink. The bartender looked over her shoulder, and Alessia swiveled, expecting to see him talking to someone behind her. That would explain his friendly manner. No one stood close.

Turning back to him, she realized he must have another of those earpieces like the security guard.

“Sorry, ladies. Titus is taking over my station. The ladies are demanding my presence over there,” the bartender said.

“Oh, no, Luke. We’ve had so much fun together,” Betsy said.

Luke winked. “Just wait. Titus puts all of us to shame. You’ll love him.”

A roar of dismay sounded from the other side of the space.

Alessia rotated to see a mob of ladies streaming along the curve of the bar that wrapped around the room.

She spotted an incredibly well-built man juggling bottles as he walked behind the bar.

He was totally her type with dark hair and a close-cropped beard.

Were the women following him? Alessia could understand the attraction.

“Yeah. That’s Titus,” Luke said. “He makes me hot too. Unfortunately, he’s on the prowl for a special woman. Just my luck.”

Shaking his head, Luke headed toward the performing barman.

Titus stopped when he approached and said something to Luke.

Alessia couldn’t hear their conversation from where she was but figured it was an invitation like “catch this”.

Titus shared the spotlight with Luke as they launched the bottles back and forth between them in a flurry of spinning height.

She could see the grin on Titus’s handsome face.

His green eyes sparkled with delight. He obviously loved his job.

For a moment, she forgot why she was there, how miserable she was in her wet clothes, and the painful heels.

Alessia glanced at Betsy and stiffened, noting the other woman’s appreciative stare.

She couldn’t be jealous over a stranger, right?

Scolding herself for such a visceral reaction, Alessia forced herself to study the interior of Nightfall.

What could she find that would satisfy Enzo?

“Hello, ladies!” A deep, velvety voice greeted them, drawing her attention back to the bar. “What are you drinking?”

“I’ll take another margarita,” Betsy said.

Alessia gasped as her gaze met Titus’s. An electric connection sizzled between them—unlike anything she’d experienced before. Titus focused on her. He didn’t glance at the other women who had followed his path along the bar or even at Betsy. His attention centered on Alessia.

She swallowed hard and reached out to the edge of the counter to hold on with all her strength. Inside, her body demanded that she jump over the bar to get to him. She didn’t dare release her iron control over her actions, or she’d plaster herself to him. Alessia couldn’t tear her eyes from his.

“Have you two met before?” Betsy asked. Her words sounded as if it came from miles away. “Alessia? Titus?”

Titus braced himself against the bar. He reached out to wrap his hand over hers. The moment his skin touched hers, his eyes flashed red. Alessia lost her battle. She crawled up onto the polished surface. Titus scooped her into his arms and hugged her tightly to him.

“Damn! I should have tried the prowl over the bar thing,” a woman said behind her.