With her hand locked in my elbow, she sashayed her way by my side, our footsteps slow and measured. The moment wewaltzed into the grand hall, heads turned in our direction—awe and fascination flickering in the onlookers’ eyes.
The air was filled with the soft hum of conversations as guests—dressed to impress hung around in small groups. Expensive watches and jewelry glinted in the lights, a public show of wealth and power.
These were the crème de la crème of society, the elites who made decisions and ran the city behind closed doors. This was supposed to be a gala dinner, and on the surface, that’s what it was; that’s what it looked like.
To the ordinary folks who’d come here to have a great time, this was nothing but a gathering of powerful men and women, seeking to make the city a better place.
In reality, though, this was an event where life-changing deals were made with devils like me underground.
These political leaders and the societal elites weren’t the saints that the people thought they were. No. Far from it. They were greedy bastards, selfish pigs who’d watch the city burn so long as their pockets were full.
These hypocrites didn’t care about the people; they didn’t care about anything that didn’t involve increasing their wealth and status. They abused their offices, misused their power. And instead of building the city, they were the ones destroying it from the inside.
Yet to everyone else, men like me were the bad guys. How ironic!
These sons of bitches were worse than me. At least I was the monster everybody knew about and avoided like a fuckin’ plague. I didn’t pretend to be who I wasn’t just to gain fame and public approval.
Unlike these greedy assholes, I didn’t stab people in the back. No. I preferred to look them in the eyes while I drove my dagger into their heart. It was always better that way.
“Ah, Mr. Tarasov,” a familiar voice caught my attention.
I snapped out of my thoughts and paused in my tracks with my most prized possession beside me.
He approached me, a wide grin playing on his lips.
I’d been in this business long enough to spot a fake smile when I saw one. Besides, David Alderman was one of the wolves in sheep’s clothing—just another greedy politician who’d been trying to close a deal with the Bratva for months.
“Boy, am I glad to have run into you!” He laughed, revealing the green stuck in his teeth.
Disgusting.
His eyes shifted to Scarlett, and his brows arched instantly. “My goodness, you’re even prettier than they say,” he said to her, his voice smooth and nearly charming.
“Thank you,” she responded, holding on tighter to my hand.
Alderman returned his gaze to me again, his brown suit catching the chandelier’s soft light. “You know, I was hurt when I heard you got married, and I didn’t get an invite,” he said, his tone light and playful.
“It was strictly friends and family,” I answered, my expression as blank as a sheet of paper.
“C’mon, I thought we were buddies, you and I.” He chuckled.
Yeah, I almost forgot how annoying it was being around this asshole. He talked a lot for a man of his class, and that was one of the many reasons I’d never work with him.
“You know, your husband and I go way back,” he said to Scarlett.
“No, we don’t.”
He swallowed hard, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face. After clearing his throat, as if regaining hiscomposure, he leaned in, his voice dropping by a whisper. “Hey, uh…now might not be a good time, but uh…about that deal….”
“See you around, Alderman,” I said, dismissing the conversation before it even started.
I picked up my pace, walking away from him with Scarlett still beside me.
“That was a little rude, don’t you think?” she said to me, her voice sweet like vinegar.
“It’s Alderman,” I answered, “he deserved it.”
“Your wife is beautiful, by the way!” His voice echoed from behind us, almost unaffected by my behavior.
