Istood at the bar, gripping the edge of the counter hard enough that my knuckles went white.
Eric Hale was sitting in the VIP section with Leo Donati.
My mind spun, trying to make sense of what I'd just seen. Eric had been in that booth with Leo, Grayson, and Sofia. Not just passing by. Not just a brief hello. He'd been sitting there like he belonged, like he was part of whatever discussion they were having.
I didn't want to believe it. He was a construction worker. That was who he was.
And yet, one thing kept going through my mind.
The new alliance.
The words Sofia had mentioned during girls' night swam through my head. The Donatis were meeting with potential allies. People who could help expand their operations, strengthen their position.
It was the only explanation, but it was not the explanation I wanted. Maybe he was doing commercial building for them? But why meet here? In the VIP section? Wouldn't that be somethingdone through emails and staff? No, this was something bigger that required the heads of the families to be involved.
An alliance made the most sense.
"You okay?" Jade, one of the other servers, touched my arm.
I flinched. "Yeah. Fine."
"You don't look fine."
"Just need a minute." I grabbed my tray, needing something to do with my hands. "I'm good."
She gave me a skeptical look but didn't push. Thank god. I didn't want to try to explain the spiral I was tumbling down.
I moved through the floor on autopilot, taking orders and delivering drinks. But my gaze kept drifting up to that VIP section. I couldn't help it. Couldn't stop myself from looking, even though each glance felt like pressing on a bruise.
Eric was still up there. Still talking with them. Still looking completely comfortable in a space that screamed danger and power.
He'd lied to me.
Construction business. Import regulations. All of it bullshit.
He was involved in this life. Had to be. You didn't sit down with Leo Donati for a casual chat. You didn't get invited into that booth unless you had something they wanted.
Unless you were part of their world.
I delivered another round of drinks, smiled at a table of regulars, cleared empty glasses. The routine kept me moving, kept me from completely falling apart.
But the anger was building.
Four years. Four years he'd been gone, and when he came back, he'd fed me lines about his brother and taking over the family business. About wanting to make things right.
And I'd believed him.
I'd let him back into my bed. Into my life. Into the parts of me I'd locked down after he left.
God, I was so stupid.
My eyes found the VIP section again. Eric was looking down at the main floor, and for a moment, our gazes locked.
I couldn't read his expression from this distance. Couldn't tell if he knew I'd seen him. If he cared.
I turned away, my jaw clenched so tight it ached.
"Hey, sweetheart." A hand landed on my hip as I passed a table near the stage. "How about you bring me another whiskey? And maybe stick around for a chat."
