“You wanted dark and loud. And I know the owner.”
“Know how, exactly?”
His eyes narrow for a moment as his lips push together like he’s considering something. Then he moves close enough that his mouth brushes against my neck. “I’m blackmailing him.”
I pull away, not sure if he’s kidding. A laugh dies in my throat as he looks back intently, like he’s testing me. I take a long drink of wine, trying to gauge how I feel. But what do I care if he’s got some club owner under his thumb?
“What are you using against him?”
A ghost of a smile. “You don’t want to know. Sometimes, money and privilege only allow certain men to unleash their most horrible desires on the world.”
“So what, he’s some kind of weird murderer?”
“Worse.”
“Rapist?”
“Put them together, and you’re close.”
My stomach lurches. “Actually, I think I’m done with this conversation.”
“That’s for the best.”
I watch the crowd down below and sway to the music. I don’t know what I’m doing here, but the wine’s starting to get to me, and I like the way Stellan stays very close by my side. He’s possessive and big, and he keeps his hand on my thigh like he’s claiming his territory. It’s some stupid caveman stuff, but it feels good to be important to someone for once. It’s been years since I felt like I was the center of attention.
After a few minutes, a pair of young men show up at the table and greet Stellan. They’re well-dressed and handsome, but pale in comparison to him. He nods back but doesn’t engage, and they leave as quickly as they showed up.
This pattern repeats a few times. There are three beautiful women and more well-dressed men. All of them seem eager to catch his attention, but Stellan barely gives them more than a nod and a greeting. After the fifth guy walks off looking slightly rejected, I can’t help myself anymore.
“What’s with the parade? Are they kissing the ring or something?”
“More or less.”
“Wait, seriously? This is some mafia thing?”
His grip on my leg tightens. “It’s about respect. They know who I am and who my family is. Some of them are minor players. Others wish they were. All know I can make or break them with a word.”
“I can’t tell if you’re joking.”
“I bought your apartment building just to convince you to go on a date with me, Kira. Don’t you think I could do the same to each and every one of them?”
“That’s a lot of apartments.”
“No, it’s a lot of power.” He gestures down at the crowd. “Most of these people go through life not knowing there’s a whole different world underneath their feet. They see what they’re supposed to see. But they never experience anything close to the truth.”
“And you do?”
“I make that world.”
I want to ask more, but another waitress comes over. We’re treated like royalty while we’re here. She offers drinks, food,anything we need. Stellan politely declines it all. I have another glass of wine, but by now it’s starting to get to me, and I can tell I’m on the edge of making a bad decision.
“Can I admit something?” I say once the bottle’s empty. We’ve been at the table all this time talking intermittently. His fingers stroke my leg.
“I assume it’s about how attracted you are to me.”
My cheeks flush. “No, I mean, I was just going to say that I haven’t been on a date in a long time.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
