My brows knit together when I click the link. An article with the headline of the club broadcasting the event. I scroll through it with all the information we already know about but stop with a picture of Celeste at the bottom.
Club owner, Celeste Hansley, will be attending tonight's big event. She’s the former daughter of the head of the Italian Mafia. Will she be announcing the takeover of her father’s throne? It’s been known that she’s as strategic as her father in business handlings, proving a woman can take over a man's world. She’s worked alongside her father in various businesses and is now owner of the top-notch entertainment in New York City. Will the legacy pass down to the heir, will this be the end of the Hansley rule, or will someone new step in their place?
My body goes stiff, a million thoughts run through my mind. Her last name always tugged at something so familiar but I’d swept it under the rug, not giving it a second thought. She’s the heir to the Italian Mafia. The utter betrayal I feel at this moment crashes on my chest. We’ve shared many things but this is something she’d neglected to tell me. The daughter of a criminal who rules the city. Who has their hands so deep within the agency and protected by all the judges. They’re literally untouchable. Maybe she decided not to follow in her father’s footsteps, hence why she didn’t tell me.
If she’s stepping into the role, being involved with me would be beneficial for her due to my position in theagency. Was she using me for her own gain? She was so nonchalant when looking over the documents the other day about my case; was that an act too? I want to believe what we have is real and this is all false news but something deep down tells me that's not the case. When she said she was drowning in the darkness, I should have known there was something bigger with her but I was desperate to be the very thing she needed to escape. I have to believe that fate brought us together, that we are more than sworn enemies.
Could this be the end of us, the end of everything we have built together in this short time? It can’t be, but how can I be working for the law when I have a criminal as a girlfriend? How can I believe those three powerful words meant something when she kept something so big from me? A million scenarios and reasons run through my mind and my heart longs to believe she didn’t tell me in fear of losing me.
The dark has always settled me when I’m deep in thought, as if it makes everything numb and plummets down into nothingness. The clock blares eight, signaling that it’s time. I shove myself off the couch, groaning, before I head into my bedroom. I quickly get dressed in my fancy suite, collapse my gold Rolex to my wrist, and slick back my hair. Once entering the bathroom, I spray on my cologne and stare at the man in the mirror. I don’t recognize the person staring back at me, clean shaven, dark eyes, and someone who's dangerous and powerful. The feeling of being numb and empty has taken over but maybe that’s a good thing for the role I have to play.
A knock sounds at my door, brings me back to the present,and I take one last look at myself before I head to the front room. Swinging open the door, Monroe stands in front of me looking elegant. Admittedly, I’ve never seen her in a dress so I’m taken back by how different she looks, especially with her wig that looks so real. I step aside, allowing her in before shutting the door.
“You really do clean up nice, Alaric. I swear I never thought I’d see the day you shaved that beard.” Her eyes roam up and down my body, not hiding the fact that she’s definitely checking me out.
“Well, part of the job is to make sacrifices. Unfortunately, it had to go. You look nice, Monroe, I bet Lopez will be quite enthralled by you when he sees you.” I try to throw Lopez in the mix to get her eyes off me.
I saw the way he was staring at her in our meeting and I sense they either have history or there’s something between them. We both agreed it was a drunken one-night stand between us and nothing came of it after. Maybe I’m blind and never noticed that she might not have felt the same but agreed because she knew I had no feelings for her.
“Yeah, no way in hell.” She waves her hand in the air as if that conversation is over. Her phone chimes and she quickly looks at it and moves towards the door. “Limo’s here. Let the show begin.”
About twenty minutes later, our limo comes to a stop in front of the buzzing club. There’s a huge line that winds down the sidewalk with anxious people waiting to get in. In front of the doors are a couple of security guards and a red carpet that leads to the door. I note that the two security guards at the door are dressed in black, an earpiece in one of their ears and they are certainly armed, not hiding it from plain sight. There’s another guard who’s standing by one of the hosts who is checking ID’s and names on the guest list.
Before getting out, we insert our small earpieces into our ears, testing them to make sure they work and also make sure the tiny cameras are secured and working. Once we are ready to go, the driver gets out of the front and opens our door, close to the entry way helping us out of the car. Monroe immediately steps into her role, wrapping her arm around mine and we both take a deep breath and step to the front of the line as instructed. It earns us a couple of sneer remarks but we ignore them as we approach the host.
“Don’t you two look ravishing? Can I have your name and ID’s, darlin’?” the host beams at us giving us a wink.
“Elliot and Christina Parker. Have a big crowd here tonight. How’s it looking in there?” I give her a soft smile as she takes our ID’s and checks her list.
I’m not lying when I say there’s a huge crowd. The line spreads down the sidewalk, wrapping around the building. Everyone wants to be part of the “in” crowd even if they may not even get it.
“It’s looking fantastic. We brought in some extra activities to join, special cocktails and, of course, our gorgeous girls. Make sure to stay a while as we have a special show. Enjoy yourselves, Mr. and Mrs. Parker.” She hands our items back and the guard unhooks the rope and allows us to step through.
Before we enter, security pats us down but doesn’t move to take our guns away as they know exactly who we are. We keep the illusion just in casehe’swatching for anything out of the ordinary. We knowhe’swatching no doubt and we’re about 90 percent sure thathewill be here tonight.
Once inside I notice red lights illuminating throughout. It has a dark sexy feeling and soft mini white lights in the ceiling pose as stars in the night sky. Looks like they had transformed the bottom floor to host the main event.From what I saw on the prints, the second floor is where the dancers would normally entertain.
There are two different bars set up. The first one is larger and has a counter wrapping around the whole thing, in the middle are mini fridges, bottles of liquor lit up by lights underneath and at the top, red silk fabric decorates it. There's the normal beer taps, well stations, cups, and whatever the bartenders need at different sections of the bar. The other one is up against a wall across the room. Music vibrates against the walls and there’re dancers stationed at different areas swaying their hips, giving their group a show.
Red and black velvet couches and chairs are scattered about with men and women sitting back relaxed sipping their drinks, and different poker tables are set up with cards already dealt. It’s pretty crowded here but the vibe appears to be calm and sultry. We head over to the bar and order drinks, needing a little liquid courage to keep the nerves down.
“Mr. and Mrs. Parker, so glad you were able to join us tonight.” Her voice slithers up my body causing my body to stiffen.
She found us quickly and even though there’s so many things we need to discuss and so many feelings swirling, I have to fight to keep from touching her, kissing her. We turn to face her and the air out of my lungs nearly evades me completely.
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world, Ms. Hansley. I really admire what you’ve done with the place.” Monroe's voice has an edge to it as she moves in closer to me, grabbing my arm once more as if she’s making a statement.
“Christina, I do hope your paws stay within boundaries and you don’t get too handsy with your husband. You both should enjoy our girls tonight and have a little fun.” Her eyes zero onto Monroe’s hands and I don’t miss the murderous lookshe gives when her eyes finally move back up to meet each of our stares.
Celeste looks absolutely stunning. She’s wearing a long black dress with a slit that goes all the way to her hip, the V-neck dips low to her sternum and the fabric hugs her body in all the right ways. Her hair flows long and wavy and the side is pulled up with a diamond hair accessory. Her eyes are smoky with thick lashes and her lips are bright red. She has a thick diamond necklace, earrings, and bracelets to match. She looks absolutely breathtaking.
“You look stunning, Ms. Hansley. Can we buy you a drink?” I lock eyes with her.
I feel like I’m stuck in a trance, a spell casted upon me. I shouldn’t be so desperate to speak with her right away. I should hold a cold mask that I practiced earlier. Something about her makes the facade melt away when we are near.
“Careful, Elliot. It may be mistaken that you’re hitting on me in front of your wife.” She smirks. “I’m okay, thank you. Antonio will be back momentarily with my drink.”
As she says that, a six-foot-four muscular man comes up beside her handing her a drink. Who’s this guy? I instantly tense up, ready to lunge if he even thinks to lay one hand on her. She turns and gives him a smile and takes the drink from him and takes a sip before leaning into him, whispering something I can’t hear over this music.
