Alexis: Eh, sneaking around is kind of fun.
Nick: Not forever. We need to figure out if this has any sort of future. Right now, I can’t see how it could, and that sucks, but we have to be practical.
I contemplated his words and understood his concern. Diving head-on into a relationship with him would tie me to the mafia in all the ways I claimed to detest. For so long, I’d wanted out of this world. And yet, the thought of staying with Nick by my side wasn’t nearly as bad as navigating it alone. If he were with me, I could honestly contemplate staying.
Alexis: I’ll head over tomorrow night after everyone’s asleep. We can talk then. Cool?
Nick: Okay, but I don’t want to make sneaking around a regular thing. You deserve to be loved out in the open, Alexis. I won’t force you to hide. I don’t want that for you.
“God, I love this man,” I sighed, holding the phone to my chest as I closed my eyes. How could I have ever thought he was a heartless goon? In truth, he was one of the most thoughtful people I’d ever met.
Alexis: That means a lot. I don’t mind hiding you because I don’t want anyone else to see my man. No moreScarletts. You’re MINE.
Nick: LOL, there ARE none. I told you. Only you, princess.
Alexis: See you tomorrow. Dream of me.
Nick: That’s all I ever do anymore. Night, sweetheart.
Armed with the anticipation of sleeping in his arms, I rolled over and pulled the covers tight, imagining tomorrow was already here.
Chapter 23
Leo
Ientered the Gilded Cage around eleven p.m., noting it was still busy even though the hour was late. The bouncer at the front had recognized me, but the second bouncer I met as I walked inside was new.
“Did Julio let you in?” he asked skeptically.
I nodded. “Leo Stabler. I’m here for a private dance.”
The bouncer’s eyebrows lifted. “Oh, yes. The boss told me you were coming. Follow me.”
He led me through the club to a back hallway that had several rooms on each side. We walked toward the room at the end, and he pushed the door open.
“She’ll be right in.”
Nodding, I entered and sat on the couch, releasing a deep breath. I absolutely hated pretending to pay Katia for private dances, knowing she didn’t strip anymore, but it was the best way to get messages to Michael when other methods were unreliable.
“Well, hello, officer,” Katia said, entering and closing the door behind her. She wore leggings with some sort of animal print above stiletto heels and a corset that pushed her breasts high. Reminding myself not to stare at her like a creep, I kept my gaze on hers.
“Technically, it’sAgent.”
A sultry smile curved her red painted lips. “Agent,” she said, the word all but dripping with sex. “Hello,AgentStabler. How can I help you?”
“Well, first, you could sit down.” I patted the cushion beside me.
“Thank God, because my feet are killing me.” She sauntered toward me and lowered to the cushion. “But the leggings are cute, right? I can’t do the uber-skimpy shit anymore, but you were coming in and I had to look like I was going to give a private dance. Since I’m forty now, I figured cougar pants were appropriate.”
I allowed my gaze to rove over her perfect legs in the skin-tight material before lifting them to hers. “You don’t look forty.”
“Oh, lord, do I look older?” she asked, grimacing.
I breathed a laugh. “No. You look much younger. Guess that’s good. I turned forty-two last week and probably look like I’m eighty. Being an FBI agent mob informant will do that to you.”
“Well, you still have all your hair,” she said, contemplating me as she tapped her chin. “And that stubble is killer. The eyes do have a few wrinkles, but that’s kind of hot in the George Clooney/Pedro Pascal era. I think you’re doing just fine.”
My dick twitched in my pants under her assessment, and I acknowledged there was one part of my body that was spry as fuck...especially around her.
