The silver gates creak open. I take a deep breath, swallowing said self-preservation, and walk in with a pit in my stomach.
Every step feels like a mistake, but I steel my nerves as I walk through the dark lobby. I pass the neon-red sign ofPoker and Pleasureinto a room with red-and-black décor and lace eye masks laid out on a thin console table. I grab one, sliding it on before anyone recognizes me.
As I step deeper into the main lounge, I’m thankful for the disguise.
This place is not The Vault. No crowds, no strong smell of beer, not even much noise. Just hushed whispers, intimate, diffused, candlelight, and soft background music. People sit around on sofas and armchairs in small clusters.
But that’s not all.
Girls and some guys walk around wearing something between nothing and barely anything, gliding into dark hallways arm in arm with guests.
They are all in red. Guests in black.
Fuck.
I look down at my dress and panic. The pleasure part of the red sign seems to blink at me as I realize what I just walked into. My teeth dig into my lower lip, looking around for a sign or someone who can help direct me to the poker side of this establishment.
And then I see someone—the absolute last person I want to find here.
My heart skips a beat when I see Mason in the back corner. He sits on an armchair, a brunette in red lingerie perched on his lap. Deep in conversation with a bald guy, he doesn’t seem to pay her any attention. Though his lack of interest doesn’t seem to deter her hands from roaming all over him.
Acid pools in my mouth as she runs a finger down his neck to his chest.
Something the bald guy says makes Mason laugh. He reaches for his drink on the side table, his head turning in my direction.
I freeze.
Don’t react. You’re wearing a mask. He doesn’t know it’s you.
Then why does his hand pause on the glass? Why is his face slowly hardening, and why are his eyes slowly narrowing to slits? Mason’s glass slams down, whiskey splashing on the table.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
In a flash, he jumps to his feet, the girl falling off his lap and landing on the other guy. And then he charges toward me.
I whisper-shriek and make a run for it.
Not knowing where I’m going, I choose the hallway with the best lighting that doesn’t seem to be lined with mysterious rooms. I make my way past two girls in lingerie and head down the dimly lit lobby.
“Stop!” he yells, catching up to me in no time, his voice echoing in the empty space.
My feet halt. I let out a heavy sigh and turn around. He’s right behind me.
“The fuck are you doing here?” he snarls.
“I was invited, remember?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Over a week ago, and you refused the invitation.”
“Well, I’ve changed my mind.” I start to walk away, but Mason grabs my elbow and pulls me back. “Hey, get your paws off me.”
“This is not the kind of night you should be here.”
“No kidding!” I flash him a sarcastic smile. “Don’t worry. I’m not planning on staying long. So why don’t you go back to entertaining your audience and leave me alone.”
He shoves me against the wall and invades my space, blocking my way and locking me in with both hands on the wall, on either side of my face. “Tell me what you are doing here, or I’ll carry you out right now.”
“It’s none of your business.” I spit.
