Guilt gnaws at me, sudden and sharp, like a blade catching skin. I’m about to drag someone into a storm they’d never see coming, even if they tried. He’s eager—too eager—ready to barter his soul for a taste of wealth and success, oblivious to the shadows closing in around him. He doesn’t know the truth of what waits, how deep the darkness coils beneath. But what choice do I have? I’m ensnared just as deeply. The rules of this game are etched in blood, binding every step I take to its relentless pull. I was in his shoes once: naive, desperate, blind to what was behind that door. Now, I’m the one with the knife in my hand.
At least he won’t face it alone.
But once he learns the truth, he’ll hate me for it.
Thankfully I’m funny, so at least I’ve got that going for me.
I down the rest of my drink, letting the burn scorch its way down my throat—a welcome distraction from the chaos in my head. Pushing back from my desk, I straighten my suit, each movement deliberate, a practiced mask of composure. The hotel awaits, a place where dreams and nightmares are indistinguishable under the cover of night.
As I step into the elevator, a sense of dread creeps in. I’m not usually this bothered but this one feels different. Aaron has no idea he’s walking straight into a trap—and I’m the one leading him there. The doors slide shut, sealing me in with the knowledge that by the end of the night I’ll have pulled another into the shadows I surrendered to long ago.
Time to turn it off.
CHAPTER 2
AARON
"So you're taking me to an unknown location outside the city, and I can't ask any questions?" Dom's sigh is deep, tinged with frustration at my refusal to share details. His hand rakes through his curly black hair, now grown longer since the last time we saw each other. The curls hang past his ears, giving him an edge that suits him more than it should.
Dom's always been able to pull off the disheveled look effortlessly. He thrives on spontaneity, rarely adhering to schedules or routine. Me? If I miss a barber appointment, my mood sours for days. Control is everything to me—every detail, every outcome. That’s why tonight is a gamble, a deliberate play with fire. I need to keep my life and business under my thumb, my hands on the levers of control. No surprises, only calculated moves.
Just the way I like it.
And that’s precisely why I can’t tell Dom the details of tonight’s meeting. The non-disclosure agreement I signed before the first conversation made sure of that. These people operate in shadows, where trust comes with sharp edges, and broken promises come with consequences that seep out slowly. Even ifI walk out tonight without a deal, silence will be my only option. I’m convinced these men find pleasure in blood drawn slow.
Yet, here I am, pushing forward. It’ll likely end badly—parts of it, at least—but if I’m ready, I can stay ahead of their game. Control the fallout. Harden myself further. Hard times build stronger men.
Everyone knows that.
“That’s right. No questions. Just go with the flow tonight and let’s see if we can get into some trouble, like old times,” I say, my tone lighter than I feel.
Dom’s eyes narrow before his lips twitch, the familiar grin breaking through. His shoulders drop, tension easing. He glances out the limo window but soon turns back.
“I just like being in the know. Hate that you’re keeping secrets from me now,” he mutters.
“It isn’t personal,” I reply, and he rolls his eyes but lets it go.
I’m doing it to protect you.
But saying that would only spark more questions, and I don’t have the patience for answers tonight. I need to meet Tristan, check the paperwork, and maybe explore a room or two.
The New York City lights are behind us as we drive deeper into darkness. Soon the limo turns driving near the water’s edge when the abandoned hotel comes into view. Its weathered façade and boarded-up windows make it look like a relic from another era, a ghost of its former grandeur. The building is old and shrouded in an eerie silence, with vines creeping up the walls and cracks marring the brown stone exterior.
I steal a glance at Dom, who’s raising an eyebrow at the scene. Snow dusts the ground, remnants of yesterday’s fall, but tonight the sky is crisp and clear, windless—a deceptive calm. If I believed in omens, I’d take this as a sign to turn back. But I stopped pretending to be good a long time ago.
Good men don’t climb to the top. They don’t seize power overnight. The world belongs to the ruthless, to those who twist the game to their favor. I chose that path early on, vowing I’d never be their prey. I’d beat them, and I’d do it better.
Dom steps out the moment the limo stops, striding toward the back of the hotel while I linger, waiting for the driver to pull away. I know what’s back there—a sprawling, dead cornfield and beyond it, the skeletal remains of an amusement park, rusted rides and empty carts frozen in time. No one has reclaimed this space; it’s as if this part of the city has been marked, off-limits. Maybe it’s a sign of just how powerful these people are.
I push open the heavy wooden door after scanning my card on the reader. Dom’s footsteps crunch on the pebbles behind me, catching up.
The air inside is thick with dust, layered with mildew and something else—a hint of the life hidden behind these walls. The lobby is dim, a shell of grandeur dulled by neglect. Our steps echo against the worn red carpet as we approach the staircase. The stillness presses down on me, but I know we’re not alone.
If this guy thinks I enjoy mind games, he’s got another thing coming.
“Okay, what the fuck is this place, Aaron? I’m all for spooky shit, but I feel like we’re about to get jumped.” Dom’s eyes shift warily.
I smirk. “What’s the matter, big guy? Scared?”
