“I don’t want to stay here with Koby,” I blurt out. “Can I please come with you?”
“You are coming with me.”
My eyes grow wider. “But... you said I can’t.”
“Things changed. My father’s moving faster than I anticipated. I won’t risk leaving you here without me. I also won’t risk taking you to the bank unless we can’t access the deposit box without you, but you’re coming to Chicago. Pack a dress, we’re going out tonight.”
“Out? Outwhere?”
“Delta. I’m meeting Dante there, and you’re coming with me.”
“Is that safe?”
He smirks, holding my bedroom door open. “Delta’s already a fortress but we’ll double the security. I’ll make it safe, Hailey. Don’t worry.”
27
HAILEY
Deltasmells like peaches.
As soon as the elevator opens onto the balcony, the heat fans my skin. It’s... an experience. I don’t remember ever being in a club before, so my head turns left and right so quick my neck hurts.
Strobe lights cut across the enormous room and berry-scented smoke filles the air. Music shakes the place, the bass so potent it vibrates the floor. People dance everywhere, euphoric, lost in their own world. I recognize “Daisy” by Ashnikko drowning out the crowd’s conversations.
Carter takes my hand, lacing our fingers as he leads me in a straight line, his step never faltering. I watch, in awe of how smoothly the crowd parts for us. One look at Carter has people scrambling out of the way. Men and women alike watch his every move, a hint of respect, and thinly veiled fear, in their eyes. They watch me, too, focusing on my hand held firmly in Carter’s. Their eyebrows lift. Shoulders nudge shoulders alerting others.
I’m cowering under the scrutiny, not used to being on display, center of attention, but I can’t hide. My palms grow clammy as I avoid eye-contact, taking in the mesmerizing, mostly red and chrome interior design.
The aura of dominance and authority droning around Carter is more potent here. Or maybe seeing the respect and fear in the eyes of everyone here—including men bulkier than him—makes me truly understand how important he is. How brutal, if the sight of him makes seven-foot-tall bodybuilders bow.
Being on his arm is both empowering and intimidating. I’m out of my depth, feeling smaller than a bee when we stop by a large round table flanked by two half-moon, red leather couches.
The attention of the group of elegantly dressed men sat there zeroes in on Carter and me. Chills slithers down my spine as I recognize the man at the center.
Dante Carrow.
I’ve heard stories about him. Dad often said that putting Dante behind bars would be his biggest achievement. His dream and ultimate goal. I’ve been hearing that name over the dinner table for years and yet here he is, commanding the space around him without lifting a finger.
I expected many things, but not this slight softness to his features. I thought he’d be like Carter: all hard lines, dark looks, and an even more overpowering sense of danger. He’s menacing, don’t get me wrong. It’s clear he’s the boss. His posture, those calculating eyes, the reputation and authority hanging thickly in the air all betray him. He’s the king at the table, but he doesn’t look as menacing as Carter. Not half as vicious.
“That’s Dante,” Carter begins, pointing toward his boss, then continues around the table. “Rookie, Jackson, Nate.” He leans down to speak in my ear. “The others are below us. You don’t need their names. They’re just here to keep you safe.”
I nod once, swallowing hard as my eyes return to Dante.
“I’m Hailey,” I say, injecting as much confidence into my tone as possible.
“We know who you are,” a man Carter didn’t introduce says, toying with a glass of whiskey.
He has no neck and a pink nose, as if the drink sloshing close to the rim isn’t his first tonight. Not even his tenth.
“Forgetting the rules already, Gabriel?” Carter clips, pinning him with a pointed stare. “You’re at the table tonight, but you’re not here to socialize. You don’t speak unless spoken to. Was Hailey talking to you?”
He cowers, shoulders slumping as he shakes his head.
“Then keep your mouthshut.”
“There, there,” Rookie tuts, an amused smirk curling his lips. “You’re scaring her more than him, Carter. Relax.” He moves his eyes to me. “What do you drink, Hailey?”
