“Why are you shaking like that? Stand up and explain yourself.”
He gulped. “It’s your husband, Madame, Mr. Korven. I don’t want him to think I disrespected you or made a mistake. If he believes I did anything wrong, he’ll make sure I pay for it. Please… I don’t want to die.”
Cold rage rose inside me, but I held it down, smoothing my voice before he could unravel any further. “Stand up,” I said quietly. “You’re not dying. You made a mistake, and you’ll learn. That’s why you’re in training. Focus, pay attention, and you’ll be fine.”
He nodded so fast it looked painful, but I gave him a steady look that anchored him enough to breathe again. When he repeated that he would do better, I dismissed him and walked away.
I reached my office, shut the door, and dialed Konflict’s number. He answered on the first ring, as if he had been waiting.
“Stay out of my business, Konflict,” I said as soon as he took the call. “This is my casino. You don’t get to threaten my staff.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he replied, not even pretending to deny it. “When you die, everything becomes mine, so I don’t see why I shouldn’t protect my future assets. Especially since your family of thieves worked so damn hard stealing it from mine. Funny how everything you built crawls right back to Korven in the end.”
“Go fuck yourself, asshole,” I said, and I hung up so hard my hand stung.
After I cut the call, the anger didn’t leave. It grew, spreading through my blood until even the walls of the casino felt too tight around me. I needed something to cut through the pressure under my skin.
So as soon as the sky dimmed, I headed straight to Vixen’s house.
She opened the door with one brow raised. “You should have called. I didn’t have time to clear out the staff.”
“I was careful,” I said, stepping inside. “I couldn’t wait. I need an escort. Now.”
She closed the door behind me, then studied my face. “The same man as last night?”
“No. Someone else.”
She blinked. “You didn’t enjoy him? I thought you’d want more.”
“He was good, but tonight I want another flavor. Something harder that pushes past a forbidden line. You know exactly what I’m asking for, Vixen. I’m paying for a certain darkness, so give me the man who can take me there.”
She let the silence stretch, reading exactly how far I was willing to go. Then she nodded.
“Follow me. I’ll put you in a room that matches exactly what you’re asking for.”
Leading me down a hallway, Vixen opened a room at the end of the corridor. The air in the room held a steady tension. Cuffsrested on the table beside the bed. A drawer remained slightly open, showing a few toys arranged with care. A padded bench stood near the corner, and the bed against the far wall was covered in dark sheets that absorbed every bit of light.
A shiver stitched down my spine as Vixen stepped deeper into the room and gestured toward the adjoining bathroom.
“You can take a bath while you wait,” she said.
I nodded, but before she could leave, the question that had been burning in my mind since dawn forced itself out.
“Vixen. The man you sent last night… do you know if he knew me? Or my family?”
She paused and turned slowly to meet my gaze. “Why do you ask?” she questioned cautiously.
I could feel her body tense.
“Just curiosity. He felt familiar.”
Vixen exhaled. “Respectfully, Madame Korven, I cannot give you that information. That is the contract. I protect my escorts, especially from your husband. If Mr. Korven discovers who touched you, he will kill him. If I give out names and my men pay the price for it, I lose everything I built.”
I understood her explanation, but I still hated every part of it. It didn’t matter anyway. I didn’t plan to see him again.
“I will prepare what you asked for. You can get ready.”
She moved toward the door and closed it behind her.
