Page 5

“The night is never ending,” Benito said. He rubbed his chin as concentration came over his face. “How long has he been here?”

“He just stepped through the doors ten minutes ago.”

“Who?” Gin asked. He walked around Benito’s desk and peered over our oldest brother’s shoulder. “Is he stupid or ignorant?”

“Has he made any moves?” Benito asked.

The guard shook his head. “No, sir. He's standing at the bar right now.”

Benito put the tablet down, and the screen drew my full attention. His slender nose, pitch-black hair, strong jawline, and blue eyes drew me in further. His chest was impressive, from what I could tell through his clothes. What took the cake was the look in his eyes. I wanted to know more instantly.

“He’s only been on the force two years, getting rid of him shouldn’t be hard,” Gin said.

My chest clenched, and I found my hand moving toward the tablet before the thought fully formed. I turned it around, absorbing all his information. Tex Caster. Twenty-five years of age, six-foot-two, one hundred and seventy-five pounds. Even his police academy test scores were there.

“Wouldn’t be a good idea. He’s a retired detective's kid.” I turned it back around and showed Benito, sparing Tex’s life for now. “His father is the one who took down the Revello family thirty years ago.”

“Yeah, but we aren’t the Revellos,” Gin argued.

“Right, we don’t make reckless mistakes,” Benito cut in, looking between us. “However, I have run into his father once. Leave the cop for now. Enzo, since you pointed it out, you keep an eye on him.” Benito passed the tablet back to the man who was waiting, and he slipped back out the door.

“Don’t fuck it up, Enzo.”

I nodded and slipped the files into my suit jacket. They pressed firmly against my ribcage, a constant reminder I had targets to take care of.

I braced myself for the inevitable. The moment I opened the door, I was prepared for the onslaught of music. The heavy base pounded in my ears and resonated through my body until it was a part of me. My teeth were set on edge for the first five seconds as I forced myself to endure it.

Each step increased the volume and the feeling of glass being shoved into my ears. The pain soon numbed me from the inside out. I stopped the moment I made it to the ledge, taking in a deep, controlled breath. The smell of sweaty bodies, mixed perfumes and colognes, and alcohol clogged my airways.

The dance floor was full of bodies pressed against each other, moving to the beat of the music. A group of women danced in a circle. Next to them was a couple thrashing against each other oblivious to the people around them. It was a normal night at one of our clubs, the music blaring over the speakers as people let all their inhibitions go and flung themselves headfirst into inebriation.

How simple it was for them to give up that control. One sip, and they were willing to hand their life over to chance. People never ceased to fascinate and disgust me.

Tingles ran up my spine as pinpricks danced along the side of my face. I’d know the weight of someone’s stare any day. Turning, I caught those same startling blue eyes. Even far away I could feel the intensity, desire and ambition that swirled in them.

The corners of my lips turned up, and I smiled at him. His eyes widened. No doubt he thought I wouldn't even pay attention to him. I wanted to see those gorgeous eyes up close.

Benito had placed me in charge of watching him. I might as well get a better look. I slipped back from the banister and made my way downstairs.

Fixing the glasses on my face, I stepped down on the bottom floor. People moved out of my way even while drunk. I stopped at the bar, and one of the girls hustled over to me.

“Yes, sir?”

I never ordered a drink. To lose any semblance of control outside of my allowed moments was against everything my brother had taught me growing up. His words flashed through me. “You keep it locked up, and I promise I’ll let you have your fun, but only when I say so. If you don’t listen, you’ll never get to do it again.”

I’d only been seven when my mother saw it fit to drop me off on my biological father’s doorstep. Benito took me under his wing and never once went back on his word.

“That gentleman over there, what has he ordered?” I pointed to Tex. He was looking out to the dance floor as he sipped his drink, but I could still feel his eyes on me.

“A gin tonic,” she said, giving me the information instantly.

“Send him another. Place it on my tab.”

She nodded, her bright pink hair falling over her face as strands slipped out of the ponytail. My fingers twitched at my sides. Sweat dripped down the nape of my neck as the urge to fix her wrapped me up in a thick blanket. The air grew thicker with every breath.

Control.I needed to find something to break the cycle of chaos that wasn’t mine. I pressed my thumb against my finger until the pop echoed through my hand. I did it five more times each finger cracked with the right amount of pressure. Each one brought me back down.

“I don’t think I asked for a drink.”