“What?”
“Never mind,” I pat his cheek condescendingly which earns me a growl that makes me laugh, proving my point.
Alexander is shooting daggers at me, teeth clamped tight.
“Well come on then,” I snap, “or are we here just to have a mothers meeting in the street?”
A couple of his men eye me, confusion pulling down their brows, “Such a smart mouth,” Alexander tuts.
I’m guided into the club with Alexander on one side and Gruff on the other, Lex’s hand is on the small of my back and I’m sure anyone looking in from the outside would see this as intimate. We don’t enter through the main entrance though, instead through a side door that drops immediately to a set of stairs I almost tumble down. A hand wraps around my arm to stop the fall but not a word is spoken. Gruff goes first, followed by me and then Alexander behind. I feel his presence like a shadow following me, the heat from his body consumes me, making it hard to breathe.
We enter through another door and what I’m seeing is nothing like upstairs. This is a completely different club, dirty, erotic, down right illegal. People snort white powder up their noses whilst others grope the women riding their laps, dressed in nothing but a pair of panties. Low music plays through unseen speakers and the scent of cigar smoke and whiskey permeates the air. There are security guards posted every few feet, watching the crowd. There are some very familiar faces here, the police chief, the port authority chief, even the fucking mayor.
Jesus Christ.
Whilst their wives and children are at home these guys are playing with the underground criminals and it quickly dawns on me that Alexander doesn’t just ooze power, heisthe power. He runs this city not any of these guys. Not the mayor or the police, they answer to him, he’s the one in control.
A girl dressed in a cute little baby-doll lingerie set sashays towards us though her eyes are for Alexander only. When she finally reaches us, her manicured nails tickle down the front of Alexander’s shirt, fingers tucking into the holes between the buttons.
Jealousy stabs me hot and deadly, and I have to stifle the need to yank her hair. I’m not able to stop the growl though which has Alexander peering down at me with amusement.
“Lex,” her voice is low and sultry whilst she eye fucks him shamelessly. “Let me get you a drink.”
Her brown eyes slip to me and one of her groomed brows quirks as she looks at me with disdain, her top lip curling.
My hands curl into fists, the nails biting into my skin.
“You can leave the newbie with Sasha, I’m sure she can train up the runt.”
Alexander leans into her, and that jealously explodes. Fuck. I feel unhinged. I avert my eyes, I can’t watch this shit and can’t showhimit affects me. Even though I try, I can’t help but bring my eyes back. His hand is on the back of her neck and she rolls her head back, desire, like a flickering flame burns in her dark eyes. I’m sure she’d mount him right here and right now.
Just when I don’t think he can surprise me anymore, his hand squeezes the back of her neck and he jerks her roughly towards him. There’s no lust in his gaze as he looks at her, hatred, no that’s too strong, but it isn’t friendly, “Watch your mouth.” He warns.
“W-what?” She stammers.
“You are replaceable,” he tells her, “No one will miss you, now, I think you owe Wren an apology.”
Her eyes dart to me, “I didn’t know she waswithyou.” She pleads.
“Because you’re not important enough to know anything.” He releases her harshly and she stumbles in her heels.
“My apologies,” she stutters before spinning and disappearing quickly, merging with the crowd to get away from Alexander.
Alexander drags me in close as we continue through the underground club until we hit an elevator. Inside it’s just me, Gruff and him. The music from the club vibrates the steel walls but other than that and our breathing, the elevator is quiet. And tense. So very tense.
I practically sprint out when the doors open, putting distance between us. We are on a balcony, high above the dancers below. The music is loud, thumping through my body. I grip the handrail and peer down, if I could get down it would be so easy to slip into that crowd and disappear but I doubted Lex’s threat to have me shot was empty.
I feel him step up behind me, caging me in with arms on either side of me, hands gripping the rail next to mine. His mouth comes down to my neck, where, so gently, almost as if he hadn’t done it at all, he kisses the side of my neck.
My body stiffens with the heat that travels through my veins and I have to press my thighs together which earns me a deep vibrating chuckle. One hand releases the rail to hold my hip, fingers digging into my flesh, “You can fight it little bird, but eventually, you’ll give in.”
He’s right. I’ve already proved, twice, that when it comes to him all my control slips right out the window. He does something to my body no man has ever been able to do.
He both terrifies me and intrigues me all at once. I should hate him, I should want to kill him, hurt him at least and yet I lean my back to his chest.
I know this man is a monster.
I know he’s twisted. Cruel. Ruthless.
Everything about him should want me turning away from him and running as fast I can and yet, his darkness entices me. It draws me in, speaks to parts of me I didn’t realize I had.
I don’t want to want him, I really don’t but sometimes we don’t get what we want.
I’ll fight, because that’s my nature but eventually we all know I’ll break and he’ll have me.
And just like the little bird he thinks I am I’ll be stuck in his cage with no hope of ever escaping.