Part of me is pleading with me to look back, to see what they’re seeing, but the rest of me wants nothing more than to focus on the man standing in front of me, my mind and body hazed over with an overwhelming sense of lust and desire. The more I try to fight these feelings, the worse I feel.
“She’s not yours to claim.”
I blink at the familiar voice, my mind fighting against the haze as my heart suddenly leaps in my chest for an altogether different reason. Slowly, I turn to look as Dante strides toward us. His eyes are sunken and his face sharper than ever, but he’s as gorgeous as ever.
And most importantly, he’s alive.
He’sactuallyalive.
Dante’s eyes drop to meet mine. I see a strange look cross his face as if he’s somewhat taken aback, and then I remember that I currently look nothing like the woman he’s always seen me as.
“Oh, and why is that?”
“Because, Evi is mine,” Dante growls.
17
Evelyn
“Prove it,” Valentine says, shortening the length of the leash, and forcing me to step toward him.
Dante’s footsteps falter as he comes to a standstill a few feet away.
“I should have known you wouldn’t play fair,” he says, his eyes falling to the necklace around my throat as I clutch the robe closed around me.
“Why play fair when I know how to win?” Valentine says, the icy edge of his voice making the hairs on the back of my neck rise. “Evelyn, what do you call me?”
I feel sick as I open my mouth to answer, only to be interrupted by the sound of music as the doors behind us open.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a deep, overly enthusiastic voice calls out as everyone suddenly turns toward it. “Welcome to the grand opening of the soon-to-be hottest pleasure club in town! I glad to see you’ve all found your way here. Please, come inside so we can begin toproperlyaccommodate you.”
The man is a giant, though less out of sheer height than burliness. His head juts forward, making him appear somewhat hunched over as his eyes flicker hungrily over the waiting clientele. His brown hair is tinged with silver and sits in a wild mess atop his head.
He grins, flashing gold-plated teeth that match the heavy chain and rings he’s used to accessorize his indigo suit. I watch as he gestures toward the doors, where several men have opened side entrances for the waiting guests. His outstretched hand gnarled despite the fact he can’t be more than thirty years old.
As the crowd slowly filters into the underground club, the man turns back to look at Valentine.
“My sincerest apologies,” he says with a nervous twitch, “I couldn’t very well have them filling up on pleasureoutsidethe club now, could I?”
“Horacio, a pleasure as always,” Valentine says, though I get the distinct feeling he sees him as anything but a pleasure, “I’m sure you remember my son, Dante.”
“Certainly, certainly I do,” Horacio says, licking his lips nervously as he worries the knuckles of one hand. “Will he be joining you tonight as well?”
“Of course, I will,” Dante growls, his eyes flickering worriedly to me.
“Ah, good. I’m afraid we weren’t expecting you so …” Horacio trails off, suddenly noticing me as his eyes light up. “Oh, and what do we have here?”
“She’s mine,” Valentine answers. “No one is to touch her without my express permission, is that understood?”
“Yes, yes, certainly,” Horacio says, his eyes still fixated on me. “Shall we go inside then gentlemen?”
Valentine nods once, and Horacio steps aside to gesture toward the massive golden entryway as the doors slowly swing open.
I glance back at Dante only to then stumble back toward the doorway as my leash is tugged on.
Dante’s lips press together in anger, his fingers curling into fists at his sides as he moves to follow up behind us. He shoots a scathing look at Horacio that has him nervously tearing his eyes away from me and hurrying forward to lead the way instead.
A million and one questions race through my mind, even as I’m forced to focus on putting one foot in front of the other just to stay upright.