I forced myself not to look away from Dallas, not to let anything show but apathy. However, he must have seen it anyway because his eyes flashed with something predatory and satisfied.
He leaned in, his hand grazing my thigh, deliberate and testing. “So, are we doing this or what? All I need is one night, no bullshit.”
I glared at his hand on my thigh, weighing what would happen if I broke his finger in three places versus what would happen if I gave him what he wanted. Either option ended with me surrendering a part of myself, but at least with the date, I could set the terms. Naeem would never know. My secret would stay mine, and I’d get to see what it looked like to own Dallas Veneto for a night and then walk away.
“One night, three hours, you hand over all your evidence, and you never mention this shit again,” I said, voice even. “That’s my deal.”
He grinned, slow and infuriating. “You got it, princess.”
“Don’t call me that.”
He squeezed my thigh, a little pressure just to prove he could, then let go and brushed an imaginary speck off my knee. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at eight. Wear something that makes you feel sexy.”
“Everything I own makes me feel sexy, muthafucka.” I slid out and slammed the door behind me without looking back.
Dallas’s engine purred, and the car rolled off smooth as a panther, his taillights winking at me as he disappeared down the alley. The second I turned around, the exit flew open, and I nearly collided with Tatum and Riley. They both stood in the open doorway, Riley’s phone in her hand mid-text, Tatum’s gaze sharp enough to cut glass. I stopped so abruptly my heel caught on the threshold.
“Who was that?” Tatum asked, her brows drawn tight as her eyes shifted from the alley to my face, then back again.
I kept my tone light. “My new boo. He wanted to see me,” I said with a playful wiggle of my brows, though I knew she could smell the bullshit before it left my lips.
Eyeing me skeptically, Tatum folded her arms, one hip cocked to the side. “He’s bold as hell, pulling up on you like that in broad daylight. Does he know a move like that could get him killed?”
I shrugged, hoping the motion looked more casual than it felt. “Yes, but maybe I like bold.”
“Hmm.” Her eyes narrowed as she studied me closely. “That may be true, but I know you, and something about that was giving stupid.”
“You’re right, and I won’t let it happen again. I promise,” I replied, making a cross over my heart.
“Thank you,” she said, turning around to head back inside the boutique.
I could Tatum didn’t believe me, not even a little, but she let it slide, for now. As for Riley, she either bought the lie or decided it wasn’t worth the energy. She just rolled her eyes and tugged Tatum’s arm, steering her back into the store.
Damn, that was close. Dealing with Dallas was already hitting too close to home, and if I didn’t get things under wraps fast, he would definitely cause me more trouble than he was worth.
Chapter 14
Set The Trap
Dallas
Days prior….
My monitor’s glow bathed the room in a cool, blue light as I sifted through the latest batch of applications for membership at Eros. The club was a fortress of indulgence, where secrecy was a must and the elite could shed their masks. This was an empire, and I, Dallas Veneto, ruled it with the precision of a general and the cunning of a fox.
Every applicant was scrutinized with military-level thoroughness. Their lives were dissected, and their pasts were laid bare. The psychological evaluations were detailed enough to rival government dossiers, and the STD tests done at my facilities worked to ensure they were real. Every test was non-negotiable. You either did them, or you didn’t walk through those doors.
I didn’t just sell fantasy. I sold safety and discretion, and no price was too high for peace of mind.
Tonight, the stack of applicants was thinner than usual. That wasn’t surprising. Not everyone knew of it, nor was Eros for everyone. Honestly, it wasn’t for most. The quarter-million-dollar yearly fee alone acted as a gatekeeper, weeding out anyone who didn’t belong.
I was halfway through the files when her name stopped me in my tracks.
Sophia Bulgari.
The name was like a spark in the dark, igniting a memory I hadn’t been able to shake since that night in the parking garage. Her delicate voice. Her steady hand holding a Glock to my chest. The sharp, calculated focus in her eyes. Everything about her radiated control, danger... and the kind of hunger that belonged to a sexual deviant.
The chemistry between us had been undeniable, even in the middle of a standoff. I saw it in the way her breath caught when I stepped closer, the slight part of her lips, the flicker of hesitation behind her glare. She’d wanted to hate me, but I’d seen the cracks in her armor.
