Her lashes flutter with defeat. “Right. Yeah. Changing room.” She jerks her head toward the changing rooms. “Yeah.”
Allowing her to pull away, I can’t stop myself from swiping my tongue over my lips as a hungry, frustrated growl builds.
“You,” Dominic booms, forcing me to stop watching her ass as she makes her escape. When I face him, his eyes give nothing away, but they don’t need to. The moment I opened the door and found him leaning against the wall, I knew he saw me attack the douchebag on the floor. He’s pissed I broke the club rules. Poppy giving us away probably made it worse, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. “Follow me.” He spins on his Italian soles, heading toward an office he has on this floor.
A few minutes later, the lock to the closet-sized office is clicked. This is when most people start sweating as panic sets in. Fear of Dominic Luchesse takes over.
Good or bad, I don’t know, but I’m too stupid to be afraid of him. I’m not stupid. I don’t try to get on his bad side, but it’s not out of fear. Or even self-preservation.
Tonight, I already know I’m on his bad side. I broke the rules. But I’m still riding the high I get from Poppy. It’s increased tenfold since I felt her tight cunt choke my dick.
Her cries, the way she screamed my name…how she begged me to stop while demanding more…
Fuck.
I told her I would ruin her, but it was I who was destroyed.
I wish I’d let her touch me. I wanted to, but when she tried, instinct took over, and I stopped her.
Pain erupts in my temple out of nowhere. The loud thump rings in my ears when I look down, then bend over to pick up the book lying at my feet. I look across the room and find Will glowering at me. Double-teamed. Fantastic. “The fuck is wrong with you,” I bark, rubbing the spot the book hit.
“Me?” His nostrils flare as exasperation creates lines in his forehead. “You’re joking, right?”
“Enough.” Dominic’s stern voice rips through the room. “Would you like to explain why you assaulted my customer? Do you know the money you cost me?”
I tip my chin up, sniffing with disdain. “None. I just spent ten grand in that room. That pussy ass little bitch wouldn’t have spent half that.”
“Dammit, Jagger,” Will hisses as Dominic crosses the room in a breath. His fingers wrap around my jacket as he backs me into the wall, slamming me hard enough to make my already ringing ears ring louder. “That little bitch you flattened? He has something I want. And now, thanks to you, I’ve lost two weeks of negotiations.”
“If it’s taking weeks, you might want to re-examine your tactics, Dom.”
A harsh burst of air is expelled through my mouth when a fist lands in my stomach. “Listen to me you little shit. You know what I’ve done for less. The only reason you are still breathing right now is because my brother asked me not to.”
“Is this where I beg because we might be here a while.” Antagonizing him isn’t wise, but I won’t beg. Not Dominic, not anyone. Not for anything. I promised myself a long time ago that it wouldn’t happen ever again. Besides, men like Dominic don’t respect it.
His jaw works back and forth for a moment, eyes narrowed in contemplation. “No. I suppose you wouldn’t.” He releases me, smoothing my jacket as he does, then steps back. “But you will fight for me. Against Ilya.”
I should not be fucking giddy at the idea of fighting the massive Russian. I’m not a small guy, but Ilya has several inches and fifty pounds on me. Possibly more. His win-loss record is impeccable. His technique? Deadly.
But my lips twitch with excitement.
“And you will not lose.”
“When?”
“The night before Christmas Eve.”
“Done.” I jerk my head in agreement, then turn to leave.
“I’m not done with you.” Of course, he isn’t. That would be too goddamn easy. Tongue tucked into my teeth, I turn back around to see what else he wants, already having a sneaking suspicion. “Why are you attacking my clientele over a piece of ass when I have an entire club full of whores to choose from?”
He’s baiting me. I know he is. And I take it like any dumb animal, slamming my palms against his chest harder than necessary, forcing him back several steps. “She is not a fucking whore,” I spit between clenched teeth.
His expression remains cold, completely unfazed by my outburst. I’ll look back tomorrow and realize I’m lucky to still be breathing, but right now? Right now, he could hold a gun to my head, and I’d still punch him in the face.
“She works in my club.” He’s so fucking matter of fact about it, I’m moving toward him. Will pushes away from his corner, coming to me, and grabs my arm.
“The 7th Circle.” I point at him, growling. “She’s supposed to be only in 7th Circle.”
