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I couldn’t wait to see Luke when the lights came on. I planned to dance just for him tonight, pretending we were the only two people in the room. A blue light shone down on my head and the rain feature began, showering me with a light sprinkle of water. I clutched the pole with one hand, my rosary in the other, and the lights flashed and twirled around.
The crowd cheered when I ripped the white chapel veil off my long, blonde hair. Beaming, I twisted to the crowd, then trailed my satisfied gaze over to VIP, ready to make him proud. The booth was empty. I scanned the audience with a faux smile plastered on my face and I found Luke at the very back of the room, his finger to his ear before he spun around, sprinting through the main exit into the lobby.
26
EPILOGUE
LUKE
The moment I made my way out of Luxe, eager to go watch Jade’s dance performance, I was rapidly approached by several men and women, insisting on a taste of the exclusive club for the evening. After verifying their invitations, I passed them off to Tyler and made my way through the lobby.
I sauntered down the back hallway, entering through the side, but when I got to the table, no one was there. Quirking a brow, I sauntered through the room toward the main entrance, then the stage lights flashed on. Shit, her set was starting.
Mesmerized by her stunning silhouette against the bright lights, my eyes were drawn to the collar around her neck, feeling a rush. I wanted her set to be over so we could meet back in the viewing hallway. I needed to be inside her. That collar looked perfect around her neck. Fuck it, I thought. I’ll just watch her dance and find everyone after, but the moment I took a step, Nico’s voice came through in my earpiece.
Shots fired! I repeat, shots fired! Trying to locate now. Everyone, remain where you are.
Nico had been roaming the halls and lobby, ensuring every sentry was at their post or patrolling. But I’d heard no gunshots where I was.
I pressed my earpiece closer, trying to hear Nico’s response over the pounding music. What’s your location, Nico?
Hold on, Luke.
Nico? I repeated. What’s your location?
My gaze met Jade’s hopeful eyes just as Nico’s frantic voice rang through again. Blue! Luke Blue, now!
“Shit!” My heart racing with adrenaline, I burst through the door into the lobby and sprinted past the furniture and reception desk.
“Luke?” Giovanna asked as I ran by. “Hey! What’s wrong?!”
“Go find Tyler and stay with him, now!” I barked back without stopping, not wanting to waste a single moment as I rushed toward whatever danger was in the Blue Lounge.
The moment I arrived at the entrance, I drew my gun. Stepping to the side, I yanked the door open, aiming my pistol at the room.
My eyes widened in shock and disbelief at the scene before me. “Oh fuck,” I exhaled, lowering the weapon to my side. The door clicked closed behind me, and I holstered it. “What the fuck happened?!”
Ian and Nico were both hunched over Ice Man, who was writhing on the floor and clutching his side in pain. My gaze then fell upon Vito Aggio, lying motionless on the ground nearby.
Shit shit shit.
“I was talking to Vito about the guys we got, and he attacked after spewing some bullshit,” Ian said. “Ice Man jumped in front of me and… well… an ambulance is on the way and so is Jake. We just have to keep?—”
Giovanna’s piercing shriek echoed through the room. I whipped around to see her and Tyler standing frozen in the doorway, their faces twisted in horror.
“Dad!” Giovanna screamed as she sprinted toward Vito, dropping to her knees beside him. She clutched his hand with a firm grip while wailing uncontrollably. “Oh my God, dad! NO! NO!” she cried out, throwing herself onto his lifeless body and weeping into his chest before finally looking up at us with tear-filled eyes. “What happened to my dad?!”
It’d been four months since Vito lost his life at the hands of Ice Man in the middle of the Blue Lounge. He’d attacked Ian after accusations he’d sent his men to hurt everyone. Ice Man was only doing his job by protecting his boss. Thankfully, with several months of recovery, Ice Man was fine, but was taking an extended leave of absence from the club. Nico had stepped in to replace him until he returned.
Unfortunately for everyone involved, Vito had played the guys tied to the Mussolini family, telling them to go get Giovanna for him in return for protection. When, in fact, it was his way of throwing them right into the lion’s den, giving them to Ian.
But Luca Aggio, the one assigned to deliver the message that they were a gift for Ian, never made it. His concert in Boston was abruptly canceled and the message never made it to the club, thus causing Vito to look like a traitor. Since then, Luca quit the music industry. He disappeared without a trace after realizing the mistake he made came with grave consequences that cost his father his life. The Aggio Crime Family were on the hunt for him, blaming Luca, not Ian, for Vito’s demise.
Giovanna left both Euphoria and Luxe and wouldn’t answer our calls or texts. Ian, Jade, and I had all taken turns going over to her apartment until we saw someone else moving in. They informed us the previous tenant moved out.
Ian gave up on trying to find her. It was surprising that he even cared at all, considering how much he’d changed in the past couple of years. He’d become hardened and closed off, only showing glimpses of his former self now and then. But deep down, I knew he still felt guilty for her father’s death.
Jade and I also decided to stop searching for Giovanna, but we hoped she would return. Her absence was deeply felt by everyone, especially Maddie, who had formed a close bond with her.
