Page 52 of No Greater Oblivion

I don’t know why I bother. There’s no getting through to him. My best bet is to speak to Rian and see what I can find out because I don’t have a good feeling about this.

I hop off the bar stool and go to leave, but he catches me by the waist.

“You are…” His eyes sweep over my figure, drinking in every inch of me. “Beautiful.”

Gripping his wrist, I shove him off me. “Don’t touch me.”

Amusement colors his features and he takes another sip of his drink. “Is he still up there?”

I can’t help but look toward the mezzanine. Rian’s there, examining us like wild animals in a cage.

“He’s looking at us as if he’s dying to know what it’s like. Unfortunately, I’ve never been much of an exhibitionist.”

Fire whips through me. It rises to my cheeks and the tips of my ears, intensified by the smile of satisfaction on his lips. I snatch my purse off the bar and make to leave when he starts to rock back on his seat again. In a last-minute surge of indignation, I pass by him and shove two fingers into his shoulders. There isn’t much force behind it but as the bar stool is already off balance, teetering on its hind legs, it sends him crashing backward.

I smile all the way upstairs.

“What did you guys talk about?”

Rian doesn’t answer right away. He approaches the bar cart in Li’s office and pours himself a drink.

“Narvaez is one of the club’s investors. He came to announce he’s selling his shares.”

“To whom?”

“Who else?” he practically seethes. “Sasha.”

Of course. Sneaky bastard.

“The Empress isn’t just a club. There’s more tied into this place,” he says. “With Sasha involved, it could get bloody.”

“You mean complicated?”

He grinds down on a piece of ice. “No.”

I decide to change the subject. “Did he say anything about me?”

“Surprisingly, he didn’t,” Rian replies. “What did he say to you?”

I settle into one of the leather chairs and cross my legs. “Nothing important.”

“Didn’t look that way from where I was standing.” His grip tightens around the crystal tumbler. “He’s very comfortable touching you.”

I fiddle with the hem of my silver dress, hoping to avoid his scrutiny. “I didn’t notice.”

Rian doesn’t reply right away. He finishes his drink and then walks over to Li’s desk, leaning against it as he stands across from me. Silence passes between us and he folds his hands in front of himself, lost deep in thought.

“If I asked you something, would you tell me the truth?”

I reply, “Depends on what you ask.”

He gives a subtle nob. “All right. What happened between you two?”

God…where do I start? And do I want to tell him?

If ever there’s a time for me to commit or quit, it’s now. Either let Rian all the way in or walk away before anyone can get hurt. It doesn’t take me long to decide.

“We met a few years ago. I was on vacation in Barcelona with my cousin when we got lost and stumbled across his old lounge, El Aliciente…”