Page 29 of Jackpot Joker

The strobe lights scan over the high-shelf bottles behind the black counter and the men dressed in black pants and bow ties. I guess if I had abs like that, I wouldn’t wear a shirt, either. While we wait for one of them to finish mixing drinks and make their way over to where we stand, I step closer to Dario so he can hear me over the music.

“So Demone has an underground nightclub?”

“Of sorts,” he replies.

My face scrunches up in confusion. “Does Angelo have one?”

Dario shakes his head. “Inferno is exclusive to Demone. Though I suppose I could probably create a similar experience. Finding the space could be an issue.”

He looks lost in thought as he considers things.

“Maybe on the rooftop?” I suggest, which must be the most hilarious recommendation ever since Dario doubles over in laughter.

I huff and cross my arms, staring at Dario indignantly. “What is so funny?”

Before he can answer, a bartender with a very charming smile approaches us. He leans over, speaking loudly. I don’t know what band is playing tonight, but they have some sort of instrument that makes a suggestive moaning sound. “Hey, boss. What can I get for you?”

“Two bottles of water,” Dario demands.

“You got it.” The bartender turns, bending down to retrieve our drinks from a mini fridge, and I can’t help but notice the man must never miss leg day.

“You’re staring,” Dario whispers, causing me to jump.

I glare at him. “So what if I was? Just because I’m a woman, I’m not allowed to recognize a good-looking man? You eye every single woman who passes.”

Dario dips his head down to where his lips are dangerously close to mine. His heady scent floods my nose, and my mouth waters, craving more of it and hoping he moves in a little closer. “I may look at other women, but there’s only one I can’t stop staring at.”

I stare back at him, and there’s a challenge in his eyes, as though he dares me to ask who that woman might be. I remind myself it should be anyone but me. There’s a strict boundary drawn between us I refuse to cross—no matter how much he makes my mouth and other things water.

“Here you go,” a chipper voice says, breaking me from whatever spell Dario put me under. “You sure that’s gonna be enough for what you have planned?”

A wicked grin dances across Dario’s face as he gives the man a wink. “There are more in the room if we need it.”

As Dario steps away from the bar, I follow him, scanning the dance floor to see if I missed separate rooms on my way in. “Are there hotel rooms down here? Wouldn’t the music bother them?”

He wears a humored expression as he silently continues toward an area of the club where a bouncer stands beside a black curtain.

While the man doesn’t smile at Dario as he approaches, I know he recognizes him by the head nod he gives. “Black isn’t your usual color,” the man says in a deep voice.

“It’s in honor of my guest,” Dario says, nodding to me.

The man focuses his sharp eyes on me but directs his question to the man I’m accompanying tonight. “Does she know the rules?”

A single nod from Dario suffices, and the man pulls back the curtain, allowing us to step into the hidden room. There’s a large seating area where couples and solo visitors lounge. A giant window is in front of them, but too many bodies are blocking for me to know what they’re viewing.

This is the weirdest fucking nightclub I’ve ever visited.

Dario puts his hand on my waist, guiding me through a hallway with doors on each side. I attempt to pull myself from his grasp, but he only clutches me tighter.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask, but he doesn’t reply.

“Dario,” I say firmly, digging my elbow into him and realizing his stomach is solid muscle. “Where are you taking me?”

He grins at me, unfazed by my harsh tone I usually reserve for the courtroom. “So impatient, Miss Baker. We’re here.”

He juts his head behind me, and I turn to see a black door with a gold three on it. Dario reaches into his pocket, retrieving the same key he used in the elevator to access the club, and scans it against the door. A whirring sound is made, and then the door pops open.

Dario escorts me inside the room, and when the door closes behind us with a loud thud, I jump.