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“What did you say?”
There was that hint of a smirk again. Was this a fucking game to him?
“You’ve got a traitor within your mix,” Damien said. “Someone is trying to bring you down from the inside.” He laughed then, a single loud sound edging with fear and panic. “You’re losing your hold on this city, and everyone knows it. People are doing things they wouldn’t havedaredtwo years ago.”
I thought of the people selling products from other providers within my clubs. He was right, no one in their right mind would have dared that before. I was being sabotaged.
Pushing my sunglasses back toward my face with my forefinger, I was able to keep my expression passive as I studied Damien. I was well aware every one of my men was watching me, wondering,was it true?Was there really someone within my ranks who was trying to bring me down? Trying to shatter the stranglehold I had on this city? And if so, who and why?
Thewhywouldn’t be hard to guess—power bred jealousy, and people wanted what I had.
Thewhomight be harder to crack.
My suspicions were confirmed about the origin of their information about Spicy. I kept my groan of impatience deep inside me. God, I hated being right all the fucking time.
My men were losing faith in me and my abilities, and the seconds ticked by in silence while I watched the people on the floor in front of me. Every second I didn’t act was making the seed of doubt within them flourish until they wondered if I could even hold my own anymore.
Was I losing my touch?
If these beings were demons, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill them.
If I let them live, it would be a sign of weakness.
There was nothing I could do to them that would shock the men in this room, they had seen it all, whether here or in their lives prior to meeting me. They’ve all witnessed some seriously fucked-up shit. I needed to make an example but keep them guessing, keep them afraid of me.
I needed a plan.
Patricia’s eyes had cleared slightly, and she was staring at me with all the others.
I had to act.
“Tie them up, throw them in the back of the van.”
Anything left of the smirk dropped from Damien’s face. “Wait!”
“I’ll take care of them off-site.” I was pleased when there was a muffled guffaw from one of the men, his imagination running wild at what punishment I might dish out. My lips twitched. “I know exactly what to do.”
CARA
There was an explosion of sound from the back of the club and the hall that led toward the rear exit. The sort of sound most people knew better than to investigate and tried their best to ignore—even though the patrons’ strained expressions gave them away. Fighting, screaming, muffled yells, and the sounds of people being dragged echoed their way through the club, barely audible over the music but loud enough I could see the cringe of the shoulders of those closest as they turned their backs, knowing better than to get involved.
Those sounds alone were enough to remind everyone who Emrick was and what he was capable of. Whatever was happening, someone had done something to upset him. All I could think of was the night we had actually spoken on the balcony, the conflict clear on his face even though I couldn’t see his eyes when I alluded to my past.
Emrick had been playing some messed-up back-and-forth game with me, and it had to end. All these conflicting thoughts in my head were driving me insane. Maybe if Isawit with my own eyes, I could finally slap some sense into myself about what kind of man Emrick really was.
Exactly the stuff I was trying to run away from.
I had to know because there was the lingering doubt within me that my earlier suspicions about something lighter living inside him were true and not simply wishful thinking. We all hoped we could change people, that all the dark and brooding types needed was someone to bring out the best in them. Emrick was far beyond saving, every remaining sane part of me screamed to remind my mind and soul who he was. But once upon a time, I thoughtIhad been beyond saving, so there was one tiny fiber, one minuscule bit of doubt telling memaybe.
Maybe I could save him, bring him with me, and we could start a new life together.
Maybe we could save each other.
After all, we all had our secrets.
I was laying it all on the line, but there was every chance I’d catch him at the wrong moment, and he’d turn on me. Hell, I had done some stupid things before, and this might be a close second to the most reckless. But I was stubborn, and I simply had to see, toknow, then maybe I would learn something this time.
Placing the empty tray on the bar, I turned toward the ruckus when Maddie grabbed my arm. “What do you think you’re doing?” she hissed at me.
