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“This is wrong. I have to go.” The words rushed out of her mouth, and she headed for the door.
“Nah, I don’t buy it. You had second thoughts 'cause you don’t love him. Now, you’re too scared to take a chance, but that’s on you, not me, so don’t get it twisted.”
Lisbeth ignored his words, continued out the door, turned, and strode down the hall, never looking back. This time, she left, but Samson had no idea what throwing her out had cost her the first time. It took over a year to fix the broken parts of her heart, and she had no intention of revisiting that pain ever again.
16
“Don’t run away, babe,” Samson said to Lisbeth’s back. “'Cause you and I both know this isn’t over.”
Lisbeth ignored him as she elbowed her way through the club, her pace gaining momentum with every step. Her heart ratcheted in her chest at even entertaining the thought of being unfaithful to Edward. A solid, steady man whom she’d never have to doubt. She barged past the clusters of people, veered to the right, and smacked directly into a hard, muscled body.
“Slow down before you hurt yourself.” Nick’s hands braced her shoulders, steadying her. “You look like you’re running for your life.”
More like my sanity.
“Just need some fresh air.”
Nick Santori, now Nick Sinclair, Samson’s elusive partner from the Oasis—his dark good looks and lean muscles directly contrasted Samson’s overall bulk and sparkling blue eyes. While Samson ran the day-to-day of the Oasis, mystery surrounded Nick as he held court in his private office, only emerging to sit with their shadier clientele. Otherwise, the bouncer outside the door solidified that entry was by invitation, only making his entire persona daunting and intimidating.
Nick held her shoulders for an extra second, then released her but didn’t step aside. His eyes roamed over her in a predatory way, jangling Lisbeth’s already frayed nerves.
“You and Samson aren’t a good idea.” She’d also forgotten his alarming bluntness.
“I couldn’t agree with you more. Now if you’ll just—” Lisbeth sidestepped, and he quickly blocked her path.
“This move out to Vegas is important, and I can’t afford to have him distracted.”
“Again, I don’t intend to distract or do anything else to him.” She’d also add stubbornness and rudeness to Nick’s characteristics.
“Yeah, you say that, but I see how he looks at you. I also watched you two disappear into a VIP room. Now you’re running outta here like your ass is on fire.”
“Sounds more likeyourproblem than mine. It also sounds like you’ve asked and answered your own question because, as you can see, I’m not with him, and if you’d step out of my way, I’d already be gone.”
A slight smirk twitched Nick’s lips. “I’d enjoy your sass if I wasn’t worried about Samson. Funny thing is, even though he’s the toughest guy I know, he’s not too smart when it comes to women. So do him and yourself a favor and back off.”
“Sounds very much like a threat.”
“Nah, just friendly advice.” Nick’s ebony eyes glared at her, and Lisbeth understood why even the beefiest bouncers at the Oasis feared him.
He stepped aside, letting her pass with that same smirk plastered on his brutally handsome face.
She bolted past him, her eyes fixed on the exit sign above the door. Someone called her name, but Lisbeth ignored them with one goal: she needed fresh air to clear her head and forget this night had ever happened. She had to leave Ecstasy and escape her past, especially Samson, the one man who could destroy her future, destroy her life.
When the desert air surrounded her, she drew a few breaths and composed herself. The giant neon sign over the club cast colorful shadows over the pavement. The clacking of high heels sounded behind her, but she kept moving.
“Lisbeth?” A hand circled her bicep. She startled and then pivoted, coming face to face with Madeline. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” Her confusing words matched the turmoil in her head.
“I saw you practically running through the club. Boa said some guy was giving you shit earlier. Did he try something again?”
“No, nothing like that.” Although another guy, namely Samson, tried to con her into thinking he cared again, and unbelievably she almost fell for itagain. As the saying went, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”
“Then what?” Madeline gazed back at the club. “Everything went so well tonight. You made the party an absolute hit with the guys and the old ladies, and believe me, that’s not easy. Matter of fact, it’s almost impossible.”
“I’m glad everyone was happy, but this problem is personal.”
Madeline mashed her lips together. “I get it. Personal shit is the hardest, but if you want my advice, Samson and you gotta stop fighting this thing between you and just let it happen.”
