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“Yes,” I whisper, only realizing when the doors open that my response doesn’t fit his statement.
But Leo grins devilishly as though it was the perfect answer and ushers me into a bright room.
I frown at the rows and rows of shelves filled to the ceiling with restaurant supplies. There’s a wine room off to one side and two walk-in freezers on the other.
Leo takes my hand and leads me to one of the huge door that isn’t frosted over. He swipes his card over the reader I hadn’t even noticed in the frame. The lock clicks open and I step aside as he swings open the heavy door. He motions me ahead and instead of a room of frozen produce, I find myself on cream-colored tiles in a dimly lit foyer.
What in the cloak and dagger is this?
Two bouncers and a receptionist are there to receive us.
“Welcome to Verus,” the receptionist says from behind a marble counter. “If you’ll surrender any weapons and electronic devices and allow our security a brief search, you can make your way inside.”
Leo hands over his phone and my shoulders tense when he reaches behind him and pulls a gun from where it was tucked into the waist of his pants. I don’t know how I didn’t notice that, especially since I’m wearing his jacket. It makes me wonder who Leonardo Conti is, if he’s confident enough that he won’t get caught openly carrying a firearm. I shake away the dangerous thoughts, choosing to recklessly lose myself in the sight of the sexy man in front of me instead.
The receptionist places both items in a tray and spins to me. “Anything to hand over, miss?”
“No. I don’t have anything.” I spot Leo’s grimace, but my attention is drawn back to the woman as she locks his belongings in one of the safes along the wall.
I notice the twin V emblem emblazoned on her black blazer when she turns back to us. She motions to the two people behind us.
“Lift your arms, please,” the female bouncer says as she moves toward me.
I look to Leo and he gives me a reassuring smile as he submits to his own search. His jacket feels a little silly on me as she works her way over my body, but she’s brisk and professional, and it’s over a second later.
Leo pulls the jacket closed around me and tucks my hand back in the crook of his arm.
The jacket doesn’t feel so silly when he looks at me like this. Like he doesn’t want me to wear anything else.
Just his jacket and the perfectly sized shoes he put on me.
“Ready?” he asks, snapping me out of my daze.
“Yes,” I answer again, thankful for his constant checking.
He nods to the male bouncer who sweeps a red velvet curtain aside. Leo walks us under the archway, a silver sign similar to the restaurant upstairs, this time with the word Verus, mounted above us.
Versus and Verus.
The scent of cherries and tobacco finds me first. The smoky tendrils wrap around me, followed by the dull hum of conversation interspersed with the subtle lounge music.
Leo called this a club but it’s not that at all.
It’s an underground casino.
Although the word underground doesn’t quite fit the elegant decor and stylishly dressed clientèle. Members is what Leo called them. They’re all in suits and evening gowns, their attire hinting at a night at the opera not a seat at a poker table.
Leo takes me past the wrought-iron staircase and we weave through the card tables, garnering looks from more than a few men and women along the way. I tighten my grip on Leo’s arm to get his attention, ask where the heck he’s taking me, but he just covers my hand with his, stopping us mysteriously outside a set of wide oak doors.
I’m not surprised when he pulls out his card, but then he freezes, twisting it over and over in his hand.
He grabs me and makes for the bar. “I’m going to leave you here while I go and get her,” he says flatly.
“Wait,” I say, standing firm and pulling him to a halt. “Why can’t I go with you?”
He faces me and his expression turns serious. He seems to consider his words, weigh the idea of bringing a woman he hardly knows into the fold. “Verus is the darker twin to Versus,” he says finally. “The one was created to hide the other, keep the forbidden place secret. But the casino is just one part, and those doors are a portal to a club of delicious fantasies and twisted desires. It’s a safe haven to explore part of the lifestyle, attempt things we only dare to dream about.”
“I don’t understand,” I say, hoping I’m wrong about what he’s implying. Fate couldn’t be this cruel to throw me into the world I’ve been running from since I first discovered porn.
