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“Nick, I don’t think?—”
“What? The club’s been a huge success, splashed all over social media. We got lines around the corner. As you said the other night, the bouncers make it harder than fuck to get in andyet people keep coming back every night.” Nick smirked. “I think it’s something to celebrate, right?”
“Yeah, sure, and if I thought that’s what this party was about I’d agree with you.”
“It’s about celebrating our success and the success of Club Wicked. Let the important people in this town know we appreciate their support.”
“Right, and I’m sure Johnny and his wife will be on the top of the guest list.”
“They’re new in town, and they obviously already know some of the big players.”
“I just don’t wanna stir up shit we finally have settled.”
“You mean like the way you involved Frank when you wanted to come between Lisbeth and her powerful fiancé last year? A scam that could’ve blown up in all our faces.” Nick snapped his fingers. “Like that?”
Samson drew in a deep breath, because he knew Nick was right. To save Lisbeth, he’d enlisted Frank and they pulled off an elaborate sting to bring down her fiancé and his wealthy family.
“All right, all right, I get it but?—”
“We talked about doing a more private party anyway, and this will give me a chance to get her alone and talk.”
“Then what?”
“I find out how she really feels. All I want is a few minutes and if she’s happy I’ll let it go.”
“Yeah, right.” Samson’s brows drew together.
“Everything’s gonna be fine.” Nick shrugged his shoulder. “What could go wrong?”
8
“Itried to tell Johnny I don’t feel good and he should go to this party alone, but of course he didn’t buy it.” Cheryl pouted at her reflection in her stage lit makeup mirror in her bedroom. “I didn’t want him to get too suspicious, so I let it go, but how can I go to this party and act normal around Nick—act like I don’t know him, act like I don’t care about—It’s impossible.” Cheryl spun around to face Izzy perched on the edge of her bed.
“Ten years I’ve managed to avoid Nick Santoro, and now out of nowhere he shows up. Asking me questions I can’t answer, acting like we can have a drink and talk about the weather, like there haven’t been ten years between us and so much heartache.
“If you ask me, his look the other day was more like he wanted to fall back into bed and tear up the sheets.” Izzy waggled her eyebrows. “Yeah, I can definitely see it—his body alone?—”
“Not helping.” Cheryl shot her a deadly glare, then wiped at her brow wishing Izzy’s words didn’t conjure up so many memories. Or the simmering heat in the pit of her stomach.
Izzy’s face sobered. “You should be with the man you truly love.”
“Love? Who said anything about love?”
Spent and exhausted, Nick gathered Cheryl in his arms, and staggered to the bedroom. He fell onto the bed with her splayed on top of him. His slick skin melded them together as he stroked her hair.
She didn’t know how long they lay there, quiet and contented in their world, a place just for them where no one could reach them or destroy their fragile existence.
“I love you,” he murmured into her hair.
She snuggled closer to him. “I love you too,” Cheryl murmured against his lips.“It’s like fate wanted us together.”
“You know that’s impossible.” Cheryl turned to the mirror and concentrated on her reflection fighting off the dangerously clear memories.
“Because of me,” Izzy murmured.
“Because of a violent person who threatened both of us. Don’t you dare take the blame for something you had no control over.”
Izzy shook her head slowly, but no words from Cheryl would ever ease Izzy’s conscience. Sadly, the woman blamed herself to this day because of a violent animal who couldn’t control his aggression.
