Page 24 of Secrets of Euphoria

“Hell no,” he snorted, “but when I was at the bar, I didn’t recognize her at first without her natural black hair.”

I darted my gaze back to her as she was finishing up her set shimmying toward her captivated audience, collecting money. “Who is she?”

“That’s Giovanna Aggio.”

“Well, shit.”

5

PENTHOUSE L.A.

LUKE

Giovanna Aggio, the only daughter of Vito Aggio. Chance had somewhat of a friendship with her older brother, Luca, though I was unsure to what extent. He was a famed singer, undertaking Mafia-related favors for his father while traveling the world. It was the perfect cover, though their family was anything but secret. The Aggios were on the news every week for something or another. I didn’t recognize her because the last time I saw her on television she was in a business suit, attending her oldest brother’s racketeering trial.

Chance and I both turned our attention to the club owner as he prepared to speak, but I held up my hand to silence him. Leaning forward, I ran my tongue over my teeth thoughtfully.

Ekaterina leaned in closer, picking up a pack of cigarettes from the coffee table and lighting one with the lighter resting on the arm of the sofa. “You like?”

I glanced back over my shoulder as another loud song erupted throughout the building, then back at her. “Is there a quiet place we can go talk?”

She nodded once, and the four of us stood. “Office.”

We trailed her from the private viewing room and stopped just outside, waiting while she spoke in Russian to the guards. She then directed us through a black curtain on our left and into an elevator. Smoke swirled around us as we slowly ascended to the next floor.

The doors slid open, revealing a sleek and modern office. The walls were made entirely of tinted glass, with black marble floors and a matching ceiling. Dimmed recessed lights illuminated the space from above. As we stepped out into the room, I was drawn in, admiring the dark luxury.

Ekaterina strutted over to her desk, leaning seductively against the front edge as she took a long drag from her cigarette. “You can see almost entire club from here.” she purred, exhaling a cloud of smoke into the air.

Declan immediately made himself at home, sinking into the black leather chaise lounge next to a sleek end table with a brass, Art Deco-style peacock lamp. I felt a little uneasy that he seemed too comfortable in her presence. It made me wonder how often he had spent time with her since meeting her with Valentino’s youngest brother in Atlantic City. It wasn’t necessarily suspicious, as Alessandro was known for mingling with important individuals, but it made me question if he’d been completely transparent with me about his activities.

Chance remained by my side, as Ian would have if he were here. It was an unspoken agreement, especially since we were in an unfamiliar place. I stayed close to the glass wall, slowly making my way around the perimeter of the room. From this vantage point, I could see the club’s main floor below. It looked much larger from above. Rows of plush couches and chairs surrounded a single pole in the middle, although the main room was approximately the same size as Euphoria’s. On the other side, two long bars were crowded with people waiting for drinks, while fully naked waitresses navigated through the crowd with trays, delivering beverages to small tables scattered around.

Stroking my chin, I strolled to another view, looking down at a smaller, dimly lit room. In the corner was a small bar, and nearby were two cages that held dancing women, their movements perfectly synchronized like the ones in the hallway. A man approached one of the cages, illuminated by a red light. The dancer dropped to her knees as he neared. I raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

“Check this out,” Chance whispered, knowing what was coming.

I tucked my hands back into my pockets, observing as the woman reached between the bars, pulling out the man’s cock, sucking it through the cage. He reached in and tangled his fingers in the chain linked to her collar and metal bars. Gently pulling her face toward him, careful not to hurt her against the metal barrier, he thrust into her mouth.

“These chained women agree to it, right?” I muttered as we made our way to the next room.

“Yeah,” he matched my hushed tone, “Kat’s nuts, but trust me when I say those women down there love being sex slaves.”

My gaze shifted to the next room, which was almost as dark. In the center was a round bed with red sheets on a platform. Two women were entwined together, their naked bodies moving in sync. The woman with fiery red hair suddenly grabbed the blonde by the hair, forcing her face into the mattress. She then positioned herself behind her and teased her with an enormous purple strap-on before thrusting into her deeply. The blonde clenched the blanket tightly, arching her back with her mouth wide open. The scene made me crave Jade. I knew she’d enjoy the show just as much as me.

Ekaterina switched to speaking Russian. I glanced at her briefly to see she was on her phone before returning my attention to the rooms below. Chance and I carefully observed each as we passed, discussing the scenes in detail. They became progressively darker, hotter, and more intense than the previous ones. We passed several themed rooms with beds, offering private encounters, threesomes, and orgies.

As we walked, we also passed fully equipped dungeons and a gallery-style room for voyeurism and exhibitionism. The last room we came to had a color scheme of blue, black, and silver, which oddly reminded me of Euphoria’s private rooms and Blue Lounge. I chewed on my lip as I studied the girl lying on a chaise in the center of the room, like the one my brother was lounging on behind me.

A group of five men encircled the platinum blonde, their eyes fixated on her massive breasts. Three of them were pleasuring themselves while she took turns between the other two, eagerly sucking and pumping their erections. A fourth man approached, kneeling between her legs. She smiled eagerly, welcoming him to join in as he thrust deep inside her. As I looked around the purple room, I noticed several people hiding in the shadows, sitting on chairs and couches along the walls and touching themselves at the scene before them. I reached for my phone and opened a text conversation with Jade.

Damn baby, this place makes me crave you.

After sliding my phone back into my pocket, I focused once again on the activity unfolding below. Resting an arm on the glass, I watched everyone’s unique approach to handling the blonde. She seemed to relish every moment of it. My eyes landed on a couple in the far corner, hidden in the shadows but keeping watch on the gangbang taking place at the center of the room. The man was kneeling behind her, fucking her as they both watched the scene with interest.

“It’s anything goes room,” Ekaterina said. “They enter that room, they all given same safe word. They use it, guards remove them. We make everyone sign waiver and get tested at regular time.”

“It’s… incredible, actually.” Though I had an idea of how I wanted Luxe to be, the rooms below had given me the visuals I needed. Now, my mind was spinning. I slipped my phone from my pocket again, this time making notes.

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