Page 44 of Ferocious Nightmare

Fourteen

It wasSaturday night and I was dressed to kill. Lights flashed and my heart pounded in rhythm to the base of the thumping music as I made my way through the crowd.

I was at the opening of the King’s new club, Posh, and it was packed wall to wall.

As soon as I entered, I saw Nero mingling among the A-list guests, flashing the brightest smile I’d ever seen on his handsome, evil face. I shook my head and headed in the opposite direction, wanting to avoid him as much as possible.

I spotted Marie and her husband from across the room, and made my way towards them.

“This is insane.” She yelled over the music, kissing the side of my cheek in welcome. Then she gripped my hand, turning to her side. “Have you met my husband?”

“Hi, I’m Aster.” I fluttered my fingers at him, remembering how I’d seen him weeks ago, being smashed between two other men.

“Nice to formally meet you. I’m Adam,” he bent towards my ear. “I remember you.”

“Good. I remember you, too.” I forced a smile, grabbing a drink from one of the waiters passing by. I was going to need it tonight. At least I wouldn’t have to pretend I hadn’t seen his dick already. “I’m glad you came.”

“Thank you for getting us in.” Nodding, he wrapped an arm around Marie’s waist. “I also wanted to thank you for your discretion. It’s a real service to this country.”

Service to this country?Was he talking about the fact that I hadn’t blabbed to the media that he’d been the jelly in a nut sandwich? I rolled my eyes. “Do you ever turn off the politician?”

Marie laughed. “Never.”

“It’s lame,” I told him, then winked, trying to soften the blow. He stared at me with a strange look on his face, then opened his mouth to speak but we were interrupted by an arm on my shoulder.

“Aster, Marie.”

It was Tatiana. Stunning, as usual. She was dressed in the same uniform as all the other dancers, but somehow, the white, two-piece dress looked like it’d been custom designed just for her. She’d accentuated the delicate lace top with gold, snake cuffs around her arm.

Marie touched them. “I like your rings,” She squeezed my hip. “They would look gorgeous on you, Aster.”

Was she flirting with me?I studied her, noticing that she already looked a bit tipsy.

“You’re right, they would.” Tatiana unraveled them and began to put them on my arm.

“No, it’s okay, I don’t—”

“She’s right, they do look better on you,” Tatiana ignored my protest.

“I…” didn’t know what to say as she wrapped them around my arm.

“Besides,” Tatiana whispered in my ear, taking my hand to place it on the head of the snake, “it has a very thin but very sharp knife.” She discreetly pulled it out to show me. “You never know when it might be useful.”

I suddenly remembered that I wasn’t carrying the knife Coulter had given me. Shit. I was such an idiot. I made a mental note to never make that mistake again.

“But what about you?”

“Don’t worry,” she winked. “I always have more than one weapon on me.”

Who was this woman?I wanted to be her when I grew up.

“Take the compliment,” Marie gave me a dazed smile, not hearing what just went on, “you’re gorgeous. And it looks perfect with your outfit.”

“Thanks.” I glanced at her husband, wondering if she was putting on a show for him.

“Come on, I have a place saved for you three,” Tatiana turned, giving a polite smile to Adam, the Senator, and began to lead us through the crowd. It seemed to part for her as she led us towards the back end of the large club, where a pool spread out into the open air of the back terrace, gradually rising like a beach shoreline.

“You’re up here.” Tatiana stopped at a roped off entrance to a stone platform that jut out over the pool. David, my favorite of Nero’s guards, stood at the entrance to the VIP section, guarding it.

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