Page 2 of Room One Hundred and Twenty Six: Denied

More money. More problems.

I understood, but I was my grandmother’s granddaughter. I could carry the weight.

But she had three men to help her.

That was even better, because I was in search of my men, too. Hopefully, they understood the power of money too because I couldn’t be the only one looking after our assets.

“Where do I sign?” I asked.

Mr. Orlando came around the desk and talked me through everything. He explained to me the need to know information and promised he’d be around if I had questions. When it was all done, he felt more like an old friend than my attorney.

“There is one more clause here that I have to make you aware of.” He pointed to a new sheet that was titled marriage decree. Beside it he placed another document that was in my grandmother’s handwriting.

At first glance, I saw “arranged marriage” and I shook my head to make sure that I was reading this carefully. Elara Samantha Deadwood. Yup, that was me. I picked up the paper to read it, completely flabbergasted by Nana. She’d arranged for me to meet my future husband at a place called Club Sin. She promised that all would go well for me if I agreed. If I chose to forfeit the marriage, I forfeit the inheritance, too.

“But I’ve already signed it.” I wearily looked at the old man.

“You have.” He crossed his arms and waited.

“So now what?” I sighed.

This was crazy. I wasn’t about to marry some man my grandmother picked out for me. She’d been able to live her life with the three men she chose, and she thought I was going to settle for one? Not to mention, one she chose.

“Is there a way out?”

“If you can stay married to him for one year and it’s not working, your contract is satisfied. You’ll go your separate ways and be done. He’ll sign a prenuptial agreement so he’s not entitled to your money or you to his. If you conceive a child before that one year is up and you try to leave, it’ll also void the inheritance and be rolled over to them at the age of twenty five.”

Was any of this legal?

“Ms. Deadwood, what really is the harm in giving it a try? It’s one year. What could possibly go wrong in that short amount of time?”

I didn’t know, but unfortunately, I was about to find out. I was officially homeless after moving out here to help Nana. I gave up my place to make sure her last days were as good as they could be. I’d closed down the bookstore for the last six months, deplenishing my income, and I’d paid my people because it wasn’t their fault that I had to disappear on them. I had some savings, but depending on how long it took to re-establish my customers, it wouldn’t last long. A year gave me time to figure it out, though. It also gave me the money to get someone to manage the bookstore while I pursued my dreams. I’d been a chef before the restaurant I loved closed. It forced me to ask Nana for a job at the bookstore. Since she was thinking about closing it, she allowed me to go in and make it my own. I did and was able to buy into a partnership agreement with her. It wasn’t my dream job though. By agreeing, I’d be able to correct a lot of the errors in my life, giving me a second chance at everything.

“Ms. Deadwood?” he called my name to get my attention.

“One year,” I said to confirm.

“One… year.”

I signed on the last two lines, sealing my fate. He gave me my copies and told me he’d be in touch with me soon. He handed me the master keys to the mansion and told me someone would be in touch with me from Club Sin. Now I had to find out what that was and what I was supposed to do when I got there.

Lord, help me.

Chapter One

CAESAR

"Boss, we have a problem."

I looked up to see Ronnie's concerned expression as he waited for me to follow him to the back of the club. All my bartenders were busy filling drinks, grabbing cigars, and making money. They didn't need me. I nodded once and made my way through the crowd of people in line for something or another.

We were moving toward the bathrooms, where people crowded around three of my men who weren't letting anybody through. These men weren't from the club. They were part of our crew, who handled mishaps and side dealings. What were they doing here?

Getting past them, I walked inside the women's room to see my twin brother kneeling next to a girl I was sure was dead. On the sink was coke on a mirror inside a make-up contraption. We didn't deal inside here. Hard rule by Ward, our boss. He would lose his mind when he found out about this shit.

"Alive?" I asked, hopeful but knowing the truth already.

"Only if she can come back as a vampire." Tavi scoffed. "Bitch looks like she was on more than just coke. All I want to know is who she was here with. How'd she make it through the front door?"

---