Page 40 of The Price of Power

So once more, I snapped my mouth closed—this time more determined than ever to keep it shut.

That lasted all of ten minutes.

“The Relic,” I read the name of the club off the lighted sign as Gabriel pulled up to the curb.

He cut the engine, and as he jumped out of the car to come over to my side, I eyed the line that stretched nearly half a block down from the front door.

Clearly, this wasn’t the secret hideaway La Sera had been. This dance club looked to be the definition of trendy and popular.

“It’s really busy,” I said as he opened my door and helped me out. “I’m not sure we’re going to get in.”

Deep down, I hoped Gabriel would see the crowd, agree with me, and give up on the place. Maybe jump right back in the car and take us back to La Sera.

It wasn’t where I wanted to go—I swear—but I already knew what to expect there. It was simply a devil you know situation, I told myself.

Amused grin still firmly in place, he shot me a look that said nice try as I grabbed his arm and held on tight. “We will.”

And sure enough, as soon as we turned around, I saw that the valet was already coming toward us.

“Good to see you again, Mr. D’Angelo,” the young man said as he took the keys—along with what looked to be a couple of hundred dollar bills—from Gabriel’s hand. “The manager has your usual spot in the VIP Lounge ready for you.”

“Thank you, Dominic,” Gabriel said.

After that, one of the bouncers held the doors open for us as we were ushered past the line. I must not have disguised my confusion very well because just a few steps inside the dimly lit interior, Gabriel glanced over at me.

“What?”

“Nothing,” I said loud enough to be heard over the pounding music.

“You’re staring at me like I’ve sprouted horns, so it’s not nothing.” His tone was now tinged with annoyance as we snaked our way through the crowd. “Say what’s on your mind.”

Another command. I wondered how long it would take me to get used to him throwing those around all the time.

“It’s just I’m surprised you know the valet’s name.” Especially since the man wasn’t wearing a name tag.

“Of course, I know Dominic,” he said. “He takes good care of my car every time I come here.”

“For two hundred bucks a pop, I bet he does,” I said under my breath, thinking the blaring dance beat would cover my sarcastic comment.

But it turned out Gabriel had better ears than I thought. Stopping along the edge of the packed dance floor, he stared down directly into my eyes.

“Dominic’s a good kid paying his way through City College with the tips he makes working nights. You don’t think that someone who works hard should be paid well? That they shouldn’t be given the chance to make something of themselves?”

“No, of course not,” I answered quickly. That wasn’t what I’d meant at all. “It’s just…I didn’t expect a man like you to remember people’s names or know about their lives.”

In all honesty, I’d thought he’d just been using the moment as an excuse to flash his money around and show off his wealth. That was far in keeping with the kind of man I thought Gabriel was.

“A man like me?” he said. “And exactly what kind of man do you think I am, Liv?”

Oh, no.

There was no way in hell I was walking into that trap.

“You really don’t want me to answer that,” I told him.

“You’re probably right,” he surprised me by agreeing. “But you weren’t surprised when I knew everyone’s name last night.”

“That was before I knew who you were.”

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