Page 66 of Forever Mr Black

Art pulls his hands from mine and cups my face. Serious, dark eyes stare down at me. “And I swear on my life, Sophie, next time, he won’t get anywhere near you. I’ll be ready and waiting.”

Parked across the road from the club, the Aston Martin blends into the darkness. My nerves from earlier are back with a vengeance at the sight of the subdued, backlit, embossed silver sign over the entrance doors. The club looks even more discreet in the dark and gives no indication as to the shenanigans taking place inside.

“Are you okay?” Art asks for the third time in as many minutes.

“I just want to get it over with.” I look anxiously at the entrance doors. “So, do we just walk in?”

“No, members have a key card.”

Member?An uncomfortable thought hits me, and my eyes shoot to Art. “You’re not still a member, are you?”

His eyebrows twitch into a frown. “No, Sophie.”

I sit up straight in my seat as an even more alarming thought strikes me. “Then, how come you and Aisling were allowed in, if neither of you are members anymore?” There’s an accusatory edge to my question, which I didn’t intend and which causes his frown to deepen.

“You don’t have to be a member to use the bar, just to use other … facilities. My guy on the inside has sorted me a swipe card for tonight,” he says.

I fold my arms and sit back in the seat, relaxing slightly.

“Before we go in, there are a few things you need to know,” Art carries on. “When we get to the room, you’ll need to go and hide in the cupboard. Tara won’t know you’re there.”

“What’s in the cupboard?”

“Equipment. Don’t get freaked out. There’ll also be other stuff in the room.”

“Like what?”

“A bench.”

“And I’m guessing it’s not the sort you sit on.”

“No, it’s the type you get tied down to and fucked over.”

Shit!

His response sends a bolt of electricity between my thighs, and I press them together.

Focus, Sophie.

“Won’t Tara be in the room? Won’t she see me?”

“No. I’ve specifically asked that I enter first. That’s not unusual, so she shouldn’t get suspicious. You’ll have time to hide.”

“What are you going to say to her?”

“I can’t go in, all guns blazing. I need her to talk and open up to me. I can’t afford for her to suss something’s up right away because she’ll walk.” He looks at me. “I might have to play along with it for a while.”

I stare out the window, my stomach in knots. “You mean, you need to make her think you’re there to have sex with her.”

He reaches over and puts his hand on mine, but I don’t look at him. “I’m not going to touch her, Sophie, but she’s bound to mention you.”

I sigh. “I get it. It will be an act.”

“I’m going to have to say things I don’t mean and play along. Whatever I say or she says, keep your cool until the right time.”

I fix him an indignant look. “I know; I know. I’m not going to blow it.”

His eyes slide to the digital clock on the centre console. “We should get a move on; it’s nearly time.”

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