Page 54 of Ruthless Mafia Daddy

“So where do we start from?” I asked Vivian, discreetly scanning for Canaan. If he was watching us, we needed to be extra careful.

“The guest list,” Vivian replied, pulling out a shiny paper from her pause. “I was able to swipe one of these while you and Mikhail exchanged pleasantries with the couple at the entrance.

“Wow.” I stared at the list of all the people present for the party. For some reason, the names all had an aristocratic ring to them. You didn’t need to see the bearer; you just knew they were rich. “This should do. It’s exactly what Father asked for,” I muttered, my breath hitching slightly when I saw Mikhail’s name on the list. I found myself itching to scrub it off.

“Not really. Remember, he asked us to place faces to the names and observe what they were doing at the party. What is the party even about?”

As if on cue, a stage I hadn’t noticed materialized in the middle of the room, and an almost naked lady slid down the pole in the center in an awkward manner. I could do much better than she did, but she was a lot more endowed than I was and had the attention of the room. Soon, wads of cash were raining on her from every direction as she danced.

“Woah,” Vivian exclaimed behind me, her eyes soaking up the scene unfolding before us.

Soon, the first dancer was joined by a second woman and then a man while the audience seemed to decide on their next line of action with their money. The highest bidder got whatever act he wanted to enjoy. Far off to the left, I could see a couple having sex in a dark corner, and some were engaged in different acts. The masks suddenly made sense, and Mikhail’s initial refusal to bring me here made even more sense.

“Hello, beautiful,” a raspy voice touched the back of my neck, causing the hairs at my name to stand. I turned to see a man who looked to be in his forties staring at me like I was a piece of meat.

My midnight blue asymmetrical dress was a lot more decent than what most of the ladies here were currently wearing, so his look was a bit lost on me.

“Hello. I’m here with someone,” I politely greeted him, cutting his advances before he got the chance to make them.

“Is this your partner?” he asked, turning to Vivian, who looked like she was going to throw up. “I’m sure you both won’t mind accommodating an old man for the night.”

“Thanks for the offer, but we’re not together, nor are we looking for company for the night,” I said, making for the opposite side of the room.

Iron fists wrapped around my wrist, pulling me flush against an equally hard chest. Before I got the chance to struggle, a fist flew past me, connecting to his jaw, and I could hear Vivian’s sharp intake of breath beside me. His hand immediately fell from me, and I turned to see Mikhail and Canaan circling like him predators.

“Do you have any idea who I am?” the man roared, charging at Mikhail, who landed another blow on his face, the crunching sound from his nose echoed through the room.

“A core rule of this establishment is to make sure women feel safe enough to express themselves, and this bastard tried to force his hands on a woman, not just any woman, my woman.” Mikhail addressed the little crowd that had gathered around us before turning to the security. “Make sure he never sees the four walls of this building or that of any exclusive club in the whole of New York.”

“Take me out of here,” I asked Mikhail, who immediately walked me out of the hall. Vivian insisted on staying behind to complete the assignment under the guise of enjoying herself. Mikhail asked Canaan to watch over her while he drove me home.

*****

“What was that party about?” I asked, walking in on Mikhail holding his bruised knuckles under the bathroom tap. I watched his face for the slightest bit of pain, but it never came.

“It’s a sex party. The majority of the people who make up the top 1% are sick fellows and like to have a space where they can let out their inhibitions without judgment. I tried to warn you, but you wouldn’t listen,” he replied, reaching for the washcloth, but I beat him to it.

I poured hot water into a wash bowl, added a bit of disinfectant into it, and dumped the wash cloth in it. “This exclusive party, do you attend it often?”

“I’ve been aware of it, but today was my first time visiting. A client insisted on meeting there. He wanted to know if I had what it takes to build a club they’ll appreciate.”

“And do you?” I asked, helping him out of his white shirt.

He sighed, evidently displeased with my questions, but he still answered. “I do what I have to do, baby. You already know this.”

I lifted my hands, feeling his body stiffen as I traced the outlines of his defined muscles. My eyes caught a glimpse of blood on his hand, and I was reminded of the washcloth. I hoisted myself on the sink, pulled him between my thighs, and began cleaning the cuts. He stood still, watching me wordlessly, not making a sound or an attempt to stop me. Satisfied with my work, I pulled open the overhead cabinet and took a bottle of ointment from it.

“I don’t like it when you fight. You should’ve let the security or Canaan handle it,” I said as I applied ointment to Mikhail’s burst knuckles.

“I’m not going to sit around and wait for security to come while another man puts his hands on you, Arielle,” he hissed, and I knew there was no way I’d be winning this argument.

I clamped my lips shut and focused on making sure every shallow cut was well-cleaned and oiled while he continued watching me. There was something unnaturally intimate about Mikhail standing between my legs while I perched on the bathroom sink and tended to his injuries, injuries he sustained while fighting for me. It was almost erotic, and I didn’t like how I was reacting to the scenario.

He hooked a finger beneath my jaw, pulling my face to him. “You don’t want me to fight for you, princess?” he asked, holding my gaze.

I wasn’t a fan of violence or blood spills, even when it was necessary, even when I had to do it myself, but I couldn’t find the words to tell him that. I didn’t want to tell him that. I was ashamed to tell him the sight of him breaking that man’s face did things to me. Heck, I was even ashamed to admit it to myself.

I tore my gaze from him and attempted to go back to cleaning his cuts, which were already squeaky clean, disinfected, and oiled, but he stopped my movements.

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