Page 24 of Merciless Queen

One song melds into two.

Into three.

Into four.

Time slips away quicker and quicker. Everything’s a blur of the promise of what’s to come. Everyone around us remains away, keeping us in our own little bubble. Either they recognize Vanessa as someone to avoid, or they know she’s a criminal.Either way, it gives me unfiltered access to her so I’m grateful for the lack of disruptions.

At some point, her friend took off for the VIP section with a pair of guys and based on the wave she sent Vanessa, this is where their night officially parts ways.

By the end of the fourth song, Vanessa turns around and grasps my face. Her pupils are dilated; her skin coated with a sexy sheen. Both of which gives me a tease of what she’d look like in bed after being thoroughly fucked.

“I’m getting a drink,” she announces. “Upstairs, in the VIP section. One drink and then I’m leaving for the night, but before I do, I have a question.”

She stops talking and I remain silent, ticking my head to the side, genuinely curious about what she wants to ask.

“When you fuck, do you require your partner to need a safe word, or is it you who has one?”

Cazzo.Fuck. She’s…

She’s testing me. It’s not the original ending to my thought, but it’s as true as that one was. There’s a correct answer. One she wants me to give, and I need to. Giving the wrong one will blow up my entire plan and won’t get me onto her property. Won’t give me private access to her. Everything I’ve learned about her tonight pushes me toward a specific response.

“Both, depending my mood and my partner.”

Vanessa smiles. “And what’s your mood tonight?”

I lower my voice. “My safe word ismisericordia. Translates tomercy.”

Thing is, none of that is a lie. They’re not mere words to get me inside her barriers.

She grins again, ticking her head to the side. “In that case...” She drops her hands and angles away. “Come find me if you’d like to test your restraint.”

She slips through the crowd, and like a wisp of smoke, is gone.

There is no other path to her. This was the entire purpose of tonight. This was my endgame, even if not in the ways she’s imagining it’ll go.

Because Vanessa Volkov truly has no idea who she’s about to let walk through her front doors.

And the role I’ll have in her downfall.

After pointingmy Friday night mark out to the VIP bouncer and instructing him to allow him upstairs should he take my offer, I head up for that final drink. On my way to the bar, I pass a couch shrouded in darkness, and in the centre is Anastasia, a man on either side of her, kissing her neck.

It's not abnormal we arrive together and separate by the end of the night. More frequent than not, it’s how it goes, so she’ll be taken care of. Even if the guys tried to pull something, they’d be the ones regretting that attempt.

After ordering my drink, I take it to the balcony and scan downstairs, searching the dance floor and then the edges of the room forhim.For the stranger who appealed to me from afar, and matched every expectation I had during our dance. He’s obviously interested or else he wouldn’t have stuck around as long as he had. He’s intriguing to me, and he’s a simple and straightforward option for the night.

I like simple. Uncomplicated. Since I’m not seeking a relationship, casual hookups are ideal. Dimitri constantly reminds me that eventually I’ll need to wed, if only so there’s afuture Volkov that isn’t him to take my place, but that’s averyeventual plan. Me being Pakhan is still too new a concept for most, and no asshole will be trying to push me out of my role by thinking marrying me gets them into leadership.

But a girl still has needs. Needs only met when a guy understands his place.

A male hand comes into view, stealing the glass from my grip. His cocky smirk wraps the glass’s edge as he takes a large sip, eyes glistening with trouble before handing my drink back.

I down most of it in one go before he considers taking more, and shoot him an appreciative look because he dared to steal from me so brazenly. Others wouldn’t. Makes me wonder in what other ways this stranger, whose name I still don’t know, will surprise me tonight.

“You came,” I state.

“You doubted me?”

I rake my gaze up and down his form, his simple outfit of dark-washed jeans and a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up. “Not at all. But I do need to know one thing before I bring you into my home. What’s your name?”

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