Page 5 of High Stakes

I hold my breath, hearing him laugh as he moves away. No one’s ever spoken to me like that, and I can’t deny that his choice of words sends sparks straight to my core.

“Bella?” My heart drops at the sound of Carl’s voice.

“Oh great,” Aria says on a sigh.

Carl grabs my arm and spins me to face him. “What the fuck are you doing in here, I told you to stay at home.” He’s in my face before I can react. “How can I keep you safe if you’re out here whilst I’m at work?”

Coming to my senses, I shove him from me, and he stumbles back. “How did you even get in here?” I rub my arm where he grabbed me, noting there’s already a red mark.

“The door staff asked my permission to let him up,” Aiden says, approaching again. “I thought he was your boyfriend, aren’t you staying with him?”

“Well thanks for your help,” I say sarcastically, “And for the record, he’s my ex.”

CHAPTER THREE

Aiden

She’s pretty. Even when she’s mad and her gorgeous, flawless face is all screwed up in anger. And my god does she smell good, all vanilla and fresh. Being so close to her makes me want to drag her off and lock her away, only letting her out to pleasure me with those plump lips.

I continue to watch this creep yelling at her, and notice JP glaring at me. “What?” I mouth, shrugging.

He points to Bella, who I note is giving as good as she gets. “Save her,” he mouths, and I laugh. I will, just not yet.

Bella’s friend nudges her arm against mine. “Hey, fancy a drink?” She gives me a cute smile. “We could be waiting for this to die down for a while,” she adds, nodding to Bella and her boyfriend.

I indicate to JP to get us a drink and guide her over to my booth. “Is your friend always like this with her fella?”

“He’s her ex. Bella hates him, but she needs a place to stop.”

“Can’t she stop with you?” I nod a thanks at JP, as he places our drinks down on the table.

“The plan,” he whispers in my ear, but I shoe him away, much to his annoyance.

“She doesn’t want to bring trouble to my shop,” she explains.

I figure this must be Aria, the cake shop owner and Bella’s best friend. She’s pretty, in an English rose kind of way. Pale skin but rosy cheeks and large brown eyes. Her brown hair is cut short, and it suits her small oval face. She’s petite and if I didn’t have my sights set on her friend, I’d consider seducing her. “She must have other friends she can stay with?”

“There’s Jack, but he just moved his boyfriend in, so she doesn’t want to put on him. She’s spent so much time looking after her dad, she’s kept her circlesmall.”

I watch Carl grab Bella and try to drag her from the club. I guess this is where I swoop in to save the girl. I stand and fasten my suit jacket as I head over. “Let her go.” I say it firmly, I hold all the authority in this club, and I don’t appreciate this idiot causing a scene in my VIP area where some of the top socialites hang out, including the top dogs that sign his pay check.

“Who the hell are you to tell me what to do, Tremos. This is my girl and I’m taking her home.”

“She doesn’t want to go with you, Harris. I suggest you let her go before I call DCI Caine and tell him what a fuss you’re causing in my club.”

He lets go of her arm, shoving her towards me. I catch her. “Keep her, she’s too much trouble anyway,” he spits, “-and don’t get your hopes up, she doesn’t put out.” He storms off and I roll my eyes at his childish behaviour.

“Are you okay?” I ask, turning to Bella, but she doesn’t look happy at all. In fact, she looks like she’s about to explode.

“Why do you keep jumping in to defend my honour, I can look after myself.”

I watch in confusion as she stomps away towards Aria.“Win her over they said, it’d be easy, they said.”I scoff, shaking my head. I catch sight of Raff and JPlaughing from behind the bar. Jake’s probably up there with the big man and killing himself laughing.Bastard.

I join the two women, much to Bella’s disgust, but they’re sitting in my private booth and I’m not one to waste a perfectly good opportunity to get what I want. “So,” smiles Aria, staring back and forth between me and Bella. “That went well.” Bella throws a peanut at Aria’s head, and she dodges it, laughing.

I wave my hand in Raff’s direction, indicating that I need more drinks.

“Does everyone just serve you when you wave your hand like that?” asks Aria, arching a brow.

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