Page 30 of Shadow Operative

The bouncer turned back to them. “He’ll see you.”

Gage let out his breath.

Nia’s excuse had worked. Now they would need to go inside and sell it.

He hoped Nia could do that.

Because he was already getting bad vibes from this place.

Dangerous vibes.

And he hoped he wasn’t walking into a trap.

Nia tried to ignore the rumble of nerves sweeping through her as she and Gage stepped inside the club.

The place was dark with red accents and black leather furniture. It smelled like whiskey and expensive cologne—maybe even a touch of Cuban cigars.

This wasn’t a club for teens or the poor.

This was a club for the elite.

It wasn’t the type of establishment she frequented. Even back when she’d been bent on experiencing all the world had to offer, she’d still had her limits.

And this place—though exquisite and rich—had sleazy undertones.

“You don’t have to do this,” Gage murmured in her ear as they walked.

“But I do.”

“Why in the world do youneedto do this?”

She didn’t answer, and thankfully Gage didn’t have time to press.

Good . . . because Nia didn’t know what to tell him. If she shared too much, his suspicions might rise. He might not want to work with her to find answers.

The bouncer led them through the dining area and dance floor and around back to where the officeswere located.

He opened a door, and they were escorted into a large office. “Mr. Miller . . .”

“Thank you, Cal. Close the door behind you, please.”

Darius Miller sat behind a massive desk. The man was large with broad shoulders and a barrel belly. His head had been shaved, but his thick eyebrows more than made up for his baldness. His pinstripe black suit reminded Nia of a mafia kingpin.

“You wanted to see me?” Darius observed Nia with calculating eyes.

A tremble of fear raked through her.

What if she was staring at Rob’s killer right now? What if he knew who she was? If he was the one who’d set her up and sent her that text?

Maybe she shouldn’t have come here. But it was too late now.

Nia lifted her chin and shifted back into professional mode. She’d stared down competitors. Brokered deals with cold-hearted tycoons. Fought to get ahead in a cut-throat business world.

She introduced herself and her background before going through her spiel about her desire to potentially invest in this place.

She tried to read Darius’s gaze as she spoke, tried to see if there was any recognition there.

Nia wasn’t sure.

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