Page 35 of Gilded Desires

“Nah, babe.” Sapphire stretches to her full height and smooths out her powerhouse pants suit looking every bit the deadly undertaker she is. Only I know she would rather be changing pampers and cuddling newborns than dealing with Club Genesis and its runners. Her secret drive to have the whole nine yardswith family is her true desire in life. I envy her. I wish I knew what I wanted.

Sapphire leans in and kisses me goodnight. “I have a meeting in ten downstairs. If you run into your brother, try not to piss him off, okay?”

I bat her concerns away. I’m growing tired of worrying about my brother. “New client tonight?”

She cocks her head and waves. “Can’t talk about it. You know that. If I finish early enough, I will come back and help you with that sandwich.” And with that, my best friend leaves me to my own devices.

I take the hidden passageways from the top floor down to ground level where the kitchen takes up a good portion of the ground level. Smells of rich delicacies tingle my senses. The men insisted I eat before I left. We had the leftover lasagna we didn’t finish last night for a late lunch today. It was divine. Gage claims he’s not a good cook, but from what I tasted nothing came from a bottle. It was all homemade and by him.

I round the corner leading to the kitchen and come to an abrupt stop outside the doors. One is swung wide and I can hear Harlon speaking with someone in a low, harsh tone. But who? The second person speaks softly and I have to strain to make out the words. It’s a woman. Polaris?

“Polaris, fucking woman. You are going to get us killed. All of us. You can’t work here anymore. I’ve made my decision.”

That answers that I guess. I cling to the wall.

Harlon sounds enraged. I’ve been on the receiving end of that anger. Polaris isn’t as tough on the inside as I am against hisalpha, high-handed bullshit. I straighten myself and consider my options.

“Harlon, please.”

Pause.

“Santi, don’t let him do this, please. I have no other place to go. I can’t go back to New York. My sister doesn’t need my problems right now.”

I feel the pain in her words as if it were my own and it makes me want to reach out to Gage, Rush, or Aziel.

Polaris’ sister, Nova Masters, is expecting her first baby with the head of the mafia and badass biker, Ares. My new friend is right. They are dealing with their own shit right now. Bad family blood, the fight against the same people who kidnapped and nearly trafficked Polaris, and probably more shit I don’t know about. Going back to New York would not be a good idea. It would be traumatic and I won’t let that happen.

“Please listen to me,” she begs again and it’s growing intensely harder to stay quiet. My heart wants to weep at the pain in her voice. I grip the ends of my Guns N’ Roses T-shirt and inhale the scent of Gage’s cologne to settle my nerves. It works but doesn’t stop the wall of tears threatening to tumble. I fight hard to hold them in check.

I press all of my body to the wall and strain my hearing but there’s nothing but continued silence.

Polaris can’t leave. Harlon wouldn’t do that to her? I won’t let him throw my best friend out. Where would she go? Who would protect her? She’s already gone through so much.

“Polaris, damn it.”

That is Harlon. I pause, ready to bust in and save my friend.

“Santi.”

My brows shoot up. There is a totally different tone to the way Polaris says Santi’s name. There’s pleading and then there is sultry begging. Low pants and harsh breathing filter through the quiet space. Where is all the kitchen staff? And the waitresses?

I move to step around the corner when I hear footsteps come up from behind me. I jump when a heavy hand lands on my shoulder. Seized by a strong grip, I am whirled around and pinned to an unforgiving chest.

Brown eyes pierce mine.

“Cassius,” I breathe out, picking my heart off the floor for a second time tonight.

“As I said, we can’t have you here, woman. You leave tonight.”

Harlon’s tone is razor-sharp. Deadly.

Water spills out to wet my lashes for the fear my friend must be feeling. “Cassius, please,” I gruffly whisper as I look up at him. My heart clenches and I can’t take my eyes off Cassius out of fear of losing a friend.

He holds a finger to his lips. “Don’t speak of this to anyone, Belle. Not if you care for Polaris.”

I nod.

“Go now, sweetheart. I need to help your brother and my friend with something.”

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