Page 14 of Ruthless Daddies

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, glancing at the message on the screen. It’s from Nikolai:How’s Nebula? Make sure you’re not scaring off all the customers with that scowl of yours.

I smirk, typing a quick reply:Only the ones who need scaring.

I pocket the phone, letting my gaze drift back to the crowd, to the flashing lights and the swirling smoke that fills the room. This place, this scene—it’s like standing on the edge of a cliff, one step away from chaos. And that’s just how I like it.

I lean back, watching as the man at the bar is quietly escorted out, his face pale, all his bravado gone. He’ll think twice before trying anything here again.

And as I take in the room, the pounding music, the bodies swaying in the dark, I realize there’s a part of me that feels morealive here than anywhere else. It’s a dangerous game, but it’s one I know how to play better than anyone.

I smile to myself, the thrill of it all settling into my bones. Let them come. Let them try.

I’m always two steps ahead.

As I sink back into the booth, satisfied that our little problem at the bar has been dealt with, something catches my eye—a figure moving with wild, carefree abandon in the middle of the dance floor.

It’s Alice.

For a second, I don’t quite believe it. But then she spins, hair catching the light, a radiant smile on her lips as she moves, completely lost in the rhythm of the music. She’s not just dancing; she’sfeelingthe beat, letting it consume her, arms raised above her head, hips swaying with a confidence that makes her look like she belongs here more than anyone else in the room.

I sit up straighter, my amusement fading.

I make my decision in an instant, pushing myself up from the booth and making my way down to the dance floor. The lights flash overhead, bathing the writhing crowd in shades of blue and purple, but I only have eyes for one person. I weave through the throng of bodies, my focus locked on Alice.

By the time I’m close enough to touch her, I can feel the heat radiating off her skin, see the sheen of sweat on her neck. Her dress is riding up slightly, exposing the smooth skin of her thigh, and it takes every ounce of control I have not to grip her right here and now.

I step up behind her, my chest brushing against her back as I lean in, my lips close to her ear. “What the hell are you doing here, Alice?”

She startles, spinning around, her eyes wide as she looks up at me. “Dmitri!” she exclaims, her breathless voice barely audible over the pounding music.

I’m so close I can see the flush of her cheeks, the way her pupils are blown wide from the thrill of dancing. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, and I can’t tell if it’s from exertion or something else.

“Surprised?” I murmur, my voice low, letting it curl around her like smoke. I watch the way she shudders, a shiver rolling down her spine despite the heat of the room. It’s a small, involuntary reaction, but it’s enough to tell me everything I need to know.

She bites her lip, looking up at me through her lashes, clearly torn between surprise and something else, something darker. “I’m just…I’m just here with my friend,” she says.

“Is that so?” I say, tilting my head, letting my fingers trail down the length of her bare arm. “Where is she?”

Her skin is warm, almost feverish, and I feel the way she shivers under my touch. She looks around, her gaze unfocused. “She must be around somewhere.”

“You have no idea what kind of place you’ve walked into,krasotka,” I whisper into her ear. “You don’t belong here.”

Before she can respond, I grip her wrist, not harshly but firmly enough to make it clear I’m not giving her a choice. “Come with me,” I say, my tone leaving no room for argument.

“Dmitri, wait—” she starts to protest, trying to pull back, but I don’t let her. Instead, I lead her through the crowd, ignoring the curious onlookers. She struggles at first, her fingers digging into my arm, but then something shifts, and she follows, letting me guide her as if she’s made the decision to trust me.

I find a corner, tucked away from the main dance floor, where the music is muted just enough that we can actually talk. I press her back against the wall, caging her in with my arms, leaning close enough that our breaths mingle.

“What are you doing here?” I demand, my voice harsher than I intended. The sight of her dancing out there, vulnerable and unaware of the predators lurking in places like this, has me on edge.

She lifts her chin, defiant despite the way I’ve trapped her. “I came here to have some fun, Dmitri. Is that a crime?”

“It is when you show up in one ofourclubs, dancing like you have no idea where you are,” I snap back. “This isn’t a safe place for you, Alice.”

She scoffs, trying to push past me, but I press closer, my body blocking her path. “I can take care of myself,” she says, her voice laced with irritation. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“Maybe you can,” I reply, my eyes narrowing as I lean in, the scent of her perfume wrapping around me, intoxicating. “But here’s the thing,krasotka—you don’t get to come into my world and play by your own rules.”

Her breath hitches, and I can see the way her pulse beats rapidly at her neck, the way her lips part as if she’s about to argue, but no words come out.

---