Page 10 of Hidden Heir

“Rik,” I snap. “He said no. So it a no. I’ll just have to come up with something else.”

“So when the Yakuza appear on our doorstep with their insane chemicals and guns, what do we do then?” Rik mutters.

I stop dead in my tracks. “Are you doubting him?”

The irritation on Rik’s face melts away as he stops next to me. He shakes his head. “No sir.”

“Good. Then bring the car around. The news about the Middle Eastwaswell received and I want to celebrate.”

There arefew places in this city where I can go without being recognized. As the son of Kreik Koval, I’m known by association in our circles, but many of my father’s enemies have a habit of placing a very public eye on him. The most recent being a drawn-out murder trial my father has been a part of for the past three months. We could have used our connections to get him off immediately, but my father likes these things to play out so he can prove how untouchable he is.

It has jolted us right into the public eye, so we have to navigate our criminal empire with even greater care. I have to be extra careful when out in public and tonight is no different. I want to get drunk and celebrate. Rik becomes extra diligent as my shadow and we have multiple guards discreetly placed around the club to keep me safe. They are excellent at what theydo and I don’t spot a single one of them as I approach the bar for the third time and order another Vodka, neat.

The music pounds so loud that I can feel the vibrations in my breastbone, and the floor trembles beneath my feet. Fog fills the air as drunk, happy faces drift in and out of focus between the flashes of neon lights passing overhead. The bartender delivers my drink with a smile, and I yell for another round, making sure Rik gets included despite his vocal denial.

“I can’t protect you while I’m drunk!” he yells in my ear over the music.

“Tonight you are my friend, not my bodyguard,” I yell back, sliding the drink toward him. “So drink!”

“Not on your life!”

“There are several other sets of eyes on me,” I yell back. “Live a little!”

Rik rolls his eyes and finally accepts the drink as he mutters something into the communication button on his wrist. Then he drains the glass in one gulp and slams it down on the bar. “Another!”

We laugh and drink and dance.

Then I see her.

Like a bone snapping painfully into place, the sight of her throws my entire world off-axis as the noise of the club fades into the background.

A gorgeous woman whose beauty is so ethereal that she takes my breath away, pushes up to the bar and yells for the bartender. Her slender body is wrapped in a black latex dress that looks like it was poured onto her. Brown curls burst out of silver pins and cascade down her shoulders, and the fullest plum lips I have ever seen in my life pull into a beautiful smile.

Like a moth to a flame, I am instantly drawn to her. Rik’s hand on my arm grips tight as I start to move, but when he notices her a second later, he releases me.

I weave through the people between us until I’m next to her. Glitter sparkles on her bare shoulders. I notice a single drop of sweat as it rolls down her cleavage, disappearing between her breasts. She puffs out her cheeks with a loud ‘phew!’ and fans herself with her hand as a glass of red is placed in front of her.

“Let me get that!” I say, catching her wrist as she goes to pay. I bring my lips close to her ear so I don’t have to yell too loudly.

She turns to look at me and I’m utterly captured by her sparkling blue eyes. She smiles widely as her eyes drift down my body, taking in my half-open silver shirt and black slacks.

“Alright,” she replies. “I won’t turn down a free drink.”

“Excellent.” I pay with a tap of my wristwatch and she picks up her drink.

“Thank you!”

“Anytime.” I can’t take my eyes off her. “What’s your name?”

“Brooke. Yours?”

“Leon,” I reply, defaulting to my nickname. My real name draws too many questions over pronunciation and origin. “What brings you out tonight?”

“I’m celebrating!” Her smile widens. “You?”

“Also celebrating.”

“Oh really?” Her eyes widen and when she takes a drink, her lower lip glistens slightly. She slowly licks her lips and smirks. “What are you celebrating?”

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