Page 6 of The Devil's Chaos

“This isn’t a game.”

“I think you’ll find it is,” he countered, stepping closer to me until I could feel the warmth of his body against mine.

“No, it’s not,” I acknowledged, my voice shaking slightly.

He leaned in closer, his breath warm on my face, and whispered, “But it could be.”

My heart raced as I considered his words. “I don’t know you,” I murmured.

His eyes sparkled with amusement. “Yet, you’re interested.”

“See, this is literally what happens in every scary movie. The girl trusts the hot guy with the fuck-me blue eyes and then ends up dead,” I stuttered, pushing my body farther into my vanity.

God, why did I say that out loud?

He chuckled softly, running his fingers through his messy hair, which only made him look more dangerous and alluring. What the hell was wrong with me? I should have yelled for one of the bouncers, but I didn’t. I just stood there, completely entranced by him. Clearly, my stranger danger meter was fucking broken, and if he chopped me up into tiny little pieces and threw them to the dogs, I’d probably thank him for saving me from my pathetic existence in a life I hated.

“And yet, here you are, standing in a room with me—ahotstranger with…how did you put it? Oh, that’s right,fuck-me eyes,considering my words instead of running for the door and alerting your bodyguards.”

He had a point there.

I couldn’t deny that I was drawn to him, even though he’d let himself into my dressing room and now had me cornered. There was an allure to him, pulling me in, a magnetic force that I couldn’t resist.

“What do you want from me?” I demanded, trying to sound more confrontational than curious.

"A dance,” he responded.

“A dance?”

He leaned in closer, his warm breath tickling my ear. “Just one dance, Haven Benson. Trust me, you’ll enjoy it.”

I hesitated for a moment, my thoughts racing like a wildfire. What was it about this stranger that made me feel so alive? The thrill of danger? The excitement of the unknown? Something my father didn’t control? Or maybe I was just a whore, as everyone thought, and the idea of something dangerous was too good to resist.

I had to get out of here, far away from this guy, before I did something foolish. I took a deep breath, “I’m sorry. I have somewhere else to be right now. I suggest you don’t comearound me again because my father or brother will have you killed.”

Without waiting for his response, I pushed past him and hastily opened my dressing room door, closing it abruptly behind me. I didn’t wait to see if he followed. I knew well enough that my father was a monster. I learned that at a very young age. If I ever forgot, he would surely remind me. My brother wasn’t any better. I was his property, his personal whore. And I did what he demanded, without question, to survive under his rule.

I reached the Lotus room and pushed the door open. What I saw made my stomach drop. Winston Grey was no longer alone. He was sitting next to my brother and two other men.

“There’s my beautiful baby sister.”

Iknewthat look.

That was the look he had when he was up to something. Something I wouldn’t like. Something that reminded me that I was not in control of my own life.

Alex looked up, a pleased smile on his face. “I told Winston and his friends how you love making our associates feel good. It’s your specialty, really.”

I didn’t move, but gave Alex a look that personified my hatred of him. If he noticed, he didn’t seem fazed, or the least bit bothered. Instead, his lips tightened into a thin line, and he stood, straightening his suit jacket before walking toward me.

I turned and walked out the door and made it a couple of steps into the hallway before I felt his firm grip on my hair, followed by a brutal yank that sent my head snapping back. I heard a sharp crack, and my vision blurred. A wave of pain washed over me as he viciously slammed my head back against the wall.

“Do not piss me off, sister,” Alex growled.

“Is this you pissed off, brother?” I mocked.

The searing pain that roared across my cheek as he backhanded me across the face sent me stumbling, barely catching myself before I fell to the ground.

“You’ve been as stubborn as our mother, never learning your lesson, and look at where that got her, Haven,” he hissed, his eyes dark and dangerous.

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