Page 18 of Seducer

I didn’t explain myself as I rose to my feet, heading away. Maybe I wasn’t in the mood to spend more time with friends tonight. There was a hefty amount of business on the table including selecting someone for the empty seat on the board. My brother had vetted several men and a few women, but no one seemed perfect for the job.

Yes, I was a picky son of a bitch since the woman holding the position before had been duped into a passionate love affair, allowing herself to betray us with far too much ease. We needed to be careful. There were too many trade secrets at stake.

My eyes drifted toward the beautiful kitten, slowing my gait as I studied her form. She had a dancer’s body, long and lean withsculpted muscles in her arms and legs. Yes, I could easily see both wrapped around my body as I fucked her like a wild animal.

She turned as if sensing me, now only a few feet away. I had no business approaching her, nor should I attempt to get involved under any circumstances, but the draw was too strong. As I approached, her lower lip quivered. That neither surprised nor dissuaded me, instead offering a small sense of her vulnerability.

I was much taller than the precious dancer, standing above her by a solid five inches, but she held her head high, her eyes filled with the same intense ferocity I’d seen on stage.

“Is there something I can do for you, sir?” she dared to ask.

I was about to answer her when a presence caught my attention. My normal reaction would be to reach for my weapon but that wouldn’t bode well in a club full of people.

Before reacting, I lifted my gaze to the vivacious kitty who’d awakened my senses. “Una gemma preziosa che scintilla alla luce. Una bella donna da amare. Un gattino selvatico che desidera essere addomesticato. Presto…”

The girl opened her eyes as if understanding what I’d said. She remained silent, her eyes continuing to search mine before backing away toward the bar.

Frustration crowded my spirit even as I began to recognize a voice near me.

“The world as we know it has stopped turning. Zach Blackwell, as I live and breathe.”

It took me a few seconds to complete the recognition. When I did, I was surprised at the blast from the past, a voice I hadn’t anticipated hearing perhaps for the rest of my life. Iturned toward the sound and grinned, approaching with my arm outstretched for a handshake. “Mack Dannon. What in the hell are you doing here?”

I’d been friends with the guy years before, attending college and even rooming together for a year. When I’d reconnected with my brothers, deciding to move to Chicago, we’d lost touch within a few months. I’d had few friends in my younger days, both from living in such a hellish environment and preferring to hide in the shadows.

We shook hands, his smile the same as I remembered even though he had gray at his temples. Then again, so did I.

“Hey, a man’s gotta enjoy some time off. You know? I heard good things about the club and thought I’d check it out.” He laughed.

“What do you think?”

“A little wild for my tastes.”

I choked purposely. “Since when? You always enjoyed your kink with a little romance.”

He laughed again. “That was then. I’m older now. So are you, bud. But Jesus. You look good. Damn good. What’s your secret? Oh, yes, money.”

“Very funny. It’s called hard work. What brings you to town?” I sidled up to the bar, nodding toward the bartender. My tastes were well known. Within seconds, I had a fresh drink in front of me.

So much for the two-drink limit.

His features changed and he briefly looked away, grabbing his beer bottle and guzzling several gulps. “I should have called you when I arrived.”

“Okay. You’re right. So why didn’t you?”

“Just busy. But I moved to Chicago a few months ago.”

“Really?” We’d been close enough I’d considered him a brother long before I’d known any biological ones existed.

He nodded several times. “Hey, you gotta go where the business takes you.”

“And what business is that?”

Mack scratched his head as if embarrassed about what he did. “I’m with the Chicago PD now. Made detective.”

I almost choked on my drink for real this time. The man had been a basic delinquent when I’d known him. We’d been lucky not to land ourselves in jail or get kicked out of college. “You’re shitting me.”

“Nope. I found myself in law enforcement. No laughing.”

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