Page 76 of Greed
“Good man. What about the fourth ring.” He surveyed the group. “Seriously, am I the only one who’s readDante’s Inferno?” He didn’t wait for an answer, but continued. “Fourth is Greed. That level has a few poker games going on. Fifth is Wrath. I wouldn’t head into any dark nooks up there unless you want to be punished.”
“Ooh. Do tell.” Tony materialized from somewhere and looked up the steps. “Fifth you say?”
“I knew you’d be into that,” Evan laughed.
Tony’s shrug of acceptance made Parker happy. “Then, Tony, you might also like to check out seven: Violence. But that’s where a lot of the bouncers are watching over the club, so maybe… you know what? Stay away from that level. I don’t want any trouble tonight.”
“What’s six?” Liza asked, also arriving.
“That’s boring: Heresy. I left that ring just a vacant step because we had limited space.”
“I count only seven rings,” Griffin said.
“That’s because the eighth and ninth are up behind the mirrored ceiling. Fraud and Treachery.”
Tony took a swig of his glass. “You do love your mirrors, don’t you, Parks?”
“Absolutely. Why not? We can see out, they can’t see in. We’ve got security up there keeping an eye on things, so behave yourself.” Parker rubbed his hands together, looking all together gleeful. “Saying that, you’re all here to have fun, and that’s why I prohibited the press. Let your hair down. Have a few drinks, Griff, find your girl. I’d love to meet her at some point, and maybe I’ll even see you two on the dance floor.”
He flinched. The entire family assumed because he’d triggered his bond, that being in a relationship with her was the natural progression.
But what if it wasn’t?
Griffin took a sip of his bubbly, wet his lips, and then lowered the glass. He wasn’t a drinker, but the champagne did well to make others believe he was.
“Oh, and one more thing,” Parker said, leaning in close. “Just quickly before more people get here. You should know we let the imposter go.”
“What?” A jolt of panic went through Griffin. “Why?”
“Before you get all worked up, there was a reason.”
Griffin’s hand clenched around the glass as he forced himself to leash his wrath. If Wyatt were there, he’d be giving Griffin the evil eye.They let Doppenger go. Why?
The sound level in the place picked up as more guests filed in. Parker glanced at a few people he knew, smiled and held up a finger to indicate he’d be with them in a moment. When he turned back to Griffin, his expression had gone dark. That man was almost as good an actor as Tony.
“We questioned him,” Parker said, voice low, “and he wouldn’t give up much so we released him so he’ll go back to the Syndicate.”
“He’s bait,” Evan elaborated.
Grace smiled and excused herself. “While you’re all talking work, I’m going to welcome the ladies.”
Evan kissed her before he relinquished her and Griffin couldn’t help the stab of jealousy that rode him again. Griffin’s gaze followed Grace to where Lilo had arrived at the bar, only meters away. He barely noticed the leggy blond with her because Lilo looked incredible. She wore a blue gown that flowed over her hips to kiss her ankles. The neckline was V-shaped and plunged from her shoulders to below her breasts, giving him plenty of skin to appreciate. The skin reminded him of her taste. His mouth watered.
She turned and their eyes clashed across the distance.
They held each other’s gaze for a long, hot minute, then Lilo smiled and turned back to her friends.
Was that a good sign?
“Does Doppenger know who held him captive?” Griffin asked, without taking his eyes from Lilo.
“It wasn’t my first interrogation, Griff. Of course he never discovered our true identities. As far as he’s concerned, the Deadly Seven took him, and that’s all he knows.” Parker indicated for the rest of the family to head up to a booth on one of the higher levels that overshadowed the red dance-pit. “I’ll explain when we’re all seated on the fourth level.”
Griffin had no choice but to follow. He cut across the room, stepping down the steps to the dance-pit, then went up the levels on the other side until he hit the fourth floor and slid into a booth marked VIP with a sign on the table. From his vantage point, he could see to where Lilo laughed at the bar with her friends.
Griffin plucked his collar from his neck. How was he going to last the night with her looking so enticing? Scratch that, how was he going to handle other men looking at her all night, because they already were…
“Just fucking ask her out, already.” Liza slid into the booth next to him. “Your lust is killing me.”
