Page 97 of The Delta's Rogue
The large building looms over the Hollywood street, pulsing with the music from the DJ and the tense, sexual energy from the guests inside. Outside, however, the street itself is quiet and darker. Few people pass by, and when they do, their steps are hurried and they pay the club no notice.
“Do they not see it?”Dominic asks through mindlink as a couple brushes past us, hand in hand.
A royal pack member perk, apparently. They can mindlink anyone from any pack. It makes their jobs easier to do, I guess.
“There are enchantments on the club to ensure privacy and security. To ensure only those invited may enter. It’s only visible to those who know about it.”
His nose wrinkles, and his hands curl into fists in his pockets.“Magic.”He spits the word out, suppressing a shudder and shaking his head.“It’s not witches themselves I have an issue with,”he continues.“Or hybrids. But as soon as Rune draws on her power…”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me. Witches have done awful things to members of my pack—my family—as well. We have a difficult time trusting them too.”
“Then how can you trust the one you talked to in your dream?”
“Because the other option is giving up.”
The limo door opens, and Cassandra and Nolan slide out. She straightens the short skirt of her dress, and Nolan tucks his shirt into his pants, following close behind her. Dominic cuts his eyes towards me, and our smirks grow as we both glance at Nolan.
He rolls his eyes and slams the door shut. Then he stalks by us and over to Cassandra, smoothing out her long brown hair—now wild and close to tangled from whatever the two of them were doing inside the limo—and tucking the strands behind her ears. She stares up at him as he slides his arm around her waist and tugs her protectively against his body as he continues to play with her hair and caress her face. Her eyes spark with mischief while also shining with trust and love.
Suddenly, it’s four years ago. I’m inside Adornment, wrapping a thin red piece of fabric around Sarina’s neck for the first time and taking her into my arms as I lead her into the club. We’re hidden in the entrance hallway as I reassure her that her act was convincing, and she gazes at me with that same expression I see on Cassandra now. That perfect mix of defiance, adoration, and respect.
A yearning pang shoots through me, straight from my heart and all the way to my fingertips. I have to tear my eyes away from them—not to give them their privacy but because it’s too much. It’s a reminder of everything I lost when I let Sarina leave, of everything we’ve missed out on by being apart for so long.
Goddess, what I wouldn’t give to have her back in my life. There is nothing I wouldn’t sacrifice, nothing I would say no to, if it meant keeping Sarina safe. If it meant she was mine in every way.
Whatever it takes. I’m never letting her go again.
“We’re ready,” Nolan grunts from my side.
I nod, still staring at the sidewalk, unable to look at him and show him the sorrow mixed with jealousy. “Good.”
I stroll towards the entrance, pushing my heartache to the side for the time being. Focusing on what Sarina and I missed out on over the last four years won’t do me any good in the now. I need to be present, focused, to keep myself and my team—and Sarina—safe.
“Remember,”I mindlink all of them.“Most of what you’ll see in there isn’t typical of this type of club. These people… They’re cruel. This is all about power and being in control of those they view as weaker than them.”
“We’re not going to judge your sexual tastes based on a visit to a club owned by someone who sells females to the highest bidder.”Nolan chuckles slightly.“We’re not total dickheads.”
“Sometimes you are,”Cassandra quips.
I have to bite my cheek to keep myself from laughing out loud.
“We have parts to play,”I remind them.“We have to pretend we are total dickheads if we want them to believe us, to trust us.”
“We’ll follow your lead,”Dominic says.
My lead.
They’re putting their trust in me, and I could be leading them into a trap. I’m reminding them to play it cool and remember their parts when I don’t know if I’ll be capable of holding it together. If I see something vile, or if there’s even a hint of a mention of Sarina, I may fly off the rails.
I fidget with my watch as we wait for the bouncers to acknowledge us.
“We’ve got your back.”Nolan claps me on the shoulder and squeezes.“Just breathe and remember the end goal.”
The end goal: Sarina safe and by my side, her mark on my neck and my heart in her hands.
“I have a meeting with Nuncio,” I say out loud to the bouncer.
His gaze slides over to me.
