Page 85 of Their Reckless Thief
That caught my attention. “What else? Did she mention anyone? Meet with anyone out of the ordinary?”
Jasmine shook her head. “No one that stands out. She did disappear a few times, just for a night or two. Said she wasworking. When she came back, she was different. Distant. I got the feeling she’d seen something she wasn’t supposed to.”
I clenched my jaw, willing the puzzle pieces to fall into place. Phantomine. The women who were going missing all had someconnection to the drug. This woman had been addicted for years. Could that be part of it? Was someone targeting these women because of their Phantomine habit?
Jasmine looked up at me, her eyes filled with concern. “You think someone’s taking us, don’t you?”
“I think something is going on, and I intend to put a stop to it. Your safety is my top priority. If any of you feel uncomfortable working until this is solved, you’ll still be paid in full. No questions asked. Spread the word.”
She nodded, gratitude flashing across her face. “Thanks, Vincenzo. We appreciate that. Be careful. Whatever this is, it feels big.”
I gave her a reassuring nod, though inside, my anger was a living thing. The Veil Guard was turning up the heat on the fake Phantomine circulating in my territory, pressuring me to clean up my mess, or I would lose their cooperation. I couldn’t have that. I needed to appease the magistrates to keep things running smoothly and keep the fucking Veil Guard out of my hair.
I watched the crowd as I sipped the blood in my goblet. The low throb of music pounded through the walls, but I barely heard anything. My focus was on the people, on the deals happening in the dark corners of the room.
That’s when I saw it. A handoff. At first glance, it looked like any other transaction, but a tiny, almost imperceptible detail in the vial that was handed over caught my eye. The liquid inside wasn’t right. The hue was off…just a shade lighter than the pure Phantomine I distributed. Subtle, but unmistakable to someone who knew the product like I did.
Fake Phantomine. Right under my motherfucking nose.
I clenched my jaw, rage flaring hot in my chest. I’d put safeguards in place. My men were watching, yet this shit was still being peddled in my club.
Myfucking club.
I stood slowly, my movements measured, controlled, despite the fury coursing through me. The man who had handed over the vial was mid-conversation, completely unaware that he’d just sealed his fate. I didn’t bother with a subtle approach. I wanted him to feel me coming and know the storm he’d just summoned.
I strode across the room, my presence clearing a path as people instinctively moved out of my way. By the time I reached the man, he still hadn’t realized he was being watched. I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the nearest wall, the force of it rattling the wall sconces. He gasped, but it was the shock in his eyes that I reveled in.
“What the fuck is this?” I growled, my hand diving into his pocket and pulling out a vial. I held it up to the dim light, letting the tiny differences shimmer. “You know what happens to people who deal fake shit in my territory?”
He shook his head, stammering, “I–I didn’t know it was fake, man. I swear! I thought it was the real stuff. I don’t know where it came from.”
I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “You expect me to believe that? You’re moving fake Phantomine inmyclub, while I’m here, and you thought I wouldn’t fucking notice?”
He started shaking, his hands trembling as they gripped the edge of the wall. “Please, man. I swear, I didn’t know. I was just passing it along. Some guy gave it to me. I don’t even know him!”
“Wrong answer. And I’m not your fuckingman.”
I yanked him away from the wall and tossed him onto the floor in front of me. The people in the club hadn’t noticed yet, too absorbed in the haze of the music and the dancers, but my men had. They moved in closer, creating a perimeter around us, making sure no one would interfere.
I crouched down beside the man, gripping his throat just hard enough to remind him who held his life in their hands. “You think I don’t know what’s happening? You think I don’t know what this shit is doing to my women? My business?” He choked out a garbled response, but I squeezed a little tighter, cutting him off. “I’ve had it with this garbage circulating in my streets. You’re going to tell me who gave this to you, or this is going to be a very long night for you.”
His eyes were wide, desperate, but I could see the truth through his panic. He didn’t know who his supplier was. He was low-level, a pawn in a bigger game, but I needed to make an example of him. Word had to get out. There would be no mercy for those who thought they could move against me. Not in my clubs, not in my territory.
“I swear,” he choked out. “I don’t know… I swear, man, please.”
I stood, pulling him up with me and dragging him toward the center of the club. People were noticing now, whispers spreading like wildfire. Good. Let them see. Let them understand what happened to those who crossed me.
I tossed him into a table, sending glasses and bottles clattering to the floor. He scrambled to his feet, his face pale with terror.
“Listen up!” I shouted, my voice booming over the music, cutting through the noise like a blade. The club fell silent, all eyes turning toward me. “This is what happens when you try to move fake shit in my territory. When you disrespect me. When you put lives at risk.”
The man was on his knees now, clutching at the broken glass on the table, his face a mask of fear. I grabbed him by the back of the neck, yanking him upright. “This is your one warning,” I hissed in his ear. “If I catch you—or anyone else—selling this garbage again, you won’t be leaving this club alive.”
I shoved him toward the door, and he stumbled into the bouncers stationed at the exit. They knew what to do. They’d make sure he disappeared, one way or another.
I turned back to the crowd, making sure everyone understood the message. “This ends tonight,” I snapped. “I want every last drop of contaminated Phantomine out of my territory. And when I find out who’s involved in this, you’ll wish you never fucking crossed me.”
The club remained silent as my words sank in. Slowly, the music started again, but the tension lingered. They knew now. They knew what was at stake.
