Page 97 of Their Reckless Thief
Dorian stood and adjusted his jacket. “All right, ladies. Let’s get out of here. We’ve got business to take care of.”
We stepped out of the boutique looking like a million bucks since Dorian had insisted on purchasing matching shoes, purses, and jewelry.
I couldn’t believe we’d been roped into a meeting with a rival mafia lord. The thought made my palms sweat and my stomach churn, but at least we looked the part.
After a quick stopat Vincenzo’s mansion, we headed to the meeting.
Walking into Vincenzo’s most prestigious underground club was like stepping into another world—a darker, more dangerous world that vibrated with magic and power. Even the lighting was seductive: deep reds and purples casting shadows that danced across the sleek leather seats and velvet-lined walls. The music was low and sultry, thrumming through the floor as if the entire place had a pulse of its own.
I felt eyes on me as we walked in, my arms linked between Vincenzo and Dorian. Luca led the way, his presence commanding. He was all dark, brooding intensity, while Vincenzo was cold, controlled power that could snap withoutwarning. Dorian, on the other hand, exuded warmth and playfulness, the golden retriever energy hiding the deadly precision beneath. Vivian followed close behind.
The men were all dressed impeccably, as usual. Luca, in his dark tailored suit, always blending into the shadows. Vincenzo, in a black-on-black ensemble that made his sharp features look like they could cut glass. And Dorian, ever the contrast, in deep burgundy that hugged his frame in all the right ways.
A man approached us, confidence oozing from him, and flashed me a smile. “Care to dance?”
He had some balls to ask for a dance when Vincenzo and Dorian were flanking me.
Before I could respond, Vincenzo’s hand shot out, gripping the man’s shoulder with a possessive intensity. “Fuck off,” he growled. “She’s with me.”
Defiance flared in the man’s eyes, but one look at Vincenzo’s expression, and he backed away, muttering an apology. Vincenzo didn’t even glance at him again, his eyes locked on me, making it clear there was no room for argument.
As we moved deeper into the club, I noticed more heads turning. Men and women alike couldn’t help but stare at the three of them.
Gods, they were hot. It was almost laughable how perfect they looked together—each a different shade of danger.
Vivian walked beside us, her back and shoulders stiff. She was a sight to behold, effortless beauty incarnate. I gave her a small smile, and she returned it. After our earlier conversation, it felt like we were back to being us.
The club was the kind of place where deals were made, lives were ruined, and fortunes were gambled away. High-end didn’t even begin to describe it. The bar shimmered in the center, bottles of enchanted liquor glowing in their glass cases, and the floors were polished obsidian, reflecting the dim lights.
Waitresses dressed in barely there outfits that shimmered like magic itself floated through the crowd. Glowing orbs were suspended in the air, each pulsing softly, creating an ethereal vibe. Inside each one, a dancer moved to the beat of the music.
The patrons were all dressed to the nines. Men in suits that screamed power, some of them shifters, their predatory eyes gleaming. Fae with delicate, almost inhuman beauty lounged around, their presence commanding even as they reclined. Vampires, with their sharp, elegant features, goblets of blood in hand, their predatory eyes following every heartbeat in the room. And then there were the demons—tall, dark, and impossibly alluring. Their expressions reflected their power. Everyone here was playing their own game, but we were at the top of the food chain tonight.
Luca led us to the VIP area, a semi-private balcony overlooking the rest of the club. From there, we had a perfect view of the floor below, and more importantly, we’d be able to see the rival mafia boss the moment he walked in. Vivian and I settled on dark leather couches behind the shimmering curtains that offered privacy while still allowing us to see everything.
A waitress came by almost immediately asking for our drink order.
Vincenzo barely acknowledged her. He sat down, his movements calculated and graceful, as if he were conserving energy for the moment when he’d need to strike. Dorian followed suit, his usual playful demeanor dialed down just enough to match the seriousness of the moment.
“Scotch with blood. Neat,” Vincenzo ordered without looking at the menu.
Dorian leaned back in his seat, his arm draped casually along the back of the couch behind me, but I could feel the tension humming just beneath the surface. He was smiling, but it didn’tquite reach his eyes. “Whiskey for me. Ladies, what do you want?”
I looked over at Vivian, who was still taking it all in. Her eyes flicked between the glowing orbs above us and the crowd below, and I could tell she was out of her element. She might have been one of the best at what she did, but this was a different world. One filled with power and danger, not just money and tech.
“I’ll take a vodka soda with lime,” I said.
Vivian ordered something similar, her voice quieter than usual.
Luca didn’t order anything, staying alert, scanning our surroundings.
We sat in a tense silence for a few moments, waiting for the rival mafia boss to arrive. My heart raced, and I twisted my fingers together. We needed this meeting to go smoothly. A single misstep and the plan would go to hell. Not to mention that blood could be spilled.
I turned to Luca, who hadn’t spoken since we arrived. He stood at the edge of the VIP area, his back straight, gaze fixed on the entrance of the club below. He was always so composed, so unreadable. It was like he was the embodiment of a living shadow.
“Do you think he’ll show?” I asked.
Luca didn’t turn, but I saw the slight movement of his head as he acknowledged my question. “He’ll show. He needs this deal as much as we do, but don’t expect it to be easy.”
