Page 25 of Room Seven

He can put up a great front, but my friend lives in a constant state of anxiety over Aster.

“He put a bullet in the girl’s head and dressed her like a doll before sending her as a message.”

Viper’s animalistic growl claws up my spine and the beast in me wants to roar alongside him.

It takes a lot of effort to keep from falling down a rabbit hole of guilt for letting it happen, but I nod slowly and stay focused. “That’s the one. So yes, I believe our friend would hurt Aster.”

“We should have offed him then and a lot more people would be alive and happy. Including us. When his brother went away and Harlon took over something broke in Drake’s brain. He was already fucking nuts, but–”

Viper’s phone rings, cutting him off. A minute later he hangs up and reaches for his suit jacket from the back of a chair. “We’re on.”

“About fucking time,” I curse.” ready for this night to end so I can get to the bottom of my bourbon bottle.

I finish my glass and follow my crew out the door.

Women in everything from latex dresses that look painted on to others wearing heels and nothing else. Every scent imaginable permeates the halls and large ballrooms where shows are being performed. Club Sin’s version of Rio’s Carnival is in full swing. Theme night sounds fun, but I want to sign on the dotted line, hand over the cash, and leave Viper to mourn Aster under the willow tree.

“Hey, Mr. Moretti. Alone again tonight?”

A server moves toward me. She’s everything this place sells. Sex and sin. Black feathers fan both sides of her face from a mask hiding her identity. Glitter covers most of her body like it is an acceptable alternative to clothing and long legs end in a pair of stilettos.

“Mr. Moretti. Are you finally joining in the festivities?” She glides up to me and presses her body along my side. Hints of jasmine and honey hit my senses and take me back to Aster, and I suddenly feel the urge to sink to my knees.

This woman has no idea the suffering her touch causes.

I put my hands on her hips and gently guide her toward Viper, who looks at me like he doesn’t know what to do with a woman.

“Ms. Sampson, I think you have some members in need of fresh drinks.” Viper ushers her in one direction while we continue on toward the back of the club where the head offices are. A security guard passes us through a set of locked doors.

It’s like stepping into a faraday cage. Metal clicks behind us and the silence is fucking fantastic. On this side of the door, another server greets us, wearing all her clothes.

“Mr. A will be here shortly. He’s asked me to show you to his office. Follow me.”

Clad in fishnet, leather and feather, our blonde guide opens a couple of doors and leaves us waiting in an office that has nothing personal in it. A blind man can see that the owners of the place don’t spend time here. I can’t imagine they have any emotional connection beyond the monetary value.

“Did Raja tell you anything about the owners we don’t know about, Viper?”

Knowing the seller’s angles and why people might be interested in selling are how you cut deals.

Amber eyes turn to mine. “Nope. He barely took my call this time around. I had to do a lot of groveling to get us to this point. So don’t fuck it up with your dog faces, anti-people attitudes and asshole behavior.”

I breathe in and exhale slowly, stretching my fingers at my side. Thirty-plus years as the man’s friend has me not burying my knuckles in his face. Or him returning the favor.

Luther steps between us. “You have some glitter on you.” I look down when he brushes at the gold flakes. His efforts are only rubbing them deeper into the material.

“Here let me.” I strip my jacket off and give it a good shake when my phone rings. I jerk it out of my pocket to see a name I haven’t thought about in years.

“What?” I bark into the speaker.

The voice on the other end says one sentence before hanging up.

Viper catches my gaze and his brows pinch. “You look like God just offered salvation, but the devil still has your balls in a vise. What’s up?”

“You’re not going to believe this shit.”

Six

Viper

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