Page 52 of The Viper

The songs melt into each other and I look around, knowing Dominic won’t be too far, but I don’t see him. I do, however, see Bryan standing near the VIP area watching Eliza and me. I guess he is more than a waiter.

“Hey,” I say to Eliza.

“What?”

“I’m thirsty. I’m going to get some water. Do you want some?” She shakes her head. “I’ll be right back.” She gives me a thumbs up and continues to dance. I don’t really want to go back into the VIP area just for water so I head over to the bar.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asks over the heavy bass of the music.

“Just a water, please.”

“Sure.” I turn to check on Eliza and make sure she’s not getting hassled by anyone. “Here you go.” He places the water on the counter and I lift it to have some.

“You’re prettier than the other chick you’re with,” someone says to my left.

I turn toward the male voice, but now it’s on my right. I look that way and see the guy who was grinding against me. I roll my eyes and scowl at him. “Go away.”

“She’s hot, but you’re hotter.”

“Fuck off.” I turn my back on him and drink the rest of my water.

“So it’s the easy way then.”

“What?” I whip around to look at him, and he cocks a brow and smirks. Suddenly, I feel woozy and grab the edge of the counter. “What’s happening?” I know I’ve only had two drinks so I can’t be drunk. Fuck.

“I’ve got you,” the guy says and places his arms around me.

My eyes close.

Chapter fourteen

Dominic

“That’s impossible,” I say as I pace back and forth upstairs.

“It’s not,” Adrian replies. “I checked the inventory and everything is right. Looks like business is down.”

“No, it’s not,” I argue as I turn toward him. My phone vibrates in my pocket to see Bryan has sent me a message. The girls are dancing, I’m keeping an eye on them. I walk over to the window to look down for the girls. Bryan is trying to prove himself to me, but when it comes to Rose, I don’t trust anyone but Marco with her. Even Frank is questionable. I scan the dance floor and easily spot my girl. “Adrian, I can tell you right now, we’re being skimmed. This last week alone, expenses are up by nine percent, while our income is down by four percent. There’s a discrepancy.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, I’ve checked everything myself, and I’m sure no one’s stealing from us.”

“Perhaps...” I pause as I watch a guy approach my girl. My spine tenses and I ball my hands into fists. She sharply turns and pushes him, the guy slinks away with his tail between his legs. I chuckle when I see my lioness be so forceful with him. He’s lucky he just left because I don’t think he’d like what I’d do to him if he stayed. My hands relax and I turn toward Adrian who’s hitting the scotch. I look over to Marco and say, “What have I got on tomorrow?”

He pulls his phone out and looks through the calendar. “We’re heading over to the docks.”

I turn again to watch my girl. “In the afternoon, right?” Rosa breaks away from Eliza and I watch as she walks over to the bar. “Why isn’t she going to the VIP area?” I ask aloud as I keep switching between Eliza and Rosa.

“The shipment should be in by four,” Marco says.

“We’ll come in here in the morning when it’s quiet. I don’t want anyone knowing what we’re doing,” I say.

“You’re looking for nothing, because everything is fine,” Adrian says. “But if you want to waste your time, then be my guest.”

I zone out to Adrian as I see the guy who was grinding against my girl approach her. He says something to her then ducks around to the other side. His movement is quick, and if you weren’t watching, you wouldn’t see what I just saw. I fly out of the room and down the stairs. Marco is hot on my heels, with Adrian behind him. “Get Eliza out of here!” I shout over my shoulder.

“What is it?” Marco asks as I slam the door open at the bottom of the stairs.

“The fucker drugged her.” I get to the bar and see him whispering to my girl as she stumbles beside him, his arms are wrapped around her in an embrace. Anyone would think she’s had too much to drink, and he’s helping his girlfriend out of the club.

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