Page 3 of Concealed Deception

Until now.

UntilMiss Piercebecame a blip on my radar.

When I received Miss Montgomery’s request and saw she was trying to use her family name to gain entry into my club, I almost revoked her father’s membership.That was until Tony managed to talk me down after he completed a background check of his own only two days ago.

When Tony showed me her pictures from his research, it was her friend I became intrigued by.She’s become an enigma, and that doesn’t bode well for me.

When I asked Tony to do a more thorough background check, something else caught my attention.A familiarity.She doesn’t know I exist, and they tried hard to keep it that way, but fuck them for hiding her.She’s about to learn the rules have changed.

“Oh shit.”Tony knows how high the stakes are, and me showing my face wasn’t my intention tonight.

“It’s rude not to thank your host, Miss Pierce.I thought your father would have taught you better than that.”

I watch as my comment goes unaffected, and that’s because she has no idea what I’m speaking of.She has no idea her father’s past is about to catch up with her.

“Xander, what the fuck are you doing?”Tony warns through gritted teeth.Both of these young ladies are too shocked to pay any attention to what’s being said, and my right-hand is the only man who I’ll allow to call me out.But not in public.

“Antonio, will you accompany Miss Montgomery downstairs.I have matters to discuss with Miss Pierce.”I emphasize her name with distaste.She already fears me, and rightly so.

For the first time since I stepped foot out of my office, she speaks, and I find I’m sadly mistaken.

“I don’t know who you think you are, but Lacey is not going anywhere without me, nor am I going to stay here to talk with some demanding, arrogant asshole when he doesn’t have the manners to introduce himself when he clearly knows who I am.If you’ll excuse us, we’re leaving.”

My eyes are temporarily drawn to Miss Pierce’s heaving chest.I can’t afford distractions, but this young woman is one, and I’m letting her walk out.

“Make sure Vince keeps tabs on her.I want to know her every move.”

I watch as she rushes past my bodyguards, down the stairs and through the exit.I stay focused on the door as Tony speaks into his handpiece, informing my men not to let her out of their sight.

I need to formulate a plan if Miss Pierce is going to meet me again, and I know the perfect man to do so.“Tony, do that social media crap you love so much and get her to meet me again.But this time, stick to the plan.We don’t need you finding curious women and having to dismiss them because they become attached.”

Tony’s eyes sparkle with mischief—and not the fun kind.This fucker will be thinking of all the ways he can persuade her without them knowing his true identity.He’ll be plotting all the ways he can lure her, and then without suspicion bring her to me.

He’s got a sick mind.He’s all about the chase, the mind games, and how to hook them before they run scared.

Me, I take what I want.Miss Pierce is about to find out the hard way what it’s like to pay a debt, and I don’t mean the bar tab they failed to settle on their way out.

“Vince is up to speed and I'll sort out this other matter.”Tony is quick on his feet as he too rushes down the stairs, but unlike the young ladies, he takes the glass door I came through that leads to my office.

I move slowly, looking unaffected, when in fact, I’m more affected by this young woman than I expected to be.How is it after all these years, she happens to pop up on my radar, wanting into my club?If she is indeed who William has been telling me about, let’s just say her whole world just changed.

As I walk past Knox, one of my many bodyguards, he gives me a slight nod.

Earlier, I asked him and Tony to bring Miss Montgomery and Miss Pierce to my VIP section.The women had no idea the whole time they were not only being watched but listened to, and I had other men working their magic, getting any physical evidence they could to prove my suspicions are correct.

I walk through the glass door leading to my office, when Tony comes striding toward me with a smug expression.

“What?”I have no time for games.I need to call and find out the whole story.The time has come.I need to know now.

“I’ve done it.I’ve found a way to get her to accept your invitation.”It’s like he wants a fucking medal of honor.

“I have no time for your shit, Tony.I told you to sort it, so get it sorted.I’m going to ring William and confirm we’ve got the right woman.It needs to be her, Antonio.I deserve what I’m owed.”

“Fine, but at least listen for one moment—”

“I said no!Now leave me while I make my calls.”I hear him huffing under his breath.“You’re lucky you’re my closest friend, Tony, or I’d have shot you in the head for this behavior.”

“So, you keep telling me, yet here I still am.”His arms are spread wide as he walks backward, his malicious smirk in place.

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