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“Get it together,” I whisper, trying to calm my racing heart. “No one knows what happened. You’re fine.”

But the guilt gnaws at me, making my skin prickle with unease. I quicken my pace, desperate to reach the exit and escape the suffocating atmosphere of the Voodoo Velvet.

As I near the door, a sudden realization hits me. Something’s off. My wrist feels lighter, bare. I glance down, my stomach dropping as I see the empty space where my watch should be.

“No, no, no,” I mutter, panic rising in my throat. That watch was from myabuela. It’s the only thing I have left of her. I probably dropped it in the chaos of trying to leave quickly. There’s no way I can go back to get it. If I walk back into that room, Ice won’t let me leave until we talk things over. I can’t. Not right now. We need to cool off before we do anything else we’ll both regret.

I spot Vicki by the bar, her blonde hair catching the neon lights. Relief washes over me as I approach her.

“Vicki, I need a favor,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

She turns, her green eyes widening as she takes in my appearance. “Bella? What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I shake my head, forcing a smile. “I’m fine. I just… I left my watch in the VIP room. Could you grab it for me?”

Vicki glances at the stage. “I’m up next. Why don’t you get it yourself?”

“I… I can’t deal with the customer right now,” I lie, hating how easily it comes to me. “Please, it’s important. If you hurry it will only take a second.”

She studies me for a moment, concern evident in her eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I nod, perhaps a bit too eagerly. “I just need to leave. Can you hold onto the watch until my shift tomorrow?”

Vicki hesitates, then nods. “Of course, chica. I’ve got your back.”

Relief floods through me. “You’re a lifesaver.”

As I turn to leave, Vicki calls out, “Bella, wait! What should I tell Ice if he asks about you?”

I freeze, my heart skipping a beat. She doesn’t know, does she? No, she’s just assuming that the club’s owner will want to know why I disappeared. That’s all.

“Just… tell him I left early. Say it was personal.”

She nods and doesn’t press further. I’m grateful for her discretion as I make my way to the exit.

I pause at the exit, my hand on the door. The cool metal beneath my palm grounds me for a moment as I wrestle with the decision to leave. Myabuela’swatch feels like a physical weight on my conscience, pulling me back towards the VIP room where Ice waits. But going back there right now would be a disaster.

“I can’t go back,” I mutter, closing my eyes. The memory of Ice’s touch, his piercing silver-blue eyes, flashes through my mind. My body responds instantly, a rush of heat coursing through me. I shake my head, trying to clear the fog of desire.

“Get it together,” I whisper. “Vicki can handle it.”

I trust Vicki. She’s the only one here who seems trustworthy. Also, she’s dating Tank, another guy from Underground Vengeance MC. If anyone can be discreet about this, it’s her. Still, the thought of leaving myabuela’swatch behind makes my stomach churn.

Taking a deep breath, I push open the door and step out into the night. Warmth embraces me, chasing away the chilly Velvet air. I wrap my arms around myself as I start walking towards my car. Even the sultry night can’t seem to get rid of my goosebumps.

My heels click against the pavement, echoing in the quiet parking lot. Each step takes me further from Ice, but it’s the right thing to do. Tonight was a huge mistake.

“A scorching mistake, but one that can never happen again,” I mutter, exhaling hard.

Even as I speak the words, I know they’re a lie. The memory of Ice’s hands on my body, of his lips on mine, sendsa shiver down my spine. I haven’t even been away from him for more than a couple of minutes and my body already yearns for him again.

I reach my car and lean against it, closing my eyes. “What the hell have I done?” I whisper into the night. “I need this job, but at what cost? How am I supposed to stay away from him now?”

The answer eludes me as I climb into my car. As I drive away from the club, I can’t shake the feeling that everything has changed. My thoughts become a tumultuous mix of regret and longing, and despite every logical argument, every reason why I should stay far away from Ice, I’m not sure I have the strength to resist him if he comes for me again.

Chapter 7: Ice

The cool metal of Isabella’s watch bites into the palm of my hand as I flip it over. An inscription appears in the dim light of the VIP room. “Para mi amor, siempre y para siempre.” I speak a little Spanish, so I can translate it. “To my love, always and forever.”