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“Your new assignment is to keep an eye on this beauty right here. Got it?”

“I’m on it.”

Jacob slapped him on the shoulder, then winked back at Carla and strolled with purpose past the long line of partygoers waiting impatiently to get into the VIP room.

Carla watched him until he disappeared, and when her eyes floated to Mike, he smirked.

“What?” she asked.

“You must be special.”

“Why do you say that?”

“He’s never had me watch any one person unless they were causing trouble.”

“Well…” Carla lifted her hands, then let them fall to her side, slapping her thighs. “No trouble here.”

“Maybe not in the way you think.”

Her eyes rose, then she chuckled. “You got me there.”

He laughed, and the DJ’s voice came across the speakers.

“We are thirty minutes from the midnight hour, ladies and gentlemen. Grab a drink, get close to someone you don’t mind kissing at midnight, and let’s dance it out as Genesis Rising takes us to another realm.”

Hearing the group’s name, Carla turned to the balcony and strolled to the railing. Sure enough, Tina, Chelsea, and Lisa strutted onto the stage dressed in scantily clad, barely-there black and silver thigh-high dresses. Catcalls and howls echoed, and commotion at the VIP entrance shifted Mike’s focus to the line of people now arguing about the holdup to the VIP.

Deciding it was best if she got out of the way and wanting to let her girls know she was there to support them, Carla eased back down the staircase and disappeared before Mike could catch up with her exit.

Chapter Four

Inside the VIP, Jacob approached Mr. Davis.

“Finally, someone with some fuckin’ sense!” Mr. Davis shouted. “What is this nonsense about letting regulars in the VIP section, Mr. Rose?”

“Mr. Davis, those are VIP members—”

“Like hell they are!”

Jacob glared at Mr. Davis, his voice steely and gutturally low when he spoke. “Watch your mouth, and don’t ever interrupt me when I’m talking again, Mr. Davis. It’s rude, and I’ll gladly refund your money and toss you out on your ass if you do it again.” He paused while Mr. Davis’s eyes widened as he straightened his posture. “Do you understand?”

Mr. Davis scoffed and nodded.

“Now, there is more than enough room here at Club Sangria.” Mr. Davis opened his mouth to cut Jacob off, and Jacob paused and waited for him to do it. Thinking better of it, Mr. Davis waited for Jacob to continue. “We have another VIP room. Would you like to keep this section or head to our third-floor privacy area?”

Perking up, Mr. Davis dropped the frown on his face. “How private is it?”

“It’s usually reserved for my family and me.”

You would’ve thought Mr. Davis heard thecha-chingof money ringing in his ears the way he became immediately interested.

“My crew and I will take the third floor.”

“Follow me.”

Mr. Davis whistled, and he and his crew followed Jacob out of the room into a stew of activity from restless patrons waiting to get inside.

Jacob put his fingers to his lips and sent a sharp whistle into the air that was loud enough to be heard over the Genesis Rising song. All eyes turned to him, and the commotion calmed.