Page 28 of All Your Lies (All or Nothing #2)

twenty-three

Gage

W e make it to the club in record time, the bass from the music pulsating through the air. The club has never experienced an incident until now. My security urgently informed me of a member who’s forcefully holding a partner against their will in one of the themed rooms.

The club operates under a strict set of policies.

You fuck up once, and you’re out for life.

As adults, we know the difference between right and wrong.

Some need liquid courage before a scene to loosen up.

I have a one-drink max for anyone going into a themed room, Wanderland, or any of the other attractions we offer.

Every member is aware of the eyes on them to protect their safety. Listening devices are in rooms in case we have someone who decides not to follow our rules.

This one has broken three rules so far and has now barricaded himself in the room with his partner.

With Alexa remaining in my office, I proceed to the medical examination room.

I go to the false panel and click it open. They were first made for my comfort, but also for reasons such as this. The member placed a chair and desk against the door, but it is now rendered a useless attempt as I walk in through the hidden passage.

The moment I step inside, the sound of sniffling fills the air. I notice a woman with short blond hair sitting in the corner, with a man hovering over her.

Just as the secret door clicks shut, the man abruptly turns to face me.

“Get the fuck out!”

The camera lens, positioned in the far corner of the room, catches my gaze. With a frustrated sigh, I signal for the feed to end. The red light dims to black as I stalk toward the man.

I slowly roll my dress-shirt sleeves to my elbows with a tightness in my chest as the rage inside me rises. My patience runs thin with most, but violence inflicted upon women is high on the list.

I gaze over his lengthy, slender body that appears to have never lifted a weight.

Then, recognition hits. It’s that fucker who took Alexa out.

I can still see fine bruising around his neck from when I practically strangled the life out of him.

Seems like a mistake was made and I should have finished the job the other night.

“You,” he mutters as he realizes who he just pissed off.

With each step I take forward, he retreats, edging closer to the woman, which compels me to come to a halt. His gaze shifts from her to me.

“We still have another hour in this room. You can have the lying bitch when I’m done.”

With my temper barely contained, my hands ball into fists at my sides.

“I made my rules simple for stupid fucks like yourself, and you still broke them. Your membership is revoked. You need to leave now.”

“And who the fuck are you?”

“The owner. Get the fuck out before I physically remove you myself.”

“That bitch played hard to get with me because she was here, fucking the owner every weekend. Fucking figures,” he snorts.

When he brings up Alexa, a red hue fills my vision.

His eyes widen as I tackle him to the ground.

With each strike, the sound of my fists connecting with his face echoes in the room.

The sight of blood splattering on my knuckles is like a comforting lost friend, blurring the line between his pain and my pleasure.

He lies there unconscious as I’m pulled off him by a couple of my security guards who broke the door down.

My gaze swings to Jace. “Take care of her. Make sure she has no injuries and give her whatever she needs.”

Jace steps in front of the woman, who’s huddled in the corner with her head pressed against the wall. She quivers in fear and tries to scurry away, but he provides comfort by caressing her back and whispering into her ear. As he picks her up, her arms wrap around his neck, and they leave the room.

“Drop him off at the hospital,” I tell one of my security as I observe the stupid fuck’s chest, barely rising and falling. “He’s lucky he isn’t dead.”

I make my way to a storage room adjacent to my office, which conveniently includes a bathroom and is stocked with spare clothes. I take a quick shower and make myself presentable.

Alexa doesn’t need to know about this. She has enough on her mind.

I can’t believe she’s scared that she doesn’t have what it takes to be the boss her father was.

What she doesn’t understand is that she has all that and more.

She’s the perfect mix of her father and her mother.

Strong, loyal, and witty. She just needs to find the confidence, and I’m going to help her do it.

Alexa’s ascent to becoming one of the first female bosses fills me with immense pride.

I walk into my office and find her sitting behind my desk. She looks good there.

“Everything okay?” she asks as she looks me up and down. “You changed shirts.”

“Mine was dirty from the food.”

“We never ate, dick. Don’t lie to me.”

“Well, let’s fix that. I’ll see that Four Senses is open for us to dine.”

“With the lights on.”

“Are you sure?” I ask with a mischievous smirk.

We sit in Four Senses ten minutes later with the lights on, to my disappointment. Alexa looks around with a smile.

“This place is beautiful. You should let people dine with the lights on.”

“Most prefer them to be off,” I mutter.

Her cheeks blush a delightful shade of red as she clears her throat and looks anywhere but at me. “The date on my necklace is in fifteen days.”

I nod. “It is.”

“Nothing’s been planned—”

“I saw to most of the planning since you haven’t exactly been agreeable.” I grin, even though her refusal of our upcoming wedding has hurt like a motherfucker.

“Shouldn’t I be in charge, considering it’s my wedding?”

A wave of relief washes over me at the thought of her finally taking our future seriously, of her finally taking me seriously.

“You always said you wanted a small wedding. Never wanting to be the center of attention. You’d rather have a lengthy honeymoon, which I’m definitely looking forward to,” I say as I lick my lips.

“I want to backpack through Europe. Visit medieval castles and run through rolling hills of tulip fields, hence the lengthy honeymoon. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

“Fine. We’ll get married at my parents’ house, in Mom’s rose garden, as you once said you wanted... unless that’s changed?”

“What about...?” She moves her hands around, attempting to find words before whispering, “The fat that was trimmed, or whatever Mr. Gualtieri said.”

“The house was cleaned, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“It won’t bother you to be there?”

“Not in the least.”

“Okay,” she says with a whimsical smile. “I loved being in that garden when I was younger.”

“How could I forget? The dancing, the screaming...”

“You watched?”

“I watched you a lot.”

“So you’ve been stalking me your whole life?”

“Something like that.”

“That’s pretty creepy, Gage.”

I lean forward, across the table, which now seems too large and creates too much space between Alexa and me.

“I don’t think you mind it.”

She licks her lips before looking down at her half-eaten plate.

“And what about all the other details?” she asks.

“They don’t matter right now. I want to show you another part of the club.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” she says, shaking her head.

“You were always so curious when we were younger. What happened to that girl?”

“She now has a sense of self-preservation.” She shrugs.

“Or maybe she’s just a chickenshit these days,” I say with a smile.

“If I remember correctly, you were the chickenshit back in the day, not me. Still scared of the dark, Gage?” she asks as she leans closer to me, over the table.

Her breasts are close to spilling out in this position, and I want nothing more than to shove my cock between them.

I gaze into her eyes, which are full of goading mischief.

Alexa’s eyes widen in surprise when I stand and stalk toward her. Standing over her, I watch as her back sinks further into the comfort of the backrest. With a tender touch, I place my index finger under her chin and lift until her eyes lock with mine.

“I was only scared of the dark because I enjoyed playing in its endlessness so much. I was the darkness, and I was terrified of it touching your light.” My eyes track her throat as she visibly swallows, which makes me smirk in satisfaction.

“Now, I not only want to touch your light but make it obsidian.”

In one swift motion, I slide behind her chair and smoothly pull it out, lifting her effortlessly to her feet. With no resistance, I escort her out of the dining room. My words have obviously hit a cord and render her speechless for once. I like it.

As she trails behind me, I rush to the supply room to fetch us complimentary bathing suits and robes that the club has available for members.

I pass the garments to her and gesture toward the women’s dressing rooms. Once she’s in and the door’s locked, I stride purposely to the men’s dressing rooms around the corner, change into my trunks with lightning speed, and then walk back to hers.

The last thing I want is for her to vacate the dressing room and not see me waiting for her.

As the door clicks open, I glance up from where I’m leaning against the opposite wall.

Her delectable body is enveloped in the plush white robe that I can’t wait to unwrap.

As my eyes move upward to her face, I catch a glimpse of the delicate pink flush on her cheeks.

Noticing her reaction to me enjoying the view of her body, I smirk, to which she rolls her eyes in exasperation.

Closing the distance between us in just two steps, I extend my hand to grasp hers, and she accepts it, much to my amazement. I intertwine our fingers as I steer her down the hall to our destination.

“Get in,” I say as I stand in the middle of the pool, my bottom half submerged in the warm water. The moment we entered the room, I let her hand go and jumped in, allowing her to take in the simulation.