Page 93 of Dark Souls

“Hi… urgh… sorry, but I won’t be calling you Daddy.”

He chuckled. “That’s a shame.” He leaned forwards, holding onto Sammi with one arm and extending the other towards me. “You can call me Hugo then.”

“Nice to meet you, Hugo,” I said, shaking his hand and staring into those powerful eyes. This man smelt of wealth, along with overpowering cologne.

“Likewise. Come and take a seat with us.”

I sat down, my eyes finding their way back to Luka across the room, when I felt his penetrating stare on me. The way he watched my every move was so unnerving but also exhilarating. He watched me like I was the only person in the room.

“So, I’ve never seen you at an event before. You must be new.”

I moved my gaze back to Hugo and smiled, ignoring Sammi as she sniffed the white powder off the mirrored plate he offered her.

“I am. This is my first event.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Really? Interesting.”

“How long have you been a member?” I asked, holding eye contact.

He blew out a breath while his mind worked through the years. “Nearing a hundred years now.”

I tried to not give away my excitement. This was the man who had information I needed to piece the puzzle together. I could feel it in my bones.

“Wow, that’s a long time. So you must be a special member or something, then?” I toyed with a strand of my black hair, playing the dumb bitch to make him think I wasn’t a threat.

“Something like that.” He chuckled but looked away so I couldn’t read his mind. Damn. He turned to talk to the man next to him and I chewed at my lip. I needed to keep his attention.

“So, Hugo.” I crossed my legs, letting one of my heels brush against his calf, which caused his head to snap back to me. “You must know the people who run this whole thing pretty well, being such a long-standing member? The Dealer, for example.”

Hugo’s dark eyes cast over to Luka briefly before he shook his head. “No one knows the people who run this club well, sweetheart. We pay our monthly bill and enjoy what they offer. That’s the way it works. That man over there is so far removed from society that no one dares approach him. See?”

I peered over to where Luka was glaring at us from his isolated throne and realised that not a single soul was anywhere near him apart from the human between his legs. Everyone was keeping their distance.

“Why? Is he really so scary?” I asked, tilting my head with innocence, which seemed to have Hugo shifting his attention to my cleavage. Sammi narrowed her eyes.

Sorry girl, but if I have to flirt with your man to help mine, I will.

“Scary? He’s unhinged. You do know how he came to run this show?” Hugo lowered his voice as I shook my head. “He murdered the founder of this club and his whole family, eliminating the Knowlton bloodline entirely. Teamed up with The Devil and took their entire empire for themselves. Ballsy move.”

I glanced over at my mate, unable to believe he was capable of such a thing but then, who knows? Maybe he was. “And who is The Devil?”

Hugo shrugged his broad shoulders. “Beats me. Never met him. He’s a silent partner, I guess.” He was telling the truth.

“And the Devil’s Pet? I heard he’s someone I should stay away from.” I batted my lashes at Hugo and pretended to look worried.

“Yeah. Rumour has it he is some kind of monster. A rare breed that The Devil has control over. A killing machine. Between him and The Dealer, The Devil has no need to get his hands dirty.”

“How does The Devil control The Pet? By a spell of some kind?” I couldn’t stop myself from leaning in closer. There was excitement in my voice because I was finally getting somewhere.

Hugo licked his lips as his eyes roamed my body again. The sinful thoughts about how he was going to get me tied up in one of the bondage rooms upstairs later, whipping me until I called him Daddy, had me fighting the urge to gag.

“Fuck knows. Like I said, if you want to keep breathing, pay your fee and stay out of their business.”

“Who were the founders of this club? Vampires?”

“No. The Knowltons were witches. One of the oldest covens of witches in Europe at the time. Powerful.” He ran his rough fingers down my arm and I fought the urge to hit him away. “You seem like a curious little thing. Word of warning to you though, doll, you’re far too pretty to die, so stay in your lane, stop asking questions and just have fun. Perhaps with me later? Yeah?”

“A word?” Sammi jumped up off his lap and grabbed my arm, hauling me away from him. She rounded on me, shoving my shoulder, then her wolf’s presence flickered in her eyes. “What the fuck was that? You making moves on my man?”