Page 36

T he Viper’s Den was lit tonight.

I knew Uncle Nico had recently renovated, but holy fuck, whoever he hired had done a really fantastic job.

Still, this week had sucked, and all I wanted to do was go to the family farm in upstate New York and pet Sprinkles until I felt better, which honestly might not be ever.

The hurt I felt at Connor’s betrayal was just so raw. Like an open wound weeping down to my soul.

I thought he wanted me.

Believed he was interested in me .

But that was all just part of the lie. He wanted access to Sigma International to put my father in a bad spot, and I was stupid enough to give him that access.

Pop told me not to worry that he had everything under control, but I knew my father wouldn’t tell me otherwise.

Not even when my mother had gotten sick had he ever allowed us to believe anything bad would happen.

She made it, of course. Though secretly, I always believed it was my father’s sheer will that had beaten her cancer.

He was an incredible husband and father, and I was just so relieved I hadn’t brought him any hardship.

I’d always feared that somehow, I’d be the one to drag him down.

To make things harder for him than they needed to be.

Ever since the kidnapping, I’d been afraid of that.

But those thoughts were way too heavy for a night on the town with the girls.

“Hey, smile!” Aella shouted and began shaking her tush to Point of No Return by Exposé.

I flashed her an exaggerated grin and shook my head as she dragged me onto the dance floor. The strobe lights were glaring, and the music was loud, but I had to admit it was fun.

Lucy, Andrea, Shelly, and Coral joined us, and everything else just fell away as we lost ourselves to the fast-paced, electronic beat this style of music offered.

Aunt Destiny was totally to blame. She taught us all about the Latin Freestyle sound wave that was so damn popular in the 80s and early 90s especially in the Northeast.

She’d had us listening to singers like Noel, Judy Torres, Stevie B, and Lisa Lisa before we could drive. All those memories filled me as the familiar choruses pumped through the speakers with the DJ's own unique synthesized beats mixed in.

My family was unique, I knew that. I was so grateful to have them. And I treasured them, I did.

But even the best family couldn’t fix a broken heart. And my heart had been utterly destroyed by Connor Callahan.

Still, I tried to have fun. To be in the moment.

It was loud and crowded. My uncle’s security was good about keeping men away from us.

And that was fine. I didn’t go there to flirt. Even if we all wore tight, short skirts and shimmery tank tops, with leather boots, makeup on, and our hair down.

Anyone who thought women only dressed up to attract men was a chauvinistic asshole.

Now, while I admitted, that might be true sometimes. It wasn’t always.

But tonight, I dressed for myself. I wanted to be comfortable and feel good, which was why, despite the short, tight skirt, I wore candy cane striped cotton panties beneath it.

See? Comfort first. And so seasonal!

Lucy had teased me, but I saw her picking her jam twice and I knew that new thong she bought was creeping up too high.

I didn’t want to say I told you so, but, well, you get it.

Dancing was hard work, and after who knew how long, I told the girls I needed a break.

“Want us to come with?”

“No! I’ll be back. I just need water,” I shouted over the music.

I was a sweaty mess when I walked over to the bar to grab a bottle of water.

The crowd seemed to part for me, and I took the empty space and signaled the bartender.

“You look good shaking your fine ass out there, baby. How about you come sit on my lap and let me buy you a drink, thick girl?”

Repulsion filled me at this sunglass-wearing even though we were indoors douche had tried putting his slimy hands on me.

“Um, that’s a hard no, pal,” I said, but of course, the idiot didn’t get the hint.

He pressed against my side, the smell of his cologne enough to make me gag.

“Come on, baby. Give Scotty a chance,” he said, and I grimaced.

Who talked about themselves like that? Gross.

But before I could respond the pressure of Scotty’s body eased off me just as I heard a deeper, familiar voice growl.

“Get the fuck off my woman!”

I turned my head. It was him. Connor.

Pain warred with joy inside of me, and I grabbed the cold bottle of water the bartender handed me while Connor apparently tossed Scotty to someone else, who I assumed, had him removed.

Poor Scotty. Not.

“You having fun out there, Darlin’?” he asked, his breath tickling my ear.

My entire body lit up, going on hyper alert. I shrugged, pretending a nonchalance I didn’t feel.

“What are you doing here?” I asked not looking at him as I lifted my ice cold bottle of water to my lips.

“You know what I'm doing here, Clementine.”

“Enjoying the music?” I replied flippantly.

“No. I'm here for you.”

“Well, that’s too bad. I was thinking of looking for Scotty?—”

“Bull fucking shit. I’ll rip his goddamn head off if he touches you again,” he snarled.

“I suggest you get used to the idea of me and someone else, Connor, because I don't want you anymore,” I lied.

His growl intensified, thundering through his chest and crashing into my body.

“We both know that's not true, Darlin’. And I suggest you leave Scotty and any other man here out of this, or I won’t be responsible for what I do,” he said, and I felt the promise in his tone.

“Hey, what's he doing here?” Lucy asked, wandering over.

“It's girls’ night. Doesn't he know that?” Andrea seconded.

“Leave him alone I think he's cute,” Shelly said, grinning.

My traitor sister held out her hand, “Hi, my name is Coral! This is Aella, Lucy, Andrea, And Shelly.”

“This is Balor,” Connor said, indicating the man I didn’t even notice behind him. “I'm Connor. Clementine's.”

“Clementine's what?” my sister asked, eyebrows raised.

“Just Clementine’s. I'm hers and she's mine,” Connor clarified, his dark eyes boring into mine as he spoke casually.

“Holy fucking shit, Clem. I like him!” Shelly laughed and fanned herself.

I rolled my eyes, but Connor simply canted his head, watching me. As if a statement like that wasn't completely outrageous.

“Oh my God. I’m going to the restroom!” I announced and started to walk away.

I felt his presence beside me, and I didn’t bother to confirm it was him before I opened my mouth.

“Look, just go away, Connor. I don't want anything to do with you,” I whisper-screamed.

“Keep fighting it, Darlin’. But there's no running away from the truth. No getting away from me.”

“Wanna bet?”

“God, you’re something when you’re angry. But I know you want me. Look how you tremble when I’m close,” he growled into my ear, and fuck him for making me shake like a leaf.

“Your body remembers mine. Doesn’t it? It likes how I make you feel, Darlin’. It knows I'm the only one who can do that to you.”

My nipples were hard as rocks and goosebumps sprouted all over my flesh. I clenched my thighs, squeezing past a crowd of people as I tried to hasten my escape.

Slapping my hands against the door, I pushed it open, relieved to find it empty. I was alone for a few blessed minutes, but I was too slow on the lock, and by the time I thought about it, Connor had already followed me.

Maybe that was because I wanted him to.

Either way, I wasn’t about to look at that too closely. Not when my pussy was dripping for him, even as my heart tried to break free from my chest.

“This is a bad idea. Leave. Please leave,” I begged.

But Connor wasn’t a merciful man.

He was a hunter.

Tracker.

Fighter.

Hacker.

Stalker.

He was ruthless and relentless as any predator in his single-minded pursuit, regardless of what it was.

It just so happened I was his prey.