Page 54

ONE

Raoul

Present Day

Twelve years Later

“ Y ou know how much I hate these kinda things,” I moan to my brother Rhett as we walk past the doorman into the club. Ludo and my cousin Sal are following closely behind, and I already know the place has been checked over by Niko, who’s waiting inside for us.

“Come on, brother, being out will do you some good, it won’t be long now until you and the Quinnell girl seal the deal.

Who knows how much playtime you have left?

” After rubbing his palms together, Rhett slaps me hard on the back, and I give him a side glance that warns him not to go there as we follow the hostess to the VIP section.

I’ll give him credit, Fabian Morretti’s shiny new club is impressive. The rich purple decor and crystal accessories make the place appear classy, but nothing goes on in this city that I don’t know about, and there’s nothing classy about what lurks behind his expensive velvet curtains.

Fabian didn’t invite me here tonight to discuss business; the real purpose of his invitation was so he could show off what he has.

And he’s a fool to think this impresses me.

My family owns clubs far bigger and much more upper-class than this one, and half the people in this city aren’t even aware of it.

Successful men don’t need to brag, and they sure as hell don’t seek the approval of others.

Half an hour later, my fingers tap impatiently against my empty glass as I stare across the table at my brother. He knows how I hate conducting business in places like this, and he also knows that I hate clients not having the respect to show up on time.

“He’s got five minutes before I’m leaving,” I warn Rhett, getting up from the booth and moving to stand by the balcony that looks down onto the dance floor.

The place is crammed full of people, most of them wasted. The music is deafening, and while I’m thinking about all the other things I could be doing right now, I catch sight of something that instantly sets a chill over my skin.

A vision that can’t possibly be real.

It’s been a long time since my head tormented me this way, but after scrubbing my hand over my face and readjusting my eyes, I still see her body swaying to the music. A wide, carefree smile lighting up her face as she dances with a friend.

It’s been a long time… but I’m sure of what I’m seeing.

Evelyn Lane

The keeper of my most treasured memory, and my very own living, breathing tragedy.

It’s been twelve years since I kissed her in her bedroom, twelve years since she whispered the words that haunt my dreams, and twelve fucking years since I left her.

I still don’t feel ready for this.

“Another drink, sir?” the hostess asks as she approaches me.

“Yes,” I place my empty glass on the tray she’s carrying. “Same again, and I’d like you to send someone downstairs to fetch that girl for me.” This is a bad idea, a really bad idea. But fate has put us in the same room tonight, and I can’t stand the fact that she feels like a stranger to me.

I’m curious as to who she has become.

“The girl in the black dress,” I instruct the hostess, my eyes unable to deter from watching the way Evelyn moves.

She’s grown to be even more beautiful than I imagined her to be.

Her long, dark, wavy hair bouncing as she moves, and the tight dress she’s wearing, far too short for those toned thighs not to command my attention.

“Does she know you, sir?” the hostess asks.

Jesus, is she still fucking here?

Fabian’s staff are as efficient as his timekeeping.

“Yes, she knows me. Tell her that an old friend wishes to see her.” I somehow manage to maintain my patience with the girl.

“Very well.” The hostess nods obligingly before setting to work, while I step out of view and retake the seat opposite my brother.

He finishes trailing his nose over the silver tray in front of him before he looks up at me.

“You good? You look like you’ve seen a fucking ghost.” He dusts off his nose, then slides the tray across to me. I shake him a refusal. I never mix business and pleasure. Lucky for Rhett, being born second gives him the privilege of mixing whatever he pleases.

“Well, well, well, Evelyn Lane.” A smile suddenly lifts on my brother's face as he rushes from his seat and goes to her, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around on the spot.

“Rhett, it’s good to see you,” she laughs, and it still sounds just as sweet as I remember. Sweet enough that the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I hear it.

“Sit down, join us.” Rhett clicks his fingers at the waitress. “A bottle of Cristal over here,” he calls out, offering Evelyn his space and then sliding in beside me, forcing me to budge up.

“Raoul.” Her blue eyes anchor onto mine, and I watch the nervous swallow travel down her throat as she dips her head at me. Her eyes look sad now, and it hurts a little that they don’t sparkle the way they did when she greeted my brother.

“Evelyn, it’s good to see you.” I realize that I don’t sound at all genuine, maybe it's because I can feel the seams of my fucking heart starting to tear apart again.

Why did I summon her up here?

“So what brings you?—”

“I’m sorry I’m late,” Fabian interrupts her, making me want to slice through his vocal cords, with the knife I keep strapped to my ankle, for the accuracy of his timing.

“I see you’ve been keeping my guests entertained.” His arm slides behind Evelyn’s body, and when his mouth presses against her cheek, I feel the snarl pull on my lip.

Now, I don’t just want to slit the fucker’s throat, I want to reach down into his chest cavity and rip his heart right out of it.

“Of course.” Evelyn looks up at him lovingly, and I have no idea how I manage to keep all the rage inside me contained. This can’t be happening. I gave up this girl for a reason, and it wasn’t so she could end up with a guy like Fabian fucking Morretti.

“You wanted to talk business.” I reach for the tray on the other side of the table, suddenly feeling the need to take the edge off, then leaning down, I snort the longest, thickest line that’s been chopped out.

It might just stop me from pulling out my gun and putting a bullet through Fabian's skull.

“Surely we should have some fun first, kick back and enjoy the party, Raoul.” Fabian slouches back in his seat with Evelyn still tucked under his arm, and I stare across the table at her, narrowing my eyes before looking back to Fabian.

“You have kept me waiting long enough. Do not make the mistake of wasting any more of my time,” I warn sharply, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it up.

My impatience unnerves him. I know his type. Fabian likes to play gangster; he holds himself in much higher regard than anyone else in this city does. In reality, he is just a little rich boy trying to buy himself a reputation.

“My father has officially stepped down from the family business. I’m running things now.

” He puffs out his chest proudly. “I want to renegotiate our rates.” Despite his posture, he's nervous, I can tell that by the way he’s sniffing at his fingers and shifting his body.

He’s also refusing me eye contact, which is always a clear-cut sign that you’re dealing with pussy shit.

I watch Evelyn for a reaction; she’s nervous, too.

It may have been a while since I saw her, but she grew up around my family, her father was one of us, and she knows exactly what we’re capable of.

And I wonder if she has any idea that her boyfriend is a low-life scum-bag whose family has made their money by whoring doped-up women.

I laugh at him mockingly and turn my head to my brother.

“You hear this, Rhett? He wants to negotiate prices.” I switch my stare back to Fabian, straightening my lips and holding him with stone-cold eyes.

“We control the border, we control the city, our terms are non-negotiable. It doesn't matter who’s managing your business; the quality of our product remains the same, and for that reason, so does its price.”

“You may want to rethink that price, Raoul. Prizrak is offering much lower rates, and after sampling the product, I can’t question its quality.”

“Prizrak, you say?” I huff another laugh at him. This is a name I've been hearing a lot around the city lately. Every now and again, there will be a usurper. But the Burlusconis have been running Los Angeles for too many years to concern themselves with them.

Many have tried to weaken us, and many have failed at it. This latest imposter will just be another trier who gets squashed like the rest of them.

Prizrak is a word the Russians use for ghosts, and this ‘ Prizrak ’ isn’t even brave enough to reveal his real name or his face. Am I supposed to feel threatened by a man who chooses to brand himself as already dead?

“Then it appears I have wasted my time being here tonight.” I finish what’s left in my glass, slamming it down on the table, and with one last look at the girl I gave up my heart to twelve years ago, I get up and start to walk away.

“Wait,” Fabian calls after me, and when I don’t stop, he rushes after me like the pathetic weasel he is. “I don't want to break an agreement that’s been working for decades. I know how much my father respects yours.”

“Do you think I give a shit who you get your supply from? If you want to do your trade with this Prizrak, then you must. You run things your way now. But remember…” I look over his shoulder to where Evelyn is saying her goodbyes to Rhett.

“When he is run out of town, like all the others who came before him, you will have to come back to me and ask me to supply you again… before all those nasty little whores you keep, start finding themselves a new master.” I look down my nose at him and smirk.

I feel sorry for his father. Fabian is his only son and his only option.

He will also be the ruin of their family name.

Glaring at my brother, I gesture with my head for him to follow me as I make my way down the stairs and toward the exit.