Page 8 of Forbidden Empire (Sinful Gods #1)

Two

E SME

The black sequins on my dress shimmered like tiny stars under the strobe lights on the dance floor as I strolled past them.

The club pulsed with life, a sea of young, stunning faces moving to the beat. Laughter and conversation blended with the music as people sipped on cocktails garnished with exotic fruits and mint leaves, their glasses clinking.

The rooftop of the Ida Hotel and Casino offered a panoramic view, but above us, the glow from the relentless neon signs of the Strip swallowed the night sky, concealing any real stars.

I made my way to the balcony's edge, my fingers curling around the cool metal railing.

Below, the sidewalk teemed with tourists, a constant flow of bodies moving from one spectacle to another. The horizon was a dazzling display of flashing casino signs and towering hotel facades, each vying for attention with its kaleidoscope of colors.

Cars crawled along Las Vegas Boulevard, headlights creating a slow-moving river of light.

The sky above was a swirling masterpiece of orange and pink hues, remnants of the setting sun casting its final glow over the towering hotels and endless casinos of this manufactured paradise.

Palm trees swayed in the warm evening breeze, their elongated shadows stretching across the bustling concrete sidewalks, grasping at the vibrant chaos of street performers and hawkers below.

I allowed myself a small, satisfied smirk, savoring the thought that I’d survived another day in the heart of the beast. I was hiding in plain sight, a shadow among the multitude of sunburnt tourists clutching cameras and ice cream cones.

It was a risky move, but I had kept ahead of the men chasing me. I considered escaping the city, yet I knew Aidon and Zeno’s relentless followers wouldn’t give up, no matter where I fled. Rhea’s keen senses and fierce determination probably had her closing in too.

The information I’d spirited away was a ticking time bomb, capable of dismantling their entire operation, and they were aware of the threat I posed.

At least in this city, I navigated its labyrinthine streets with the ease of a seasoned local.

I knew how to walk with purpose, to draw attention, when necessary, but more important was how to blend into the crowd, becoming invisible amidst the endless waves of people who never seemed to tire of the neon-lit allure of this place.

But I wasn't naive. I knew the cloak of anonymity wouldn’t shield me forever. I would have to confront Aidon and Zeno, face the repercussions of my daring theft, and pay for the chaos I’d unleashed. Sooner or later, my streak of luck would come crashing to a halt.

This was Vegas, after all. In this town, the constants seemed to be the ache of longing, the shadow of despair, and the insatiable hunger for more.

Luck was just a mirage in the desert heat.

But true to the spirit of a seasoned Las Vegan, I was savoring the streak of good fortune while it lasted, relishing my freedom like a rare delicacy.

The neon signs of Vegas flickered their empty promises across the Strip.

Here today, dark tomorrow.

I tossed back my drink, savoring the burn. Seven days in that Green Valley rental had left me twitching behind identical beige curtains, counting stucco ceilings that mirrored the ones next door, and the next, and the next.

Tonight, sequins bit into my skin as I adjusted the straps of a dress that did the bare minimum to cover what it needed to. My calves ached from six-inch stilettos, and sweat gathered beneath the blonde wig tickling my shoulders. I'd chosen the Ida Hotel’s rooftop for this.

Bodies pressed against bodies, music drowning thought. I caught my reflection in a stranger's sunglasses. I was just another party girl, black frames obscuring half my face, invisible in plain sight.

I savored the sweetness of my third Bellini, bubbles tickling my nose.

My thoughts drifted to Aidon, who was probably seething now, frustration boiling over in waves of anger.

I pictured him storming around his sleek Underworld office, face flushed, fists clenched.

A sly smile crept onto my lips, feeling a wicked delight.

Aidon’s magnetic intensity made him a force to be reckoned with. It drove me mad.

My fingers touched the tiny sequined purse slung across my body, brushing against the cool, metallic surface of the USB drive inside. It was my constant companion, and I kept checking it throughout the day. Each time I felt its reassuring weight, a wave of relief and anxiety swept over me.

It contained payout ledgers, shell routes, customs bribes, and detailed information on all aspects of the Shadow Syndicate’s operations. It was the organization run by Rhea Konstantinou, who was one of Zeno and Aidon’s most unpredictable enemies.

A sharp, remorseful pang struck my heart as I snapped the purse shut.

I had orchestrated an elaborate heist to snatch that box from Zeno, betraying Aidon, my lover, in the process.

I vanished with it, spiriting away its hidden treasures.

Yet, the power it granted me was irresistible, a temptation I couldn’t ignore.

But I wasn’t the only one who valued its contents.

I knew they wouldn't hesitate to do anything to get it back. Staying in Vegas was a risk I couldn’t take much longer.

I needed to come up with a plan, a way out, even though I didn't know where I was heading.

Every second here brought me closer to danger.

My phone buzzed insistently against my hip, a reminder of the world outside my thoughts. I opened my purse again, fishing out the device to answer the call.

“Hey.”

“Esme, it’s me.”

“I know, Selene. You called me from an encrypted phone number.”

Selene was my secret weapon, a digital phantom who could slip through firewalls, a ghost through walls. Her fingers danced over keyboards like a musician's, composing symphonies of code.

She had been my eyes and ears on Aidon and Zeno, tracking their every digital move, sending me a steady stream of intel about their whereabouts and schemes.

“Right. Listen, we have a problem. I don’t know how, but Aidon’s getting close to finding you. You need to get out of that city as soon as possible, Esme."

“Oh, yeah?” I replied, letting her words swirl around my mind like smoke. I closed my eyes, feeling the pulse of my instincts.

Today, the city felt like a fortress of anonymity. The risk was palpable, a tingling in my veins, yet Selene’s warning barely registered as more than a whisper in the wind. Instead of fear, a rebellious thrill surged through me.

There was something intoxicating about living in Aidon’s shadow, slipping past his notice for so long.

As for Zeno, he was a different story.

My half-brother’s rage was a storm that might have swept others away, but I had weathered it before. He wanted the information I held like a gambler clutching a winning hand, but I doubted he’d resort to violence.

I wanted to savor this daring game, stretch the tension like a rubber band, knowing the longer I stayed hidden, the sweeter Aidon’s defeat would taste when he realized how close I’d been all along.

“I’m not worried,” I said with a smirk, feeling the corners of my lips curl upward. “Let him try.”

“You’re playing with fire, Esme.”

She was right, of course. Aidon was a dangerous man, with a temper that simmered like a volcano about to erupt.

I'd seen the fury in his eyes up close, felt the tension in the air crackle when he was displeased.

He was not just intelligent, but possessed a sharp, calculating mind that made him both cunning and ruthless.

It was as if he had a sixth sense, able to see through every facade I put up, predicting my moves before I even knew what they would be.

This time, I felt the thrill of being ahead, at least for the moment. A tiny spark ignited in my chest, a flicker of fear, though I questioned whether it was fear at all.

What would happen if Aidon caught up with me?

I pondered this question once more, replaying every scenario in my head like a broken record.

Would he kill me in a fit of rage?

Harm me, leave me bruised and broken?

Keep me locked away, a prisoner in his twisted game?

Or would he fuck me with an intensity that bordered on madness, pushing me to beg for mercy?

For some reason, none of these possibilities stirred genuine fear within me.

"I'm fine, Selene. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing," I reassured her, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

"So do I, remember? I'm good at my job, Esme. So, believe me when I tell you that your time is running out." Selene's warning crackled through the phone, urgent and insistent.

"I hear you, my friend," I replied, forcing a casual tone. "Thanks for the information. I'll be in touch soon."

I ended the call, cutting off her protests. She worried too much.

I brushed off any lingering doubts, squared my shoulders, and stepped away from the balcony, leaving the cool night air behind.

With a cool glass in hand, I navigated through the pulsating sea of people, my mind set on enjoying the night.

The thumping bass reverberated through the air, and I scanned the scene, a hobby I indulged in often. A shadowy corner caught my eye near the club's casino, where an unclaimed chair beckoned.

I settled into it, the dim light casting long shadows.

My gaze roamed the crowd, soaking in the kaleidoscope of couples swaying to the music and groups chatting, their laughter bubbling up like champagne.

I inhaled deep, the scent of perfume and cologne mingling with the faint odor of smoke, trying to dismiss the echo of Selene’s warning that still lingered like a distant thunder.

Sure, coming here was a gamble, a reckless decision given the circumstances, but hell, I’d already rolled the dice on the biggest gamble of them all by choosing to run.