Page 16

16

Layla

What am I doing? What the hell am I doing? I take the stairs from the VIP area as quickly as my shoes will allow and lose myself in the busyness of the club.

How can I go from a horny, brazen hussy, to terrified in the blink of an eye. Adrenaline courses through me, making me jittery; I breathe through my nose to try to calm my racing heart.

What the hell was that?

And I’m not just talking about the whole I want you to fuck me Luca madness. I’m talking about the massive ick factor I got from Levi.

Luca is all dark and deadly, calculating and intimidating, not to mention sexy.

Levi is huge, his muscles straining against his shirt, tattoos on the skin that was showing. His hands, neck. His hulking great neck.

I join the queue to the ladies’ toilet continuing the piss poor attempt to calm myself down, and message Katy to find out where she’s at, because clearly, I can’t be trusted unsupervised.

I tap the message out, my hands shaking as the emotion runs through my body. I tuck the phone away and lean against the wall.

Did Luca own this place? It would explain why we were hooked out the queue and given VIP treatment.

Three girls come out of the ladies’, and I enter. Taking a moment to sort myself out and freshen up. That was hot and terrifying, and here I am again, feeling alive.

Feeling like I’m living.

Even if I’m living on my own little rollercoaster of emotions with Luca in control of when I drop. I fan myself as the words he muttered in my ears make me shiver. I never thought I’d want to be fucked by a psychotic stalker, but here I am. Maybe this is my rebellious streak making up for lost time. Or the early signs of a midlife crisis.

My hand hovers over my scar as memories of my later teenage years flood me.

It was messy. I was messy.

It would seem I still am messy.

I open the door and walk to the mirror, checking my reflection. My makeup is smudged and my eyes bloodshot. I clean up the smudges, neatening my appearance.

My phone buzzes a message, and I grab it, thinking it’s Katy.

Katy is on the terrace, sunshine.

Unhinged man

A smile tugs at my lips, knowing that he was as affected as I was, am.

I stop at the bar and get another drink, glugging it back, letting the cold liquid coat my throat, and cool some of the burning inferno of lust in me.

I can feel eyes on me, and I don’t want Luca to see what state I’m in. Inside though, inside I’m screaming.

Navigating through the darkened corridors, zigzagging as the alcohol hits me, I search for Katy on the Terrace.

Crossing outside into the cool air, and shiver at the sudden bite against my hot feverish skin.

“Fuck, that’s cold,” I mutter.

The outside is just as the name suggests, a terrace, with wooden beams and vines wrapping round it, fairy lights wrap around the thick wooden beams, twinkling like stars. Unless that’s just my hazy eyesight.

“Layla!” Katy calls, and I see her draped over a man.

“There you are. You left me,” I say dramatically, dropping onto the spare stool. “He’s here,” I whisper at her, but it comes out in more of a shrill cry. “He’s fucking here.”

The guy says something in Katy’s ear, and she laughs. “Who’s here?”

“Luca,”

“Fuck off!”

“I will not.”

“Have you spoken to him.”

“I just dry-humped him on the dance floor.” I face-palm myself, and Katy squeals with laughter.

“That’s priceless. This is Mark.”

“Hello, Mark.”

“I work with him.” She smiles coyly.

“She’s going to come home with me tonight,” he says grinning.

“She is not. I don’t piss where I sleep.”

“We aren’t going to be sleeping.” He waggles his eyebrows and then leans in and kisses her. She holds his face back, laughing.

I grin at the display, but my neck bristles and I still feel like I’m being watched, by him. I look around the beautiful terrace and notice the security cameras. Is he watching behind them? “I’m going to get a water.”

“Go find him,” she says, “Go fuck him. Remember what tonight was about.”

“Fuck it!” we both shout in unison. And laugh.

“Will you still be here?”

“Here or dance floor.”

“Don’t ditch me,” I say, pointing. “Bros before hoes. Remember.”

“Isn’t it sisters before misters?”

“Well, whatever, just stay here.”

I head back to the bar and wait in the queue desperate for a glass of water to help sober me up, I feel all fuzzy.

“Layla, wasn’t it?”

Levi. Standing next to me, his shirtsleeves rolled up to show off his impressive tattoo sleeves. Barely any skin shows, patterns, symbols and pictures intertwine in an impressive piece of artwork.

He glances down at my chest, and I cringe.

Levi radiated power and dominance, and there’s just something in the way he looks at me that makes me feel uncomfortable. I meet his eyes and nod.

“You know, I don’t really like being lied to.” He looks down at the brown liquid in his crystal glass, swilling it around before taking a sip.

The club around us is bustling, but he leans his hip against the bar, looking bored and arrogant.

“Excuse me?”

“Being lied to,” he repeats, placing the glass down and snapping his fingers. The barman immediately looks over, giving us his full attention.

Just like that.

A click.

And wham, all other guests forgotten.

“Balvenie Double Wood 17 and, Layla?”

“Erm.” I clear my throat. “Can I just get some water please?”

“Get her a Balvenie as well, Kane.”

The man nods and starts to work on pouring our drinks, including my water.

“You said you’d just met my cousin, but I know that isn’t entirely true, is it.”

The bartender places his drink down and Levi passes me the glass of water. I thank him and gulp some down.

“And, well, it would seem Luca has taken a bit of a liking to you.” He sips, watching me. The way his eyes burn into my face makes my cheeks flush, and not in a warm and fuzzy way. My heart rate picks up and my stomach churns with hot acid.

“I don’t really understand what you’re talking about, we just met tonight!”

“Ah, you say that, and you say that so quickly, almost defensively. Don’t be scared, Layla, we’re just talking.” He rubs my arm and I pull back. “I know you’ve met before. I’ve seen how he is with you, the chemistry. The obsession. And well, with that obsession comes an opportunity for me. You see, Layla…” He kicks off from the bar, picks up his drink and takes my elbow, navigating me around the dance floor and towards a corner in the shadows. His hand moves from my elbow to rest gently on my lower back. I’m desperate to shake it off, as he leads me to a table that with one look vacates.

I’d like to think I’d be able to walk away, but something in the way he’s placing pressure on me suggests any action apart from doing what he asks would be a mistake.

“…I need you to do something for me.”

“Excuse me?” Dread fills my body; it fuels my blood. It all but consumes me.

“I need you to do something for me. Otherwise, I fear something may happen to the ones you love.”

Every muscle in my body stiffens.

All the while the trumpets of a house track beat around us.

He pulls out the chair and I sit down even though my body is screaming for me to run.

“Ah, yes. There it is. The realisation,” Levi states. “Grandad, Katy. Not many people in your circle, but the ones who are in it are that much more important to you.” He smiles at me, and it gives me the creeps. I reach forward for the whiskey and with shaking hands take a large gulp that makes me wince.

“I’m a businessman, and, well, I’d like to make you an offer, and in return I won’t fucking kill your loved ones.” He sneers, his fingers beginning to dig into my arm.

I feel sick.

I take another sip of whiskey because if I don’t push something down my throat, I may very well vomit.

He leans back, looking down at his nails, and inspects them before his dark cold eyes meet mine. Which are, no doubt wide and wild.

“Offer?” I say, my voice quivering as much as my hands, which are now clammy and fiddle with the hem of my dress.

“Luca seems to care for you.”

I shake my head, because Levi is terrifying, this conversation is terrifying.

“Luca is a lot of things, he’s predictable in some ways. But you, you’ve been a bit of a surprise to me. He’s been,” he looks for the word, “distant. Then I saw you today, and the way you were staring at each other, and the dancing.” He frowns, quickly hiding it behind his business-like smile.

I gulp. I’m sitting in a club surrounded by people, the walls closing in, all light and life sucked out the room.

There’s a glimmer in his eye. This is what he enjoys. Dominating people, making them uncomfortable.

“So, my offer. My cousin, you should know that I love him dearly and care for him deeply. But recently…” he looks up to the VIP area, where Roman and Luca are standing. We can see them, but at this angle, we are in the shadows.

We can’t be seen.

I’m pleading silently for him to see me.

“…he’s up to something—having meetings without me, with other people, he’s buying property and businesses outside our portfolio. And you see, Layla, my operations need Luca. I need his skills. Which is where you come in. I need you to find out what he’s up to. You have somehow got behind his impenetrable shield. So, you, you can find out and you can tell me.”

“You want me to spy on your cousin?”

“ Spy on my cousin . Gosh, you make it sound so sordid. But yes, I guess that’s what I’m asking you to do. You can be my little bird.”

“I-I don’t know how I feel about that.”

His handsome face turns into a snarl, and he lunges grabbing hold of my wrist, his grip biting. I recoil, bashing against the chair and it scrapes the floor.

“You seem to act like you have a fucking choice, Layla.” His spit hits my face as he speaks, and I shrink into the seat.

“Let me make something really clear to you. You don’t have one.” He’s invading my personal space, heat radiating from him.

I want to scream; I want to run.

“The choice you make tonight, it’s like dropping a pebble in a lake. The water ripples out and impacts the ones you love. Well, it will ripple out if you don’t do as I ask.”

“You’re m-mistaken, Levi, h-he doesn’t like me. Not like that. We barely know each other,” I say, trying to find a way out of this shitstorm. “I don’t even know whether I’m going to see him again after tonight.”

He releases his grip, leaning back and sighing.

“I don’t need to know details of how you’re going to do this, that’s not really my problem.” He tilts his head back and laughs. “One of my men will be in touch and give you what you need, and maybe a bit of an incentive.” He laughs again.

I look at him like he’s insane when a warm hand rests on my shoulder causing me to jump.

“Luca.” Levi stands up and continues laughing. “I’ve just been getting to know the lovely Layla.”

I plaster a fake smile on my face, looking up at them both. If I stand, I’m afraid my shaking legs won’t hold me up.

“Ah, you’re too kind.” I smile, placing my hand on his.

How the hell am I pulling this off?

Oh, I know how, because he has just threatened everyone I love and care for.

“Well, it’s been lovely sharing this drink with you.” Levi leans over and takes his, holding it up to me. “To new friends,” he says, winking.

I lift my glass and clink his, drinking the rest of the whiskey in one huge swallow.

“She’s a keeper,” he says, turning back to Luca. “She’s just polished off a double wood. Very impressive.” He clasps my hand and gives it a gentle tug prompting me to stand up. “It’s been a pleasure, thank you for humouring me.” He kisses both my cheeks before walking away.

I sit back down, and Luca takes Levi’s place.

“Are you okay? You look pale.”

I smile and nod. “Just all the alcohol.”

“Levi, he didn’t make you feel uncomfortable?”

Extremely. I want to scream and cry and curl up into the foetal position.

“God, no!” I say quickly, my hand on his arm in what I hope is reassurance. “He was just telling me all your secrets.”

“Oh, really.” He leans closer, and my body reacts mirroring his. “I’m going to have to have a word with my cousin.” He looks down at my lips, and I run my tongue along the seam and change my position so that my cleavage is more on show.

“I’m sure you have plenty of secrets, don’t you, Layla Johnson.”

“Every girl has to have secrets,” I whisper, the room disappearing around us.

Our faces are mere inches apart. I’m not sure who closes the distance, but my hand rests on his knee as our lips meet.

He wraps his hand around my neck, gently holding me to his mouth as he runs his tongue along my lips, requesting permission.

And I give him entry, opening to him. Heat floods between my legs in response to the kiss, my body coming alive. He tastes like nicotine and bad decisions.

I need this. Not just to protect Katy and my grandfather. But for me.

Except Luca can never find out about the deal Levi has forced me to accept.

He’ll kill me.