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KLAUS

“ S he’s only a cocktail waitress, but I saw on her file that she took a client last month. That was probably before the two of you even got together, but I thought you would want to know,” Alaric says.

He’s still speaking, but I drown out the rest of his words.

There’s a hollow ringing in my ears.

I bumped into someone at the club a few weeks ago. I remember it vividly because I didn’t mind the physical contact.

I haven’t thought about it since, but I remember it now. I remember the scent of cupcakes in the air. I remember her dark eyes behind the mask. Eyes I’d recognize anywhere now.

No.

I can’t go there.

Because if everything between us was a lie, it means it’s the end of the only dream I’ve ever had.

“Impossible,” I whisper.

“She’s here right now,” Alaric says, leaning forward to take my hand. I pull away before he can touch me.“She’s working a shift tonight.”

The sheer thought of Emma with another man makes me want to set this whole building on fire. I want to set the whole world on fire just to watch it burn.

I walk toward the bar and order a whiskey. Alaric follows behind me, but I don’t hear a single word he says. The thoughts in my head bounce around in my skull.

Alaric clasps my shoulder, forcing me to turn toward him.

The chaos is back now, stronger than ever before. Pain sinks its claws into me, becoming a part of me. The static in my head is too loud.

He reads my face and drops his hand.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” he says. “I didn’t know how else to tell you, man. I’ve been putting off this conversation for days, but I thought it’s something you should know before asking for her hand in marriage.”

I throw my drink back, savoring the burn.

“I think you’re mistaken,” I say slowly. “It was probably someone else.”

“Maybe you should speak with Emma about it,” he says. “Communication is key in a relationship.”

“She’s out with her friends,” I say. “She doesn’t work at this club.”

All I’ll have to do is check her location on my phone.My security team will also have updates on her whereabouts.

“Look, she probably has her reasons, man,” Alaric says. “And I don’t think she did anything to hurt you.”

I keep my eyes on the crystal tumbler as it’s refilled. I quietly finish my drink and step away from the bar.

“Don’t follow me.” I look over my shoulder at him. “I need to be alone for a while.”

For once, he listens to me.

The noise in my head is calmer now. I can’t allow myself to get all worked up about something that might not even be true. People make mistakes all the time. Alaric is simply mistaken.

That’s the only possible explanation.

Even as I tell myself this, my eyes search the club for someone. I spot her in the crowd almost immediately. She’s standing by the piano, deep in conversation with someone. The music winds itself around me, tugging me closer toward her.

Her eyes widen when she sees me.

“Mr. Sinclair,” she says.

“We need to talk,” I say.

She frowns at my tone but doesn’t look entirely surprised by it. She excuses herself from the conversation.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Sinclair?” she asks.

I don’t even know how to begin to ask the question. Instead of speaking, I just stare at her. Victoria Hendricks. She’s not just the owner of Elysium. She also runs the nanny agency that sent Emma to my door.

“Would you like to speak in private?” she asks.

My heart feels too heavy in my chest. I had so much to say when I saw her in the crowd, but all of my words fail me now. I’m afraid that if I say the words out loud, they will come true.

I swallow and glance at my feet.

“Is everything alright, Klaus?” She tilts her head to peer into my eyes.

I shake my head.

“Come on, let’s go outside,” she says. “There’s something I wanted to discuss with you as well.”

She leads me toward the back exit. As I follow her, I feel eyes on the back of my head. I glance back to find Alaric watching me with concerned eyes.

Victoria and I step outside into the night.

There’s an electric charge in the air tonight. I glance up to see that like my mood, the sky has darkened. The stars are covered by heavy clouds.

Victoria guides me toward one of the benches in the garden.

I notice a movement behind me. Someone else has entered the outdoor area as well. It’s a dark-haired man wholooks to be a part of the staff. He lights a cigarette and leans against the wall.

“Is everything okay at home, Klaus?” she asks.

Victoria is friends with Helena, so she knows things about my family that the rest of the world doesn’t. I trust her implicitly because she’s always looked out for us, even when she had nothing to gain from it.

“Things are fine at home,” I say.

“The kids are doing well?” she asks.

I nod. “Emma is good for them.”

“I’m so glad to hear that,” Victoria says. “They need some stability in their life. And they’re lucky to have an uncle like you.”

I nod even though I know she’s just saying that to be nice.

My attention catches on the dark-haired man again. He’s not even facing us, but something about him sets off alarm bells in my head. There’s something familiar about the set of his shoulders.

There’s an alertness to his body language that reminds me of a tiger watching from between blades of grass.

He’s out of hearing range, but he’s listening to our conversation.

As if he can feel my eyes on him, he turns his head in my direction. It’s only by a fraction of an inch, but I don’t miss it. In that split second before I look away, I catch his profile. I catalog his features, comparing them to what I know about Adam, Emma’s stalker.

It’s him.

I don’t know how he got into the club, but that’s definitely him. His hair is darker. He must have either dyed his own hair or is wearing a wig.And I’m fairly certain he’s using some kind of listening device to eavesdrop on this conversation.

My instinct is to confront him face-to-face, but I remember what Alaric told me. This man is implicated in worse crimes than stalking my girl.

“There’s something we need to discuss, Klaus,” Victoria says. “It’s about Emma. I’ve heard from multiple sources that the two of you are together.”

There’s a sharp ripple of energy from the man. He exhales smoke into the cold night air, but I catch the way his hand shakes.

“What exactly are you asking me, Victoria?” I say, fighting to keep my voice even.

“Well, is it true?” she asks. “Are the two of you in a relationship?”

I have an engagement ring in my pocket. I’ve been carrying it with me since I got it back from the jeweler. I don’t know what the future has in store for us, but I’ve always known one thing for certain—I’ll do anything to protect that girl.

“I wouldn’t call it a relationship,” I say. “It’s more of a fling.”

“Okay. Does she feel the same way?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “Is this all you wanted to talk about?”

Her eyes flick over my face, trying to read the thoughts I’m leaving unsaid.

“You know I care about my employees,” she says.

“I want them to be happy in their jobs. And I’ll admit, I do have a soft spot for Emma.

If it’s a messy situation that’s going to result in one of you getting hurt, I suggest putting an end to it.

I’ll help you find another caretaker for the children, of course. ”

“That’s not necessary,” I reply. “The girl doesn’t mean anything to me. She’s just...convenient. I can end it any time.”

“Are you certain about that?” she asks.

“Yes,” I say. “Too much change isn’t good for the kids. Not to mention, I don’t want to go through the hassle of finding another nanny who’s a good fit. I don’t have the time for that.”

“I understand,” she says. “Just ensure that both of you are on the same page regarding this.”

“Of course,” I say. “It was just a temporary thing anyway.”

Adam finishes smoking and heads back inside the club.

If I didn’t have military-level training and an anxious mind, I wouldn’t even have noticed his presence.

“I need to deal with something,” I say to Mrs. Hendricks, moving toward the doors.

“You said you needed to discuss something with me?” she calls out.

“It’s not important,” I say, heading back inside the club.

My entire world came crashing down tonight. I shouldn’t be bothered by that. After all, it’s what I’m used to.

But just once, I let myself hope that it would be different this time.

I hoped that it would be different with her.