Luca shut the door behind him as he walked into the room.
Dario glanced at him briefly.
"How is he?" he asked, rolling up his sleeves. He stood in front of a full-length mirror.
The bedroom was spacious and restrained, the wood floors are dark-stained, steel-grey walls, high windows half-hidden by heavy curtains. Everything was neat, deliberate.
A king-size bed sat untouched, the sheets tight and cold, like no one actually slept there. A low glass table held a single crystal tumbler and a half-empty bottle of whiskey. No photos. No clutter. Just quiet control.
"The nurse said he's stable," Luca replied, watching him dress.
"Mmh." Dario flicked to Luca through the mirror as he fixed his collar.
"Get me hourly updates."
"Yes, sir."
He turned to face Luca. The black shirt he wore was slightly unbuttoned, revealing part of his broad, hairy chest. A shiny twenty-four-carat gold chain rested against his skin. His permed hair framed his eyes, the kind that made women stare without meaning to.
He raised a brow.
Luca nodded.
"I'll be expecting those updates."
With that, Dario walked out of the room, into his car, and out of the driveway.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
"Pass," the bouncer said to the redhead who waved at him and walked into the club.
There was a long queue tonight. One of those Friday evenings when CEOs were done with work and wallets went light.
"ID?" the bouncer said, stretching out his hand.
"Oh." Leighton fished her card out of her black purse and handed it to him.
He glanced at it. "It's expired."
"What?"
He nodded toward a sign by the walkway. NO ID. NO ENTRY.
"So there's no way I can come in? Or something?"
"Hmm?" His brow lifted.
" It just expired." She sighed, then continued. "
"Can't you just sneak me in or…"
"Hey, there are people waiting out here!" a woman in the queue snapped.
The bouncer shook his head.
Leighton sighed, stepped out of the line, and walked away.
She sat on the pavement, staring into space.
+++++++++++++++++++
SOME MINUTES LATER…
Dario stepped out of a black Mercedes and handed the keys to the valet for parking.
He walked straight toward the bouncer, ignoring the queue.
Why would he ever queue?
Nico bumped into him as he stepped out of the club.
"Look who came back to my golden empire for more," Nico said with a smirk.
Dario glared at him. "You should see it as a privilege that I'm here… in your den of sinners."
"And you are?" Nico asked, placing his hands on his hips.
"Just a businessman."
"Oh… the one banging one of my exclusive dancers."
"It's business," Dario replied coldly. "Me patronizing my family."
Nico chuckled and stepped closer.
"Well, since you came crawling back to one of my pretty little sinners," he paused, smiling, "I'm sure she'll be a good girl for daddy tonight. Just tell her to come to me for confession tomorrow."
Dario clenched his jaw, ready to strike, but the bouncer stepped in.
He paused, his expression going blank for a second.
"Today is about me, not you," Dario said quietly. "I guess Dad will fill you in on the extra."
Nico grabbed his arm, glaring.
"Hey! It's getting cold out here!" someone yelled from the queue.
"Guess I'll be having a good time for sure, if you'd excuse me." Dario freed himself easily and walked into the club without looking back.
Nico twisted his jaw as he watched his brother disappear inside.
"Dad will fill me in on the extra… what the hell does that even mean?" he muttered, rolling his eyes.
Then he noticed her.
A dark-haired woman sitting alone on the pavement.
"Who's she?" he asked, nodding toward her.
The bouncer leaned in and whispered into his ear.
Nico smiled faintly… and walked toward her.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What the hell is going on there?
Leighton turned toward the commotion at the entrance. She could barely see anything from where she sat.
Hope someone gives that dickhead guarding the door a good scare.
She rolled her eyes and sighed.
She didn't notice when the noise died down. The sound of footsteps approaching was what stirred her.
She didn't bother to look up.
The footsteps stopped beside her.
"Hello, miss," a male voice said.
"Go away."
"I'm Nico. I was just wondering…"
"Which word was hard for you to understand? Go or away? I'm not in the mood to share a bed with anyone tonight, so let me be."
She still didn't look at him.
Nico blinked, stunned.
Doesn't she know who I am? Well, I guess not.
He bent and placed a hand lightly on her shoulder.
She looked up sharply, her glare icy. He withdrew immediately.
"Oh. Well then… have a lovely evening."
He smiled and walked back toward the club.
At the entrance, he leaned in and whispered something into the bouncer's ear before disappearing inside.
A minute later, the bouncer approached her.
"The boss says you can come in."
She hesitated for a moment. When she heard his footsteps receding, she stood and followed him at a distance, then inside.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Leighton sat at the polished black marble counter. The surface bone-chillingly cold with jagged gold lines in deep black that looked like lightning had been frozen in stone.
She caught a glimpse of her warped reflection in the counter and then the bouncer she had trailed inside, who whispered something into one of the bartender's ears before leaving.
Guess whispers are the love language here.
Leighton shrugged.
"Hey there, beautiful. What can I get you?" the bartender, Louis, asked, glancing at her.
"First three drinks are on the house," he added, placing his hands on the counter. "Boss's orders."
"A martini, please"
Louis was about to turn away when…
"Hey, Jeremy," a female voice called over the counter.
A blonde slid onto the seat beside Leighton.
"What can I get you, darling?" Jeremy said, taking her hand, kissing it, then smiling at her.
"A dirty negroni, thank you." She forced a smile and shifted in her seat.
Leighton glanced at the blonde, then at Louis. He immediately turned away, avoiding her eyes.
"Here you go," Jeremy announced, pushing the glass toward the blonde.
Leighton shot her a sideways look. The girl was fiddling with her necklace.
"Oh, thank you."
The blonde picked up the drink and stood, as if to leave, then hesitated.
With shaky hands, she slipped a tiny vial from her garter purse and tipped its contents into the glass.
Then she walked away from the bar.