“Hey, easy there, Nina,” I said, placing my hand on the shoulder of one of my club’s members as she viciously hit the punching bag. “You don’t want to break your wrist, now do you?” Chiara caught the bag, and I gently took Nina’s hand and positioned her fist correctly. “Do it like this, okay?”
Nina nodded, a smile stretching her lips. “Yeah, thanks. I’m just really pissed at my ex right now.”
“What did he do?” I leaned on the bag next to Chiara, who was watching Nina with a soft smile on her face. Seth was like a dark shadow behind me, his eyes never leaving me, but I tried to do my best to ignore him. There had been a crease on his forehead ever since he’d seen me interact with the members of my club, and for a second I wondered if he was here for someone other than me, but his gaze always shifted to me after he assessed the others with a quick glance.
I’d taken a different path to the club tonight because Seth was with me. He knew where the club was, but there was no need for him to know just which alleys and streets I usually took to get here. I still didn’t know what his deal was, and I’d be damned if I trusted him.
“...and then I told him to pack his things,” Nina finished, and I cursed Seth’s presence yet again because I usually wasn’t this distracted.
“Good for you, girl.” Chiara bumped Nina’s fist as they were both grinning. “You don’t need his worthless ass anyway.”
“Vix!” Mark came running toward me, his face pale. He’d been a member of this club even before I got in charge.
“What’s going on?” I asked, and Seth stepped out of the shadows and approached as stealthily as a cat.
“We have a visitor,” Mark said, running a hand through his sweaty, shoulder-length black hair, his gray eyes filled with panic.
“A visitor?” I held my breath, glancing at Seth, but his face was expressionless. What if Seth had betrayed me and told everything to my father?
“Geez, Mark, spit it out already!” Chiara said. “Who is it?”
“Rubio,” Mark said. “Should we let him in? He says he’s not here to watch the fights but to talk to you.”
Fuck. Rubio himself, right at my club. This couldn’t be good. “Let him in.” If I refused, he’d only try harder to get to me, and that was the last thing I wanted. Mark immediately hurried away. A few moments later, a tall man with sandy blond hair appeared in the doorway and strolled toward us.
“Vix!” Rubio’s lips spread into a wide grin. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“What do you want?” I crossed my arms, meeting his light blue eyes.
“Oh, come on, babe. When you press your little mouth together like that, I almost think you don’t want me here.” Rubio stopped in front of me, his gaze appreciatively traveling over Chiara and Nina. “Hello there, ladies.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked, and his attention snapped back to me.
“You always want all eyes on you, don’t you?” He stepped forward, getting way too close for my comfort, and Seth made a move toward him.
“Stop. It’s fine,” I said to Seth. I could handle Rubio on my own, and if Seth was actually working for him, then pretending to protect me now wasn’t going to fool me.
“Ah, you have a guard dog now. Or is he your boyfriend?” Rubio looked at Seth, but his face wasn’t giving me any clues.
“That’s none of your business,” I said coldly. “Are we going to have to stand here forever or is there something you want?”
“I want to talk to you. In private.”
“You don’t...” Chiara started to say, but I lifted my finger with the claw ring in the air and she went silent.
“Fine,” I said. “I’ll talk to you. In my office.” I started for the door, and Seth followed me. When I glanced over my shoulder, I saw Chiara’s eyes filled with worry. If Seth was one of Rubio’s men, then going anywhere with the two of them, especially to my small office, was a huge mistake, but why go through all the trouble just to jump me in my damn office? No, Rubio was playing a different kind of a game, and I intended to find out what it was.
“Talk,” I said when we reached the office. “And be quick. I don’t have time for this.” I took a seat in my chair, leaning back. Seth stood near the door, and Rubio narrowed his eyes at him.
“I meant private. Are you really that afraid of me?” He waved his hands toward himself as if the whole idea seemed ridiculous to him.
I traced my claw ring over the smooth surface of my desk. “Don’t mind him. It’s his job to follow me anywhere I go. You won’t even know he’s here. Trust me. Why don’t you take a seat?”
Instead of sitting down, Rubio picked up the empty chair and brought it as close as possible as he could to me. “Babe, you really enjoy being the queen of this place, don’t you?”
“And you came all the way here to tell me that?” I raised an eyebrow at him, and his jaw tightened a bit because obviously this conversation already wasn’t going the way he’d intended it to. A gang leader in my office. Who would’ve thought?
I couldn’t see a gun under his black leather jacket and I was sure my guys at the door had searched him and taken his weapons before letting him in here. That was another one of the club’s rules anyway: no weapons of any kind. Everything had to be left at the door. We didn’t need any drama.
Rubio lifted his chin, his knee almost brushing mine, but I avoided the contact. “I came here because I have an offer for you.”
“Whatever it is, I don’t think I’m interested.” I clasped my hands and kept my face expressionless. There wasn’t really anything this guy could offer me. I already knew he wanted to get his hands on this club and the people in it so he could turn it into another one of his sick fight clubs where people were forced to fight to the death for the entertainment of the rich and powerful. Besides, if the club were his, it would be easier for him to extend his gang’s control to this area too.
This location was perfect. It was still in the city, but in an area remote and hidden enough so people could come without worry. If he simply shot this place up to take it away from me, he’d bring unwanted attention to it and scare people away. No, the only way he could truly have the magic of this club was if he bought it, and I wasn’t about to sell. Maybe that was why John had chosen me to inherit this place and lead it. He’d known I had enough money, so buying the club or just getting rid of me wouldn’t be as easy for Rubio and his gang as it would be if someone else were in charge.
“You haven’t even heard my offer.” He tilted his head, giving me a seductive smile. This whole thing might’ve had a chance to work if he wasn’t who he was, because the asshole was quite handsome for a criminal.
“Then tell me already. I promise I’ll consider it.” I glanced at Seth, whose every muscle was tense, and even though he was pretending to lounge against the wall, I could tell he was ready to spring forward. Was he really trying to protect me or was this Rubio’s game? Maybe he was trying to get me to trust Seth. It was funny how Rubio had chosen just now to come to me with an offer and not before. Well, he’d sent offers before, but never in person. It had always been through some goon. Why come now? Was it because of Seth?
“I like what you have here. I’m sure you already know I’d like to make this club great. To make it mine. And I’m willing to pay handsomely for it. You refused my offer before, I know, but that’s exactly why I came to talk to you.” He leaned forward, his hand reaching for my knee. “I’m sure I can convince you that selling the club is the best choice you can ever make. I can make you rich. I can turn you into a true queen.”
I didn’t move, just watched him with disinterest, although that didn’t seem to stop him, or he just didn’t realize.
“You can keep your position at the club. If you want to sit in that chair and oversee everything, I can give you that. We can make this club perfect. Together. Even if you don’t need money, I can offer you a lot more. Just say it, and I’ll make it happen. Things that no one else can give you.” His eyes sparkled with fervor as he placed his hand on my knee.
Seth rushed forward, but I waved my hand at him, and he stopped, his brow furrowed.
Rubio ran his hand up my knee as if nothing had happened, and I was suddenly really glad I was wearing my black pants.
“Get your hands off me,” I said, my voice steady, and Rubio hesitated, but he finally pulled back. A part of me wondered what exactly he was offering me. Maybe help with assassinating someone?
“Think about it, Vix. You’re wasting time here. This club will never reach its full potential unless I’m in charge of it and if I don’t turn it into a temple of true entertainment for people like us who want to experience beautiful things. You know I have resources that could make this place truly great, and I know you want it too. All you have to do is sign the club over to me and...”
“No.” I ground my teeth together, and Rubio blinked at me in confusion.
“What?”
“I said no. Thank you for your offer, but you should leave now.” I pushed my chair back a little, making sure there was enough space for me to kick him in the face if he pounced on me.
“You don’t want to do this.” Rubio’s nostrils flared. “This is a one-time offer and the best you’ll ever get. Accept it or...”
“Or what?” I glared at him.
“Or you might find out it’s not a good idea to piss me off.”
“I listened to your offer and I made my choice. I don’t think there’s anything to be pissed off about.” I shrugged. “There are plenty of abandoned buildings or underground tunnels that you can buy and use to build yourself another club. This isn’t the only place left in the city.”
“Exactly. If you want, I’ll buy you whatever place you want and you can have your club there if you prefer to run things on your own.” The corners of his lips lifted up again. Shit. Both he and I knew it would be difficult to find a place like this one. This club had been here for decades, and had a great reputation. Besides, anywhere else in this city I’d probably be forced to deal with the gang who controlled the area. No, this was the best location for a club like mine, not like Rubio’s. John had known that, and I couldn’t accept Rubio’s offer.
“That’s not what I want. This place has its own soul and history,” I said. “You and yours don’t belong here.” As if it wasn’t enough that his goons were selling drugs around here, now he wanted to turn this place into a temple of death.
Rubio clenched his jaw, but then he took a deep breath, and got to his feet. “I see you’re a little confused right now. Why don’t you take some time to think about it and you’ll realize just how wrong you are. The only thing that’s keeping this place and its people down is you and your dear John, who’s a pile of ashes.”
If I wasn’t wrong, Seth’s body had gone even stiffer, and he was glaring at me now as if he was angry that I wouldn’t let him kick Rubio out just yet. What the hell? Then again, maybe I was misinterpreting his reaction.
“Leave. Please.” I gave Rubio an unpleasant smile. “We have nothing to talk about.”
“Think about it. You’ll change your mind.” Rubio waved his finger at me, and I didn’t like the certainty on his face at all.
A sigh of relief escaped me once Rubio was out of the office. Through the open door, I could see Chiara in the hallway as she rubbed her arms, her gaze trained on me.
“Go stand in front of the door,” I said to Seth.
“I should...” he started to say, but I raised my finger to shush him.
“Go. I just need to talk to Chiara. Nothing else.”
He finally trudged outside, and Chiara rushed in. As soon as she closed the door behind her, she gave me a wide-eyed look.
“What happened?” she choked out.
“He wants the club. Offered me a new building or a spot at his club, lots of money, and whatever I desire.” I pressed my palm against my forehead.
“And?” Chiara took a seat in the chair Rubio had been sitting in.
“And what? I said no. He seemed determined to change my mind, so...”
“You think he’s going to do something?” Her brow creased with worry.
“I don’t know. He doesn’t want to risk bringing the cops here, and if he knows who I really am, then he won’t want to risk my father sending investigators if something happens to me... And even if he doesn’t know, he won’t do anything until he’s sure that no one important is backing me. He’ll try to avoid anything that could compromise what he wants most out of this place. But I don’t know... Maybe he has a plan. And...” I lowered my voice as I glanced at the closed door. “If Seth’s his spy, then Rubio might get a chance to get rid of me. If he plays it right and my death is ruled out as an accident...” My father was suspicious of almost anything, but he’d believe I messed up and gotten myself killed. I just didn’t know if Rubio and Seth knew that.
“It didn’t look like Rubio even recognized Seth,” she said. “What makes you so sure he’s working for him?”
“The timing. Rubio just now came here? Come on.” I made a face.
“Rubio’s going to go to war for this place,” she said. “And if he decides that, if he can’t have it, he’d rather we don’t have it either...”
I leaned my elbows on my knees and lowered my head into my hands. “I don’t know what to do.”
“You should fire Seth then. We can’t risk him being here.”
“No. Maybe we can use his presence somehow. Just make sure he doesn’t find out anything that Rubio can use against us.” Rubio had had plenty of opportunities to destroy this place, but he hadn’t done anything. No, he wanted this for himself and he wouldn’t rest until he got it. “But there might be a way for us to use Seth to set Rubio up.”
“Are you sure you want that guy with you all the time? He’s sleeping in your house, for fuck’s sake,” Chiara whispered.
“I know.” I lifted my head. “But it’ll be fine. We don’t want to risk Rubio sending someone else or changing his game, right? He can’t know we suspect Seth, so that’s our advantage.”
“And if Seth isn’t who we think he is...”
“Then it’s good I have him with me because he’ll protect me.” I didn’t really believe that, but I wasn’t about to let Rubio destroy everything John had been working for. “Tell everyone to be careful and that they shouldn’t get in unnecessary conflicts or fights with Rubio’s men outside this club.”
“Okay.” Chiara rose to her feet. “But we really need to do something about Rubio. He isn’t going to stop.”
“Yeah, I know.” I tipped my head back and let out a loud sigh.