Page 4 of A Taste Of Darkness

“My fiancée?” I asked, hoping he’d give me a name.

“Yup. She’s been trying to get inside for five minutes, and I didn’t want to let her in, but?—”

“As far as I’m concerned, she’s busy tonight. So, who the fuck did you let inside my building, Cleve?!” Angry, I stood up from my chair and grabbed an already-loaded gun from my desk drawer.

I never killed without a reason, and those who I’d murdered were usually sex offenders, so I wasn’t sure why I took my gun.

Protection, I told myself. In case someone from my family found me and was now here to kill me. I wouldn’t have hesitated to pull the trigger on them.

He cleared his throat, trying to swallow down the fear that I could smell through the phone. “Sterlie Adams, Sir. She said she’s your fiancée.”

My fingers loosened, and the gun in my hand dropped down to the floor at the mention of her beautiful name.

The sound of her name brought instant chills to my body, lingered inside of my brain like the sweetest sound known to mankind. Like an addicting, delightful melody that was created just to ease my nerves.

She was the one person I wanted more than anything or anyone on the entire fucking planet. And she was the only person I couldn’t have. Ever.

I hung up on my security guard, stormed out of my office, and made my way down several flights of stairs. The elevators would’ve taken too long, or so I was sure. All five of them were constantly occupied.

When I finally made it to the main club floor, I looked around myself several times. To everyone who’d been staring at me, I might’ve looked at ease, but I felt far different.

My blood was rushing through me quicker, my heart beat faster, and my hands were shaking at the thought of the sweet Sterlie Adams running somewhere through these halls all by herself.

She wasn’t safe here. She didn’t belong here.

And everyone inside of this club knew it.

You just had to take a look at her and you could tell.

I rushed past a couple of tables, and then finally, halfway toward the bar, I saw her.

She wore a pink skirt down to her mid-thighs, white cropped top and heels, but she was missing a purse and a jacket. It wasn’t cold outside but definitely too cold for a short skirt and top without a jacket. Her blonde hair hung down to her waist, but it wasn’t as perfectly styled as it usually was.

Sterlie looked over the rows of tables, a hand just above her eyebrows like it made her see better. She was very obviously looking for someone. Her sister, I assumed, but she must’ve known that Flora wasn’t even in Canada at this moment in time. So, who was it she was interested in?

With long strides, I made my way over to her, but she didn’t even notice. Only when I stood before her, arms crossed and head cocked, did she take me in.

Sterlie smiled up at me. So sweet. So innocent. So adorable. “Hi.”

A chuckle slipped from my throat. “Hi, fiancée.”

Pink covered her cheeks, a flush so intense on her light skin that it almost matched her skirt.

“Care to explain our new relationship status?” I should’ve been upset that someone was able to sneak their way into Tartarus. It never happened before. In all five years that this club existed, not once did anyone without a membership make it past my security.

I was impressed, though at the same time I always knew if someone was able to get inside without permission, it would’ve been her.

Her eyes narrowed at me. “No.”

If Sterlie had been anyone but her, I would’ve forced an answer out of her… but violence was my last choice with her. Actually, violence wasn’t even an option when it came to Sterlie Adams.

When I took her in for a moment longer, I noticed something odd about her. The Sterlie I knew—in some ways, anyway—was talkative, loud, and joyful. The one before me was quiet and shy. Scared.

Now, it could’ve very well been the fact that she was inside a club she didn’t belong to, dressed in all pink that made her stand out more than her beautiful face did anyway. Eyes laid on her with curiosity, watching her. She was the center of everyone’s attention.

But something told me that it wasn’t the attention that frightened her.

“Are you okay?” I wanted to lay my hands on her body, cup her face, and force her eyes on mine, but we didn’t have that kind of relationship. The only long-lasting conversation we’d ever had was two years ago when Flora invited us both to Kai’s house. Other than that, it was merely a nod or a quick, mumbled hello when we’d seen each other at Flora’s wedding, or her birthday.