Page 29 of Lord of Vice

Yet, I’d never felt so possessive about anyone. Ever. The need was raw and ripe.

As I stepped into one of three more intimate clubs inside the resort, I could feel a buzz of excitement all around me. Maybe that’s because this particular location had recently been renovated, upgraded to serve the needs of my wealthiest customers.

I’d left the sanctity of my suite for a drink, knowing well enough that if I didn’t, I’d be unable to resist my lust. A slight growl erupted from my throat and I flexed my fingers. Spanking her had seemed natural, which was ridiculous. Fucking her mouth had been perfection. While I’d engaged in my fair share of sadistic, sexual acts over the years, I’d never spanked a woman for her behavior.

I tried to rid my mind of seeing part of her naked body, my cock still aching from being this close to fucking her pussy as well as her mouth. When I’d left, I’d made certain Misha kept watch on the door. While I’d easily been able to tell after Penny’s outburst how exhausted she was, even waiting for a full thirty minutes before I’d left, I had a feeling she would make another stupid move and try to leave.

At some point, I’d need to more fully explain to her the level of danger she was in. Wouldn’t that fill in the blanks with all the reasons she should run far away from me? Somehow, I had a feeling it would take a lot more with her.

Hissing as I scanned the perimeter, my thoughts centered on three things.

One: the fact David had been stupid enough to steal from me, something that not only brought my wrath down like an iron fist but resulted in a death warrant being issued.

Two: that Gray Death had made its way into my club of all places. My reputation had been a fact of life in Las Vegas since the day I’d turned eighteen, my father finding a drug dealer just outside an elementary school. Once upon a time, my father had made his fortune doling out party favors to men and women who had more money than common sense.

He’d been considered the king of cocaine, the white powder all he allowed to be served. But in those days, drugs were given out freely like lines of candy along with gold straws commemorating the event. He’d been famous for his lavish parties, those catering to the rich and famous.

Actors.

Musicians.

Politicians.

Corporate moguls.

Everyone who was anyone flocked to my father’s resorts for sun, sin, and the finest snort money could buy. My father insisted it remained pure, only cutting it enough to keep from causing heart failure. Everything had been one huge party after another, except after the child of one of the men he’d sold drugs to the night before had a seizure and died because of some garbage a two-bit dealer from the wrong side of town had sold to the kid.

To a child, for fuck’s sake.

He’d wanted to be like his father.

That was the day I’d been indoctrinated into my father’s savagery, my initiation into violence and control something I’d never forget. I’d been the one responsible for hunting the dealer down, handling the punishment as I’d seen fit. I’d learned how much I enjoyed breaking and taking limbs.

I’d been called the Bone Crusher ever since.

Three and my most important thought of the entire freaking day: Why in the hell had my guest believed I was going to harm her dog? Had I given any indication those were my intentions?Had I treated the dog badly in any way? As I walked through the club, taking mental note of every guest, all watching me, I knew the answer.

Of course not. For all the terrible things I was capable of, harming animals wasn’t one of them. I wasn’t that sick kid I’d read about, the ones who tortured animals at an early age, growing up to become some crazed serial killer who craved munching on body parts.

Someone about Penny’s life had brought her from a tiny town in Virginia to Las Vegas. And working for the Morelli brothers? Her abilities aside, they’d hired her to groom her into becoming a sex slave. I knew it in my gut.

While I’d yet to see her dance, I had a feeling she was talented. What in the fuck had happened to her in her past life to cause what appeared to be PTSD? Maybe I would take my anger out on the Morellis just for the fun of it.

I gave myself another reminder that I needed to handle business first.

My anger was off the charts because of that when it should be because I had a feeling Gray Death was being sold from this club. We’d been open a week. This single location was members only, membership cards checked by one of two men holding court at the door. No one got in or out who wasn’t allowed.

Membership was highly sought after, bribe attempts made during its renovation after the news had gotten out about the change in the club’s direction. There were no garish slot machines. There were no tables for gambling or locked down rooms for high dollar poker events. In this world, back roomshoused the few who didn’t enjoy participating in sex acts in front of people.

There were booths and private venues inside the main body of the club, all with privacy in mind. Even tropical plants were used as screens, allowing for a pretense that the act of fornication couldn’t be seen by management or anyone else.

Of course that was bullshit. The location was wired to the hilt with cameras in dozens of locations, the feeds going to two locations, my office and a security room locked down with almost zero access. Were some of the events filmed for potential blackmail use? Well, of course. My father had taught me over the years that there were two ways of handling enemies.

Kill them with kindness and ply them with alcohol, which allowed them to fall into sordid moments of pure sin. Only if and when remaining professional didn’t work were what my father had called the big guns brought out.

Times had changed, cleaning up violence taking a toll on everyone. However, I couldn’t allow drugs to be sold in any establishment. Gone were the days of hustling for a buck. There was no need. I was a respected businessman after all.

I unfastened my jacket as I headed to the bar, frustrated as fuck after the events of the evening. David would be found. It was only a matter of time. For now, I’d follow my instincts, searching the club until I found the asshole responsible for daring to bring Gray Death into the resort.