Page 102 of The Game
“He’s moving toward the door,” Nick’s rough voice says in my ear, and I begin to dance to the music, swaying my hips, a macabre grin growing. I’ll be the siren that lures this man to the depths and grin as he drowns.
“Careful, bunny. You keep moving like that and Jameson will actually have his heart attack,” Teddy says, and my grin grows all the wider.
“He knows it’s for them,” I mutter softly against the rushing music.
“Creep, two o’clock,” Jonah, Nick’s younger brother, says, giving me fair warning as a muscular blond in a business suit shoves his friends aside and stalks closer. “Want me to dart him?”
Biting back my smile as Nick says, “Fuck, Jonah, where the hell did you get those?” I softly shake my head as though to the beat and keep moving, pretending to be drunk.
The blond is persistent, though, and as I feel a hand encircle my bicep, I whirl, tottering in my heels before I stare into bright blue eyes. Blinking as though stunned by his looks, I soften and smile, my heart racing in my chest.
“You’re safe,babochka. Do not leave the floor,” Jameson growls in my ear, his restraint thin enough already.
“You’re…stunning,” the man breathes, grinning widely, eyes glossed with drink. Swishing my long hair over my shoulder, I bat my eyes.
“You’re not bad yourself.”
His wolfish grin grows, dimples dotting his cheeks, before he runs a hand through his thick blond hair. Leaning in to speak over the thundering bass, his grip on my arm doesn’t lessen, and my eyes flit around the circle of bodies, seeking out the reassurance I need. A pair of teal eyes watch me from afar, a beautiful woman with thick black hair giving him a lap dance. He smirks at me and winks, and I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“Name’s Brodie. What’s yours, beautiful?”
Before I can respond, Nick’s harried voice speaks. “He’s coming down now, Alice, get away.”
Batting my eyes, I pull away, gently extracting myself from the puzzled young man, the planes of his face smooth, young, his eyes holding a touch of hurt. Pressing my hand to his chest over his fitted lapel, I smile.
“If it were any other night, I’d tell you, handsome,” I say with a sultry wink as I back away into the crowd, his forlorn gaze following me before the writhing bodies swallow him up once more.
Making my way quickly to the stairs with a racing heart, I see the man in all his disgusting glory. He’s old, nearing his eighties, wrinkled with a tuft of wispy white hair, a deplorable aura surrounding him. I cut his path just in time, swinging my hips as though I am on a mission to get to the bathroom. And just as I’d hoped, another hand encircles my arm, spinning me around quickly, his bodyguard glaring down at me. Heart in my throat, I wonder if I’ve been discovered, but a phlegmy voice cuts above the din.
“My, my, what a rare beauty.”
The guard releases me as the old man graces the landing, faded brown eyes sparkling with intrigue as he stares unabashedly at me. Dropping my eyes and feigning innocence, I tuck my hair behind my ear and smile.
“Thank you, sir.”
“So refined,” he says, stepping closer, his gnarled, wrinkly hand reaching for my chin. Biting back the bile that rises up my throat at the memories that flood forth of another papery hand gracing my skin, I hold my breath and allow him to cup my chin, pulling my gaze back up to his.
“Stay down here, Alice, whatever you do.”
The voice is Jameson’s, a note of urgency to his tone.
“Are you enjoying your night?” he asks, motioning to the dance floor as he releases my chin, allowing me a moment to breathe. I nod, grinning.
“Never been before. I like exploring new places.”
He chuckles as lights strobe across his face. His guard shifts behind me, my muscles tensing as I peek over my shoulder, suddenly apprehensive.
“Adventurous little Alice, aren’t we?”
My stomach bottoms out just as his guard grips my biceps again, the old man morphing before my eyes into a sinister villain.
“Bring her upstairs. Find those filthy Russians and gut them.”
Struggling against the hold on me as my eyes widen, Nick’s voice booms above the rest, commanding me to stay calm. “Go with him, Alice, we’ll be up soon, okay?”
Eyes watering, I allow myself to be pulled up the grand marble staircase. As soon as I am shoved into the office, the phlegmy chuckle that greets me has my skin crawling, and I hold my arms, backing away. My purse still hangs from my shoulder, and within I have a small stun-gun and Jameson’s favorite knife. I trust they will be quick, but will it be quick enough?
As the connection in my ear crackles and goes silent, a wave of nausea washes over me. He stalks closer, his two guards standing solemnly in front of the closed door. I remember his name. Remember all the despicable things he did to Meg. And knowing his own flesh and blood, his spoiled son, also hurt Ellie? My veins turn to fire, and I stand my ground, the butterfly tattoo on my forearm a stark reminder of the price he is about to pay for fucking with me—the queen of two of the most lethal men on this planet. Knowing Teddy is out there, too? Having seen the things he is capable of?