oom, the atmosphere shifted. He

igars. The lighting was dim, except for the soft, sultry glow on the stage at the far end, where strippers d

is. Conversations lowered to murmurs, then resumed when everyone had gotten their fill of watchin

, all older men in sleek black and gray, gold watches glinting under the low light. She recognize

the head of the tabl

m without a word. One of the men raised an eyebrow at her

at the man. "She

uestioned

soaked the air. She tried not to stare at the naked woman grinding a

to br

he knew-this was

was a

nged to D

en

ciall

versations were coded, clipped, masked behind business jargon and veiled threats. Even without underst

ey. Alwa

ing too freely. One of them brushed past Ariella's chair, bending over with a s

fted slightl

e not

igh-a silent warning, or maybe a promise. Possession. A

ble chuckled. "Didn't think I'd ever see

d in-some amused,

swirling the wine in his glass without looking

eted. Like a p

ing than before. Some looked surprised.

omeone muttered u

Dante replied,

say another

wling up her neck. She wasn't sure if she want

t sat there. Stil

ble spoke in low tones, voices gruff and confident, numbers and threats tossed around like casual banter. She didn't understand most of it, but w

of the music thumping through the walls. One slid across Dante's side of the table, heels clicking ag

la sti

didn't

n't eve

just another detail in a world he owned. His fingers tapped against his glass of bourbon, and whe

oked away,

it was the most normal thing in the world. Champagne bottles were popped. Smoke curled in the air. It was chaos

it," a voice mur

older, beautifully cold, and draped i

ded, sipping from her glass. "You either become one of th

d of Dante's low chuckle at something the str

e didn'

d her legs, and reached for

pagne and sin, of silence and surv

come just as dangerous

t room was dimly lit and lined with abstract artwork-cold, soulless, expensive. She walked briskly, heels clicking against the marble floor

heeks, guarded eyes, lips pressed into a thin line. The dress Dante chose for her clung too tight. Every

creak b

e f

n't click shu

turned-and he

g her all night. She felt his gaze long before he ever followed her. Now he was sta

id smoothly, stepping inside. "Place

raightened. "You're

a step closer, hands

e backed away a little,

. "Funny how he parades you in here like a trophy,

could smell the liquor on his breath. "He

she said,

. "What's he gon