No Safe Word,Louis

PTE

L

issed a chance to needle me about "settling down," even while I bounced her youngest on my knee

oyi

I cared to count. They're the only ones who could bring me to my knees-literally a

earlier t

o think that was all it was. Cathan had also just closed a deal with an arms supplier we'd been circling for months. Not many people could convince a ma

t of the car, adjusted my cufflinks, an

wn into a full-blown empire. Allure wasn't just a casino anymore. It was a haven for si

g chandeliers and champagne fountains, there were blood splatters and whispered words. We had secret rooms where we hid foreign diplomats, cartel

nearly did th

was not a

trusted during a lucrative real estate merger. But for as long as I've been in

bviously decided he wanted a larger share of my empire and tho

o

l over. But one thing was for certain: that man was never seeing the light of

nic. Too much watching. Too m

ere underfunded

de," I told my driver. "

less. Anonymous. Forgotten

d. My sight was fogged, and even the ache in my bon

ons of underpaid staff. My men cut through the silence,

's when

ted anyone to

er his brow, and though the janitor's uniform was baggy, I could see the way it clung to a lean, wiry body. He mo

is cornflower-blu

me...

ow is that when he tried to step aside, my arm in

ed. My voice was r

to my face, and then back to my side once more. Not afraid of me, but afraid of what I was. It wa

rt

me. Gently. Withou

o sit," he

redded, and my wound burned, but I watched him-this boy with shaking hands an

in hand, he wen

f a scar tracing the side of his neck like a disappearing story. And even though his tremblin

mething hea

e told my men to leave the room. I should have

there and s

asked, not sure

ed, so soft his voi

ui

ike a breath you didn't dare

holding me fast in the now. My heart thudded aga

mething un-readable fli

iosity. R

it was-t

ready making everything go round. Our eyes locked in the

f him except for

e except blood and t

quiet, something primeva

wasn't going to eve

, terrifying

a rude shrug, I stood up, leaving him to