Page 21 of Vicious Heir

"I wasn't sure you were here," I say, feeling my cheeks turn red. "And last time, I had on a mask."

"Last time, there were about a hundred people fucking down here." His voice is liquid gold, and I keep catching glimpses of his pink tongue.

I remember what that tongue can do to me.

"I was just thinking that this place looks a lot nicer when there's an orgy going on."

"Oh, there's an orgy. It's just the fucking takes place outside of my walls."

"That's a fun way of looking at a nightclub."

"It's the only way." He gestures at the bartender. The young man pours a glass of top-shelf whiskey and brings it over. "This place is filled with lonely people. This place isn't an end; it's a means to something else."

"And what's that?"

"Connection." He sips his drink, studying me. "Is that why you pretended to be lost when we first met?"

I suck in a breath and look away. "You weren't supposed to know that was me."

"I figured it out pretty fast. You're easy to remember." His eyes drift down my body. I'm wearing a cute little dress, not too revealing, but not conservative either.

"I guess you looked me up."

"I'll admit to a little curiosity. Why'd you come back tonight, Lucy?"

I hesitate, trying to come up with a reason. Because I wanted to see him again? Because I wanted a repeat of our first encounter?

Because I'm terrified of what's going to happen after we get married.

"You were arguing with my grandmother. I want to know what you two were talking about."

He glances back toward the stairs. "Ask her about that."

"Grandmother doesn't tell me anything. I wouldn't have come here if it were that easy to find out."

"Then maybe you don't need to know." He pushes off from the bar and starts to walk away.

"Hey, where are you going?" I get up and hurry after him. Adriano parts through the crowd like a boat through water. "You're seriously just going to walk away?"

"You're better off not knowing." He stops when he reaches the staircase and turns back to me. This time, he's inches away andtowering over me like a monster. He grabs my arm, fingers firm but not painful, and I stare with my mouth open. "Trust me, Lucy. Go back home. You're not going to find anything but trouble here."

"What about after we're married? Are you going to keep on being trouble?"

His expression hardens. "When we're married, you'll be mine to protect, and I don't let anyone touch what I own."

"You're going toownme?" I laugh lightly, a thrill running between my legs and a fire in my belly. "Like I'm property."

"More like a means to an end."

"Sure, just like your club."

"Go home, Lucy." He releases my arm.

"Why did you give me that card?"

He hesitates. I can tell he wants to get out of this conversation. "That was a mistake."

"Bullshit. You did it for a reason." I move close to him, desperate to keep this going. "You were thinking about the first time we met, weren't you?"

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