Chapter 3

COLTON

“Get her for me.” I nudged towards the lady at the bar, resting my arm on the dark armrest.

With her eyes now wandering around the club, she sat on a stool, her legs crossed showing her red small shoes while she gripped her glass firmly. Her black dress draped around her body, her cleavage strained against it with her brown hair flowing over her shoulder.

Mateo, my bodyguard got to her. Talked, talked, glanced at my direction, talked again and he was back.

“She refused, boss.”

I cocked my head to the side and sipped from my glass of whiskey, my eyes not leaving her. Tough one. Dropping the glass, I put an unlit cigarette into my mouth and stood.

As I left the VIP section and walked down the stairs to the club room, the screams of people filled the air as they began to part ways. The price you pay for being a Ross. A mafia family who ran Texas top secret gambling market.

“I see you’re a bit outa my league, yeah?” I pull the cigarette from my mouth, dropping my free hand on her shoulder.

“Oh Jesus!” She flinched, slapping her palm on her breast and her elbow resting on the bar.

Her large black eyes twitched as she glanced at my hand. The hiss of pop filling a glass cup coupled with the loud music was giving me a headache. The main club has always been noisier than the VIP section. I pulled my hand off her shoulder, dipping it into my pocket. “You have someone you’re waiting for?”

A pearl necklace dangled around her neck as she shook her head. “No, I’m here alone.”

I nodded once, a smirk touching my lips. “I don’t usually ask twice,” I put the cigarette back in my mouth, pulled a black lighter from my pocket and lit it. She bent her head, brows knitting together. I blew out a cloud of smoke, then extended out my hand to her. “Sit with me?”

She swallowed a gulp of her drink and glanced round the room, then back at me. “I don’t even know—” a pause. Slowed breath. “Okay.”

She slid her soft hand into mine and I leaped down from the stool. As we crossed the room and climbed up the VIP section, I barely caught a glimpse of anything else other than her slender figure staggering ahead of me.

Once seated, I signaled Mateo to get another bottle of whiskey then I relaxed on the couch. “This your first time here, yeah?”

She nodded, her eyes squinting. “Does it mean you’re familiar with every woman here?”

Mateo returned, opened and dropped the whiskey then scurried back off. I took out the cigarette from my mouth and threw it to the floor, crushing it under my monk strap. “Nope.” I poured the wine into two glasses, then stretched one out to her. “What’s the name?”

“Poppy.” She collected the glass and straightened. “What’s yours?”

“You didn’t say you were bringing someone over.” Celeste interrupted, walking in with a glass over her fingertips. She glared at Poppy and forced a smile, trying to hide the bite of anger from seeing me with someone else.

Poppy lifted her face, smiling. “Hi—”

Drink splashed all over her, from her breast down to her thighs. She jerked and gaped like a fish on a hook, her eyes spreading wide open.

“I’m so sorry. It slipped from my hand.” Celeste shook her head, her hand pressed against her chest.

My mouth set into a grim line as I stood, staring coldly at her. The bouncers at the door pulled out their guns and I raised my hand, gesturing to them to put it back.

I’ve handled women like Celeste countless times. But this one? Her possessiveness was on a higher level. I blamed my father for steering me up with an ally’s family.

“I’m ticking this off as a mistake, yeah?” My voice was calm. “Next time,” I reached for her hand and pulled it behind my waistband. She felt the gun and swallowed. A slow smile touched my lips. “it’ll get messy.”

A vein throbbed on her forehead before she turned and stormed out. I turned to glance at poppy who’s been quiet the whole time. Her eyes sparkled and her mouth curved into a small pout.

Drunk. Clearly.

I inserted my hand into my pocket then exhaled. Leaning over, I whispered. “I have a suite upstairs. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Together we left the club, and took an elevator to the penthouse on the eleventh floor, away from the tons of rooms in the hotel.

Inside, not minding my presence, she strained her hand in a failed attempt to unzip her dress.

“Help me,” she said in a crisp whisper, taking slow steps towards me. She smiled at me and turned, her body relaxing on mine.

My dick twitched. I lowered my phone on the bed and reached for her zipper. Her body recoiled with every touch. My dick hardened even more as I stared at her bare back.

I gulped and glanced away, removing my hand from her body but then she turned and slammed her lips on mine.

I didn’t stop to think. I kissed her back.

As I lifted her up, my mind drifted to the rule I was about to break: never approach or fuck anyone from the Ross club.

No woman was worth breaking that rule for. That didn’t stop me. By morning, I’d make sure it doesn’t matter.

I blinked my eyes open the next day, to the light from the blinds. Beside me, she was still wrapped around my arms, eyes shut, slow breaths bursting through her nose. My gaze traveled down her naked body, wandered round her breast then returned to her face.

My body tensed. I stretched my hand to touch her face but the buzzing of the phone interrupted me.

“Yeah?” I answered.

“He’s been found, boss,” Mateo’s hoarse voice spat.

My pulse quickened, a sudden lightness striking my chest. “Keep him in the basement,” I said before ending the call.

I took out my hand from below her neck and stood grabbing my shirt and trouser. It took less than two minutes to put them on, then I reached for my gun in the drawer and tucked it into my waistband before hooking my belt.

I picked my phone and car key then pulled out a bunch of money from the side pocket of my suit and dropped it by the side table. She’d need it.

I glanced at her once more, before heading for the door. In the game, business came before love. And when a made man broke the code, the consequences were death.

That was Ramon’s fate.