Chapter 18

That night, the club was bustling, the air thick with the scent of desire and power. I mingled among the guests, my eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of Hartwell or his men. Alex was a storm cloud at the bar, his eyes never leaving me as I moved through the crowd. The tension between us was thick, a dance of fear and attraction that no one else seemed to notice.

As the night grew late and the club grew wilder, I spotted a man lurking in the corner, watching me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. He was one of Hartwell's men, I was sure of it. Without missing a beat, I approached him, my smile as sweet as honey. "Can I help you find something?"

His eyes raked over me, a predator assessing his prey. "I'm just enjoying the view," he said, his voice a low rumble.

I knew the type, a thug in a cheap suit, thinking he was smoother than he was. "Well, the VIP lounge is that way," I said, pointing to the velvet roped-off area. "You won't find a better view than that."

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