Dark Queen

I narrow my eyes. “What is it?”

“A peace offering. And energy.” He winks.

I know he wouldn’t give me anything illegal, and I hate bad energy so I greedily gulp down the liquid, enjoying the bubbles popping over my tongue. “Thanks.” I pretend to tilt my hat and startle when a warm breath whispers in my ear.

“I thought little girls knew not to accept drinks from men at bars?” Mr. Leto scowls, narrowing his eyes on Simon, who scurries away to clean some glasses.

Coward.

“Not that I see any men,” he adds louder, so Simon has no choice but to hear the insult.

Being so close to him clouds my mind, his allure trying to erase all the asshole shit he’s done to me, but I steel my back and take a step away from him, turning to face him.

“Actually, it’s all girls, not just the little ones.” I glance around the room, then drop my gaze, looking him up and down, ignoring my whore vagina begging me to sit on the bulge in his pants. “And you’re right, I don’t see any men either. Excuse me.”

I feel the heat of his scolding gaze on the back of my neck as I busy myself, my pulse pounding in my ears.

I shouldn’t antagonize him, but I can’t help myself. He’s the type of man who makes me want daddy issues, and I promised myself I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of my attention tonight.

He makes it easy for me when he leaves the building.

Going back to the bar I take my order from Simon, the women at my table all dressed with a certain sophistication, purses I’ve only seen in magazines placed next to them like they’re a beloved pet.

“Who was that man speaking to you at the bar?” One of the women ask, while the other’s giggle taking their drinks.

“That ladies, wasn’t a man. It was the devil dressed as one.” I whisper, in warning.

With that I leave them to enjoy their night, busying myself with clearing a couple of my tables grateful to find large tips left for me.

By the time I finish wiping the tables over my shift comes to an end. I didn’t see Mr. Leto not making a reappearance.

It’s pitiful that I miss his presence.

“Alyssa?” Hannah summons me with a gesture of her hand for me to follow her to her office as I’m packing up my things to leave for the night. My shift was only three hours, but it felt longer.

“What’s up?” I ask, closing her door behind me, a tired thumping beginning in my head.

Walking to her desk, I take the offering of a cracker from her watching as she inhales one herself.

“Water?” She offers gesturing to a couple of bottles on her desk. Uncapping one she sips from the lip.

“Are you ok?” I ask, she’s awfully pale tonight.

Waving a hand in dismissal she wipes her mouth, “Just a little queasy.”

I take a seat holding my bag on my lap and nibbling the cracker she gave me.

“How would you feel about making some extra money Saturday?”

I was going to go shopping Saturday for a dress for the Swan benefit on Sunday. It’s mandatory that I go, and I have nothing to wear.

When I don’t answer she perks up leaning forward on her desk. “You’d be doing me a favor, Alyssa. I know it’s a lot to ask, but a couple of the girls from Club S are refusing to come in and I’ve been asked to cover, but I’m not feeling good.”

Club S?

“Isn’t that the sex club?” I ask, incredulous.

Releasing a tired breath, she scratches her eyebrow. “You won’t be working the floor or back rooms, just serving drinks.”

That’s no big deal.

And the extra money would be nice.

But it’s a sex club and wasn’t it where that woman was murdered?

“Maybe you’ll be feeling better by then or Joelle can cover?”

“You’ll make three times in one night what you make in a month here.” She places a cherry on top.

That’s a lot of dresses.

“What will I have to wear?”

She laughs, leaning back in her chair holding a hand to her stomach. “I promise nothing revealing. You’ll only be covering the early shift. It’s the first night re-opening and may not even be busy. I’ll take you over and show you around.”

That sounds easy enough. “Okay. I suppose…if it’s a favor for you.”

“One time, I promise,” she agrees.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Luca

Alyssa’s attitude only made my cock hard. She wants to taunt me about being a real man. Soon, she’s going to learn just what type of man I am.

Once Eddie confesses, there will be nothing holding me back from taking everything I want from her. I have to be sure he’s the one responsible and eliminate him as a threat.

Pulling up to the warehouse, I exit the car and find Marcello sleeping on a cot in one of the rooms.