For Cam (Chicago Syndicate Book 4) (15 page)

The door is being opened just as Adriano takes his cig and gets out. Then he offers me his hand, and I follow him after grabbing my whip.

Apparently, some movie stars arrived before us, so the journalists are pumped, and I’m bombarded with camera flashes and dozens of voices. It’s so cold without my coat, and my cat ears almost fly off from a blast of wind, but Adriano notices it and wraps his arm around me as he strolls forward to Fallon and Luca, who’s wearing a tailored dark blue suit with vest and jacket.

The club has been transformed into a haunted castle. The black carpet is freakishly decked with fake blood and lit pumpkins hanging in the air between plastic spiders and bats. Rubber bones and body parts are scattered over the carpet, and the entrance door is decorated with a gigantic grayish skull with eyes that shoot red laser beams.

I greet Fallon, who jerks her chin to Adriano. “Couldn’t get him into a costume either?”

I shrug my shoulders. “Forget them. At least
you
look awesome, Cleopatra.”

Meanwhile, reporters yell to Luca and Adriano, and they take photos together and start answering questions.

Luca and Adriano make public appearances at their own events and some events of other influential businessmen. This is how they uphold their image of being two successful entrepreneurs while orchestrating everything from behind the scenes by paying off media and law enforcement. Some of the most powerful journalists, detectives, lawyers, judges, and politicians in Chicago are associates of the Syndicate who get free drugs and the most beautiful women at their disposal for their indiscretions in the underground sex club that’s only accessible to the elite. And with this party, Luca and Adriano are working with several charities to raise awareness and money so that they appear to be philanthropists.

“Here’s the entrepreneurial bad boy, Adriano Montesi, one of Chicago’s last most eligible Italian bachelors, since his partner, Luca DeMiliano, was snatched off the market this year. Mr. Montesi, congratulations on the ongoing success of Club 7. Tickets were sold out within one night. What makes this club the most popular establishment in town?” A journalist thrusts her mic into his face and smiles seductively.

“You should ask the attendees that,” he retorts arrogantly but says it with that undeniable magnetism that’s obviously melting her panties while she giggles.

I roll my eyes as Adriano glances back at me.

“And by the way, I’m not a bachelor anymore.” He angles his body to me and invites me forward.

“Your date?” the journalist probes.

“Yes.” A million flashes go off at once when he captures my mouth in a searing kiss. “My girlfriend.”

“Who is she? Where did you meet? Is it serious?” All of this is fired at us, but the publicist takes over and tells us to move along, and then she instructs the journalists that they can each only ask one question to Adriano and Luca.

“Why do you always smoke on the red carpet?” I wonder out loud, but Adriano hears it.

“Makes me feel calm.”

“You’re nervous?”

“I don’t always like these public events, but we must attend. And remember that you should always hide your true emotions in public, Cam.”

I frown at him. “Then why are you looking at me like you want to eat my pussy?”

He coughs, choking on his smoke before he flicks the butt away to the side. “Woman, it gets me hard in one-point-three seconds when you say
pussy
.”

“Please move forward,” someone yells.

“So, everyone can know about us now?” I whisper to Adriano.

“The underworld already knows. It’s a tenacious rumor that you’re my wife. The public world doesn’t matter. Now that the underworld knows, people will learn how far I’d go to keep you.” His voice is adamant.

“I love you,” is all I can get out when he’s being sweetly possessive.

“
Ti amo
. Go have fun with Fallon. I’ll catch up with you. Guards are watching you two, just so you know.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.” I kiss him on the mouth and meet up with Fallon.

Because it’s too much fun yielding this whip, I spank her from behind, and she shrieks, rubbing her bottom.

“You bitch! That hurt,” she accuses around a laugh.

We walk through the door that’s veiled in smoke and step into the horror dance club. The place is filled with special effects, cobwebs, and pumpkins while ghosts, zombies, vampires, and tons of movie characters mill around. The second floor is the VIP area where the movie stars, singers, and other celebrities are escorted to, but Fallon and I want to stay on the first floor.

After snatching a pumpkin spice cocktail from a waitress’s tray, Fallon and I careen through the crowd to Rosalia.

“Did you ditch your father the second you came in, vampire?” I ask after pushing the cocktail into her hand. “You look hot.”

She flashes her pointy teeth from beneath her painted red lips, and I can tell that she’s already tipsy; she had a party with friends before she came here. “I’ve been waiting for you.” But Rosalia’s surveying the room as Fallon follows her gaze to Wade, and a crease forms between Fallon’s brows, so mine shoots to Wade too.

Then all of us stare at him with our mouths hanging open as he closes the distance between us. Wade’s a bronze god in a gladiator outfit with all bare skin and hard, shiny muscles, and his dirty blond hair in a flawless mess, like he’s just woken up.

Rosalia gulps down her cocktail as he grins at her first. “Close your mouths, ladies. You two”—he glances from me to Fallon—“are taken.”

And then he takes the glass from Rosalia. “Why are you always intoxicated when I see you, Rosa?”

“Why are you always the Grinch when I see you, Wade?” she counters.

“What I just said; because you’re always intoxicated.”

“Who are you? My father?”

My head whips back and forth between them, but then Wade’s interrupted by a woman who obviously knows him as she places her hand on his abs and purrs something into his ear. He forgets us completely and saunters away with her.

“Luca had a fling with her once,” Fallon remarks, indicating the beauty now hanging on Wade’s arm.

“Oh, she’s pretty. Do you hate her?”

“No, I’m not as jealous as Luca, Adriano, and you. I’m the demure one of this group.”

“True...”

“I’m the voice of reason,” she adds playfully.

I laugh, throwing my head back. “Don’t push it.”

Then we direct our attention back to Rosalia, asking in unison, “What was that?”

She pretends as if nothing happened. “Urgh! He’s always treating me like a kid.”

Fallon blurts, “Do you like Wade, Rosalia? Because that would be a bad idea.”

“A very bad idea,” I echo.

“Why?” she asks instead of denying, which worries me.

“Because he’s not a man to become emotionally involved with,” Fallon warns, turning around and pointing at the numerous women gawking at him. “Case in point.”

“Has anything happened between you two?” I want to know.

“No,” she replies dejectedly.

“He’s always with a different woman when I see him.
Always
,” Fallon emphasizes.

“And he’s a huge flirt,” I add.

“So was Adriano,” Rosalia says to me.

“No,” Fallon cuts in, waving her hands. “Wade’s man-whoring is on a whole other level than what Adriano did. Trust me, Wade’s
always
with a different woman. I don’t even think he knows the names of the women he sleeps with. He’s handsome, and he kind of knows it, Rosalia.”

She purses her lips in defeat. “I know, I know. It’s just an infatuation.”

I shake my head slowly at her.

“I’m going to the ladies room,” Rosalia remarks and flees before we really start to interrogate her.

“This isn’t just an infatuation,” I tell Fallon with a foreboding undertone. “They remind me of Adriano and me when we first met.”

“This is not good...” Then her face falls, and she mentions suddenly, “Sometimes I hate being on the outside.”

“I’ve noticed that. But in Rosalia’s case, we’ve all been on the outside. No one knows about her crush on Wade. However, I’m guessing you didn’t really mean that. Do you want to be part of the Syndicate?” I’ve noted for a long time that Fallon often dislikes being excluded from Syndicate business.

After a long pause, she admits, “Yes. Sometimes I wish I was tough like you and allowed into the organization.”

“I’m not that tough. Just the other night, I was choking back tears because I wanted to strangle Adriano after our fight.”

“But see, you choke them back. I would’ve let them fall. Anyway, it’s a moot point because Luca would never agree to it. And I’m not going to seek trouble. It’s not that I’m unhappy, quite the contrary.”

“I get what you mean. I think hanging out with me might also have an effect on you?” I ask.

“Perhaps. I like the bond you have with Luca and Adriano. You’re more aware of what’s going on with that other part of their lives.”

“Speaking of...” I trail off when our men approach us.

“A dance, Catwoman?” Adriano takes my hand in his and presses a kiss to the back of it, bowing slightly like a nineteen-twenties gentleman.

I accept, and he leads me to the dance floor where he seizes my whip and pulls the tail tight, flinging it around my lower back and dragging me close to him. We sway together for a few endless minutes with our cheeks touching, the corner of my lip brushing the corner of his. He moves effortlessly, and his familiar cologne awakens my core in an intimate moment like only he can create between us. 

In an endearing tone that he uses solely with me, he confesses, “I loved you from the moment I saw you. I just didn’t realize it until later. For so long, I believed it was lust. But it was an undeniable attraction, a certainty that you belonged to me. Call it fate or whatever. But I saw all that you’d be someday. You’re fierce and courageous and the only one who could stand beside me. Every day, I realize that more and more, Cam.”

“You do?”

“Yes. And I couldn’t stay away from you. Especially when you kept me at bay. Fuck, I had so many fantasies about you after I’d been with you in the headquarters’ strip club. You have no idea how often you starred in my dirty thoughts. And still do.” Then he kisses my temple, and we break to dance to the rhythm of the music.

Swiveling around, I move provocatively and stop behind Fallon, sticking my tongue out at Luca when he arcs a brow. Then Adriano grinds against my back as his hands track up my sides, and I rest my head against his chest, feeling blissful in his arms again. Simply dancing, relishing in the uncomplicated things in life.

For a long time, we swirl around the dance floor and laugh. Adriano’s eyes follow me continually with an expression that lights my heart. There’s isn’t a second that I’m unaware of his gaze on me, making me feel cherished.

I’m introduced to many tycoons, financiers, and entertainers. Plus there’s lots of food and drinks being served, compliments of Adriano of course. It’s the first time all four of us are able to abandon our usual worries and truly appreciate our night.

When we return to the dance floor, Wade joins us, and then Rosalia, Alessa, James, and Carmine even dance with us as well.

“This is the best night I’ve had in months,” I whisper into Adriano’s ear while rubbing my body against him. I love dancing and going out since I never really did it when I was young.

His hand cradles my head, tightfisted, yet completely tender. “
Sono felice che ti stia divertendo, amore mio
.” I’m happy to see you enjoying yourself, my love.

Since I’m starting to understand Italian better, I can reply, “
Sono felice
.” I’m happy.

After hours and hours of having Adriano by my side, I’m back on cloud nine, but sadly, we’re still disturbed by business when a guard summons Adriano.

“Luca and I will be right back.” Adriano grips my ass and smooches me.

Fallon, Rosalia, and I stay on the dance floor while the men dismiss themselves.

“I’m so hot!” I shout to Rosalia over the music, and she bobs her head vigorously.

“Me too. Want to go outside?” she suggests.

“No, follow me to the back entrance hall. We can get some air there.” I direct the way, unlocking the door with my fingerprint, and we stand in the hallway where it’s much cooler.

“I haven’t danced this much in ages. My poor feet.” Fallon removes her strappy sandals with heels, clutching them in her hand.

Rosalia looks down the hall. “Is this the way to the sex club? Can we go downstairs? I’d love to see it.”

“Sure. I’m curious to see how they decorated it.”

“Do you go down there a lot?” Fallon probes as we get into the elevator.

“No. None of us go down there often except the crew and the manager. But I went there to find Serena once, and it’s very sexy.” I waggle my eyebrows.

“I’m bizarrely excited,” Rosalia murmurs around a wide smile.

“It’s the forbidden aspect of it. I also experienced that the first time I came down here.” I carry on through the corridors, toward the club, and the guard grants me access immediately.

“Oh, wow,” Rosalia whispers, staring at the silhouettes of people behind the curtains of the beds.

They’ve transformed it into a harem; bold colors of purple, blue, and gold clash beautifully while there’s a sense of anonymity.

When a guy bumps against Fallon and grumbles an apology, she whips her head around to stare at him. The last person you’d expect it from is the first one to detect unusual activity.

“He seems familiar,” she muses, then her gaze whips to me. “That’s the blond guy I saw in Ukrainian Village.”

An alarming tremble rakes my body. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, it’s him. Why is a Ukrainian in the sex club?” she ponders.

“I don’t know, but it’s strange. Come on. Follow me.” I go around the bar in the center of the room to the other side of the club, looking for Tez and finding him. 

“Tez, Fallon recognized one of the Ukrainians in here. Has Adriano been in contact with them? Were any of them invited?”

“No. Who’s here?”

“I don’t know his name, but he went to the front of the club.” I retrace our steps, but the man has already disappeared.