Chapter 2

Posey

Have you ever seen a man so gorgeous that he sucks all the life out of any room he occupies?

Everywhere I look in Club Greed, I see wealthy individuals. Men in nice suits, women in flashy gowns. Beautiful people. There's power. There's sexual appeal. But no one, and I mean no one, has the raw charisma that Ledger Thorne possesses.

It"s as though my eyes are compelled by some unseen force to gravitate toward him. His towering stature commands attention.

I'm captivated.

It's magnetic.

The familiar sense of unease washes over me, reminding me of the night we first crossed paths, the same night I endured an attack at this very club.

Only a fool would return here. But I'm engaged to a monster. A man I fear more than anything. A mobster.

A villain.

I've read many romance novels that have you wanting to believe a villain deserves to find love. That there's just something hidden deep down in the depths of their soul, that if you could locate it, heal it, and nurture it, he'd fall madly, deeply in love with you.

It's hard to locate the broken piece in Bane's soul, because he doesn't have one. There's nothing good about Bane Delgado.

The only reason we're getting married is because my father owes him a great debt, and when he came to collect, he got me instead.

He'd kill my father if I didn't go through with it. He'd most likely kill me too. So, it's Bane's sick and twisted humor to bring me back here. Back to Club Greed.

Bane is the devil.

A man who has me dreading my own wedding night.

Unlike Ledger. If I were to marry him, I bet I'd be looking forward to the wedding night. Anticipating the moment we'd rush into the hotel room and he'd wrap his strong arms around me and toss me onto the bed. The moment he'd make sweet love to me. Or maybe we'd have a passionate fuck fest. Either way, I'm sure it would be magical, and much better than the nightmare waiting for me with Bane.

A chill courses through me.

Bane's excited to defile his precious flower, or so he's told me. The fact I'm a virgin only intensifies his desire for me.

I haven't intentionally saved my virginity for the right man. I've been interested in a few guys here and there, but none of them moved me enough to let them get past third base.

All I know is I'm engaged to a man who views me as a prize to claim.

Ledger's dark eyes crash into mine as his reply pops up on my phone.

It's been a while.

Miss me?

My insides coil from hoping, maybe even praying, that he says yes. That he tells me he's thought about me every day. It's silly, really.

Maybe.

His intense stare sears through me, setting my entire body on fire.

I'm struggling to comprehend the reaction I'm having. I've only met the man once, and I wasn't really thinking straight after being attacked.

Before I can reply back to Ledger, Lazarus, Bane's underboss, steps in front of the couch I'm sitting on. "Time to go," he orders.

I rise and nod, like a good girl who listens and obeys. I'm not sure what the plan is for me. Are they going to leave me in a room by myself again? Will I get attacked again? But this time, will the attacker be able to finish what he started?

Is this Bane's plan all along?

Bane's still being detained at his million-dollar mansion in the hills of Saint Pierce, on house arrest awaiting trial, and I'm his precious flower he likes to show off. The only reason I'm here and not back at the estate with him is because he had an important meeting. I internally roll my eyes. It means a woman is right now on her knees for my fiancé. Do I care? Not one bit.

I'd rather be here if I'm being honest. Just to see Ledger once more.

He's infiltrated my dreams nightly, and I can't count how many times I've almost texted him over the past forty-five days. Yes, I know how many days it's been since I've seen him last, and I thought the memory of him would lessen, but it's only intensified.

He's just that enigmatic.

Lazarus leads me across the tiled floor and stops right next to Ledger.

I swallow past the lump in my throat, unable to meet his eyes. I don't want anyone to know I'm attracted to him. I'm sure it's written all over my face.

I mean, I'm sure every woman here is attracted to him. How can anyone not be?

"Lazarus," Ledger's deep voice says. It's been so long since I've heard him talk that the sound of it sends chills skating down my spine. Just like it did the first night I met him. Ledger turns his attention to me, and I gaze up at him. "Posey," he says with a nod. "I heard I'll be babysitting you tonight."

"Yes, we can't have Bane's precious flower come to any harm while on the property tonight." Lazarus nods, flanked by two of Delgados soldiers.

"I understand," Ledger says. "I'll watch her closely." The tone of his voice when he says that is nearly feral. Like he's angry he has to give up his night to keep his eyes on me.

"I'm sorry," I say, barely audible.

Once Lazarus is sure I'm not going to make a run for it, he heads away, leading a small clan of Delgado soldiers with him.

Ledger twists his lips up into a tight smile as he stares down at me. I study the ink traveling up his neck, wondering what the design is beneath his white-button down.

I can tell he's got a lot of tattoos, even though I can't see them. All I can see are the ends of designs crawling up his neck, along his wrists, and he's even got tattoos on all his fingers.

I've got no tattoos, but seeing Ledger's ink, and wondering what the rest of his body looks like, has my pulse racing.

Lazarus turns to me before disappearing down a hallway. "No funny business." And then he walks away, leaving me standing next to Ledger.

Ledger raises one dark brow. "No funny business?" he questions.

I shrug. "I guess he doesn't want me to be a bad girl or something."

Ledger's eyes darken as he licks his lips. "Are you bad often?"

I blink. "Maybe." I toss his word back at him.

He smirks. "Follow me." He leads me across the floor and down a long hallway, into the same room I was in last time. I'm sure Bane made sure I got the same room. I bet this is some sort of twisted lesson Bane's trying to teach me. Like I shouldn't be so weak to get attacked.

I hate him.

"Here?" I ask Ledger, wishing he'd take me anywhere else.

"I'll keep you safe. I promise."

For some reason, I believe him, but I raise an eyebrow. "I don't even know you."

He shuts the door and locks it, then turns to face me, not moving away from the door. "What would you like to know?"

There are many things I'd love to know about him, but I'm sure he doesn't want to sit here for an hour playing twenty questions with me, so I take a seat on the white couch and cross my arms. I gaze around the room, taking it in. There's a pole in the center of the room with a small circular stage. There're curtained off areas along the back wall, and I wonder what's behind the curtains. Is that where my attacker sat and waited?

Ledger practically reads my mind when he sees my gaze set on the curtains, and his shoes click as he crosses the floor. One by one he opens the curtains to show off a small bed behind each one.

"We're safe. Now, what would you like to know about me?" Ledger asks me again.

"You don't have to entertain me."

"I'm not trying to entertain you. You said you don't feel safe with me because you don't know me." He steps closer. "So, get to know me."

I contemplate for all of five seconds and decide to ask him what I'm dying to know. "Are you mad you have to babysit me?"

He tilts his head to study me. "Mad? No, Posey, I'm not mad. I'm annoyed that I've got a job to do, and Bane can't trust any of his men to watch you."

I bow my head. "I know. I'm sorry."

He sits down next to me. "It's not your fault. Can I ask you a question?"

I nod.

"Bane Delgado, huh?"

"Is that a question?"

He shrugs.

"I love him," I lie through my perfectly white teeth.

He rests his hands on his knees. "When's the wedding?"

"Soon."

"You must be excited."

I want to scream the truth, but I nod with a smile. "Ecstatic."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"Maybe you don't want to believe me." Or maybe I don't want him to believe me. Maybe I want him to dig deeper.

Or kiss me.

I must be crazy.

I shake my head, wondering why I'm even thinking about something as stupid as that. Of course, this man would never kiss me.

He could have any woman he wants.

Why would he even consider kissing a woman who's engaged?