Chapter 13

The black dress I'm wearing is tight. Probably too tight by some people's standards. Like my own. I'll admit, when Rossi knocked on my door earlier and handed it to me with a pair of skyscraper heels, I was nervous. Because that meant I'd have to be alone with Enzo. At least, that's what I assumed. But once Rossi and Hudson ushered me to the SUV, they told me we were meeting Enzo at some club.

Enzo hasn't been around much, but his crew has. Which meant Hudson and I have had very little time alone the past five days since I gave him a blow job while he was on the phone with Enzo and he ate me out in the shower.

It was already too hot in this vehicle. Now … it's unbearable.

Going out to clubs isn't something Enzo typically does with me. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about him trying to set me up to get killed or something crazy.

"Warm enough, Ms. James?" Rossi says from the passenger seat, keeping his head forward. "Hercules likes to keep it ninety-five degrees in every car he drives."

"I don't like to be cold," Hudson mutters before his eyes find mine in the mirror. "Are you hot?"

I wipe my hands together, feeling the sweat gathered on my palms. "I'm a little warm, yes."

I fan myself with my hand. Truth be told, I feel like a roasted peanut in those warmer things at the store. Or one of those hot dogs rolling on those heater things that probably sit there all day, just waiting for the right customer to come snatch them up. Point is, Hudson has it smoldering in this car.

"I'll turn it down for the two of us," Rossi says, fidgeting with the controls before looking at Hudson. "Not everyone wants to feel like they are living in Santa Claus's ass crack."

"How would you know how it feels to live in Santa Claus's ass?" Hudson gives him the side-eye. "I personally thought it was the perfect temp."

"You thought wrong, man. You thought wrong." Rossi wipes the sweat from his brow just as we turn in front of a building with a line out the door. "Looks like a full house tonight, huh?"

"Yep," Hudson mutters. "Fucking perfect."

Pulling in a VIP spot up front, Hudson opens the center console, grabs a gun, hands it to Rossi, and then grabs another, tucking it into his waistband.

"Ready to roll?" Rossi says to me with a smile.

"Sure." I nod and move toward the car door.

"Great. Let's do it." He pushes the door open and gets out, but doesn't get a chance to open the back door before Hudson does.

Keeping the door open, he looks blankly at the club. But when I start to pass by, he places his hand close enough for his fingertips to brush my waistline. "Be careful tonight, Dove. I won't be far."

Stepping around him, I let my hand drag across his abdomen. "Thanks. You too."

"Remind me again, why is the girl here tonight?" I mutter to Rossi as Briar follows us past the long line outside of Diamonds and toward the entrance of the strip club.

She's wearing a tight black dress and matching high heels, which are so fucking high that I'm impressed with how well she moves in them. My cock twitches at the sight of her, and I have to look away before I have a full-on boner.

As possessive as he is over her, it's strange that he wants her to come to this sort of place.

Rossi gives me a look that tells me it's not good before he leans closer. "From what I gathered? One of his business partners might have some interest in Briar."

"Interest? What the fuck sort of interest?" I frown, instantly not liking the way it sounds.

I think back to when I watched her fuck herself with her fingers several days ago. I so badly wanted to lick every ounce of wetness off of her hand and taste her, knowing she'd be sweet. I already want more, even though I know I shouldn't.

"Honestly, I don't know." He puts his mouth closer to my ear. "I think it has something to do with Vittoria Island though. And that's not good."

At the mention of that word, my jaw clenches. Vittoria Island is one of the main reasons why we're over here to begin with. From everything we've learned while working here, we believe it's a place for rich people to basically sleep with sex workers for a crazy amount of cash. And from what we understand, the women and men are not there because they want to be. They are there because they were kidnapped or somehow lured into it.

I'll kill every single staff member of the Romanos before I let them take Briar James to that place. But if Enzo is bringing her to this club and has mentioned Vittoria Island, it can't be good. We know it's not just him and his father running the place. There are billionaires from all over the world involved, and I'm sure he's somehow trying to get Briar wrapped up in it all. She's a beautiful young woman. As sickening as it is, anyone would pay a high price for her. And I can't let that happen.

She follows behind closely as the bouncer opens the door and lets us inside. But before we get all the way through, he taps me on the arm.

"He's up in the VIP lounge," he utters, his eyes moving to Briar, whose back is to him. "Not sure his fiancée is going to like what she sees though."

Clasping my hand on his shoulder, I give him an icy-cold stare. "Don't worry about it."

And then we push our way through the crowds of drunk and high people who move to the music like zombies, making our way toward the VIP stairs.

Stepping next to her, I crane my head toward hers. "Just be prepared for what you're about to see, okay? He's probably not alone."

"Do you think I care?" She tips her chin upward. "If I did, I certainly wouldn't have been on my knees when he was on the phone."

I fight back a smirk and rub my fingers against my chin. "That's true."

Rossi leads us up the stairs as the strobe lights illuminate the club. It smells like liquor and perfume here, and I fucking hate it. Briar's sexy legs take one step at a time, never faltering, even in the heels. A moment later, Rossi passes through the VIP doors, and half a dozen strippers come into view, dancing on the different horseshoe-shaped tables.

"There," Rossi says, jerking his chin toward the corner. "But the bouncer was right; he's not alone."

Two women are at his side, each wearing nothing but pasties on their huge tits and a thong with glittery high-heeled boots. He sees us coming, and even though he's aware his fiancée is walking with us, he doesn't push them away from him as one sucks his neck while the other rubs her palm against his dick over his jeans.

His gaze looks Briar up and down, roaming a little too long on her legs, and he runs his tongue over his lips. On the table before him and the chicks, there's white residue and a folded-up hundred-dollar bill, proving they've been parting pretty hard.

"That's your style," he says to her in a condescending tone. "Looking like a whore is fitting for you, baby girl."

"Thank you," she says politely.

She doesn't stand up for herself, and when I look at her from the corner of my eye, I know it's driving her crazy that she can't. She's so much sassier and stronger than he'd ever believe. All because she's so damn good at adapting to her surroundings and playing the part.

It takes a damn strong woman to push feelings down and play it cool the way that she does. I can't wait to see her let out all of that rage. I hope I get to see her take it out on this motherfucker one day.

"I have someone I'd like you to meet." He gives her an evil smirk before holding his hand up and waving someone over.

When the person comes into view, I watch her body tense as she takes in the older man, whose eyes rake over her body slowly.

"Goddamn, you weren't lying, Mr. Romano." He continues to stare at her, stopping at her tits. "You and I are going to have some fun, baby."

"Call me Enzo. Mr. Romano's my father." Enzo's tone is so much lighter than normal, and he pauses when one of the women at his side starts kissing him. Their tongues tangle, and she rubs her palm harder against his cock before he pulls back.

"Looks like you've got your hands full, Enzo," the old man says, practically frothing at the mouth and making me fold my arms across my chest to stop myself from knocking his ass out. "Let me take this one off of your hands."

Just as he reaches for Briar, Enzo slams his gun against the table.

"Touch the girl, and I'll blow your brains all over that fucking whore dancing behind you," Enzo growls, nodding toward the stripper. "The deal wasn't you fucking her tonight, Harmon. You knew this when you came tonight."

"But what does it matter? If you're going to take her to the island anyway, why can't I take her for a test ride tonight?" He waves toward the women dry-humping Enzo. "Hell, I mean, looks like you already have these two."

"That's not how this works, Harm." Enzo's lip twitches with an angry smirk. "You, like a lot of others here tonight, are here to get a look at all that's to come. All the fresh meat." He raises his eyebrows. "And hopefully, you'll open your wallet up and invest in all of the … exciting things coming to the island."

"So, you're telling me that I came here tonight for nothing." Harmon is less than impressed, his eyes moving between Briar and Enzo. "Gotta tell you, Enzo, your dad never would have dragged me out and sent me home empty-handed."

Sitting back, Enzo suddenly shoves the two women away, making them both land on their asses. "You do realize you're in my club, Harmon? If I were you, I'd watch the tone you're using." Enzo's black eyes stare at him, and I know he's close to snapping. "Fuck that stripper. Fuck that pole behind you. Hell, fuck my guard right in the ass for all I care. But this one?" He points to Briar. "Until the day I move her ass to the island, she's off-limits. She will obey no one but me."

"I understand," Harmon says, looking around the room. "Now, if you'll excuse me, there are a lot of pretty women in here."

Enzo waves him off, and once he's gone, his attention floats back to Briar. "That man is going to be one of our most loyal customers at Vittoria Island. And he took a liking to you."

He takes a cigar from his pocket and lights it. Puffing out the thick white smoke, he looks toward one of the closest strippers and pats his leg. Within seconds, she makes his way over to him and has his shirt torn open, kissing down his chest.

"I don't need you staying here too long, trying to fuck all of my potential investors. But before you go home, go walk around the club, Briar. And be sure to pull the dress down a little in the front. Tonight, I'm selling you." He takes another pull from his cigar. "But if I find out you let any motherfucker in here touch you, you know what'll happen, baby girl."

Waving to me, he points to the woman he's supposed to be marrying. "Keep an eye on her, would you? Everyone knows I'm bringing some women tonight as a little sampler of what's to come at Vittoria Island. But if Harmon or anyone else tries to fuck her, you make sure they know they've fucked up."

The stripper unbuckles his belt, but before she can start sucking his dick out in the open, I give him a nod and lead Briar out into the club.

Enzo is on a whole other level tonight, and I'm guessing it's because he's so fucked up on coke or whatever else he snorted. It makes no sense that he wants to parade her around and offer her to people to sleep with once she's at Vittoria Island, but before then, he doesn't want anyone to even lay a finger on her. Just another example of how fucked up in the head the dude is.

Every part of me wants to grab her right now and get her the fuck out of here. And I will, but I have to do it in a way that he won't think we left too early.

Once we're out of the VIP room and the doors close behind us, her face turns cold. "I cannot spend another day like this. Being looked at by some old fucking pervert?" She waves her hand back toward the doors we just came from. "I can't do this, Hudson. I'm ready to go home." Her eyes find mine, and there's a certain sadness in them tonight. "And I don't mean the complex. I mean … home."

I want to pull her against me and tell her it's all going to be okay. I have the protection to get her out of here right now. But the problem is, it'd put everything else in jeopardy. We've all given up so much of our lives to be here. We're so close. And if we find Vittoria Island and are able to shut it down, we're going to save so many people from having to go through the horrific shit that goes down there.

"I know, sweetheart. I know." I nod slowly. "Just hold on a little longer, okay? I'm not going to let anything happen to you. You have my word."

Watching the old, nasty, perverted man, Harmon, walk out of the VIP room and toward the regular club area, I smirk. The last thing I want to do is have his eyes on Briar's body again. But I'm about to set that motherfucker up and get us the hell out of here.

When I see him take a seat at the bar, I turn toward Briar. I keep enough distance between us that if Enzo has us being watched, we look like we're hardly talking, but I'm close enough that she can hear me.

"You're going to go order a drink at the very end of the bar. And when your friend tries to talk to you, you're going to be polite. Not too friendly, but … nice. Okay?"

Her eyes move to the bar and widen. "Seriously?"

"Behind him, there are a hundred other monsters in this club tonight," I tell her the truth. "If he fucks up right now, I can beat his ass and get you out of here. I saw the way he looked at you. He's going to try again. And when he does, I'll be there."

She takes a long, deep breath. Her chest slowly falls as she lets it out. She stands tall and completely fearless as she heads toward the bar.

Taking a seat at the end, with only two empty barstools between her and Harmon, she raises her hand, and within seconds, the bartender is asking her what she'll have.

"Vodka, please," she answers. "With just a squeeze of lime juice."

A minute later, the bartender slides her the drink, and as she brings it to her lips, Harmon's eyes are on her mouth. Only this time, I'm going to get to put my hands on him.

I stand back enough so that he doesn't notice me.

Yet I can still hear what he says when he tells her, "That's quite a dress."

I can tell that her skin is crawling from the compliment, but even so, she keeps calm and gives him a polite smile. "Thank you."

A moment later, he moves to the stool next to hers, leaning in closely. Only now, I can't hear what he's saying as he whispers in her ear. But I see the panic in her eyes. I watch his fingers brush her thigh, dragging up her leg, and that's all I need. Within seconds, I have him by the throat, his head bashed against the bar.

"I think you were told to stay away from Ms. James," I roar. "Were you not?"

Picking his head up just enough, I smash it back down, and he yelps, "She came up to me, asshole! She fucking approached me!"

Squeezing my hand harder on his neck, I grind my teeth together. "No, motherfucker, she didn't. I've been standing here the whole time." Picking him up, I slam his back against the bar before punching him in the face. "I should blow your fucking brains out," I growl before grabbing him by the neck again, this time shoving him to the ground and kicking his side. "Get the fuck out of here and don't come back."

Scurrying to his feet, he presses his hands to his face as the blood pumps out. "Fuck!" he shrieks before running toward the exit.

I see Rossi coming down the stairs from the VIP area and rushing toward us. "What the fuck just happened?"

I look at Briar, who has now finished her drink, only for the bartender to put another one before her. Only this time, she sips it slowly.

"Enzo warned that creep Harmon not to touch the girl," I answer flatly. "He did it anyway. And now, he's got a broken nose and likely a broken rib."

"Jesus Christ, Hudson." He pinches the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for a moment before he sighs. "All right then. Let's get her home. It's clear she was only brought here to show the beauty that will be at Vittoria."

"I'm beginning to really, really not like the sound of that place," Briar grumbles, coming next to us. And when she does, her hand touches mine, and I feel her every-fucking-where.

I glance at her and see goose bumps covering her skin. Her lips part, and she swallows, making her perfect neck move the slightest bit.

I'd love to sink my teeth into that neck.

I'm itching to wrap my arm around her and pull her against me. And to take her outside and fuck her in the back seat of Enzo's SUV that I drove here. I'd love to soak that motherfucker's expensive leather seats in my cum after it spills from her body.

Keeping away from her gets harder and harder every single day.

"Let's roll," Rossi says before leading us out of the club.

On the way home, I'm thankful for Hudson's need to keep the car so warm because it's cold outside, and this dress is really more like a scarf that drapes over parts of my body.

Hudson and Rossi talk in hushed tones with the radio on, just loud enough to drown out their voices. Normally, I'd want to hear what they were saying. But to be honest, the drinks numbed me just enough to put me in a state of relaxation. And I like it.

Sitting behind Hudson, I can smell him. His scent makes my mouth water and my stomach tingle. He always smells so good. So delicious and masculine. At the club, our hands touched, and because of that one stinking touch, my entire body had goose bumps. I feel him, even when he's not right next to me. And after our few stolen moments together, I'm not sure how to play it off like he's just my bodyguard.

I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to look at the bodyguard my asshole fiancé hired for me like … this.

"I need to run into the store. Can you pull into this one?" Rossi points to a store we're nearing.

Hudson doesn't answer; he just simply turns into the parking lot and throws the car into park.

"Do you guys need anything?" Rossi asks, looking at Hudson before glancing back at me.

"I'm all set." I smile.

"Same," Hudson mumbles, resting his hands on the top of the steering wheel.

Once Rossi leaves the car, suddenly, the air in here is thicker. Too thick. My entire body is painfully aware that he and I are alone.

"Dove," he rasps into the dark car. "Getting harder and harder to stay away from you."

I unbuckle my seat belt and move to the middle seat, leaning forward to see his profile. "So … don't."

His gaze snaps to mine, and his eyes narrow. "So, don't? You really think it's that simple?" He reaches for me, cupping my face and rubbing his thumb across my lips. "You're not in Georgia anymore, sweetheart."

"Then, let's run away," I whisper. "How is it going to end if we stay here? I'll wind up dead or at the island, where I'm pretty certain I'll be a sex worker." My nostrils flare. "If you're okay with both of those things, then what the fuck are we doing, Hudson?"

Moving my face closer to his, he squeezes my cheeks. "Dammit, Briar. Do you think I want to be here? I said, trust me. I said, lie low. Why can't you do that?"

"It's easy for you to say that when you're not constantly being degraded—or worse, looked at as a sex toy." I tilt my chin up, attempting to pull away as I glare at him. "I don't want to be here anymore. I want to go home."

His eyes move to the window, noticing something.

"Rossi is paying; he'll be out here in a few minutes," he growls before bringing my lips to his and kissing me roughly.

His tongue slips into my mouth, and I pant, kissing him back, not giving a shit if Rossi sees.

Pulling back quickly, he rests his forehead on mine. "Just be patient with me. Okay? I promise I'll get you out of here. Just trust me."

I search his eyes, and some of the coldness that is usually there has melted away.

"Okay," I whisper just before he releases me, and I get back to my seat.

As Rossi gets into the passenger seat, I can't stop myself from wondering … If he's going to get me out of here, will he come with me?