Chapter 2

Dean:

“You were right, Alpha.” Viktor said, walking toward me with his laptop, showing me the camera footage, revealing Arianna standing with the man and woman who were causing a scene.

“We will just have to see what the woman is on about.” I said, shrugging my shoulders as I saw her paying the man. Both he and the woman walked away toward a bike, and the woman got behind him before Arianna snuck back inside through the window. 

I couldn’t help but feel a clench in my chest, though what it was about, I didn’t understand. All I knew was that I didn’t like what I saw, and not in a normal way where I would be reacting almost instantly. It was something beyond that and the pain that I felt because of it was not one that I could understand.

I rolled my eyes, masking whatever I was feeling before nodding at Viktor to take his laptop. “Do you want me to call her over?”

“No, she would know to come up with a lie until then, and that is not something that I want.” I said, and Viktor raised an amused eyebrow before nodding in understanding. “Is the plane ready for tomorrow?”

“Yes, we should be taking off early tomorrow morning.” I nodded in response and got up from my desk to head to the fridge. I pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses for Vladimir and I. 

“And what do you plan on doing to her?” He asked and I shook my head. 

“It depends on the situation. But I still want you to check out who she is again, go through another research about her, see what you can find.” I said and he nodded. Though I knew that we didn’t hire her without doing our own research, a lot could have changed in the months that she worked for me, and that fact was one that I knew. The perfect smile behind her innocent expression and her ‘genuine’ eyes were ones that I wasn’t going to fall for, especially not after what I just saw.

“Alright, but if we’re back at home, what good would that information do? She might and could easily run away..."

"That is why this research is to be done before we leave tomorrow.” I said, and he raised an eyebrow. “I know how I will be sure that she stays the night. That ensures, of course, that I let her live through it.” 

“Yes, boss.” He said, smirking at me and I nodded before glaring at the back of his laptop, my mind going back to the pain that I was feeling for a second before I shook my head as I took a deep breath. I took a sip of my drink before putting the glass down and getting up.

“Where are you off to?”

“I have a date, and I believe that it would be more decent to prepare for it, don’t you think?”

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I watched as Arianna walked out of the building toward the now empty pool.

It was a while past midnight, and though there were still customers and clients over, I knew that her shift ended and the next bartenders entered. This time, they were men to ensure that they knew to stop anything from getting out of hand when it came to people who got drunk by the end of the night. The last thing that I needed was a woman being harmed at my club and hotel.

“Hi,” I said from behind her. She turned around to face me and smiled. I had to fight back the frown that almost formed on my lips as the video played in my head. She played a game while looking me in the eye, pretending that she was some hero before she bribed the man and woman who were obviously waiting for her outside. 

It wasn’t uncommon for a man to drug a man’s drink in this place. It was something that, though I was against, I knew happened. But this was the mafia world that we lived in. I, for one, sold these drugs, and the stronger they were, the more expensive they became. 

“Hey,” she said, taking a step toward me. I extended a hand toward her, slowly taking her right one, frowning in confusion as a spark coursed through my body. I looked at her and noticed that she didn’t move, instead, she kept her eyes on me, waiting for what I was going to do. I slowly brought her hand to my lips and kissed her knuckle before letting her hand go.

She smiled and blushed, avoiding my eyes for a second before I turned to the bar that I prepared for her inside the pool.

“Care for a drink?” I asked and she raised an amused eyebrow. I could tell that her eyes were studying my expression, and I could also tell that she was trying to read or understand me, but she wasn’t the only one who could mask her expression. If anything, the woman didn’t know who she was messing with nor did she know what it would cost her to be doing so. 

I wasn’t the Pakhan and Alpha of Alphas for no reason. And though I did hate hurting women, this woman seemed to like playing with fire…

“A pool bar?” She asked and I nodded.

“Yes, I figured that it would be something different for a change, and needless to say, the night was very long. It would be a nice change from the typical drinking bar.” I said and she bit her bottom lip before looking down at her clothes.

“But I don’t have a swimsuit,” she said, and I smirked.

“I do believe that you’re wearing a bra.” I said and her eyes widened in surprise before I chuckled. I walked toward the towel room which was behind us before pulling out a few sets. Her eyes met mine and she raised an eyebrow. They were all new and I got them from the store at the hotel, knowing that it was an excuse that she might put up. But the last thing that I needed was for her to find something that would have her leaving. “They’re all new, you can choose whichever one you like.”

“Someone came prepared.” She said, choosing a black set. “Can I take these?”

“I told you, you can choose whichever ones you like.” I said and she nodded before nodding at the dressing room and shower. 

“Then I’ll go and change, then I would be more than a little happy to join you at the bar,” she said and I smirked before she walked past me, making sure to brush her chest against mine as she headed toward the room. I kept my smile for a few seconds until she closed the door before my eyes hardened.

“Let’s see how long you can keep this act up,” I said, as I unbuttoned my shirt. My own swim shorts were in the drawer inside the towel room. “We’ll see what your story is, malyshka…” Baby girl.