I walked towards Glenda, barely registering the young women floating around the room in cocktail dresses. How many of them were party favors? Where had they come from? Were they all like Grace and Renda or had they chosen to be party favors?
As I neared her, she looked at me and my heart started to race. My palms grew sweaty like I was an awkward teen again.
I felt a little ridiculous being so nervous, but as I reached my hand out to her, I felt like we’d been dropped into some fucked-up fairytale.
Renda looked up at me then down at my hand with a curious lift of her eyebrow.
“May I have this dance?”
I half expected her to reject me since Andrew was around, but she placed her hand in mine and nodded, allowing me to pull her onto the dance floor. It was a bit ironic that they were playing a waltz at a poker party, but as she followed me through the dance, I was grateful. She was relaxed and graceful.
There was a bit of happi
Grace’s POVWhen I found out that Matt Wallber would be buying Club Heaven, I didn’t know what to think. I was a bit afraid, but I had learned a long time ago that fear would just make it harder to make a good decision. The worst thing Matt could do was kill me, and I hadn’t been afraid of death in a long time.After the game was over, I helped put his chips into his assigned box and pondered the advice he’d given Justin. Caleb laughed and told him it was a good game and he couldn’t wait to see the new Club Heaven. The rest of the table dispersed, but I watched Justin slip out of the private room.With Matt’s chips gathered, I walked with him and Renda towards the cashier’s counter and scanned the tables. Mordecai was seated nearby, lounging in his seat as if he was king. He had kept his distance all night to my surprise. I expected him to try and talk to Matt, but maybe he was just biding his time.
Justin’s POVI was able to leave the party earlier than I’d expected. With Matt having taken the bait so easily, there was no reason to stick around. I had other things I could be doing and a report to make. I undressed on my way to the shower and scrubbed down humming in a good mood.I hadn’t ever thought it would be so easy to bait the illustrious Matt Wallber. Matt Wallber was nothing like his brother, Wade, and he didn’t pretend to be either. If anything, Wade felt like a cheap knockoff of Matt.I couldn’t place exactly what it was about Matt that gave him such presence, but it was different from being in Ben’s presence too. Maybe it was just my imagination, but my instincts weren’t wrong.I’d have to get him in the room with Chloe. Her instincts were always spot on.It had to be something about the wolves from her area of the continent.After my shower, I headed to my loun
Glenda’s POVIn the morning after the party, we returned to Club Heaven. Matt had procured a large, table-sized map of North America and started marking places and paths.I was charmed that he’d marked my path from Midnight to Warhammer in the same shade of blue-violet my hair was now.He had a running list of trafficked people including the five girls who had been brought by Victoria. Grace’s line had Frost Pelt on it and mine was blank. I wanted to tell him to put Fluorite next to my name, the way he’d placed it next to Emily’s, but I held my tongue.I'd told Emily to keep quiet about me and Alyssa for a reason. I couldn’t undo that now.Alyssa scoffed, He’s going to find out eventually. Why not tell him now?I rolled my eyes, Because I don’t trust him.Yet, she countered and went quiet.I sighed. She wasn’t wrong. It wa
Owen’s voice was calm, but I knew better. I imagined a pretty, six-year-old boy with Owen’s eyes and shuddered in disgust. Grime was the only way to describe the sick bastards who were responsible for all of this.“You have my word, Owen,” Matt said, evenly though he still looked a little queasy. “Mordecai is on the list.”Owen nodded and stood, “If you’ll excuse me, I’d… like to smoke in peace.”Matt nodded, “Eat something as well.”Owen chuckled, “I promise to eat three squares, alpha.”Matt’s eyes widened as Owen sauntered towards me. He flashed me a grin.“Lucky Cherry,” he said and left the room.I didn’t know how to take that, but I felt a bit embarrassed. Matt sat forward, covering his mouth and looking down at his notes. He sat back with a deep breath and looked at Grace and me.“Sit down, ladies,&rdq
After lunch, a bunch of people arrived dressed in paint-splattered jeans and t-shirts. I looked at the group in surprise as Matt looked up at them. He checked his watch.“Good to see you all back. You can start in the bar area for now.”They nodded and went towards the area, carrying long rolls of plastic.I looked at him strangely, “What’s going on?”He smirked, “Renovations.”The people stood around for a moment putting up long plastic sheets and putting up ladders beyond the curtain, but they didn’t seem to have any materials with them. The ladders were placed in a strange way that seemed to have nothing to do with where it would be most useful for them to be.It was as if they were staging the area to be seen not to be used.“What are you going to do with the bar?”Matt frowned, “Nothing.”“What?”Matt shrugged, “They&rsq
Matt’s POVI adjusted my cuffs and turned to Grace."Grace," I said. "Come with me."She nodded. I went to the office to grab the file and a few others filled with documents. I'd been preparing for Mordecai's visit and handed the stack to her."You won't have to do anything but observe and hand me the dark blue file when prompted. Play the scene as you feel it."Grace took the file and nodded, squaring her shoulders and putting on a demure smile.She'd been around Mordecai before, but the glimmer of fear in her eyes made me wonder if there was more to Mordecai's visit than Club Heaven.I led her to the front foyer where Mordecai was looking around as if he was curious. I knew better.He wanted information. He might not have told Ben about my actions here in Midnight, but he would soon.It would be good to start driving a wedge between them as soon as possible."Alpha Mordecai," I greet
Mordecai’s POV“Take me home,” I growled at the driver.The man pulled away from the curb easily as I glared down at the pages. Matt’s words echoed in my ears.Goodwill and all that.The little bastard was smart. Too smart. I’d told Ben a thousand times over not to waste his time with that dumbass, Wade. Matt was his mother’s child.My lips twitched; a new wave of fury washed through me. I was so furious I could barely read the pages in the folder. Felix was a smart bastard, conniving to take my offer only after he’d already sold Club Heaven. He’d saved his ass and still made it so I couldn’t have Cindy.His fucking debts were of my making. I had it all planned to have Club Heaven firmly in hand. Repossessing the pretty little catamite I’d sent to Club Heaven and finally getting my hands on Cindy were just added benefits.I was certain that Matt knew
Glenda’s POVI walked out of my room and found Matt and Grace in the kitchen. She was seated at the bar, eating quietly. Matt was leaning against the bar, drinking coffee. I didn’t get the sense that they’d been talking or anything, but the sight of them made my heart clench.Alyssa seemed restless and I tried to shove the feeling away. I was being ridiculous. Sure, Matt needed me because I had experience with the truth of the pack brothels, but right now, Grace was the best source of information in Midnight for my goals.“Good morning,” she greeted as I walked towards the bar. Matt looked at me, looking over me before giving me a small smile.“You look rested.”I averted my gaze, “Yeah.”After destroying so much of the first floor with the others, I had slept like a baby. Matt still hadn’t told me what Mordecai said while they were in the parlor or why he seemed to