CHAPTER TWO

Later that evening, I called Susan and told her everything, every word exchanged, every look, every insult disguised as concern. When I mentioned how I spoke back to my father and his witches, she laughed.

I snapped at her immediately. "This isn't funny."

But the laughter faded, and worry crept in. Why did I say sure? Why didn't I just let them mock me and move on? Now I had trapped myself in a promise I didn't know how to keep.

Susan listened quietly as I vented.

"It's fine," she finally said. "Stop torturing yourself. Besides, you owe me. You promised to follow me to the club to make up for missing my promotion party. Dress up. I'll pick you up."

"Susan, you're not listening," I muttered. "I'm in a mess."

She chuckled. "You're always indoors. How do you expect life to happen to you from there? Live, Diane. Live."

I rolled my eyes, but my lips curved into a reluctant smile. "Fine. Jonathan will be around soon anyway. Take him along. You know he has a soft spot for you, you're his twin sister's best friend."

"Exactly," she said smugly. "Now get dressed. One hour."

"What would I do without you?" I sighed. "I love you."

"I love you too. See you soon."

The club swallowed us whole the moment we walked in, blaring music, pulsing lights, bodies moving in sync with the bass. Strippers danced like fire, waitresses slid between tables like shadows. Susan's cousin, the club manager, rushed toward us.

"Hi, Suzzy!" she squealed, then froze when she saw me. "Dianeeee... look at you."

Her eyes dragged over my body slowly, appreciatively. I was wearing a red silk dress that clung to me like it was sewn onto my skin, stopping just below my butt, the cow-neck dipping just enough to tease. I liked standing out without begging for attention.

"I'm taking you two hottie straight to VIP," she declared. "You're too hot for these broke boys tonight."

I laughed. "I don't discriminate poor or rich. As long as they're well endowed." Suzan replied

She burst out laughing. I wrinkled my nose. "Ew. Language."

The VIP section was darker, heavier, charged. She brought us drinks before disappearing to handle club business. Susan and I drank, danced, laughed,one bottle turned into two, shots following recklessly.

I pulled out my phone to record us. We were laughing into the camera when suddenly, a large hand wrapped around my wrist.

My phone was snatched away.

A tall, dark man broad shoulders, intimidating presence walked off with it like I didn't exist. Susan and I exchanged startled glances. Anger flared instantly.

I followed him to a secluded table. He handed my phone to a man seated calmly, his face hidden in the shadows. The bouncer stepped back, guarding him like a wall.

"Excuse me," I said sharply. "That's my phone."

No response.

I stepped closer. The bouncer blocked me.

That was it.

The slap left my hand before my brain could stop it.

The sound cracked through the music. Susan gasped. The bouncer froze, shock etched across his face. His hand lifted but the man at the table raised one finger, stopping him effortlessly.

Then he stood.

He walked toward me slowly, deliberately, like he had all the time in the world. When he stepped into the light, the club's white beam caught his face and my breath abandoned me.

He was devastating.

Sharp jaw, calm eyes, perfectly groomed beard, a tailored suit hugging his broad frame. Power rolled off him in quiet waves. He wasn't angry. He wasn't rushed.

He was amused.

"Why am I in your video?" he asked, voice deep, smooth, dangerous.

My irritation flared, but something else curled beneath it heat, awareness. "Are you the only person in the club?" I snapped. "How exactly am I supposed to record without catching people in the background? Are you blind?"

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips. Then back to my eyes.

"You'll delete it," he said softly. Not a request. A promise.

I scoffed, though my pulse betrayed me. "I'm not deleting anything. This is harassment. I'll sue."

The corner of his mouth twitched. Amusement deepened.

The music throbbed between us, but the world shrank to the inches separating our bodies. I could smell him clean, masculine, expensive. Susan tugged at my arm, whispering my name, but I barely heard her.

"Delete it," he repeated, stepping closer.

I snatched the phone from the bouncer's hand, deleted the video, and shoved the screen toward his face. "Happy?"

I raised an eyebrow in challenge.

He smirked slow, deliberate, lethal.

Something unspoken passed between us. A spark. A warning.

Before I could say anything else, Susan dragged me away.

We left the club immediately.

But even outside, with the cool night air on my skin, I could still feel his eyes on me.

And I knew deep in my bones that this wasn't over.