Ambers.
It was the man from the banister on the top floor!
“Are you alright?”
“I-I...” I could not speak.
From a distance I could not see all his features but up close... the man was devastatingly gorgeous. I spun around to face him fully since I only craned my neck.
He was tall with a strong and broad structure. He had long dark hair that passed his shoulders. He had two scars on his face, one on his left brow and the other on the right curve of his chin cutting through his perfectly groomed beard to the bottom of his jaw. He wore a black button down with the top two buttons undone and his sleeves expertly rolled up to his elbows. The skin of his exposed arms and chest were blessed with beautifully intricate tattoos.
The way he stared down at me, in all his glory, sent shivers down my spine. It reminded me of the striking gaze of a wild wolf on the prowl. There are only two words I would use to sum up and describe this man. Sexy and dangerous. And the two words I would use to describe what I feel currently...
Pure attraction.
“Miss?”
“I-I’m fine... thanks to you.”
“I’m glad I could be of assistance.”
“But why?
“Pardon?”
And here I thought I was sober. Nope. Here is the drunken stupor, now! Didn’t Mel say to just accept good things with a smile? Why am I trying to ruin this?
“Why did you help me?”
His gaze seemed to focus on me harder as he narrowed his eyes. He tilted his head back and eyed me beneath his nose. It looked to be demeaning but for some reason I did not take it that way. It is just because I am drunk but... I thought it was hot in a power move way.
“Would you have preferred that I let him strike you?”
“No.”
“Then why question it?”
I blinked at that. This was a very valid question.
“I think it is because I may be a bit drunk.”
“Hmm,” he hummed out. He held his hand out to me. It was an extremely large hand that wore an expensive-looking watch on the wrist and a black band on the middle finger.
So, he is not married...
“Why don’t we leave the dance floor, yes?”
I nodded and took his hand. He gently pulled me closer to his side and placed his other hand on the small of my back. I flinched at first and we both paused. I sent a reassuring smile to him, and his eyes dragged away. I did not flinch because I was startled. No, it was because of how warm and gentle this colossal man was being. Also, with how much I was liking it.
He led me to the VIP section in which I was sitting before and helped me into the booth. I scooted over and motioned for him to join me. He looked at the seat beside me and frowned.
I rolled my eyes. “It is not going to hurt you to sit, will it? I do not bite. I promise.”
“I do not believe you. You are very intoxicated.”
“Okay,” I said nodding at his logic. “So, I may bite, but only if you ask me nicely.”
“And if I were to ask you to,” he questioned.
I arched a brow at his forwardness. On a normal day, I would blush and stutter a bit. To be honest, on a normal day, those word would have never left my lips! But... today was not a normal day. With my system full of alcohol, I was not as flustered as usual. Okay, I was a little. But that is only because this man had my stomach in a fit of knots and my panties drenched.
“Well,” he pushed.
“Well...” I began. “That can be decided upon further discussion if you want. But that is only if you sit down.”
He sighed deeply, released a large puff of air out through his nostrils. All the while, he rotated and cracked a few things in his back and sat down opposite of me in the booth. I should have been more specific even though I know he knew what I meant. He released a hum as he situated himself in the seat. It amazed me how well I hear it in such a loud atmosphere, but I did. And that is honestly pushing it. I do not think I should even call it a hum when it was more like a growl.
He placed one hand on the table and the other on the back of the booth’s seat. I moved to look at his hands and could see that they were bruised and busted.
“What happened to your hands,” I asked. “Are you okay?”
His eyes fell to his hand which flexed under attention. Sighing again he rolled his eyes. “You were almost assaulted in my club, and you’re worried about whether or not my hands are okay?”
I blinked at him, mouth agape. “You own this place?”
No wonder he was on the top floor... He owned it! He gave me a curt nod and I sighed. Well, that still does not explain your hands.”
“Does it matter?”
“Do you still want the offer of biting on the table?”
He tilted his head up, again eying me beneath his nose. I almost gave in within that second until he smirked at me. His gaze hungrily rolled overr my body, and everywhere his eyes landed went up in flames.
“You are amusing.”
“Thanks,” I said as cool as a cucumber. The wonders of liquid courage. I would never have been able to pull off any of this shit if I had not drank. “I believe the best way to get through life is through laughter.”
“Interesting outlook.”
“I know. And you are stalling. Your hands, what happened to them?”
He inspected the back of his hands before balling them into fists.
“I busted them while working.”
“What were you working on?”
A project for a hobby of mine.”
“What kind of hobby?”
His eyes landed on me, hard and a bit annoyed. Though there was music blaring and people living loudly amongst us, there was silence between us. I could tell that he was not used to the interrogation I was performing on him. He tilted his head to the side and sat back in his seat.
“Murder.”
“I'm thrilled to see you after all this time," Melissa sighed contentedly as a waiter skillfully set our drinks on the table."I know," I replied in a low voice, adjusting myself in the chair. "Abaddon has been rather apprehensive about letting me venture out. He insisted on ensuring my full recovery before allowing me to engage in any demanding activities." I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the memory. "Can you believe that for the first week, he was practically carrying me around the house? He wouldn't let my feet touch the floor!""Wow," Mel murmured in amazement. She leaned slightly to get a better look at the man standing not far from our table. Her gaze fell on the guard by the door.Curious, I glanced in t
The dimly lit room resounded with hushed conversations as Abaddon took his place at the head of the imposing mahogany table. Anticipation hung heavily in the air, veiling the faces of the men gathered in shadows. This was the inner sanctum of his empire, the epicenter of his operations, where discretion was paramount.Leaning back in his leather chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin, Abaddon's piercing gaze swept the room. These were not merely his subordinates; they were his most trusted confidants, the pillars of his dominion, the men he depended on to safeguard his empire's unassailable position.The assembly comprised Axel, his right-hand man and most trusted confidant, along with Jezebel and Dexter, his remaining capos, as well as the trusted seconds of each capo and two of their most formid
Draping a towel securely around my form, I ventured into the closet connected to the bathroom. My damp, curling tendrils clung to my face, neck, and back, evidence of the recent bath. As I stepped further into the closet, sensors triggered the lights to illuminate my surroundings. The glow gradually intensified, revealing the vast expanse of space.Prior to this moment, I had only glimpsed a fraction of the closet's offerings. Its entirety now unfolded before my eyes, rendering me momentarily speechless. The sheer volume of clothing exceeded anything I had ever possessed in a lifetime. It was evident that Abaddon had provided more than he had let on.H
I stirred from my slumber, gradually waking to the soft, golden rays of morning sunlight that filtered through the curtains. My eyelids were heavy as I tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. Something felt different today. The bed was oddly empty, and the room was bathed in an ethereal morning glow. Panic briefly gripped me as I wondered where Abaddon was, but a quick survey of the room eased my fears."Abaddon?" I called out, my voice barely more than a whisper.The bedroom floor whispered beneath his steps as he moved past the central wall, which separated the sleeping quarters from a cozy seating area complete with a flat-screen television and a fireplace boasting a stunning 360-degree view. There, he leaned casually, dressed in nothing more than a pair of pajama bottoms, his raven-dark hair s
I had been awake for a week now, surrounded by the sterile hospital environment, enduring the scrutinizing gazes of doctors assessing my recovery. Remarkably, they proclaimed that I was healing exceptionally well, hinting at the possibility of me soon leaving this sterile hospital room. The prospect of departing this clinical haven was both exhilarating and intimidating, but I was not venturing out alone this time.The following day, the doctors confirmed my readiness for departure. A few more tests and procedures remained before I could be liberated. Abaddon had been a constant presence throughout, his unwavering support my wellspring of strength and solace.As the hours crept by, impatience nestled within me. I yearned to depart this place, to return to familiar environs, and to convalesce at my o
My eyes fluttered open, momentarily blinded by the sterile white surroundings of the hospital room. As my vision adjusted to the brightness, I absorbed the unfamiliarity of the place. The room was filled with nothing but the rhythmic beeping of heart monitors, a constant reminder of where I was. Pain pulsed through my head, and a dull ache gnawed at my side.Shifting my gaze slightly to the right, I found Abaddon. He lay asleep on the hospital's sofa bed beneath the window, bathed in the soft morning light that filtered through the curtains. His usually impeccable hair was gathered in a messy bun, and his dress shirt appeared wrinkled and disheveled, a stark contrast to his usual polished appearance. He lay there, one arm shielding his eyes from the light, his ankles crossed, looking utterly exhausted.