The club is fancier than most, but it is still a typical club with loud music. Sweaty people who are intoxicated and very horny, and nice alcohol. I’ve never seen the need to go to a club. I don’t like anything about it since I could get drunk in the comfort of my home without any of the fuss. But apparently, Lennox thinks differently.

Holly had scouted out the place before we got here, and she confirmed that it’s safe. We’re at the VIP section. It is quiet up here as quiet as a club can be. Lennox and Eugene are seated in a booth, just relaxing a little bit. I pulled Holly away a few minutes ago to talk to her. I haven’t said a word because I want her to get intimidated by my silence. It works on other people, but I don’t think it’s working on her. She’s been staring at me as hard as I’ve been staring at her. She might strain her neck if she doesn’t stop soon. Even with the boots, I’m still much taller than her. She has really been irritating me because it’s not something that I’m going to easily be able to do.

“I know you have something to say.” She gives up and massages her neck with her hand, “so just say it.”

I want to tease her about how short she is, but I can’t. Not her, not now. I need to figure out precisely what her intentions are with that nerd. I can’t have her catching feelings and messing up the plan.

“What’s up with you and Eugene?” I ask her, seeing how she is looking at me in confusion, “we’re not here to make friends, Holly. We’re here to do a job. Don’t fall for him.”

“You think I don’t know that?” She whisper-yells at me, “why would you ask me something like that?”

“The drinks are right here, you guys!” Lennox yells from the booth, and we just ignore him.

“Explain it to me then.” I growl at her, hating that I must talk like this to her but sometimes I don’t have a choice, “make me understand. Why are you so friendly with him?”

It’s not that I hate seeing her with Eugene. I couldn’t care less. I just don’t want her being distracted right now. Any mistake and I could go to prison. And if he turns out to be the bad guy, I don’t want her to get hurt either.

“I understand what this mission means to you, and I would never jeopardise your safety for anything,” Holly assures me, offering a small smile, “I think that Eugene knows something.”

I know that. I just want to make some sense as to what I have been noticing… 

We both turn to glance at Eugene who’s laughing with Lennox. Lennox might not know who’s after him, but a few people do come to mind. The first would be his uncle, but he died before Lennox became the Lord of the mafia gang. It’s obvious now that it’s not him.

The second on the list now is Eugene.

Yes, they’re best friends but that doesn’t matter when money is involved. If Lennox dies, not only would he get the company, but he would also be the Lord. Every one of them would respect him for being ruthless enough to murder his best friend. I’ve seen it happen too many times.

They’d happily give him the crown.

“I don’t think he’s our guy.” Holly clarifies, shaking her head slightly, “I just think that he knows something. That’s kind of how it feels right now.”

“Why don’t you think he’s the guy?” I ask her, feeling a bit curious, “all the signs are pointing straight at him. He would have the biggest motive.”

She doesn’t answer me. I know why, she’d like to not think of him that way. She does have to be logical in her reasoning though.

“People only show us the part of themselves that they want to,” I warn her, hoping she is not getting feelings involved in this, “don’t trust the surface.”

“I understand, which is why I’m keeping an eye on him.” She glances over at him again, “if he is really our guy, I will find out.”

“Good.” I give her a small smile, “I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions.”

“It’s fine, I get it.” She grins at me, “now if you’ll excuse me… I have someone to dance with.”

She winks at me and goes to the booth where Lennox and Eugene are. She says something to Eugene, and he gets up and leaves with her. I join Lennox at the booth, and he grins, obviously a little tipsy. I sit opposite of him, but the booth is not that big so our legs touch. I scoot to the other side to avoid any contact. I don’t like how he makes me feel either way so I’m doing my best to stay as far away from him as possible.

“I don’t bite, you know.” He teases me, a glimmering look in his eyes, “unless you’d want that.”

I say nothing in response. I’m doing my job guarding him but that doesn’t mean I have to talk to him. I know wishing that he would stop talking is futile, but a man can dream. Honestly though, I think he’ll die if he stops talking for too long. I wonder what it would take to make him quiet.

“Do you want to dance?” He suddenly asks me, looking like he wants to move.

I wish Lennox would stop trying at this point. Do I look like I want to dance? I give him a pointed look that hopefully expresses my thoughts. He nods, immediately getting it. I watch as he plays with his glass and twirls the drink around. He’s obviously bored. I don’t know why he would come here unless he wanted to do it. I don’t get him. Just what kind of game is he playing?”

“You should enjoy tonight.” I tell him, seeing how he glances up at me with one of his eyebrows raised in question, “after tonight, you won’t be able to come here for a while.”

“Well, I would hope a while means a short while…” Lennox whispers, looking like he is a little lost in thought, “this kind of sucks, no offence.”

I shrug. I have no answer to that. Hell, I also wish that it means a short while. It’s not like I enjoy his company or him. I just want him to be far away from me, but I’m stuck with him for now. I won’t admit it though, he would probably cry.

“Dance with me then, you’ll make it worth it?” He decides to tease me a little bit.

“I don’t dance.” I mutter, wishing he would drop it.

“Really?” He asks surprised, “at all?”

I shake my head.

“I could teach you.” He sure is persistent.

“I’m not dancing with you, Lennox.” I growl at him.

“You don’t dance, you don’t drink.” He rolls his eyes, deciding to be a little sassy, “what do you do for fun then?”

I do drink but I’m not going to correct him because then he might ask me to drink with him. I want to stay sober and alert tonight. I don’t know why I must keep explaining this to him when he knows there is only one reason, I am here with him.

“I don’t have fun.” I tell him, hoping he’d drop it, “I work.”

“I work, too, but I also have fun.” He retorts, sipping on his drink, “I was planning on going to Greece for fun, but that’s not going to happen any time soon.”

I expect Lennox to be all over the place when we get here, having fun. We could have done all this moping back at home. He could have done this alone… I wouldn’t have had to be there.

“How’s your brother?” He asks softly, looking up at me with those big brown eyes, “is he alright?”

I nod,  a little uncomfortable about the personal question, “he’s fine.”

“I’ve got a little sister, too, you know.” He murmurs, just rambling off once again, “do you two get along?”

I do know that. He has a little sister, and both of his parents are well and good. Liam and I could be closer. I wish we were as close as we used to be in the past, but that is one of the sacrifices that I made to be on this path. Hopefully, when I’m ready to get back into his life, it won't be too late by that.

“I’ll take that as a no then.” Lennox murmurs, a slight curve of a smile on his face, “that’s okay, he will forgive you. They are just teenagers; they like to give sass.”

Lennox’s tie is gone.

Oh.

His collar is unbuttoned, and I can see some skin showing through his white shirt. There’s a little birthmark right on his neck. It’s such a weird thing to notice but there’s no one else here and nothing for me to do except make sure the man in front of me stays alive. I wonder if he has more of those. It’s obvious that he works out, not even trying to hide his toned chest. I think that he would really look handsome without any clothes on. I don’t understand why he doesn’t have someone by his side yet.

“I can feel you staring…” He trails off as he looks at me.

I hold his gaze, not shying away. I never shy away.

“Do you like what you see?” He whispers, and I feel my palms turn sweaty.

Unable to hold his gaze anymore, I look away. I take deep breaths to calm myself. There’s no way this is happening. None. I can’t flirt with him, it’ll be dangerous. I can’t give him that much credit.

“Do you have someone?” He suddenly asks me.

“Huh?” I’m confused.

“I want to know if you are in a relationship with someone.” He says bluntly.

I appreciate him coming on strong, but I’m not ready to play this game. Especially not with him. I don’t know why he wants to know. Does he think it’ll give him a chance with me? I would never date him.

“Do you ever shut up?” I try to evade the question.

“No.” At least he is being honest.

Ugh.

Lennox scoots over and leans forward so our legs touch each other. I glance down, before meeting his eyes again. I can tell what he is really trying to do, and I feel my dick twitching with appreciation. Oh shit, this might be a little dangerous now.

“I like to talk, especially when I’m with someone I’m interested in. I talk very much.” He mutters, his voice low and husky, “I’m a very patient man, Silas, I know what I want, and I get it.”

We both stare at each other. The room goes even more quiet and empty like it’s just the two of us in it. His brown eyes are staring deep into my own. His gaze travels to my lips, and I feel my body starting to heat up. I can pretty much see down his shirt now, his nipples right in my view. Shit, what is he trying to do to me? I don’t even know if my heart is going to be able to take this.

I break eye contact first again.

“Don’t be interested.” My voice comes out raspy and I hate it, “you’ll be disappointed.”

“I can’t help it.” He whispers, making me wonder if he is really flirting.

His words do many things to me including anger. So, I choose to get angry. Anger is easy. Others are not. 

“How can you like a man who tried to kill you?” I ask him, feeling like my heart is about to pound right out of my chest, “you have to be crazy to think like that.”

Seriously, shouldn’t he avoid me at all costs?

Lennox shrugs, as if he is confused about this as well, “maybe I like danger?”

I let out a groan. I really should have killed him when I had the chance.