The pulse of the underground club was alive in the thrum of bass-heavy music and the hum of whispered deals in dark corners. Karen slipped through the entrance unnoticed, her hood pulled low over her face. The smell of stale cigarettes and spilled alcohol mingled with the charged air.
Her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, scanning the room for him. Darius Bennetti. The man she’d spent weeks researching, preparing for, and now, she was finally here.
He wasn’t hard to find.
Darius sat at a corner table, a commanding presence even in the low-lit chaos of the club. His broad shoulders and sharp suit made him stand out among the casual clientele. Two men flanked him, bodyguards by their stance and the quiet vigilance in their eyes. His dark hair was slicked back, and a shadow of stubble traced his jawline, giving him an edge that matched the lethal authority he exuded.
Karen stayed in the shadows, watching. He leaned back in his chair, one hand lazily swirling a glass of whiskey, the other resting on the table. His gaze moved across the room like a predator surveying his territory, never lingering long but missing nothing.
This was it. She took a breath, forcing her nerves into submission, and made her way toward him.
As she approached the table, one of the bodyguards moved to block her. He was tall and broad, his expression impassive but alert.
“Private table,” he said gruffly, his hand lifting to stop her.
Karen didn’t flinch. She tilted her head slightly, her voice calm but cutting. “Tell your boss I know what ties him to the Devereaux family.”
The bodyguard hesitated, glancing at Darius for instruction.
Darius’s eyes narrowed, his hand pausing mid-swirl of his drink. He gave the faintest nod, and the bodyguard stepped aside.
Karen stepped closer, her pulse steady despite the weight of Darius’s gaze on her. She pulled back her hood, revealing her short, dark hair.
“You’ve got guts walking in here uninvited,” Darius said, his voice smooth but carrying an undertone of danger. “The kind that usually gets people killed.”
Karen met his stare head-on. “Or the kind that gets your attention.”
Darius smirked faintly, motioning for her to sit. “You’ve got my attention. For now. Start talking.”
Karen sat across from him, keeping her movements deliberate, measured. She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice just enough to ensure only he could hear. “I know about the alliance between the Bennetti family and the Devereauxs. I know it goes deeper than most people realize.”
Darius’s smirk faded, replaced by a sharp, assessing look. “Big claims for someone I don’t know. Who are you?”
“That’s not important right now,” Karen said, her tone even. “What matters is we have a common enemy.”
Darius chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “A common enemy? Is that supposed to intrigue me?”
Karen didn’t blink. “It should. Because that enemy is Richard Hollaway.”
The amusement drained from Darius’s face. He set his glass down with a deliberate clink, his gaze now razor-sharp. “You’ve got five seconds to explain how you know that name and why I shouldn’t have you dragged out of here.”
Karen held her ground, her voice steady. “Because I have information. The kind that can hurt Richard in ways you’ve only dreamed of.”
Darius leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “You walk in here, drop his name, and expect me to trust you? Either you’re stupid, or you’ve got a death wish.”
Karen let a faint smile curve her lips. “Neither. I’ve got something you want.”
“And what’s that?”
“Proof,” Karen said simply. “Richard’s empire isn’t as untouchable as it seems. I know where to hit him. But I can’t do it alone.”
Darius studied her for a long moment, his dark eyes searching her face. He didn’t trust her—she could see it in the tight line of his jaw, the way his fingers drummed once against the table before going still.
“And what do you get out of this?” he asked finally.
“Revenge,” Karen said without hesitation.
Darius’s lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile. “Interesting.”
Karen leaned back slightly, keeping her expression calm even as her heart raced. “If you want to know more, you’ll have to agree to hear me out. No interruptions, no games.”
Darius tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But guts don’t mean much if you’re lying.”
“I’m not lying,” Karen said, her tone firm.
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous rumble. “If you are, you won’t leave this room alive.”
Karen didn’t flinch, her gaze unwavering. “Then I guess you’d better make sure you believe me.”
Darius’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He leaned back in his chair, his hand curling around his glass.
“Tell me who you really are,” he said, his voice like a velvet blade. “Or I’ll find out the hard way.”
Karen held her breath, the weight of his words settling over her. She had prepared for this moment, but she knew the truth would change everything.