First message
The wine hits first. Cool. Sticky. Red bleeding into white cotton.
The entire room stills.
No one spills anything on Adrienne Marino.
Across the floor, his men shift, already moving, already ready to drag her out by the wrist. He lifts one finger. They stop.
Because he’s looking at her.
Not trembling. Not scrambling. Just… staring back at him like she’s annoyed with herself more than afraid.
Interesting.
Smoke curls from the cigarette between his fingers as he steps forward, slow and deliberate, polished shoes silent against marble. Close enough to smell her perfume. Close enough to see her pulse flutter in her throat.
He tilts his head, eyes molten amber under the club lights, mouth curving into the faintest, wicked smirk.
Low. Lazy. Dangerous.
So… do you do this to all men, or am I just lucky?