Hooked: A Dark, Contemporary Romance (Never After #1)(4)

Ru blows a ring of smoke in the air.

I lean forward, knuckling the top of his desk. “Roofus. Promise me you won’t go alone. Don’t be foolish.”

“And don’t forget your place,” he snaps. “I run this, not you. You answer to me. How about you show your gratitude and, for once, just do as you’re fucking told?”

My teeth grind at his tone, and if he were anyone else, I would thank him for the reminder right before I cut out his tongue. But Ru gets away with a lot of things that no one else does.

I first saw Ru when I was thirteen—two years after I was shipped to America to live with my uncle. Reading in the library, I heard a commotion down the hall and went to investigate the noise. Peeking through a crack in the office door, I watched, mesmerized, as a large man with olive skin and dyed red hair loomed over my uncle’s desk, threatening him within an inch of his life, a gun at his temple and menace bleeding through his thick Boston accent. It was awe-inspiring, truly. I had never seen my uncle cower before anyone. It was usually his favorite pastime to see others fall to their knees for him.

As a politician, it happened publicly often.

As a person filled with rage and perversion, it happened in private even more.

So, I found this mystery man enthralling, and took to following him when he left, desperate to emulate his power. I suppose you could call it obsession, but I had never known anyone like him. Had never seen someone command obedience from a man who ran the world.

I wanted to know how to do that too.

But, at thirteen, I hadn’t mastered the art of being undetected, and Ru knew I was stalking him all along. Took me in and taught me everything he knew. Introduced me to the streets of Bloomsburg and kept me sane through the nightmares that plagued my sleep.

So, I’ll defer to what he wants, because there isn’t a single soul on this planet that’s taken care of me the way he has.

There was once, but that was long ago. Another lifetime, really.

“You’re right,” I say. “I trust your judgment. It’s everyone else’s I don’t.”

Ru laughs and opens his mouth to respond, but a knock on the door interrupts.

“Come in,” Ru grunts.

Starkey, one of our younger recruits, pops his head in. “Sorry to interrupt, boss.” His eyes slide to mine, widening as he quickly looks away. “There’re a few girls trying to come in with fake IDs. Making a hell of a time for us downstairs.”

“You come up here to bother us with this shit?” Ru snaps. “What the hell do we pay you for?”

I grin at Ru’s temper and walk to the security cameras, looking at the one aimed over the front entrance. Just as Starkey says, there are three girls, one of which is currently screaming in our bouncer’s face. Pathetic. I continue my perusal, my eyes locking on the beauty standing off to the side.

My stomach tightens as my gaze trails along her body in a tight blue dress. Her arms are wrapped around her middle, her eyes darting back and forth between the bouncer and the cabs that line the street.

Annoyance snaps in my chest with the fact I can’t see her as clearly as I’d like. But I see her enough to know she looks uncomfortable. Innocent. Definitely doesn’t belong in a place like this. And for some reason, that shoots a thrill straight to my cock, making it thicken and pulse as I imagine all the ways this place could defile her. There are not many people that inspire a reaction from me. A life of not reacting has bled into my skin, hardening into an impenetrable shield; nothing allowed in or out. Just an empty shell with a single purpose.

The fact this girl has tweaked my interest even a modicum amount has my curiosity piqued.

“Let them in,” I interrupt, my eyes still on the brunette beauty.

Starkey stops rambling, his eyes shooting to me before landing back on Ru. “Are you sure, I—”

“Did I stutter?” I ask, turning to face him. “Or maybe it’s the accent that gets in the way of you understanding?”

“N-no, it’s just—”

“It’s just,” I interrupt. “Clearly, you’re in need of some guidance on how to handle the situation. Or have I misunderstood your reasoning for bringing this trivial issue to our attention?”

Ru smirks, leaning back in his chair.

“No, Hook. You didn’t misunderstand.”

“Hmm. Then it’s a problem, to be sure.” I nod. “Tell me, would you agree that we need to fire whoever is working the door?”

“Um, I don’t,” Starkey starts.

“After all, if he lacks the ability to control a group of females, how can we be sure he’ll handle anyone else?” I cock my head.

Starkey swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I… They’re—”

“You see,” I continue, slipping my hook blade from my pocket and flipping it open. “Subduing a woman is all about control.” I walk toward him, twirling the stainless steel between my fingers, the intricate brown design of the handle sliding against my skin. “A delicate weaving of power. A give and take, if you will. Supplying them with the absolute pleasure of your dominance.”

Stopping in front of him, the knife pauses as I grasp it in my palm. “Clearly, our bouncer this evening possesses more of a submissive gene.” My free hand reaches out, straightening his tie. “I understand how difficult it must be to recognize the same trait within yourself.”