Chapter 16

~Too Damn Close~

My heart thrummed in my chest, and it was hard to draw a full breath. Fear sliced through me, followed by a chaser of desire as Tony disappeared into the crowd. I tilted my head back. Above me, the air was hazy with pumped-in fog cut by beams of light flickering through the dense atmosphere. A sudden swirl of cooled air whooshed between our dancing bodies, bringing relief from the heat followed by an almost violent shiver as the sweat flash-froze on my skin.

Ricky's hands rested on my hips, and he pulled me back against him, swaying our bodies to the rhythm vibrating around us. Angela and Kate moved together while Jake danced alone, watching them with heavily lidded, dark eyes. He caught me staring and winked, maneuvering himself until he was dancing in front of me. Jake allowed a few inches between us, but I felt dwarfed by his six-foot-five, pumped frame. I glanced up at the second level, panning the area, but I didn't see Tony.

I needed to ditch the bodyguards so I could find him. Angela slid between me and Jake rather suddenly. She put her hands on his broad chest and danced him back a few feet. I felt relieved, but I don't think she did it for my sake. Something had definitely gone down with those two. Kate started dancing with some new guy.

A waitress picked her way through the bodies, balancing a tray on her hand. She paused beside me and leaned in. "Isabella?"

I nodded, and she motioned for me to follow her to the table. Ricky started to follow, but I put a hand on his chest to stop him and inclined my head toward Kate and the stranger. "I'll be right back! Just going to the table for a minute!" I shouted.

I followed the waitress to our booth. She placed a drink down, then handed me a folded napkin. "From a gentleman upstairs."

After she sauntered away, delivering more drinks, I unfolded the cocktail napkin. Inside was a crudely drawn heart, and "Princess wanted" was scrawled in a bold hand. I grinned like a fool and folded my love note, tucking it into my handbag. Peeking around gyrating bodies, I saw Ricky was keeping an eye on Kate, so I slipped along the edges of the dance floor. I couldn't go up the main stairs because he would spot me for sure. Spying an elevator behind the DJ booth, I headed for it. The area back there was dark and deserted, but there was nothing indicating the area was off limits. The wall was mirrored, lending just enough of a reflection for me to make my way without tripping.

The elevator had no buttons! I sighed, annoyed I'd wasted precious time going this way. I continued past it, hoping the stairway on the other side would be less visible to Ricky and Jake. I'd just have to wait until others were going up and join their group.

Someone grabbed me rather abruptly, yanking me to one side. Darkness cloaked my vision, and strong arms surrounded me. A feeling of panic welled until I recognized the scent of the man and the familiar softness of his lips as they pressed against the side of my neck.

"Does this give you deja vu, princess?"

"Like that first night, but I hope nobody is after us this time."

Tony laughed. "Well . . . nobody dangerous anyway." His hand roamed, and he palmed my breast before pinching and rolling the nipple between his fingers.

I let out a moan, then looked around us. "Where are we?" The room was mostly dark with scant ambient light coming from a bank of monitors facing away from us. The driving beat of the music pumped under my feet, but I could no longer tell what song was playing. My ears rang in the silence.

"Control room." Tony continued to tweak my nipple and swirl his tongue beneath my ear.

I gasped as a few people appeared outside the mirrored glass. One guy stopped and looked right at us for a few seconds before moving on. "Can they see us?"

"No, and the door only opens one way."

I tried to turn in his arms, but Tony had other ideas. Tightening his hold on me, he stopped pinching my nipple and moved his hand ever so slowly down to my thigh. He lifted the hem of my dress, his warm palm hot against my bare skin. He found the edge of my panties, and rubbed his index finger over my damp heat.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you are turned on," he whispered, nipping the skin of my neck. He slid the silky fabric aside and slipped two fingers inside me.

"What if someone comes?"

"I'm hoping you will." Tony's fingers danced against my flesh, eliciting delicious tingles.

"I'm serious." I grabbed his hand, stilling his motion. "What if we get caught?"

"I know the owner, and I asked the security guy to fuck off for a while. You really need to trust me, princess."

I loosened my grip but kept my hand over Tony's larger one as he started playing me with his long fingers. It was such a turn-on to feel what he was doing to me from both sides, and in no time, an orgasm crashed over me, causing me to arch against his unyielding body.

"Beautiful. You're so responsive." Tony's voice was husky. He spun me in his arms and held me close, his hard-on pressing against my stomach. He licked one of the fingers that had just been inside me, and his eyes slipped closed as he moaned. He traced my lower lip with the other finger. "I love the flavor of you. Open your mouth." When I did, he slid the finger inside and told me to suck.

I closed my lips over his finger and curled my tongue around it, enjoying my tang mingled with the taste of his skin. "Mm . . ."

"You like that?" His green eyes gleamed in the low light.

I nodded.

Tony pulled the finger from my mouth and placed it in his own. This time he kept his heated gaze locked with mine. When he was finished, he cupped my face. "Now we need to get something straight." His voice held a hard edge. "I don't like to share."

"Tony, what—"

"He had his hands on you, and I don't like it."

I stared back. "There's nothing going on! Ricky's my bodyguard!"

Tony turned us, pressing me against the wall. "Do you think I don't know who he is? Ricky Morano, Volturi muscle from the tender age of fifteen. The other one is Jake Black, Moretti's muscle—a cocky piece of work with a temper that might get him killed one day." When my mouth opened in surprise, he kept talking. "I make it my business to know what's going on, where you are, who you're with."

"Then you know I haven't done anything wrong!"

"I do." His voice softened a bit, and he pressed a kiss to my mouth. "Ricky Morano has a thing for you. He knows you're out of his league, forbidden, but he'd fuck you if given the chance."

"I don't believe that." I shook my head. But part of me knew Tony was right. I kept pretending I didn't know about Ricky's feelings because it gave me an edge, a chance that his desire for me would trump his mandate to report everything I did to Aro.

"Liar," Tony said softly, without censure. "You're a shrewd, intelligent woman. You know exactly what you're doing."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"No. I'd expect nothing less from my girl. But you are my girl." He trapped my hand over his heart and repeated the words tattooed there. "Truth is everything."

"Look at me," I said softly and waited for his eyes to meet mine. "I swear on the grave of Charles Swan that I will be loyal only to you. No other man will have a piece of my heart. I won't share my body—my soul—with anyone else."

"That's what I needed to hear." Tony kissed me deeply, sweeping his tongue into my mouth to kiss me with all the passion that boiled beneath the volatile surface of him.

I touched Tony's hardness through his trousers and moved my fingers slowly up his length until I reached the buckle of his leather belt. He grabbed my wrist with a shake of his head, and I was reminded of the night in the warehouse.

"You don't want to be out of control."

He huffed a laugh. "You're a fast learner, princess." He grabbed me by the hips and rolled his pelvis against me. "I want you so fucking much. It's killing me not to bury myself inside you right now."

"It will make things hotter later." My lips curved into a smile. "So who are you here with?"

Tony grinned down at me wolfishly. "Tanya and a few associates. I told them I had an important conference call."

Taking my hand, he led me to the bank of monitors, which showed every imaginable angle of Underground. Kate was still dancing with the handsome stranger she met. Angela was sitting in the booth arguing with Jake. I scanned the screens, trolling for Ricky. My gaze landed on Tanya, sitting at a table on the second floor with a few of Tony's associates. She was talking with them, but her gaze kept roaming the area, looking for Tony. I finally spotted Ricky, arguing with Underground security. "Shit."

Tony laughed. "Poor Ricky."

"Stop it!" I smacked his chest. "Wow, this system is crazy! You can see every nook and cranny."

"You can zoom in close enough to see the balls on a fly. Just think about that. You know whose tech this is?" There was more than a touch of pride in Tony's voice.

"Hale Technologies?"

He hugged me from behind, pressing a kiss to my neck. "Bet your ass. Jasper has his fingers in a lot of pies. Just the way Google has insinuated itself into our lives, Hale Technologies is becoming a security giant." Tony received a text and pulled out his phone to read it. "Fun is over. Ricky is demanding to get a look at the monitors so he can locate you."

"Shit. What now?"

Tony smirked. "There is one place cameras can't legally follow. Guess you better hoof it to the ladies' room."

"You don't have to look so gleeful about it!"

"Come on, I can get you there through private halls."

Tony led me through dim catacombs. We passed a member of the security team. The man nodded to Tony, keeping his eyes off of me. "Mr. Masen."

"Thank you, Gary. I won't forget this."

There was another mirrored wall outside the bathrooms. Tony waited until the coast was clear. He grabbed me, kissing me hard, and then slipped me out the secret door into the hallway. The noise of the club filled my ears, and I felt disoriented. I rushed into the powder room. The echo of women's voices bounced off the walls. I found a spot at the mirrored counter to touch up my lipstick and fix my hair. Afterward, I went back into the fray and started heading toward the dance floor. Kate, Angela, and Jake were standing next to our table, deep in conversation.

I slipped in next to Angela, throwing my arm around her. "Hey, guys! What's going on?"

"Oh thank god!" Kate put a palm to her chest.

Angela side-eyed me. "Where have you been, Chica? Ricky is having a fucking stroke."

"I was in the bathroom." I squeezed her arm as a warning.

"That long?" Jake asked, crossing his arms.

I glared up at him. "Would you like a play-by-play, Jake?"

His cheeks reddened, and he seemed uncertain. "Well . . . no."

Ricky rushed up to me and grabbed me in his arms, crushing me against his hard chest. "Where the fuck were you?"

I struggled against him, slapping at his pecs. "Let go of me! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Ricky took a step back. "Sorry. I was worried."

"Afraid someone in the ladies' room was going to attack me?"

"That's where you were all that time?"

Jake socked Ricky in the arm. "Don't go there, man. Trust me."

Ricky wanted to say something else, I could tell, but he shook his head. "Are you ready to leave, or do you want to dance more?"

"I'm ready to go. How about you guys?" I looked between Kate and Angela.

"I'm bushed." Kate fanned herself.

"I'm ready." Angela gave me a look that told me she was ready for an interrogation.

As we were heading for the exit, Kate exclaimed behind me, "Small world! Look, there's Tanya!"

I turned and Kate pointed at the second level. Tanya leaned on the rail with a drink in her hand. She fiddled with the little umbrella, looking flirtatious. Tony stood next to her, looking charming and attentive. He took a sip of his drink, then leaned in to hear something Tanya was saying.

Kate waved wildly, and I had the urge to grab her arm and yank her out the door. Instead, I said, "Maybe you shouldn't wake the dragon. She might think you followed her here."

But it was too late. Tanya glanced our way. She waved to Kate in an offhand way, as if her sister were beneath her, and started turning back to Tony. Tanya froze and whipped her head back our way, her glittering eyes meeting mine. I stared back at her and nodded, unwilling to allow her to intimidate me while she was standing next to my man.

Tony touched Tanya's bare shoulder, saying something in her ear. She smiled and turned to face him, leaning in close. Too damn close.

Tony's eyes met mine, and he lifted his glass. He put an arm around Tanya and led her away from the railing. She shot one final, spiteful look over her shoulder. I'm not sure if it was for me, for Kate, or for both of us.

~oOo~

Tony is connected, which has its benefits. He's also a jealous man-hope that doesn't create any errors in judgment. Anyone else think Tanya is going to cause some major trouble? *raises hand* I love hearing your thoughts!

**Red Kryptonite and Give Me a Sign have been nominated in the Top Ten Completed Fics in 2022! Thanks to all of you for your support! Voting ends on February 24, 2023. Poll can be found at TwiFanfictionRecs site.

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Thanks and gratefulness as always to my awesome betas, SassySue (chayasara) and Wendy wmr1601. These ladies make my stuff much more presentable! Wendy saved me from a major flub this chapter! Thanks, girlfriend! #MixedTenses

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