Was one night out with her friends too much to ask for?
“All right,” Ivy said, “We’ll go out. But a low-key dinner at a nice restaurant, and that’s it.”
“Come on, Ivy…”
“It’s that or nothing.”
“Fine, Ivy. But I choose the restaurant. Next Friday night?”
“Just remember that it has to be somewhere—”
“Yes. The food will be properly blessed…”
“Great. See you then.”
As Ivy hung up the phone, there was no anticipation at the fact that she would go for a night out with her friends…only a nervous anxiety in the pit of her stomach, because she would have to lie to mother and Michael about this…
What if they found out the truth?
No, they wouldn’t find out. She would be free of the Association for one night and go out with her friends. Dinner and maybe a drink, and then she’d return.
Just a few hours. What could go wrong?
CHAPTER TWO
* * *
THE NEW DANCE ZONE, FREEFALL, meant more work for Junaid, but he was in his damn element. He’d worked at Eclipse for over a year now. Manhattan’s most popular social venue, it stood on its own island and comprised over thirty zones. Until now, he’d managed Oasis, the first dance zone in the venue, and a couple of months ago, he took over Freefall. His boss Blade had trusted him to manage this new area as he wanted. He’d been involved in every part of its development, from the original plans to the marketing of its event nights.
All that hard work…it had paid off big time. Job satisfaction, his own apartment and a tidy sum in the bank, even though he was only in his early thirties. What more could a lion shifter in his position want?
The zone was smaller than Oasis, which meant there was only one dance floor, but the area more than made up for that through a creative use of space. There were suspended stages with four DJs who played synchronized tracks and created a vibe that sent a drug, alcohol and hormone-fueled audience into ecstasy. And the nonstop entertainment did not end at electronic music. Male and female dancers performed with fire and LED on suspended stages that protruded from the black walls and were bathed in strobe lighting. And the special touch that had been Junaid’s idea? Live musicians who played alongside the DJs.
Since its opening, they’d flown in musicians from all over the globe, and tonight, a violin player from Japan stood on a stage suspended above the dance floor, her melodies blending with the electronic music to create a unique fusion. One of the dancers, particularly athletic, jumped to the dance floor, sending the crowd into greater rapture, and the violin player responded by lifting it a notch—if he didn’t know better, her bow speed would have made Junaid wonder if she was a supernatural.
On the dance floor, bodies writhed and rubbed against each other, sometimes moving in time with the music but most often, dancing to their own rhythm. The zone was full, despite being a new one and not the most extreme in Eclipse. The pleasure zones were among the most popular areas in the venue, and few left them without indulging some sexual need. And there were also restaurants and lounge bars where customers went for a more somber experience. And among all those spaces, Freefall commanded its fair share of visitors.
Junaid moved from the upper landing to the lower area where the dance floor was. From there, he continued to keep an eye on the place, his eyes darting here and there, never still. Lights flashed around the crowds, contrasting with the black walls, the strobe effects driving the energy up. His attention was dragged to the dance floor, where a couple was getting carried away. The guy had opened the waistband of the girl’s jeans and had his hand inside, and any moment now, she would orgasm right there, on the dance floor. Junaid used his communication device to contact the nearest security guard, Laura. When she glanced over at him, Junaid indicated toward the couple. She grinned before going over to have a word, and it was enough for them to separate. Good for them.
“Is it sorted?” he asked the guard over the device, as always following up on incidents instead of assuming all was resolved. His enhanced shifter hearing meant he could tune out other sounds and hear Laura’s voice over the loud music and noise.
“Yes. I asked them if they wanted to book a room in the hotel or a ticket to a pleasure zone, but they want to keep dancing here for now.”
“Keep an eye on them and anyone else who takes the making out too far.”
If they wanted to get up to that stuff in public, there were other zones in Eclipse that were more suitable, and of course, the venue had a luxury hotel where customers booked rooms for privacy.
Now that Laura had her eyes on the dance floor, he turned away from it. He rarely had to get personally involved in problems that arose in this zone. He was hired for this place not only because he had managed lounge bars and clubs before, but because he was a trained martial artist and weapons master. But for most of the crowd that came here, the risk of a lifetime ban was enough to make them behave, so he rarely had to bother himself with disputes.
“Fancy some fun?” He turned when someone placed a hand low on his hip. A human female in a tight black dress designed to show off her every curve. She stared up at him, blue eyes wide and blond hair silky.
“No, thanks.” He stood back, finding her interest annoying rather than something to be pleased about. He’d stopped being flattered by attention from guests soon after joining Eclipse. His dark looks and supernatural qualities, along with his indifference, appeared to be an attraction to customers, but he was always the professional. He tilted his head at the dance floor. “You know you’re beautiful. You’ll get plenty of attention from others.”
Cavorting with customers was against the rules, and in any case, he’d never been tempted.
“How about meeting when you get off work?” She bit her bottom lip as she brought a hand to his face, running it over his goatee.
He stepped back. “You’re wasting your time here.”
The woman pouted as she ran her gaze over his two-piece, her eyes intent as if she could see through it. “What can I do to convince you?”
“Nothing.”
A scowled marred her pretty face before she turned for the dance floor. She swayed her ample butt as she walked, giving him a view of that backless dress that exposed more than it covered. She glanced over her shoulder at him, but he looked away. Lucky for him, he’d always found it easy to resist the regular attention he received in the venue. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t had his fair share of fun over the years, but right now, he was enjoying a toned-down lifestyle—one that suited a line of work where he was surrounded by, and needed to resist, temptation.
Not long before he finished for the night. He was itching to get out of the black two-piece and tie. A bit of admin work, some accounting, and then he’d get into bed before sunrise. A nocturnal existence was a side effect of a job such as this, but one got used to it. There was a buzzing at his waist, and he pulled his mobile from his jacket pocket. A message from Blade. Mate. If you’ve got time before you leave, can I pop by to see you in your office?
The demon might be his boss, but he treated him with the same respect he gave his business partners. Junaid messaged him back. Sure. I’ll be there in ten.
He made his way back to the upper landing and pushed through the crowds, approaching the far end. Stepping behind a curtain, he placed his hand on the security panel before him, and the door unlocked. It was a staff area, but it was rarely used by anyone other than Junaid. The corridor, done up in LED lighting and red deco, had offices on either side of it. Blade was already waiting outside his office, dressed in a gray two-piece and burgundy shirt. As always, he cut an imposing figure, his broad shoulders filling out that suit to the max.
Junaid pulled his keys from his jacket pocket and opened the door to his office, a spacious number with customized oak furniture and a leather sofa suite in one corner. There was also a small gym, kitchen and bathroom attached. Hell, he could live here if he wanted
to, but he liked getting off the premises and being in his own apartment. As much as he loved the job, a break from it did him good.
“Would you like a drink?” asked Junaid. A stocked mini bar was another perk that came with this office.
“No thanks. Got to get back soon. Alyssa’s waiting in the villa.”
Junaid couldn’t help but smile. Not long ago, the demon wouldn’t let anyone near that place, spending his nights alone and craving isolation. But ever since he met that human, his life had changed. To everyone’s surprise, after they got together, Blade insisted on her moving into his villa with him, and the situation had gone from nobody getting a look-see at his home to regular get-togethers there. Junaid had been to a fair few dinners and barbecues at the place, and it was always good to see Blade blissed out with Alyssa…after all, the demon had been on his own long enough. And after the crap Alyssa had been through, if anyone deserved happiness, it was her.
“You’re here about work, I presume?”
Blade nodded. “I’ve got a job for you. Obviously, you’ll get paid for this separately from your salary for Freefall.”
“You know money’s never been a thing between us.”
“Still, I’ll see you right.”
Junaid had no doubt about that. The Eclipse owners gave him regular bonuses as well as a generous salary. “What’s the job?”
“You know my new hotel venture?”
“Phoenix?” The demon had refurbished the place in partnership with his wolf shifter friend Shaun. Blade and Eclipse’s owners had had their eyes on a larger hotel on the other side of the river, but things had been kicking off between the mob and supernaturals recently, which meant enough enterprises owned by non-humans suffered. So Blade and his business partners had turned their attention to supporting those whose ventures weren’t doing as well as their own. Phoenix belonged to a couple of supernaturals who were struggling to get by, and local thugs had forced them into a position where they’d have to auction it at a loss. It would have gone straight to criminal elements if Blade and the wolf didn’t step in and make an offer to buy it at a fair price.
It was almost as if they’d made an effort to go in the opposite direction of their current business interests. Shaun had an investment firm and also owned a couple of lounge bars, and before his human mate came along, he’d been involved with the mob, just like Blade. But Phoenix was a fantasy palace set in landscaped gardens with water shows and ice sculptures. The theme worked, because it was being heralded as the ultimate event and wedding venue in Manhattan. Hardly surprising when the place screamed of decadence and romance.
“I read an online article about Phoenix this morning, Blade. You’re being featured on wedding and event sites all over the place.”
“Yes. We’ve got plenty of corporate events and weddings coming through…but there’s a problem with a booking we’ve just taken on.”
“What kind of problem?”
“It’s been made by John Ryder, the leader of the Manhattan branch of the Association…get this, his son is marrying Harrison Smith’s daughter.”
“Harrison Smith…who was murdered years ago?”
Blade nodded. The case was a notorious one, because the Association had tried to pin the murder on non-humans, and had even called on the government to bring in anti-supernatural measures, which would mean they were constantly under surveillance. But before that could happen, it emerged that Harrison had been involved in criminal elements and was taken out by them so they could take control of the firm they’d help him build.
“So you understand why I’m concerned?”
Junaid released a low whistle. “Why they hell are they booking your place?” When supernaturals were first exposed years ago, the Association spoke the loudest against them and campaigned the hardest for their incarceration. And it used the threat of non-humans to its advantage, spreading fear among humans and gaining more of them as members. Shame that those members, so scared of supernaturals, didn’t seem to mind that the organization they followed was involved with criminal elements. In fact, most of them denied any such partnerships or were brainwashed into believing that the rumors were spread by those jealous of their religious unity. “What do you reckon, Blade? Why is the organization booking a hotel owned by supernaturals?”
“That’s what concerns me,” said Blade. “After what went down with the mob and the fact that our kind stole secret documents from the Association, things have been threatening to kick off for a while.” It made little difference that the recent attack on a mobster was to save Blade’s girlfriend Alyssa. And the Association also did not give a toss if the state had hired supernaturals to steal its files. “The government’s been pressuring all of us to maintain harmony, and I think this is the Association’s way of putting on a show of being the reasonable party.”
“You’re probably right, Blade.”
“Anyway, I didn’t want to turn down the booking and get the government on our backs…but I was hoping you’d oversee its management.”
“You want me to take care of a wedding?”
“You know how I trust you.” Blade’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve checked it out, and the marriage is legit. But those fuckers hate our kind, and they’re also involved with the mob…and you know how shitty our relations with them have been.” Junaid didn’t need reminding about that. Both Blade and Shaun had pissed off the mob for the sake of their females. “I want you to make sure that this wedding goes smoothly, and that as soon as the ceremony is over, the Association members get the hell out of there with no trouble. What do you think?”
“I’ll do it, Blade.”
Taking care of a wedding booking was not Junaid’s idea of fun, but the demon was right. There had been a lot of shit going down, and they needed to keep relations between humans and supernaturals as smooth as was possible. Extend the harmony for as long as they could.
CHAPTER THREE
* * *
IVY HAD MADE IT CLEAR that it was to be a low-key event, and what did her friends do? They turned up outside the house in a pink stretch limo. Luckily, her mother’s bedroom was on the other side of their home.
It wasn’t as if she didn’t have enough to worry about. Michael had phoned her earlier to let her know the venue for the marriage ceremony was booked. Phoenix. A hotel owned by supernaturals…but why? John delivered long sermons at their church, lecturing members on how unholy those creatures were…and yet he was to hold a sacred ceremony in a venue owned by the abominations?
As she pulled on her jacket, another call came through from Rehana. “I’ll be down in a minute.” She moved to the window to glance outside, looking down on the luxury vehicle. What on Earth had possessed her friends? And now Rehana got out of the car, dressed in a skin-tight leopard dress, a tinseled pink party hat atop her head. That whistle in her mouth rounded off the whole look.
“Get your ass down here, Ivy!”
Don’t, Rehana, please. The sight of that vehicle was terrifying enough. Ivy toyed with the idea of not going down at all, but lights were switching on in some nearby houses. It was a quiet neighborhood, an exclusive residential compound where other Association members lived, and she didn’t want to risk any of them knowing she was going for a night out. She whispered into the mobile. “I’m coming down, but please could you get back in the car before any of the neighbors see you?”
“You’re unbelievable. What bloody century are you from?”
“Please, Rehana. Just do it.” Before leaving, she checked her appearance in the full-length mirror. The floral dress had a high neckline but was sleeveless, more than adequate for a dinner with her friends. She pulled on a knee-length jacket and fastened its buttons as she left her room and went to the other side of the corridor. She opened the door and stuck her head through it, into mother’s bedroom. Pearl was already in bed after taking her sleeping pills, sat with the duvet drawn over her knees and a book in her hand. “Good night, mother.”
“Come in, dear. Let me l
ook at you.” Ivy entered the room and did a little twirl for the benefit of mother, receiving a smile in return. “You look lovely. Good night, and be safe. Should I stay awake until you return?”
No, please no. “I’ll be fine. You rest, mother.” In any case, she doubted Pearl could stay awake after that nightly dose of sleeping pills.
“As you wish. But remember to message me when you get there. And remember—”
“I won’t have more than one drink.”
Ivy made her way back through the corridor and down the spacious stairway. Wherever her gaze fell, the walls and units were filled with items that mother had collected over the years, almost as if to compensate for the loneliness. Ivy left the house through large oak doors and hurried across landscaped gardens. The electronic gate reacted to her approach and slid open, locking behind her once she’d passed through it. This residential area was so safe that no security guards were needed. Just in front of the gate, five of her friends sat inside the limo, with its door open.
At least they were quiet…
“Get your ass in here!” Rehana shouted.
Ivy already regretted agreeing to this as she sat in the car.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” asked Sandra, shaking back her black hair, set off beautifully by blue highlights. Ivy wished she had the guts to carry off such a look, instead of sticking to her natural blond color. As for Rehana, she wore a low-plunging glittery dress that complemented her dark skin. Deep burgundy lipstick was all the makeup she needed with those full lips and large brown eyes. “We’re not off to a tea party, you know.”
Ivy’s floral dress was an exclusive vintage piece, purchased just for tonight. “There’s nothing wrong with this,” she said.
Rehana reached into the large shopping bag by her feet. “I had the feeling you’d turn up in something my gran would wear. So I picked something up for you.” She pulled out a black dress that fit in her palm.
Lion's Heart (Blood Moon Book 4) Page 2