Nightclub Surprise

by Michelle Love

  “Lisander,” she whispered, and heard him groan. In the kitchen, he lifted her onto the counter, his hands reaching under her skirt to tug her panties down her legs, his long fingers caressing her. Kate cupped the hot length of his cock through his jeans and felt how hard it was for her.

  “I want you, Katie.”

  A punch to the gut. Katie was Nikos’s nickname for her. Oh, god, Nikos, I’m sorry. She gently pushed Lisander away. “I’m sorry, I can’t.” She couldn’t look at him. He stood, catching his breath, silent for a few moments.

  “It’s okay, it’s okay.” He tried to smile, but Kate could see the hurt in his eyes. She slid off the counter and went to him.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking.” She grinned wryly. “I truly am a big old mess at the moment. I have a boyfriend; his name is Nikos. Until I get things resolved with him, it’s not fair to him. It wouldn’t be fair to you. I’m just not ready.” She tried to read his expression. “Friends?”

  “Always,” he said with a sad smile. Kate stroked his face.

  “It’s not that I don’t want you, Lisander. I do. I have ever since that first day. I just have to end things with Nikos first. I don’t want to be a cheater.”

  Lisander nodded. “I understand. Look, I had better get out of here before you change your mind and wrestle me to the ground again.”

  Kate laughed, grateful for the joke. “Does anything dent your confidence?”

  Lisander grinned. “Not really.” He cupped her face in his hand and brushed her lips again. Kate groaned; the taste of his mouth was too intoxicating.

  They started to kiss again, then froze as someone knocked at the front door. For a moment, they didn’t move. Another knock, louder. Kate sighed and grinned up at Lisander.

  “Disengage, soldier.”

  He snickered. Walking away from him, she smoothed her clothing and her hair quickly. Another knock.

  “Coming!’

  “If only,” muttered Lisander, and she giggled.

  “Perv.” She blew him a kiss and skipped to the front door and unlocked it.

  Nikos stood in front of her, his face a mask of shock.

  Benoit and Shiloh sat in the small café, both staring at the photograph in front of them. Shiloh reached over and took Benoit’s hand. He looked up at her, dazed, almost bewildered. She smiled at his expression.

  “Our baby. Our girl.”

  He laughed softly. “I cannot quite believe it. This is really happening, huh?”

  Shiloh laughed and rubbed her belly. “Unless this is a burrito baby.” She watched him as he marveled at the scan photo. “Any names come to mind? Anything but Marcella.”

  She regretted her words at once as his face creased with pain. “I’m sorry, Benoit. I didn’t mean to break the mood.”

  He didn’t answer, but stared out of the window. The Parisian streets were dark now, streetlights casting long beams over the slick wet asphalt. She watched his face go through a myriad of emotions before he cleared his throat and turned back to her.

  “Shiloh … I’m not going to pretend that I didn’t feel something for Marcella and that I probably will always miss her as a friend. But this,” he waved the scan gently, “I am committed to our child now, to trying to make us work.”

  She reached over and stroked his face. “Thank you.” She saw the uncertainty in his eyes though, withdrew her hand and sighed. “Things would be so much better if she wasn’t around all the time. Just so you didn’t have to see her, so I didn’t have to see her and know she was the love of your life, that I am your … fallback, your consolation prize.” Her voice was soft, but there was bitterness in her words and angry tears in her eyes.

  He sighed and took her hand. “Don’t ever say that.” he sighed, “Marcella is not the love of my life, Shiloh. Don’t you know by now that I love you?”

  It was the first time he said it and Shiloh’s eyes filled with happy tears. “I love you too, Benoit Vaux.”

  He smiled and kissed her hand. “A new life, mon amour.”

  She smiled and glanced at her watch. “Let’s go home, Benoit. Let’s start making that new life.”

  Shiloh waited at the café as Benoit brought the car around. Outside the rain was relentless; headlights on the windows of the café twinkled like jewels. Shiloh smiled to herself, running her hand down her swollen belly and picking up the scan again.

  She could pick out the baby’s face now, the nose, the tiny eyes. She squinted, trying to see who the child resembled then laughed to herself. What did it matter? Everything was working out right. She traced the fetus’ outline with her finger, her eyes pricking with tears. Love. It was a feeling she had thought she would never feel for a child.

  “We’re on our way, baby,” she whispered, grinning to herself. She noticed an old couple looking over at her, and she waved the scan at them. They nodded and smiled.

  Sighing happily, she gazed out of the window again, trying to pick out Benoit’s form in the melee of cars and bodies and rain, and waited.

  He watched her from the across the street, his eyes following the elegant sweep of her neck, the way her blonde hair fell over her shoulders in fine strands. So, she was pregnant? That made things more interesting … still, he was only tracking her to throw people off his scent. This blonde girl was merely collateral damage. Ori was his real prize, her resemblance to Viola fueling his bloodlust. He would use the blonde to distract The Midnight Club and then, when the time was right, claim his prize. It was getting harder and harder to get to Ori alone; he would have to take his chance whenever he could.

  He just hoped he would get the chance soon. Orianthi Roy could not be permitted to marry Maceo Bartoli. She was his, and his alone …

  Shiloh saw Benoit pull up to the curb and gathered her things. She stepped out into the rain and Benoit leaped out to open the door for her. As he did, a car came from nowhere, tires screeching wildly, and slammed into their car. The force knocked both Benoit and Shiloh off their feet, broken glass shattering around them. Benoit threw himself onto Shiloh as the car headed inexorably towards them. It was over in seconds, and then all was silent for a beat. People began to stream out of the café to help; the attacking car pulled back and screeched away, the driver unseen.

  Benoit quickly gathered Shiloh to him. A large gash on her forehead was oozing blood, her cheeks were grazed, but she blinked at him, dazed but conscious. “Ça va?” His voice was urgent, and she nodded.

  “Oui. Toi?”

  Benoit was shell-shocked but unharmed, “What the hell was that?” He looked up at some of the bystanders. “Did you see who that was?”

  They all shook their heads but later, at home, when they were resting, he got his answer. A text message. Nightfall. Benoit cursed, and Shiloh looked at him with big, frightened eyes. Together, they looked at the website. A new photograph of her had appeared: sitting in the café, waiting for Benoit. A warning: I am close.

  Benoit did his best to reassure Shiloh. “I will never let him hurt you or our child.”

  Four hours later, in the dead of night, Shiloh awoke, panting, pain like she’d never known ripping through her. She staggered to the bathroom to find blood flooding out of her, the pain in her abdomen excruciating. She managed to scream for Benoit before she passed out.

  Seth Cantor had been concentrating so hard on his work that he barely heard his cell phone. As the weather worsened in Montreal, he stayed longer hours at the office. Now that he and Irina were over, he had no appetite for socializing. He knew his friends were worried about him—but they all had bigger problems at the moment.

  He snagged the phone from his pocket. “Cantor.”

  “It’s me.” Benoit said, his voice flat. Seth’s heart began to beat fast; please don’t let this be bad news …

  “Did you see the website today?”

  Seth brought it up and cursed. “A new photo.”

  “It was taken yesterday, just before we were hit by a car. Shiloh’s in the hospital.
They think she might be miscarrying.”

  Seth’s heart sank. “Oh god, I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks. Look, they’re trying to stop it, but I really need your help. We need to find this guy before he kills Shiloh or Ori or anyone else.”

  “Agreed. Look, I’m on my way to Paris. I’ll be with you soon. Hang on there, buddy.”

  “Thanks, Seth,” Benoit sounded relieved and grateful. “See you soon.”

  Alex told Ori and Maceo about the attack in Paris as they ate breakfast. Both expressed their sorrow. “Do you think we should go to them?”

  Alex shook his head. “Maceo, you haven’t got your passport back yet. Seth is going, and we all agree that putting Shiloh and Ori in the same place is not a good idea. He or she is determined to kill you,” he said to Ori, who paled. “I think this shows he will stop at nothing. I’m glad you have Jason and Krav Maga.”

  “Cheers to that,” Maceo murmured and kissed Ori’s temple. She smiled, but said nothing.

  Over the last four weeks, she had been training hard every day with Jason Meeks, an instructor who Alex knew. She was enjoying the physicality of it and her body changing as she got fitter and leaner, but there was something else, something she hadn’t shared with Maceo or Alex.

  Jason himself had appeared friendly when she started working with him. They would go for long hikes in the woods, but it wasn’t until a few days ago that she’d noticed his changing attitude. He began to flirt, complimenting her on her body in a way that made her uncomfortable. What was the word? she thought. Intimate. He pretended there was an intimacy between them that didn’t exist as far as she was concerned.

  Then, yesterday, she had been late to the rendezvous point. Tired, cranky, and hormonal, she had overslept, and the aspirin she’d taken for cramps hadn’t kicked in yet. She pulled her car alongside his at the parking lot of the trail. He stood, his hands on his hips, staring at her car.

  She sat in the car for a few minutes trying to gather herself. It was obvious Jason was waiting for her. She rubbed at her eyes and dropped her head into her hands, frustrated. “Five. Minutes. To. Myself,” she intoned softly, her words muffled.

  She gave a yelp as the car door was yanked openly suddenly.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Jason’s face was red with anger “I was worried sick about you.”

  Her annoyance flooded over, and she slid from the car and slammed the door shut behind her. Ignoring him, she stomped into the small hut where the bathrooms were, trying to slam the door in his face. He caught it, though, following her, and she turned on him.

  “I don’t answer to you, Jason. I don’t answer to anyone. Now, if you don’t mind …”

  He stepped toward her, and she caught her breath as she saw the rage in his face. She swallowed and turned away, but his hand was on her shoulder then, gripping, spinning her around.

  “You don’t talk to me like that, baby girl, do you understand? After all, I’ve done for you … is it too much to ask for a little common courtesy?”

  Ori felt a jolt of dread as she looked into his handsome yet angry face. Suddenly Jason blinked, stepped away from her, and held his hands up.

  “God … I’m sorry, Ori. That was totally inappropriate. Please forgive me. I was worried sick about you, and I took it out on you. Please, I’m sorry.”

  He looked so genuine contrite that Ori’s anger seeped away. “It’s okay,” she said rather stiffly. “Look, shall we leave it for today?”

  Jason sighed. “If you’d like, but I’m willing to put this behind us and carry on if you are?”

  Ori considered. Her stomach cramps were telling her to go back to bed, but she knew that if she carried on, the exercise would be good for her.

  And, indeed, it proved so as they ran, walked, and practiced their moves. She had to admit, she loved training out in the open, no matter how cold it was. She felt like she was becoming strong and hardier. Jason didn’t mention his outburst again, but she knew she would never feel comfortable with him.

  So now, when she had the chance to say something to Maceo or Alex, she stayed silent. Jason Meeks was the least of her problems right now. Maceo’s passport had still not been returned by the DA, and now Maceo’s lawyer was getting involved, making noise. She and Maceo wanted desperately to go home to Italy; she missed her work, Lucia, all her friends, along with their life together in Venice, away from all this crap. She had a constant dread that she would never see that life again, that it would be taken from her one way or another.

  She and Maceo had been trying to find a suitable bodyguard who wouldn’t mind traveling around the world, but it had been a hard job. Alex assured them that while they were living under his roof, they were safe.

  Ori pulled away from Maceo and went to use the shower. A few minutes later, he joined her in there, sliding his arms around her wet body and turning her to face him. The spray pounded down on them, flattening his dark curls, and she grinned. Maceo’s eyes were serious, though.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, smoothing his wet hair back from his face, his glorious face. She loved how one moment he could look like a teenager, the next, like a dangerous man, his eyes growing dark and brooding.

  “You are so darn sexy,” she said to him now, and he smiled.

  “Don’t try and distract me, mio caro, I’m concerned.” Nevertheless, he pressed his lips to her throat. Ori leaned into his big, solid body, skin on skin. This is the place I feel safest in the world. She could feel his cock ramrod hard against her belly and she sank to her knees and took him into her mouth, sweeping her tongue across the sensitive tip, hearing Maceo’s soft groan. She fisted the root of him as she ran her tongue gently up and down the shaft, cupping his balls in her hands, gently massaging them. As she could feel him get close, she dug her fingernails into his buttocks and made him come in her mouth, swallowing him down.

  Maceo lifted her up, kissing her with a fire that made her heart pound and her sex dampen. The shower water pounded down on them, but they ignored it as he picked her up, and slid into her, fucking her against the cool tile of the bathroom until she was sobbing with pleasure. She bit down on his shoulder as she came and he laughed, his arms tight around her, steadying her as she trembled.

  Laughing, they dried off and dressed, stopping to kiss every now and again. Maceo eyed her workout gear appreciatively. It skimmed her curves, the Lycra fabric accentuating the shape of her breasts, her hips, and her belly. “You know, I could get used to this look,” Maceo said, a wicked glint in his eye, “Just don’t get too skinny, will you?”

  Ori laughed. “Never a chance of that, my love.”

  Maceo’s cellphone rang. “Oh, hey, Kate. Yup? God that is good news, thank you. Yeah. Courier will be fine. I can’t thank you enough.”

  He gave Ori a thumbs-up and mouthed passport’ to her. Ori felt a flood of relief. They could go home at last.

  They told Alex the news, and Ori sensed he was slightly disappointed. She felt a rush of fondness for him; he was obviously lonely. “You could always come with us,” she said to him. “It might do you good to get away from here for a while.”

  Alex smiled gratefully at her. “You’re very sweet. You’ll stay another week?”

  Maceo looked at Ori, who nodded. “Of course, my friend, we would be happy to.”

  Ori looked out of the window. Jason was picking her up today, and she saw him coming up the driveway. She pushed the little bit of unease she felt to the back of her mind and kissed Maceo goodbye.

  Shiloh and Benoit waited for the doctor, their hearts sinking. “Hey,” he said softly, “if it’s bad news, we can try again.”

  A nurse poked her head in the door. “The doctor is running behind. I’m so sorry, but he’ll be another couple of hours.”

  Shiloh nodded, but Benoit let out a long breath, obviously irritated. Shiloh smoothed his hair.

  “You look exhausted.” She looked around him. “Seth, help me out here, get him to get some sleep.”r />
  Seth had been their rock over the last few days. The doctors had operated on Shiloh, trying to save the baby, but it was a long shot, they told her. Not wanting to invade their privacy, Seth moved out of the gloom of the corner. “She’s right, Benoit. You’ve been awake for three days straight.”

  Benoit looked mutinous for a moment … then relented. “Okay, look, I’ll grab an hour in the room next door. They had a cot set up in there for us. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

  She put her hands on his face and pulled it to her.

  “I’ll be fine, baby. Go sleep.” She kissed his eyelids. “Sleep.”

  Benoit kissed her, then stood. “You wake me if anything, anything, happens.” He said this to Seth, who nodded.

  “Go, Benoit. I’ll be here. With Shiloh.” Seth smiled at her. Benoit hesitated, then moved to the door. With one last look back at her, he disappeared into the next room, leaving the door ajar. Shiloh saw this and rolled her eyes at Seth. He stifled a laugh.

  “Can I get you anything, Shiloh?”

  “Some hot tea would be lovely, if it’s not too much trouble. Thank you, Seth.”

  The doctor came eventually. “It’s good news,” he smiled at them. Shiloh burst into tears, and Benoit looked vastly relieved. “I want to keep Shiloh in for a couple of days, but then you should be good to go.”

  “Mon Dieu, mon Dieu.” Benoit rubbed his face then hugged Shiloh tightly. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

  Seth chuckled. “I’m intruding on your family time; I’ll give you some space.”

  As he left, Benoit hugged him. “Thank you for being here.”

  “Anytime.”

  Benoit and Shiloh sat and talked about their future, their child, for a time, then Shiloh met his gaze. “Someone tried to kill us.”

  “Yes. Don’t worry. Seth and I have already set things in motion. Seth talked to Maceo, to Lisander and Alex. We’re mobilizing. This ends now, if it takes every penny we have, every resource available. We’re going to make damn sure we’re safe. All of us.”