I’d been here once before with Jace for some business thing Back then, it gave off major upscale


    corporate vibes.


    But after hearing Demi’s take? Yeah, I realized I’d been way too naive.


    Blending in here was key. Rolling in like a clueless tourist? Total no–go. So, I stuck with the same


    routine I’d used at that bar.


    Where there were women offering “questionable services,” there were usually guys doing the


    same.


    I’d already scoped out “young hunks” before, so asking again wouldn’t raise any red gs. Even if


    the Drago family heard about it, they’d probably shrug it off like, ‘Sounds about right.‘


    Sometimes, the best covers just fall into yourp.


    I booked a private room and waved over a server. “I’m looking for… services. Preferably someone


    handsome,” I said casually.


    The server didn’t blink. “I’m sorry, Miss. We don’t provide those kinds of services here. If you want


    someone to serve drinks, I can arrange that.”


    Locked down tight. Every shady detail buried so deep it barely existed. No wonder the Drago family


    was untouchable–they were pros at this.


    I stayed in character, rolling my eyes. “Fine. Send me the hottest guy you’ve got to pour drinks.”


    Spoiled diva mode: activated.


    It didn’t take long for someone to show up.


    And, of course, it was Cole,


    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    My re could’ve melted ice. “What are you doing here?”


    Clearly, my little request had tripped some security wire, and Cole swooped in to handle it himself.


    That kind of hyper–vignce? It was why their operation thrived. They didn’t just cover their tracks–


    they erased them. Outsiders like me? Total long shot.


    Still, if Demi said something was going down here, then something was going down. This wasn’t the


    kind of ce randoms just wandered into. Regrs came for “special services“-and they weren’t


    talking bottle service.


    Cole didn’t bother asking if he could join me–he just slid into a seat and poured me a drink. “I heard


    there was a stunning, wealthydy looking for… entertainment. Didn’t expect it to be you, though.‘


    “Why?” I smirked. “Is that so hard to believe? Or are you just out of the loop?”


    He handed me the ss. “Impressive. Your taste in entertainment’s gotten… bold.”


    11


    “Why not?” I shot back, lounging into the carefree act. “Guys do it all the time. Why shouldn’t I?”


    “Oh, women can indulge,” he said, leaning back. “Plenty here do. But you? You’re not like them. If


    you’re gonna y, at least keep it ssy.”


    He tugged at his cor.


    H


    Teasing and testing me. Obvious.


    Iughed. “Please. You? Not my type.”


    1/2


    His brows rose. “Oh, really? You’ll flirt with those guys at the bar but not me? What’s that about?”


    “Never mix business with pleasure.” I swirled my wine. “Plus, you’d be way too expensive–and


    clingy. No thanks.


    “So, you’re into the kind you can pay and dismiss? No strings?”


    I shot him a look. “Got any of those here?”


    Cole’s fingers skimmed his ss. “Nope. DracoLux is respectable. We don’t do that.”


    His guard? Bulletproof. I smiled back. “Rx. I’m not here for me.”


    I reached into my bag and slid a contract across the table. “Ourpany’s hosting an event. We


    need a few handsome greeters.”


    Cole flipped through it. “You’vee to the right ce. I can help–but let’s be clear: these guys are


    professionals. No extras.”


    “Even if they did, I wouldn’t be interested.”


    He chuckled, pulling out his phone to make a call. Business handled.


    “I’m heading to the restroom,” I said, slipping out.


    And I actually went–because if anyone was watching me, anything else would’ve blown my cover.


    But on my way back, I caught a shadow flickering at the edge of my vision.


    I froze for half a beat. Then, instinct kicking in, I bolted after him.