Page 1 of Dark Alliance
One
DAPHNE
The scent of wealth pulsed in the air around me as I made my way through the Underworld.
I couldn’t help but notice how the wealthiest patrons eagerly surrendered their cash to the club’s exorbitant membership fees, which they considered an insignificant price to pay for the chance to rub elbows with Las Vegas’s most powerful.
The allure was irresistible. Seductive. Mysterious. An endless landscape of dreams and broken ambitions.
Aidon Erebus, one of Vegas’s most notorious members of society, had created a sanctuary for the most refined players in the game, making it the place to be seen and to see others.
I lifted my gaze, scanning the crowd until I spotted him at his usual spot, leaning over the balcony of his private office, watching the activity below. He ruled this domain like a king, his presence both commanding and regal.
The empire he’d built here was beyond impressive. Among the many glamorous private clubs in the city, few matched this one’s brilliance.
Aidon crafted a secure sanctuary where the wealthy could relax and network away from prying eyes and public scrutiny, a vital part of a city where major deals often remained secret. Every detail was meticulously designed, from the lighting to the ambiance. He cast Sin City’s distinguished guests in a warm, golden amber light, amplifying their charm and influence.
My gown, a sleek black sequined masterpiece that hugged my figure, swayed as I moved. The shimmering fabric caught the overhead lights, drawing curious eyes from the nearby poker table. Men looked up from their hands, lingering a little too long on the woman passing by.
Tonight, I had groomed myself to match the sophistication of this place. I needed to blend in, to become one of them, and most important, ensure they believed I belonged.
My long hair was styled into an elegant twist at the nape of my neck, showcasing a delicate diamond choker I had gifted myself years earlier. My makeup was immaculate, with my emerald eyes outlined in onyx and lips bold in crimson against my golden skin.
I moved through the club with the smooth, graceful confidence of a composed feline.
I brushed past a high roller’s bodyguard, my silk sleeve whispering against his holster. In the three seconds of contact, my fingers found the seam of his pocket.
When I reached the shadows of the velvet curtain, his encrypted security keycard was already tucked into the hidden slit of my garter.
Zeno called me his prize, except he forgot he’d trained me to be a thief. Beneath the sequins and the crimson lipstick, I was a lie.
I wasn't just here to watch. I was here to betray. Every step in my stilettos felt like a countdown. Zeno expected a report, while my body expected a collision. I wasn't balancing on a dark cloud, but I was walking into a cage I’d spent years trying to unlock.
Taking a deep breath, I paused in a shadowy corner, my eyes sweeping across the room to find my target.
The club was bustling, featuring numerous round tables set up for a high-stakes poker tournament.
Some of the world’s top players sat around them, their focus intense, chasing not just the large cash prize but the prestige that came with winning. Most were already wealthy—what they wanted now was the bragging rights, the acknowledgment of their dominance.
I watched them, noticing how immersed they were in the game. Their eyes flicked between the cards in their hands and their opponents’ faces, and I could tell that, like me, they understood that staying calm was just as crucial as the hands they held.
Never let ’em see you sweat.
Thalassios “Thal” Adrias.
He sat at the table, filling the air around it. He looked less like a gambler and more like a man waiting for his prey to tire. I felt the familiar treacherous pull in my gut. The one who ignored that he was the man Zeno wanted me to ruin.
He wasn't just attractive. He was a reminder of every sin I’d ever committed.
Instead, I was forced to endure his captivating face, the magnetic pull of his sultry eyes, and that maddeningly crooked grin he flashed at me so often, drawing me in so fast.
I steadied myself as I continued to watch him. At any moment, his gaze would catch mine. Somehow, it always did whenever we were in a room together.
Meanwhile, I took him in, my eyes sweeping over his broad shoulders, taut forearms, and the powerful presence he exuded.
A flicker of something deep inside me stirred, awakening memories I thought I had buried.
Flashbacks erupted like a slideshow, images of us walking hand in hand along the beach, sunlight bathing him in a tender pink glow, his laughter echoing as he basked in the warmth.
