Page 3 of Dark Alliance
How could I protect Zeno without risking harm to Thal?
The impossible nature of the situation pressed down on me as I stood in the darkness, champagne in hand, the urge to run growing with each passing second.
Then, as if he sensed I was there, Thal lifted his eyes, his dark, seductive gaze seeming to look straight into my soul.
When he recognized me, he raised an inquiring brow. But I had no answers, not even good ones.
No doubt, he was wondering why I was there. As soon as he learned of my ties to Zeno, he’d lost all trust in my intentions. I was the enemy as far as he was concerned. I was sure nothing had changed in that regard. Neither of us moved toward the other, our eyes locked.
Memories emerged, brief flashes of our forbidden moments. His lips pressed to mine, his hands tracing my skin, his arms holding me close...
I wondered if he had the same images passing through his mind.
Aside from the look in his eyes, his posture remained absorbed in his poker game, and I didn’t move from my hiding spot in the shadows. Yet, the palpable connection between us seemed to weave itself into the air, stealing my breath and quickening my heartbeat.
“Fuck,” I muttered to myself. The sudden realization that nothing had changed hit me with the force of a truck. How was I going to manage this? How the hell would I pull it off?
Certainly, I could inform Zeno of Thal's every move, as he had explicitly commanded. Yet, even as I prepared to do so, I couldn’t resist the pull Thal’s presence had on me. It was as if he’d exerted a force that touched every corner of my soul.
I knew that if I succumbed to that temptation, it could unravel everything I had built—my life, my stability. It felt like a single, tiny thread held the entire foundation together, and if that thread snapped, everything I knew could come crashing down.
I was fucked.
With a sigh, I slumped against the wall, determined to wait and see what happened. Would Thal come over to greet me after his game? Would I still be here? Even I wasn’t sure what might happen. Frozen in place, I waited and watched as I forced air into my lungs.
Thal finally diverted his gaze and returned to the game, giving me a brief moment of relief I needed. I looked away from him, sweeping my eyes around the room in an attempt to steady my nerves.
My gaze was drawn to a woman who had just entered the club with effortless grace. She exuded confidence and an alluring beauty that seemed to captivate everyone around her. As she moved gracefully through the room, heads turned toward her. Both men and women couldn't help but watch her, their admiring eyes following her long after she had passed, as if drawn by an unspoken magnetism.
I watched as she made her way to a table, took a seat, and set her expression into an unreadable poker face. The atmosphere around her shifted as she placed a stack of chips on the table in front of her, her chin raised with a confidence I couldn’t help but admire.
The dealer dealt her into the game, and her bright blue eyes became laser-focused on the cards and table before her. The men at the table squirmed, tugging at their collars, and sipping their drinks.
She wore a shimmering silver silk sheath dress that accentuated her curves, yet she paid no mind to the admiring glances coming from all around the room. Even from the farthest tables, it was clear she had attracted almost everyone's attention.
My eyes darted upward, and I saw Aidon still perched above us all, also watching this enchanting woman.
Who was she? I wondered.
I looked at her again, trying to understand why she seemed familiar. She was clearly recognizable, but I couldn’t quite place her.
A shiver ran down my spine, and I took a quick deep breath.
Lately, my intuition had been working in overdrive. I could detect danger from a distance, and this woman was triggering all my warning signals.
I glanced over at Thal, sitting across the table from her, and a sudden gasp escaped my lips. His gaze pierced mine, intense and probing, as if he were searching for something beneath the surface. As fast as possible, I masked my reaction, fighting to keep my expression neutral and unreadable.
I was here for a purpose, a mission. Getting caught up in old feelings or distractions was not part of the plan. I had to stay focused and well aware of my surroundings.
Although he was the reason I was here, I forced myself to look away from him, resisting the temptation to glance back. I realized I could watch him discreetly and relay everything to Zeno without making extended eye contact. Staying calm was crucial, and I was determined not to let him see how much he affected me.
Turning back to the woman, she cleared the table of all her chips with a triumphant smile that lit up her face.
The defeated men barely seemed bothered. In fact, most of them flashed smiles at her as she collected her winnings with a subtle nod before walking away. My curiosity prompted me to follow her across the room to the bar. She sat on a stool, and I took the one next to her, offering a warm smile.
She responded with a faint one in return.
“I’ll have a Manhattan, please,” she told the bartender.
