Dangerous Obsession (Men of Valor Springs #4)

Chapter Six

Arya

Jax helps me close the zipper on my favorite red dress, the feel of his fingers tracing up my back sends a shiver through me.

The dress is a little tight around the hips, but Jax hasn’t taken his eyes off me since I slid into it, so I figure it was a good choice. Even so, I can’t ignore the eyes I feel on me when we walk into the Shadow Lounge. It’s one of my family’s legitimate businesses, but I have never been allowed to visit, and now, I see why.

This is no typical club. There is no dance floor or crowd of people moving to pulsing music. No rowdy drunk college kids or barely legal girls wearing tiny dresses that leave little to the imagination. Well, that is if you don’t count the waitresses ferrying drinks dressed in tight black cocktail dresses and catering to middle-aged men in plush leather armchairs softly illuminated by the warm glow of antique lamps.

The room is filled with the soft melodies of smooth jazz, and the air is thick with the scent of aged cigars and the faint aroma of polished wood.

This is private gentleman’s club for the elite men of Valor Springs.

In a sea of impeccably dressed gentlemen, I stand out like a sore thumb in my little red dress. A knot of nerves tightens my stomach, my initial excitement giving way to a creeping fear, more so when I sense at least half a dozen patrons trailing our movements.

“Jax,” I whisper, twining my hand around my bodyguard’s arm and pressing close against him as we walk deeper into the establishment. Yes, establishment sounds right; calling the Shadow Lounge a club is too pedestrian.

“I’m here,” he says as if sensing my discomfort, and when he turns those gray eyes to me, I forget about all the other people watching us. I’m here with Jax, the only man whose attention matters.

Just like that, my nerves calm down, and I’m focused on Jax, keeping my eyes on him as we walk across the room to the bar where a man dressed in plain black suit is pacing restlessly. He doesn’t immediately spot us, and I watch as he rakes his hands through his hair in agitation.

“Easton,” Jax says calmly. “You’ve been blowing my phone all evening. I don’t see a fire.”

The man whirls around, and I notice that his nose is swollen. There are tampons stuffed into both nostrils, and his eyes are swollen and bruised. My eyes widen in alarm at the sight, and I question what could have possibly happened in an upscale place like this and why there are no bouncers anywhere to be seen if such violence is possible here.

“Good, you are here!” he rages, tugging a tampon from his nose with a wince. “Where the hell have you been all night?” His eyes cross to me and down to the hand I have wrapped around Jax’s arm, then back to my face. I flush when I read the judgment in his expression, feeling guilty for making Jax late. “Surely you didn’t ignore my calls because you were wrapped up in some girl.”

“Watch how you speak,” Jax growls dangerously. “This is Arya Andreyev. I’ll give you a broken jaw to match your nose, but we both know what Vlad won’t let you live so see tomorrow if he hears you’ve been talking shit about his sister.”

At the mention of my last name, Easton’s face turns sheet white, which is almost comical considering how red his nose is. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“What happened here?” Jax cuts him off.

“I…” The man’s eyes shift back to me, and in place of the judgment, there is undiluted fear, which I don’t exactly prefer. “There was an issue with one of our newer members. He slipped something into the drink of the young woman who accompanied him. One of our waitresses saw it and let me know. When I stepped in, he became irate and punched me in the face.”

“He tried to drug his date. Did the cameras catch it? How did a scumbag like that get membership in the first place?” Jax demands, his voice dangerously low. I don’t know much about the illegal part of my family’s business, but one thing I know for sure is they don’t deal drugs. Whether it’s something of a moral choice or just because it doesn’t bring in as much money, it is something they’ve sworn off.

“He is the mayor’s nephew, hence the reason he was granted a trial membership. And yes, the camera above the bar caught him spiking the young woman’s drink.”

“Where is he now?”

“Security was able to grab him and hold him in the back office, but it would spell trouble for us if the mayor hears about this.”

“Get your nose fixed; I’ll take care of him,” Jax says, takes a step toward the door behind the bar when he suddenly remembers that he’s not alone. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what ‘I’ll take care of him’ is supposed to mean. Despite spending most of my life abroad, I’m not totally naive about what happens to people who cross my family.

Despite my unwillingness to do so, I release my hold on Jax and take a step away from his reassuring presence. “Go,” I tell him. “I’ll stay here and wait for you.”

“That wouldn’t make me a good bodyguard, would it?”

“I doubt anyone will bother me now that they know I’m Vlad’s sister.” I try for a smile that doesn’t budge him. “Please, Jax. I am the reason you got here late. I feel guilty for keeping you back at the house…”

Something heated flashes in his eyes, I imagine it’s the memory of what happened back in my bedroom. Heat climbs up my neck and cheeks as I recall the feeling of his mouth kissing my most intimate places, those perfect lips nuzzling my feminine folds before dragging that devilish tongue over the valley of my sex.

God.

I can still taste him on my lips. I never imagined a day would come when I would know what it feels like to have Jax’s cock in my mouth, and just thinking about it makes me want to drop to my knees where we stand. I want him to paint my face and chest with his warm seed with all these suited gentlemen watching. With his scent clinging to my skin, I want him to finally do the one thing he hasn’t done yet. I need to feel him inside of me. I crave that last connection that will merge our bodies and souls into one.

“Arya.”

“Huh?” I whisper, dazed.

Jax shakes his head and steps forward, leaning down so his words are only for my ears. “Jesus Christ, princess. Stop looking at me like that if you don’t want me to bend you over this bar and fill your virgin pussy with my cock.”

My mouth parts on a gasp, and I sway on my feet, which forces Jax to grab my waist to steady me. I force in a deep breath to slow my racing heart, but that proves to be a bad idea when I inhale his hot, masculine scent. Christ, I could spend a lifetime buried in this man, living off his scent alone. I want to bottle it so I can keep a part of him with me whenever he’s gone.

Snap out of it, Arya!

“You should go,” I breathe, grabbing his arms and pushing back from him. “I’ll be here when you get back.”

I read the hesitation in his eyes, so I flash him a smile, walking over to an empty seat and settling down to show him that I don’t mind being alone for a few minutes. At least I hope it’ll be only a few minutes.

“Don’t go anywhere,” Jax says after a moment. “And don’t even think of ordering any alcohol.”

“Yes, Daddy,” I say with an eye roll, but I don’t miss the way his eyes darken at my words. He likes that… Oh !

I file away that little information for later and wait until he’s disappeared behind the door to drop the smile from my lips. I fall back on the chair and close my eyes, missing the man already when it hasn’t even been a minute. It’s always been like this with Jax.

The first time I saw Jax was the same day I learned that my mother had abandoned me with the Andreyev family. It’s the same day I learned I am Vlad’s half-sister. I was six at the time and sobbing because everyone at school had a mother to celebrate Mother’s Day with except me. It was then that my father blurted out how my mother—his mistress—had left me on his doorstep when I was barely two. He went on a tirade about how she’d abandoned me and I should be thankful he’d taken me in instead of crying about what I didn’t have. At six, that was a lot for my tiny brain to process, but I will never forget how Vlad had jumped in to defend me or the way Jax had whisked me away from the yelling adults. I remember my brother’s tall friend scooping me up into his arms and taking me to my room, closing the door softly behind us and distracting me with toys and books.

Jax barely said a word to me back then and even less in the years that followed, but he was there when I’d needed him, and after that, all I saw was him. Even during my teenage years when cute Belgian boys were flirting with me, none of them could live up to the man I had cherished in my heart.

“You look like you could use some company,” says a voice behind me, and just like that, my thoughts are snapped back to the present.

I look up to see a well-dressed man in a bespoke suit that hugs his body, a glass of whiskey held loosely in long fingers. “I…”

The man flashes me what I assume is his best smile but doesn’t get much reaction from me. That doesn’t seem to discourage him much as he sets up camp on the seat next to mine. “You are Arya, Vladmir’s sister? You’ve had everyone’s attention from the moment you walked in. I have to say, you are one beautiful little diamond.”

“Um, thanks?” I say, sitting up straight and hoping the man will go away. There is something about him that feels familiar, and the fact that I cannot place him unsettles me. My eyes move to the door Jax disappeared through, and I know darn well that it hasn’t even been ten minutes, but I find myself wishing he would hurry.

“Vlad doesn’t know you are here, does he?”

My head whips to the man at my side, and I notice his smirk even as he brings the glass to his lips.

“I’m not a child, I can go where I please without my brother’s permission,” I say defensively.

“Is that so?” he chuckles. “Then I don’t suppose you need his permission to join me at my table for the night, and maybe later, you’ll let me take you home.”

“I…” My eyes cross back to the door and the man mistakes the reason for my hesitation. He tries to convince me by placing his hand on my knee.

“Don’t worry about Vlad’s lackey. Just come with me.”

I move my leg from his grip, my eyes narrowing at the way this nameless stranger dismisses the man who holds my heart. “Jax is no one’s lackey,” I hiss.

Something akin to annoyance crosses his face before he quickly softens his expression with a smile. “You don’t need to sound so defensive. I was only kidding,” he lies. “I think you and I have a lot in common. Why don’t we move this to my table?”

I shake my head. I wasn’t planning on going with him in the first place, but I sure as hell am not going anywhere now. Not after he just insulted Jax. “I’m fine here,” I tell him.

“If you’re worried about Vlad finding out, we could go elsewhere. I promise you’ll have a good time. What happened to going where you please?”

I ignore his attempt to bait me and his smarmy smile. “No, thanks.”

His hand lands on my leg once more, and this time, his grip is firm, making it impossible for me to shake it off. “Come with me while I am asking you nicely.”

My eyes shift back to the door, but it’s still closed. I shift my gaze to the people around us, but barely anyone is paying attention. That, or they are pretending not to notice the man with his face so uncomfortably close to mine. Even the bartender is distracted serving customers at the far end of the bar, his back to us.

My heart starts racing, but I refuse to show this man how scared I feel. So, I shake my head emphatically. “I’m not going anywhere, and if you don’t let me go and leave, I’ll scream for Jax, then it’ll be him you’ll have to deal with.”

I watch with fear and fascination as the man’s expression morphs into anger. Such rage, it shakes me to the core. I wince when the hand on my thigh tightens further, no doubt bruising the skin, and I get ready to scream when he suddenly releases me.

“You can’t always hide behind your brother and his guard dog,” he spits, settling back in his seat. His face shifts into a dangerous smile. “If I were you, I would leave Valor Springs for good and crawl back into whatever hole you came out of. Next time we come for you, we’ll make sure you end up with more than just a few scratches and a concussion. I can’t promise your beloved Jax won’t also end up in the line of fire. Or your brother’s pretty little fiancé. What’s her name? That’s right, Rue.”

With that, he shoves away from the chair and stalks off, leaving me in shock.

At first, I thought he was reacting to his bruised ego, angry over the rejection, but…he said mentioned my accident. And he said “we,” as in multiple people coming after me and my family. I sit still for a second, mulling over his words.

Why would anyone want to hurt me? To get to Vlad? But to what end? Hurting me or anyone else he cares about would only make my brother furious…and more dangerous.

And why is this happening now when I am so close to finally getting the one thing I have dreamed about for years? Should I leave like my brother wants me to? I blink away the tears that cloud my eyes and question if Jax would consider leaving Valor Springs with me.

We could go to Belgium together, or anywhere else in the world. He is the only thing keeping me here in Valor Springs. Vlad has Rue, and she’s the most important person in his life now, and I…

I can keep Jax, right?

With me gone, these people will have no reason to keep coming after me, but would Jax drop everything and come with me? Everything he knows is here in Valor Springs.

I brush the back of my hand over my wet cheeks as mull over the stranger’s words. I should probably have gotten his name or something, but all things considered, I doubt he would have given me a name anyway.

It feels like I am running out of time, and I haven’t even had Jax the way I need to. This has to happen soon. Tonight. Then I’ll leave…and pray Jax follows. If he stays behind, at least I’ll have the memories of tonight to hold onto.