Pretty in the Dark (Dark and Wild #2)

Chapter 24

24

JUNIPER

I watched the long line of people that waited on the other side of a red velvet rope in the cold Denver air from the recesses of Kage’s blacked-out Mercedes G-Wagon. They shivered in their tiny club dresses and sky-high heels as they waited for the bouncer to check IDs and usher them inside one of the city's most exclusive nightclubs.

Club Eros was located in one of the wealthiest districts of Denver, and only the who’s who of the elite had access to its inner chambers.

The hopeful attendees who weren’t part of this elite crowd put on their skimpiest, shiniest ensembles, and prayed that they made it to the front of the line where the bouncer would determine whether they met the night's requirements to pass beyond the velvet rope and inside. No one knew ahead of time what the owner of the club would demand as the dress code for the evening. You had to guess and show up hoping that your chosen look for the evening earned you the right to be one of the chosen few.

On some nights, it was typical club fashion wear, with sequins and glitter being the only requirement. Other nights, they had to have certain physical features. Blondes would be passed over in favor of brunettes or redheads. Tall girls vs. short. There were never any men standing in the line. It was pretty much an unspoken rule that men were by invite only and had to be a part of the elite crowd, or be vouched for by someone who was already an attendee. Men could obviously show up and wait in line, but they were almost immediately rejected and told the club was at capacity.

There’d only been one time I’d heard of them announcing the dress code before opening the doors, and only because Stacy had gushed about it. It was a costume theme for Halloween. Once that had gotten out, there had been a raid on the local costume supply stores where hopeful attendees had nearly caused riots as they fought over costumes and sizes since there wasn’t enough time to order anything. Police had to be called in and stores issued entry tickets to those who lined up to try their luck obtaining any kind of costume. Only for the bouncers to reject everyone that wasn’t dressed like a pirate.

And somehow, my brother expected that we’d be able to waltz right up to those gilded doors and walk inside. I shifted on the soft leather and tugged at the neckline of my gown, nervous sweat already making my skin feel sticky in the climate-controlled interior. It felt like my makeup was sliding off my face, and I hadn’t even made it through the doors yet.

“Ready?” Kage’s smooth voice reached my ears, and I turned to see his dark eyes watching me intently from the shadows of the dimly lit interior. I shook my head and glanced back out at the club, and the line of hopefuls waiting for their turn.

“No.” I frowned. “I’d honestly rather be back at the Pit after a fight night than doing this right now.”

His lips twisted in a smirk as a sharply dressed valet attendant opened his door. Exiting the vehicle, he casually slipped a wad of bills into the attendant's hand before he opened my door to help me step out onto the sidewalk. “Honestly, I’d rather have you working the Pit after fight night as well. You don’t want to know the money I’ve lost since you quit.”

“Oh, really? Are you saying you’d hire me back?” The cold Colorado night air hit my skin, and I immediately regretted giving in to Kage’s demand that I leave my leather jacket back at the hotel room. Apparently, the theme for the night was “Old Hollywood” and a leather jacket with more patches than leather wouldn’t fit the vibe, or match the red velvet dress that clung to my hips and curves like a second skin. It had a sweetheart neckline and a tucked-in bodice that when paired with my hair, coiled and coiffed in loose waves, and my lips painted the same blood-red as the gown, I looked like I’d just stepped onto the red carpet of a new Cary Grant or Marilyn Monroe film. When I’d asked how he’d learned that piece of heavily guarded information, he’d only smirked and told me I wasn’t ready to know all his secrets yet.

He laughed and took my elbow, pulling me in closer to him and the scent of his cologne, something dark and peppery hit my senses. Did our father used to wear the same cologne? “Not likely. I don’t hire people that quit on me.”

I scoffed, as I allowed him to lead me across the street toward the glittering throng of people. “You’re just upset I hid in plain sight and got the slip on you.”

Something dark flashed in those dangerous eyes as he cast a sidelong glance in my direction causing my skin to pebble, and not from the cold. It was moments like this that reminded me how very different my brother and I were. “Yes. It’s not very often that the people I'm hunting stay out of my grasp for so long.” He murmured. I wanted to ask him what he meant by that, but then we were approaching the trio of bouncers at the door and it was time to put the first part of Kage’s plan into play. Two of the men were stationed on either side of the large doors, with arms crossed across thick, muscled chests. Their black suits were nearly bursting at the seams, and I wondered for a moment if they had to have them specially tailored. They looked like they were almost as expensive as the one Kage was wearing. The third guy was standing off to the side slightly, holding a clipboard. He was thinner and shorter than the other two by several inches, but gave off the air of being the one in charge, and he took his job way too seriously.

It was the shorter guy that Kage led me to.

The head bouncer eyed Kage with a flat, slightly bored expression as he looked at him and then down at the clipboard in his hand. I could have been a piece of lint on his arm for all the attention he directed at me. “Name?”

“Kage Diovolo.” My brother stated, and at the sound of his name there were several gasps from the women who were crowding the velvet rope. The bouncer frowned and scrolled down the list before looking up at my brother.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Diovolo, I don’t have you on the list for tonight.”

Kage cocked his head, his lips spreading into a thin smile. It was like the surrounding air became colder in that moment, and I shifted closer to him, wishing that Cade was here instead. “Check again.” He purred, but there was nothing soft about his tone.

The bouncer shifted but didn’t look away, and I was slightly impressed by the man’s nerves. “Mr. Diovolo, I’m sorry but tonight is list only as you know, and you aren’t on it. Unless you have a sponsor for the evening, I’m afraid I can’t allow you in.”

Kage took one step toward the man and my pulse fluttered anxiously. A glance at the other bouncers told me they’d determined that Kage was a threat and were moving away from the door. Danger radiating from them. “I know very well what tonight is, and I’m telling you right now. Check the list again. Unless you want to have to explain to your boss why his personal guests were turned away at the door?”

The poor bouncer’s mouth snapped shut. “Fine. Wait here.” He turned to one of his counterparts and whispered something in his ear before he disappeared inside the double doors.

I leaned into Kage and murmured softly. “Personal guests of the boss? Who is that?”

“You’ll see. Just follow my lead.” He kept his gaze trained on the doors while I anxiously turned all the scenarios over in my head. Our plan hinged on being one step ahead of both Edmund and the Infernals. And to do that, we had to approach them on neutral ground. This club was apparently frequented by someone high up in the secretive organization. Our plan was to get inside, get an audience with this person and convince them to help us.

I did not know if it would work or not, but Kage was convinced that he could persuade this person that it was in their best interest to help us. But only if we could get inside. Where was the snobby bouncer dude?

I shifted and rubbed my arms briskly. “How is it you run in these circles but don’t have a membership to this place?” I asked.

He chuckled. “I’m so glad you think so highly of me already, my dear sister, but I’m afraid there are some circles that aren’t yet open to me.”

“Yet?” I looked down at my feet, clad in strappy gold heels, and I counted each toe as they went numb one by one. If that bouncer didn’t get back soon, I was going to kick him in the balls with my frozen toes.

“Yet.” He repeated, as he pulled me closer to him while pulling off his overcoat and wrapping it around my shoulders. Immediately, I was enveloped in warmth and the scent of my brother. Familiarness sank into me and I stopped shivering. “But that’s something I hope to remedy.” His smile was warm. “With your help.”

I frowned, pulling his coat tighter around me. I wanted to ask him what he meant, but just then the head bouncer was back, and we both turned to look at him.

“The boss says you may come in, but you may not partake. You are to follow me and do exactly as I say. Do you understand?” There was no room for argument in his voice.

Kage nodded, a polite smile stretching across his face. I could tell that the bouncer’s curt attitude wasn’t settling well with him, but he was willing to go along with it in order to be allowed access inside. “Of course.” His voice was a cultured purr. “Lead the way.”

The bouncer turned sharply on his heel and lead us toward the entrance. Kage guided me along with him, his hand resting on the small of my back. I felt his breath and his low voice in my ear. “Stay close to me, Juniper. And no matter what you see inside, keep your mouth shut and let me do the talking.” I nodded, unable to speak around the lump in my throat. What the hell kind of club was this? What did I get myself into?