Monster A Dark Arranged Marriage Romance - Vanessa Waltz Page 0,18
me?
A pretty waitress in a black blouse and slacks bounced toward us. “Are we ready to order, or do we still need a few minutes?”
“The bruschetta,” he barked.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Costa, but that’s no longer on the menu.”
Tony shot her a withering look until she caved, trotting off to do his bidding. Shortly after, six pieces of toasted bread slid in front of Tony. He dug into the appetizer. He offered me some, but I shook my head.
“How can you eat the food at a sex club?”
“It’s not bad.” He motioned at the bruschetta. “That’s easily a five out of ten.”
“You’re overselling it.”
“People don’t come here for the food.”
“Why do you?”
“The prenup includes mandated dates, so I chose this place. I like the scenery.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin, shrugging. “I didn’t think you’d mind, given your background.”
Asshole. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Haven’t you seen worse?”
“We’re not a bunch of savages,” I growled, forcing my tone to remain even.
“Savage is a good word for bikers. They’re marauding, stupid, STD-swapping beasts.”
His ignorance stunned me.
“You should hear what we say about you.”
“We? Who is that?” Darkness layered his sarcasm as he gripped his butter knife. “Oh. You’re referring to the club you no longer have any ties to?”
We’d arrived, finally.
“So I went home. Big deal.”
“I was very clear. Stay away from them. That chain-linked cage is off-limits. Forever.”
My hand quivered with the need to slap him, hard.
“Fuck off, Tony.”
He shot across the table and seized my wrist, rattling the silverware. “If you want to rebel, put some posters on the wall. Wear all the low-cut shorts you like. Do not go to the clubhouse. Are you rolling your eyes at me?”
I rolled them again.
“Evie.”
“I can’t help it. You’re being paranoid and unreasonable.”
“Paranoid,” he repeated hollowly. “And unreasonable.”
My hands clenched. “Why do you have such a huge chip on your shoulder?”
Tony stilled, scowling at the tablecloth. His grip dropped from my arm, but he didn’t retreat.
“It’s more like a scar.”
I sucked in air when his thousand-yard stare scoured me.
He ripped open his collar. Then he balled my fist in his and forced me into the hot tent of his clothing. He slipped my middle finger down the back of his neck beneath his hair line. A bumpy texture pressed into my skin. It was a mean-looking cut, long and jagged, and it raised a lump in my throat.
I snatched my hand back. “Who did that to you?”
Tony slowly retied his shirt. “One of your biker buddies.”
“What’s his name?”
His lips twisted in a cynical smile. “It doesn’t matter. He’s dead.”
My stomach turned. “You killed him?”
“I wish I’d had the pleasure. Unfortunately, I was tied up with something else.”
An uncomfortable silence stretched between us. Tony blinked, and the haunted look dissipated. He pushed back his chair and stood, offering his hand.
I took it. “Where are we going?”
“To talk somewhere private.”
I followed him, my mind in tumult as he gently pulled me through rooms with scantily clad couples. We reached a dim hallway echoing with soft murmurs and harsh grunts. He grabbed a flute of champagne from a passing cocktail waitress.
Tony opened a glass door with no frame and nudged me inside.
My heart fluttered as I entered a bedroom illuminated by red lights.
“What the hell is this?”
I stared at the bondage toys affixed to the brick wall. I trembled as I took in the bed and Tony’s jacket, sliding down his muscled arms. He dropped the drink on an end table, taking an eternity to answer me.
“You know what beds are for, I’m assuming.”
“Here?” A shiver ran up my leg. “At a sex club?”
Kinky, but not the end of the world.
Movement behind him caught my eye, and I glanced at the door.
Two men stood outside.
“Holy fuck,” I shouted, grabbing Tony. “Someone’s there.”
I thought he’d yell, or at the very least, bang on the glass. Instead he turned around, smirking.
“They’re watching us.”
My mouth gaped.
“What?” I blurted, a thread of hysteria in my voice. “No. I’ve never done it before. How am I supposed to—why do we need an audience?”
His eyes were like chips of stone. It was hard to tell what he felt, if anything. “You disobeyed me.”
“So you dial it up to eleven thousand?” The pulsing knot in my throat suddenly burst. “You didn’t even warn me.”
“I don’t do half measures.”
This was too much. It was tough to take off my clothes for one stranger. The humiliation at doing it for God knows how many tore at me.