As he approached the black solid door, his eyes shot up to the camera overlooking the entrance. He didn’t even have to knock. Whoever was watching made sure to deliver the news of arrivals quickly.
The door opened and a solid man appeared. He looked like your typical bouncer. Hairless, all muscle, dressed in black well-fitted clothes. He almost looked too well-dressed to be a bouncer. He stared expressionless at Thames, growling out, “Card.”
Thames eyed the man for a moment, aware he could get past him if he really wanted to. He’d fought bigger men in prison before, and while he’d gotten his ass kicked in the beatings, he never stayed down long.
No. More. Trouble.
“No card,” he stated, finding his eyes looking over the giant’s shoulder, curious more than ever of what lurked beyond him.
The muscle didn’t twitch. “Name then.”
“Conor Thames.”
If he recognized that notorious name, he didn’t show it. Thames was certain a rock held more emotion than this guy.
“One moment,” he said, closing the door on Thames’ face before he could respond.
Thames looked back up at the camera, curious who was looking back. Also hoping beyond hope the person would give him access, though there was logically no reason for that to happen. He’d have to wait in his car and hope to catch her leaving.
The door opened, and the muscle reappeared. “Come in.”
What the fuck?
Hiding his immense surprise, Thames took a moment. Access should not have been this easy, but…it didn’t matter. He walked past him and entered. Feeling wary, he made sure to keep his guard up. There was an entry room, a small little area where two other men sat behind a desk in front of a laptop screen. Upon entering they stood up and looked him over. He was grossly underdressed, even these men were in nice suits. As they approached him, one said, “Empty your pockets.”
Thames removed the car keys and some cash and set them down on the desk. He didn’t have to ask what followed. He raised his arms wide as the second man walked behind him and gave him a quick yet nosy pat-down. Thames scanned the little windowless room. Impressive little area, done up well with a dangling chandelier overhead, red walls and high-end black furnishings. The men were armed with guns, but they weren’t wary of Thames as they surrounded him. He might have guessed they had expected him, and now he wondered whether Jem had informed someone of his arrival.
One spoke once the pat down was over. “Like always, keep your hands to yourself unless given permission to do otherwise. There will be no obscene gestures, no name-calling, no harassment of the staff, and do not catcall. You are to be respectful at all times, or you will be swiftly removed from the grounds. Is that understood?”
Thames nodded, feeling suddenly edgy, not knowing what he would find beyond that next steel door directly ahead of him. The bouncer that opened the door to him went to the next door and pounded on it several times. Thames heard a lock unlatching and then it opened wide. All three men turned and watched Thames as he approached carefully. He stepped through the threshold and into a massive dimly lit, lavish black room. There were sleek tables everywhere, all filled with gentlemen conversing, drinking, or otherwise sitting back, entertained by the stage where a woman danced erotically to a slow, sexy song.
Topless ladies past him, delivering drinks to the patrons. Thames stood by the bar area, looking at every woman, searching for Charlotte in their faces. He felt like there was hardly any oxygen in the room. He took measured breaths, scanning the area, searching and searching, even staring for a moment at the dancer, making sure it wasn’t her.
His mind was dead quiet.
He didn’t ask himself why she was in a place like this.
Frankly, he didn’t care in that moment. He just wanted to fucking see her.
God, he just wanted to see his dove.
“Looking for someone, honey?” asked a voice.
He turned to a petite woman with a full tray balanced on one hand. Not topless, she had an elegant red corset on that helped accentuate her cleavage. Like the other girls, her bottom half was dressed in a black short skirt. She smiled up at him with a curious expression.
He nodded slowly. “Charlotte Miles.”
He didn’t care if they had to get her to him. He wasn’t trying to surprise her or anything. He was just hoping to find her in