Doris Elizabeth Corday

"This is Aurelia Lowell, Secretary Coy's assistant. She'll be accompanying you for tonight's task," Mr. Illion said.

I turned toward her, resisting the urge to scoff.

Assist or sabotage?

Aurelia was a vision of calculated beauty — black hair sleek as night, skin kissed by the sun, and a black cocktail dress that clung to her figure like perfection itself.

How was I supposed to turn any heads with her by my side?

"I think a solo operation would be best," I muttered.

The lavish foyer of Mr. Illion's penthouse seemed to swallow me whole, its polished elegance magnifying just how little I belonged. They all fit this world so effortlessly — everyone but me.

Aurelia's gaze darkened, her arched brows pulling together slightly. Even in disapproval, not a single line marred her flawless skin.

"I'm not here for your convenience," she said, her voice just as formal as Secretary Coy's. "I'm here to keep an eye."

Oh, these three are all cut from the same cloth.

"I got this collar for a reason." I tugged at the velvet choker and waved her off. "I won't be running away."

"I wasn't talking about running away," she sneered. "If you fail, someone has to silence you."

The way she said it, I rolled my eyes.

"So, what? You're going to be the one to kill me or something?"

"Ladies, there seems to be a misunderstanding," Mr. Illion interrupted. "Miss Corday, Miss Lowell will simply accompany you as arriving alone is rather suspicious. Women typically travel in groups."

I watched him closely. Was Aurelia his secret lover or something?

My gaze went back to the woman and it kind of made sense. They both had a stick up their ass. I imagined there wasn't a more perfect couple to exist.

"I'll make some friends there," I shrugged.

"My decision is final," Mr. Illion said.

Aurelia immediately bowed her head, silky black hair brushing over her shoulder.

"As you wish, Sir."

I rolled my eyes again. There was definitely something between those two.

"Alright, whatever," I muttered. "Just tell me what I'm stealing so we can be done with this."

Secretary Coy stepped forward, turning his tablet to reveal a photo. A simple white card, no bigger than a bank card, with four suits printed in gold — club, spade, diamond, heart.

"This," he said, "is the master key Alistair Chase uses to access his accounts. He's a business rival of mine. Rumor has it he keeps it on him at all times."

I stared at the image, feeling a pit form in my stomach. Something so small, so personal... and worse, it belonged to the head of a syndicate. Getting close enough to touch it would be nearly impossible.

"Any other copies?" I asked.

"This is the only one we know of," Secretary Coy answered, his tone clipped. "There could be more, but our intel has been unreliable as of late."

I sighed, feeling the weight of the task closing in.

"Fine. But I expect some freedom if I pull this off."

With nothing further to discuss, we were ready to set off. In the elevator, I glanced at the group of us through the reflective metallic walls. Everyone was dressed in crisp black attire, making my white dress stick out even more.

Stepping out into the lobby, we walked toward the car when Mr. Illion motioned me aside.

"Miss Corday," he said.

His hand reached out, but he stopped himself from touching me and pulled back. I eyed his gloved hand.

Now that I thought of it, I had never actually seen him touch anyone before.

"Yes?" I asked, holding his gaze.

There was something in them — something cold, merciless. But also something... else. Something I couldn't name.

He didn't blink, staring straight through me as though reading every secret I tried to bury.

"If you fail..." he began, his voice almost gentle, "I feel it's only fair to inform you that I do not keep liabilities."

I snickered, trying to shake the strange sensation crawling up my spine.

"Yeah, and Miss Lowell will be the one to deal with me, right?" I smirked, the sharpness in my tone barely covering my unease. "You do realize the only reason you found me was because of my criminal record when I nearly beat a man to death. I hope she's stronger than she looks."

His eyes shifted to my choker, then back to me. The gesture was so small, so contemplative, I nearly mistook him for a man saddened with his choices.

"Miss Lowell cannot fight you," he said. "She will simply report your results."

An eerie sensation crawled up my throat like spiders. The memory of that night I stole the Cronos flashed before me. The man in the chair... his desperate pleas ringing in my ears... the way there was no mercy to be spared...

I doubted Mr. Illion even knew I had witnessed it, and I was certain it was better if it stayed that way.

Yet, I had to ask.

"Will it be you then? Will you dirty your hands with my blood?" The words dripped with mockery, but they tasted like fear.

Mr. Illion's expression darkened, his face hardening into something sharp and unforgiving. The hotel lobby seemed to hold its breath, and it felt as if everyone had taken a step back.

"Your collar has more than just a tracker," he said as he pulled out his phone. Calmly, he opened an app that required a password, his fingers moving with chilling precision. "Let's just say I've equipped it with one more function... a way to sever our contract permanently."

He slipped the phone back into his pocket, and I swallowed hard, the choker suddenly too tight, too close.

No way... He couldn't be that insane... could he?

My hand softly brushed over my collar as though pressing too hard might trigger whatever horror he had locked inside it. Maybe he was bluffing... Some cruel way to keep me in line.

But when I looked into Mr. Illion's eyes again, the answer was clear.

He wasn't a man who bluffed.

***

The location for tonight's task was Club 13. Located in the city center, the building had a dark reflective exterior that glinted in the night lights. It stood like a shining neon jewel among the glass skyscrapers. I'd heard of it, everyone had, but the idea of waiting in the endless line usually kept me away.

Aurelia headed straight for the back of the line, folding her arms like she was settling in for the wait.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Waiting to get in," she replied, as though I were the one out of touch.

I rolled my eyes and took her by the hand. She tried pulling away, but my grip was firm.

"Come now, bestie." I forced a smile. "Our objective isn't to wait out here for hours."

"But there's a line—"

"Not for us."

We marched up to the bouncer at the front. Keeping a carefree smile, I leaned in closer to Aurelia as we approached.

"Who's the club manager?" I asked.

"What?"

"You're here to assist me, aren't you? Who's the manager here?"

"Uh, Alistair Chase is the owner."

"Did I ask for the owner?"

"Aren't we here for him?"

"Oh, never mind."

As we reached the bouncer, I transformed my stance. Shoulders back, chin high, and just enough pout in my lips to convey I was not in the mood for nonsense. Aurelia's gaze flicked to me, her brows raised.

"Is he in there?" I asked, direct and unyielding.

The burly man frowned, and I sighed.

"Don't act like you have no idea what I'm saying. Is he in there or not?"

"Uh, Miss, you need to go to the back of the line."

"He is, isn't he!"

My tone sharpened enough for the man to look around, trying to spot someone who could save him. The people in the line all looked away, not wanting anything to do with this. Pushing his comfort zone, I took two steps closer with a finger pointed at his nose.

"That fiancé of mine... I swear... he says he's just managing the place for Alistair, but everyone knows he's fooling around behind my back. You're covering for him, aren't you?"

"Miss, I have no idea what you mean. If I can have your name—"

"My name!?" I bundled my fists and took yet another step closer. "Either you call him here and watch me trash him in front of these good people, or you let me in right now so I can have a word with him in private."

The bouncer instantly stepped aside and let us in.

"Jack's at the lounge," he said.

"Thank you. I'll be sure to keep you out of our affair."

With that behind us, Aurelia and I stepped into the building. The tiles shook as music thumped through our bones, red strobe lights slicing through the dark and reflecting off glittering dresses and designer suits. Chandeliers gleamed like shattered stars, casting a fractured glow over the crowd. At the center, a 360-degree crystal bar shimmered, bartenders mixing vibrant cocktails in a blur of motion.

"How did you do that?" Aurelia asked.

I raised a brow.

"That's nothing."

"I didn't even recognize you..."

Her dark eyes glittered in the neon light and for a moment it didn't feel like she was all that stiff.

I shrugged.

"It's easy if you're me. People like you are too beautiful to wear masks."

The woman's face turned a shade warmer.

"I don't... I didn't mean..."

"Save the modesty," I waved her off. "I'm just being honest."

Keeping up the act, I hooked my arm with Aurelia much like I used to with Olivia when we were in high school. I pretended to laugh at her stale remarks about alcohol while keeping an eye on the crowd.

Where was everyone's attention directed towards?

"Do you know Jack looks like?" I asked.

Aurelia shook her head.

"I know what Alistair looks like."

"Yeah-yeah, baby steps, Lia."

"What did you call—"

"Over there," I interrupted her and gestured toward the lounge.

A young man sat sprawled among a gathering of women. His red silk shirt was barely buttoned, and his feet were propped on a glass table strewn with playing cards. The other man at the table, older and sweating, seemed to be losing both the game and his nerve.

"That's not Alistair," Aurelia said.

"I know. That's Jack. His body language is just screaming he owns the place."

"Aren't we here for—"

Out of patience, I turned to Aurelia and grabbed her arms.

"Do you think we can approach a crime boss like it's nothing? Do you think he would even be down here with the peasants?"

She shook her head.

"Exactly," I said. "To get to the top of the tower, we need a key." I pointed at Jack. "That's our key."

She glanced toward Jack and nodded.

"What should we do, then?"

"Just follow my lead."

I pulled Aurelia to the dance floor with a ditsy smile. My assistant had the grace of a traffic light, but I tried to make it work, wearing the mask of someone who's trying to show her friend how to have a good time.

"Don't be so stiff. Just dance," I instructed.

It was clearly too much to ask.

Perfect, I thought. Perhaps she's useful after all.

As the music built, I let it wash over me, memories of high school dance practice flickering through my mind — the precision of movement, the satisfaction of drawing attention without needing words.

I twirled on the spot, the threads in my white dress and gloved sleeves glinting under the strobes. I knew exactly where the light bounced and what parts of myself to curve for the best definition.

It wasn't too long before a small crowd circled us. Women joined in while men danced close by.

The music picked up and I grabbed one of the men nearby. He was too dazed to move, which was perfect. I danced around him, using him as a prop. At the drop of a beat, I held onto his tie and dropped low before coming back up, pulling him along like a dog.

Just as the music had me out of breath, there was a tap on my shoulder. I inhaled sharply and changed my expression to that of a woman with her only night of freedom.

Turning with the music, I pressed into the man behind me.

Jack.

He had auburn red hair and rich brown eyes framed by lashes so thick it made him look like he wore eyeliner. He didn't flinch away from my intimacy and instead pressed himself closer.

"You look like you're having a hell of a night," he said, eyes roaming over my dress before returning to my face.

I let a sly smile slip, tilting my head toward the lounge where his previous poker opponent was being hauled off, looking dazed and defeated.

"More fun than him."

"Oh, you were watching?"

My eyes went back to the lounge. The women who were clinging onto him a minute ago sat with their arms crossed. All of them were quite blessed and knew how to dress to show it off.

Was that his type? Mmm... but if a man liked cards, it meant a part of him liked the thrill of not knowing what he'll get.

My money was on Jack being a betting man.

In less than two seconds, I assessed the situation and crafted the perfect mask for the occasion.

"Don't you feel bad cheating someone who's already down on their luck?" I asked, my voice playful as I swayed to the intoxicating rhythm of the music. I danced around him and let my body brush against his arm like a whisper of temptation.

"Now that's rude. Calling me a cheater on my own turf."

"This your turf?" I asked with a raised brow. "You own the building?"

"You don't know who I am?" His tone held a hint of challenge, his eyes glinting with mischief.

My lips curled into a playful smirk.

"Some guy I could probably beat at poker."

"Ha!" He leaned closer, the heat of his breath ghosting over my skin. "What's your name?"

"Beat me at cards and maybe I'll tell you."

He threw his head back in laughter before pinning those eyes back on me, the strobe lights giving his gaze a red gleam.

"Fine, let's play a game then. Cards are waiting at the lounge back there."

"Mmm... I prefer quieter settings," I pouted.

He grinned like a fox.

"There's a private lounge upstairs for special guests."

Bingo.

I turned to Aurelia who had been standing there like a fish out of water.

"I'll be back later. Try to stay out of trouble."

She nodded as I turned around.

All eyes were on Jack and me as he led me upstairs. His hand rested possessively on the small of my back, and his smile was that of a boy on Christmas morning.

"You're not from around here, are you?" he asked.

"Maybe, maybe not," I shrugged.

That smile stayed in place. He led me up to a pair of silver doors and stopped before heading in.

"Let me introduce myself properly then," he said, taking my hand. "My name is Anthony Jackson, but I'm more famously referred to as Jack of Clubs."

A knot twisted in my gut.

Why was that name so similar to someone else I knew...

"I suppose Jack will do fine then?" I asked.

"You can call me whatever you like, Miss..." He leaned down to kiss my hand.

I pulled back with a smile.

"Like I said, you will have to beat me at cards to know my name."

He laughed and led us inside.

The room was themed in ivory and crystal with hidden red lights lining the walls and tables. Several groups of men in expensive suits played a round of cards with one or two women draped on their laps like ornaments. The air was thick with smoke, so much so that I almost missed the men on the far side of the room.

I froze.

As if the man across from us could read my mind, he turned toward me. Our eyes instantly locked.

No way... Not him... What were the chances?

I turned away from the man hoping he didn't recognize me. Jack led me to a corner where a dealer had a deck of cards ready for us.

"Anything to drink?" my companion asked.

"Something strong," I replied.

"Brave woman," he laughed as he called a waiter. "Two Club specials please."

My gaze stayed down as another pair of steps approached our table. I already knew who it was. I had heard him walk through my door too many times to count by now.

"Hey, what brings you here?" Jack asked the man.

Unable to avoid it any longer, I slowly looked up.

My eyes started at his leather shoes, then traveled up his branded clothes, past his tanned tattooed arms and golden rings. More ink covered his neck, and finally stopped at his face. Hazel, almost gold, eyes glinted down at me. But it was that smile that sent a shiver through my body. The smile I had greeted ever since I dropped out of high school and picked up my mom's debt.

Denis Kingston stared right at me.

"Hey, Beth Baby," he grinned.

"Hi, King," I forced my greeting back.

His eyes gleamed at my unease in a way that made me feel naked.

"What a pleasant surprise this is. You weren't answering my messages. And here I thought I was going to have to hunt you down tomorrow," he mused. "How about we settle that debt tonight, hmm?"

And just like that the King of Diamonds crushed my plans.

I was so dead.

Fuck.