I can't move, eyes riveted to Devon kissing the other woman. My heart not only rages, though. It breaks, and my body burns.

I will tear this place to the ground, set it on fire, and dance on the ashes. I will make him pay for everything, and he will pay with the only thing he cares about—this club.

Ty stops at my back and whispers, "The truth. As promised."

At the same moment, Devon shifts, some silent signal making him notice me. He gives a final, tender kiss on the side of the woman's mouth while I die a little more inside.

To think, part of me still held onto that childhood crush of him. There's a part of me standing at the window of my princess pink bedroom, watching him pull into the drive in his classic Ford Mustang, climb out and yell for my brother to hurry. I still see him as my hero, coming to my rescue after I found another woman's lock of hair hidden under my nightdress.

This afternoon, he didn't rush to my side to save me, I realize; he broke speed limits to coil his chains around my neck.

He stands to come over and in the blink of an eye, he's a different person. This isn't the Devon I know—this is the owner of a secret, speak-easy club in the basement of a Chicago skyscraper, making deals with Russian mafia members, running gamboling rings, laundering money, and raking in millions.

It's a man at the head of his business, willing to crush anyone and everyone in his way.

He tugs his suit jacket sharply into place and stalks towards Ty and me, steel glinting in his eyes.

"Really, Ty?" he asks, ignoring me.

I won't let him treat me like this. "Your contract is null and void. I didn't know what I was signing up for. Secret club? Smoking audience? This instrument—" I tap my throat—"is my livelihood and your work environment threatens my health. Take your contract and shove it up—"

He grabs my arm, hard, and yanks me away from the middle of the room.

Ty blocks him with a side step. "Don't do it. Let her go and walk away."

"I'll keep this simple. Move or you're fired," Devon says.

"You want simple? Let her go or I'll break your nose."

I yank my arm free, congratulating myself silently. Not two minutes down here, and I'm already causing a bar fight. I love it. If I got to watch Devon and Ty go at it in the middle of their bad boy club?

That would epic.

Then security guards ruin my fun.

A beefy, red-faced man straight out Fight Club, and another one, lean and snake-like, crowd Ty wordlessly.

He scoffs. "So this is how it is?"

Devon motions for me to walk.

Although a few patrons are staring in curiosity, most completely ignore us, concentrating instead on their games, their drinks, the person with to them, or the pole dancer. This place wouldn't be torn apart by one fight. I walk.

There's a hallway behind the bar and then an office, not unlike the one upstairs, but more liquor on the cabinets. Leather seats and chairs. Fine wood furniture and desk, two lamps glow softly in the corners.

He shuts the door. Just the two of us, like this morning, but a world's difference in this second, secret office. After watching him kiss that other woman.

Everything he's ever wanted, he's gotten in life, including me when he doesn't even want me, just my talents. I'm frozen, though, unable to shout or hit him like I wish I could.

In two deliberate strides, he's in front of me. "Why the fuck did you come down here?"

"Ty said he would show me the truth, which is more than you've ever done for me."

"I would do anything for you, give you anything."

I crane my neck to look up at him, fury rising in me. He would give me anything? "Is that a joke? All I want from you, all I've ever asked you, is to tell what really happened to my brother."

And get revenge.

He shakes his head.

"Why won't you tell me?" I'm in his face. I don't care.

He grabs my wrists, holding them hard enough to bruise. I twist and struggle, but he doesn't let go, instead, he forces me to look at him. "Life isn't about getting what you want. I won't ever get what I want."

Raw hunger and desire fill his expression. It's like nothing I've seen before. When he kissed the other woman, his face was smooth and calm, almost disinterested. When he was in the club just a moment ago, he was cold and razor sharp. I stop struggling.

"What happened to your brother was an accident," he whispers hoarsely.

"You sound like a robot or broken recording, repeating the same thing over and over, but it means nothing. It means nothing to you."

"It means everything to me, that he's not here. I built this place with the others from the gang, because of that night. I built this place and put in the rules to protect those I—" he breaks off, coughs. "Those I care about. Those I'm supposed to protect. And I'm supposed to protect you."

"But what I want—"

"I will never have what I want because what I want is you. I can't have you and protect you. Not from myself."

I swallow hard. My heart stabs at my rib cage, jagged and rough, wild and caged.

Memories and old desires flood me. Watching them—watching him from a distance, wondering what his lips would feel like on mine.

I'm older now, and it's not just a kiss I'm wondering about. An ache forms between my thighs.

"I'm not a little girl anymore."

He still has my wrists. I'm at his mercy. I would surrender to anything he wants in a heartbeat.

"Not anymore," he says. "But you were when Keith died, when I swore to him that I would watch out for you. I had to keep my distance. I couldn't let you know I was out there, because—" He breaks off. "I knew I would want you when you grew up. What the fuck does that make me? I knew you would be incredible in so many ways."

He stops again, raking his eyes over my face to land on my lips. "I knew you would be talented and beautiful. I knew that I would put you in danger if I got too close. Protect you from a distance, that was my only fucking job. And then you disappeared, for months. You disappeared and the kidnappings started and I lost it. I had to find you. I had to bring you here, and damn it, Avery, but I want you so bad."

"Then have me." I can't believe the words are mine, but I wouldn't take them back if I could. They are out there, and they are true.

"Take off your slip," he says, not even pausing.

I tug my wrists free at this order. He steps back, watching me. Not touching me.

I pull my silk nightgown from my jeans and in one slow motion, take it up, over my head. My core clenches at the carnal, primal glint in his gaze. My heavy breasts tighten to the point of making my nipples ache. I already imagine his warm, wet mouth on them, but he doesn't move.

"I will put another offer on the table," he says. "For you and you alone. I would break your contract with Stay Gold on one condition."

"What is it?"

"Take off your pants. Everything."

I shiver—hot and cold at the same time. "What's the condition?"

"You like being shown, so I'm going to show you."

*** ONC 1250 WC. Things are heating up.... Hit the star and thank you for reading! ***