Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 251(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 251(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“You’re determined to make this difficult, aren’t you?” Enzo snarled.
“I’m simply providing the intel you sent me to gather.” Pulling her phone out to check the notes she’d made, Alessia continued without pausing, “The nightclub is huge with the usual tables, chairs, dance floor, and a wraparound bar area. The place can, and does, hold a lot of people. The maximum number listed on the wall is 1245.”
Enzo grunted, took another drink from his glass, and settled back into the enormous chair behind the desk. “That much I’ve already learned. What else?”
Alessia gave him a slight shrug and went on, “Cameras scan everywhere. I couldn’t judge how many actual security staff they have, as Nightfall has an observation deck above the entire bar. Because of the lighting in the club, I couldn’t see how many people were above.”
“Are guests allowed up there?” he asked, staring at her with narrowed eyes.
Alessia understood where that was going. Enzo wouldn’t hesitate to order her to seduce someone to gain access to that platform. “No. Only employees have the key to the elevator.” Hoping to distract him, she added, “I did see the enormous guy you described. He acted as if he was running the show as far as security. Everyone in the security polos deferred to him.”
Enzo interrupted with a string of curses. “That bastard better enjoy the next few days. He’s not long for this world.”
Alessia’s rigid control kept her thoughts from showing on her face. She’d had too much practice in disguising her genuine feelings from her family. She took a sip of her brandy and continued, “Other than that, security was hard to track as they’re constantly on the move. Several hidden doors and passageways must connect throughout the place. I saw a couple of the employees in one section of the main space, and they turned up on the other side of the room like magic. They have the same disappearing act with any troublemakers too. One minute they’re starting a commotion, and the next they’re gone. Their crowd control is impressive.”
The blood rose in Enzo’s face as he lunged up from his chair to lean across the desk toward her. “I’m glad you were awestruck, but I need more,” he shouted and threw his glass across the room, shattering the fine crystal against the wall. “Who are these people? Where did they come from? What do they want to do?” He stalked out from behind the desk and grabbed her forcibly by the arm, lifted her out of her chair, and shook her violently with each word. “Why. Are. They. Here?”
Alessia struggled to keep her fear from showing on her face. Enzo had lost control, and she was a handy target for his anger.
When he spat out the final word of his question, Enzo threw her to the ground. Her brandy spilled onto the floor, soaking into the carpet. “You will go back there tomorrow night and find me these answers. Now go to your room! I don’t want to see you until tomorrow night, when you have some better information for me.”
Quickly, Alessia retrieved her phone from under the chair where the device had bounced on the carpet. Too cautious to waste precious seconds scrambling for the glass, she abandoned the tumbler with a silent apology to the house cleaner, who would be responsible for cleaning the mess. Picking herself up painfully from the floor, Alessia staggered out the door. She didn’t make eye contact with her brother but hurried out of the room as Enzo stood with his back to her as he poured himself another drink.
In the hallway, the guards glanced away as if her mere presence alone would rub off and bring Enzo’s wrath down on them. After grabbing her sweatshirt, Alessia slowly made her way up the stairs to her room. She allowed herself the briefest pause to assess her injuries. Bruises only this time. Enzo’s wrath rarely came with such a low price.
Alessia quietly shut the door and moved to the windows and the French doors to close the curtains. For the briefest of moments as she drew the material over the glass, she thought she saw a shadow dart across the drive. Shaking her head, she dismissed the notion as a trick of light and wiped the unshed tears from her eyes. If she were lucky, Enzo would never make her cry again.
She stepped into the attached bathroom and removed her clothes. Alessia carefully set the borrowed sneakers to the side as she tossed everything else into the laundry basket. One look at her face made her jump into the shower. The rain had already removed most of her makeup. She soaped up her arm, glad to clean off the lingering unpleasantness of Enzo’s grip. The smudge of bruising already showed on her skin.