We walked through the entrance and took an elevator to get to the top. The doors opened to a broad room with dim lighting; the setting was classy and intimate, reminding me of a speakeasy.
A few individuals were engaged in muted conversation, and others were having drinks at the bar.
This doesn’t look like an Underworld.
However, the more I looked, the more I noticed men at every corner. I bet they had guns. This wasn’t so normal after all.
"Nervous?" Noah asked in my ear, drawing me close, until my body was practically glued to his.
I didn’t reply, choosing silence for my sanity because God knows I’m this close to punching him in the face.
We neared a woman at an entrance, dressed stylishly in her evening gown, with a few men standing beside her in guard.
"Noah Voss..." he introduced, and she stuck out her hand for him.
Noah obliged, kissing her knuckles, lingering more than usual, and Deja vu gripped me like waves.
Like father, like son.
The woman seemed to enjoy his disgusting move, giving him a sly grin.
"We were expecting you," she spoke in a slow, sensual voice before veering her gaze to me.
Hey, bitch. You can have him.
"It was a single invitation..." she said in a disapproving tone. "She stays here with the other lot."
"Unfortunately, sweetheart..." Noah gave way so that his men, who were holding onto a duffel bag, could be seen. "We’re here for some fun, and it would be a shame if you don’t allow us to do that. Little loss can’t be tolerated, right?"
The woman looked interested now, and she nodded, taking off the stanchion rope and leading us through.
It was a long walk through the hallway, and I pondered where she was taking us now. Not until we got to a spot where a password was punched on the wall, and the doors slid open to reveal an elevator.
Okay... this is getting far too nerve-racking. Is that the portal to hell?
"After you..."
Noah kissed her cheek, and we walked in, the doors shutting.
We’re going down. Maybe it’s really a portal to hell.
After thirty seconds of torture, the doors opened with a ding, and an entirely different location came into view, smelling thickly of smoke and something else I couldn’t describe.
"Welcome to the underworld," Noah murmured to my ear. "A part of it."
It was a metaphor.
This was a casino, and it was bigger and longer than the speakeasy, as if this was the main building, and the rest of the building was just for show.
It truly was, and even though this wasn’t the best situation to be in awe, I couldn’t help it. This place was fucking amazing!
As we strolled through, I eyed every game, some I know, many I don’t, and the people who played these games weren’t like the typical ones you see at a gambling spot.
They were all dressed in suits and nice dresses, all looking rich in some way or another as they made their bets, and celebrated victory.
The place was well put together, like some grand royal event was ongoing.
I thought we were gonna stop at one of the tables, but we didn’t. We walked as if we had a destination to make.
"See that man over there?" Noah whispered to me, and I eyed the center, where a long table was, and poker was played.
The man stood out from the rest of the crowd, and he had a mustache. Two hefty men in shirts too tight for their muscles, holding onto big rifles, stood behind.
"That’s James Shaw. He owes the biggest casino in the underworld and everyone you see here..." His eyes swept the place, and I did too. "Aren’t the typical wealthy. James has a magnet for bringing people together; this place has been on for years, and no one has ever infiltrated it. He’s that powerful."
"We’re walking towards him," I said.
"Yes, we are. Do you know something else interesting?"
I glanced at him, and he grinned broadly.
"He and Ares King are like oil and water. The kind that have gone to war many times, I’m sure you know about underground wars."
When he caught my confused expression, he scoffed.
"Does your husband just keep you like a fucking pretty doll in his house? You’re his wife, and by blood and oath you should stand by his side." His eyes raked me. "If I were your husband, I wouldn’t keep you trapped in a bubble."
I peeled my eyes away from him, a feeling settling low in my stomach.
"I don’t want any part of this world."
"You mean his world," he corrected me. "That shouldn’t be your choice to make. A made man is in control. Wives are beneath them, but also a needed factor."
I leaned away when he got too close.
"Listen, you’d better be convincing. One wrong move and there will be hell to pay."
When we neared, the bodyguards around blocked us.
"Tell James Shaw I bring an offer he can’t refuse."
The guard snorted.
"Ares King."
His smug expression instantly faded.
"Let them through."
A voice came behind, and he stepped away to reveal James.
"Would you look at that... It’s Noah fucking Voss. The entire city is torn apart because of you; you got on Ares King’s blacklist."
James took the round brown cigar from his lip and held it between his fingers. "I was shocked when I saw your request to come here."
"I had a good reason for that."
"Is that so?" James moved his eyes to me. "And who is this?"
"She’s my woman."
James chuckled. "I think you can be more convincing than that..."
"Am I not?"
James paused for a moment before looking back and forth between us. "I’ve got better chemistry with a stripper. She looks mortified."
I was nervous because this man’s eyes were cold-blooded, the kind when you stared right at a killer, and you know.
However, that all soon changed when Noah grabbed me by my hair and smashed his lips against mine.