Nero (Alliance #1)

CHAPTER45

Nero

“Looking respectable, Boss.”Rocco tips his head to me.

I arch a brow. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

He smirks. “That’s kinda the point of this whole thing, right?”

Sighing, I adjust my cufflinks and climb into the back seat of the armored SUV.

I couldn’t bring myself to wear a full tux tonight. I feel old enough, turning 40, I don’t need to wear a monkey suit on top of it. Instead, I opted for full black. Black shoes, black pants, black leather belt, black long sleeve button up, a black vest tailored to fit perfectly, with the black onyx cufflinks I stole off the corpse of my old boss.

So, it might not be the customary black-tie outfit, but for those that matter, I send the message I need to. And that message ispower.

Rocco pulls away from my house, and I settle into the seat, preparing myself for an evening of schmoozing and irritation.

I hate this shit. Pretending I’m someone I’m not. Pretending I’m someonerespectable. But it’s all a part of the cover. And I know it needs to be done.

A sigh threatens to leave my body, but I lock it down. I can’t be soft. From now until the end of the night, I can’t show a single sign of weakness. I can’t let them see the exhaustion I feel in my bones. The tiredness that only seems to ease when I’m with Payton.

Payton.

Watching the scenery as we exit my neighborhood and near the city, I think of Payton.

My little virgin.

The innocent girl 13 years younger than me.

I should feel like a piece of shit for what I’m doing to her, to her life.

But greed outweighs my guilt every time. And when it comes to Payton, I’m greedy all the way through.

There’s just a few more things I need to sort out, before I drag her all the way into the dark with me.

CHAPTER46

Payton

“This the place?”the woman driving the car asks as she slows to a stop behind a line of fancy-looking cars.

I look up at the massive stone building. “I think so.” Then I look again at all the expensive vehicles ahead of us. “It must be.”

I’ve never been to the Minnesota Historical Center before. I guess I was expecting an old house, or something like that. But this isn’t a house. It’s a whole freaking museum.

Trepidation fills my belly, and for the millionth time I debate if I should’ve texted Nero today.

But text him what?

Did you really mean to invite me?

He wouldn’t have given me an invitation if he didn’t want me to come.

Why didn’t you just tell me about this last night when we were talking?

Nero hands out information like it pains him, so bringing up a birthday party would probably be torture for him.

“Want to wait? Or want me to let you out here?” the driver asks, her own hesitation obvious in her tone.