MILLIE
His silence hung in the air before he retrieved his phone from his pocket, presumably to consult Gio. In that instant, something within me snapped. The idea that he needed Gio’s permission ignited a fire of frustration. Sharing a quick glance with Harper, I nodded toward Dario. She wasted no time in sidling up to him, even daring to give his backside a playful squeeze. His startled reaction allowed me to seize his phone.
He took an instinctual step forward, anger blazing in his eyes, only to freeze mid-movement. “Millie,” he uttered with a controlled intensity, his focus locked on me. “Give it back.”
I concealed his phone within the waistband of my tight leather pants, secure in the knowledge that it wouldn’t slip. Harper sauntered away from him, a mischievous grin adorning her features. “Why not reach down Millie’s pants and fetch it? I’ll capture the moment and send it straight to Gio.”
Dario’s gaze lingered on the outline of his phone in my pants, a testament to his internal conflict. “This isn’t a joke.”
“You’re right,” I retorted sharply, my frustration spilling over. “I’m a grown woman. When I ask you to take us to a club, I don’t expect you to seek my husband’s approval. I’m not a child, nor am I anyone’s possession.”
“Except Gio’s,” Dario asserted with a calm that sent shivers down my spine.
I closed the distance between us, our proximity charged with tension. Tilting my head back to meet his gaze, I challenged him anew. “Harper and I are headed to a club. So unless you plan on physically restraining us, you’ll drive us there or let us go on our own.”
Dario’s jaw clenched, his eyes revealing the core of his being a deadly enforcer. In that moment, his purpose as my bodyguard was palpable, a chilling reminder of his capabilities. “I’ll drive you. But it’ll be Sphere. That’s Gio’s territory.”
Curiosity got the best of Harper. “Is it worth it?”
“Hotter than Marquee,” Dario bit out, his irritation evident.
“Then take us there,” I demanded, a firm resolve underpinning my words. As he shrugged into his jacket, we followed him to the elevator. “Gio won’t be thrilled,” he warned, his frustration lingering in the air.
~*~
Harper and I found ourselves comfortably settled in the backseat of the car, the city’s hustle and bustle flowing past as Dario expertly navigated through the labyrinth of traffic. My curiosity got the better of me, and I pulled out my phone, taking a surreptitious glance at what Dario had been typing.
The message read: “A wants to hit a club. Permission?”
He had managed to hit the send button just before I could snatch the phone from his hand. Not long after, Gio’s response popped up on the screen.
The succinct reply simply said: “No.”
A surge of frustration welled up within me. Harper, sharing in my annoyance, let out an exasperated sigh. “I can’t believe he has the audacity,” she muttered.
In the rearview mirror, I could see Dario steal a quick glance at us. “Did Gio reply?” he inquired.
“Yeah,” I responded, my irritation evident. “He said you should stick close by at all times.”
Dario seemed to take my words at face value, visibly easing in response. Harper slyly winked at me. While I knew that Gio would be furious about this later, I found it increasingly hard to muster any concern. Eventually, Dario found a spot in a secluded alley where he parked the car, leading us on foot around the side of the building.
The entrance was swarmed with a long line of eager partygoers, waiting for their turn to gain access. Yet, Dario confidently guided us past them, disregarding the line entirely.
A disgruntled voice called out from behind, “Hey, you idiot, there’s a line!” Dario halted, his usual calm demeanor giving way to an icy anger.
“Please, go ahead,” Dario motioned to us before turning to address the voice. As Harper firmly gripped my hand, she pulled me towards the two imposing bouncers stationed at the entrance. They exuded the same aura of strength and authority as Gio.
The dark-skinned bouncer peered at us with a critical eye. “You two don’t exactly look like you’re of clubbing age,” he remarked.
Harper responded with a playful smile, her tone laced with flirtatiousness. “Is that a problem?”
The bouncer’s gaze shifted momentarily behind me. “Dario,” he uttered, his voice tinged with a hint of confusion.
“She’s under the boss’s protection, Jorge. This is Millie Merante and her sister Harper Pearce from the Chicago Outfit,” Dario explained.
Both bouncers directed their attention to me, a mixture of surprise and respect in their expressions. “We weren’t informed of her presence tonight. The boss didn’t mention anything,” Jorge admitted.
Dario’s expression soured, though he refrained from saying anything. Instead, he motioned for Harper and me to enter, leading us past a cloakroom suffused with bluish hues and a bustling bar area. Beyond the bar, doors swung open to reveal a dimly lit dance floor, alive with flashes of blue and white light and the pulsating beats of hip-hop music. Harper was eager to head straight to the dance floor, her hand pulling at mine.
Before we could dive into the dancing crowd, Dario interjected, “We should find Gio first.”
My surprise was evident. “Gio’s here?”
Dario nodded. “The club has several private rooms and a basement where we conduct some business.”
“How about Harper and I hit the dance floor while you let Gio know I’m here?” I proposed.
Dario fixed me with a stern gaze. “Absolutely not.”
“That’s your concern then. Harper and I are going to dance.” My tone was firm, and I could sense the tension between us. Dario’s grip on my wrist tightened, and I stiffened. “Release me right now,” I hissed, and after a moment, he complied, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. Harper and I ventured into the club, the vibrations of the music resonating beneath our feet as the dance floor seemed to come alive. The place was teeming with undulating bodies, lost in the rhythm. Shadowing our every move, Dario followed as Harper and I navigated through the dancers, making our way towards another section of the bar.
“I’ll take two gin and tonics,” I ordered over the pulsating beat. The bartender raised an eyebrow momentarily before his gaze shifted to Dario. He swiftly prepared our drinks and handed them over. Leaning against the bar, Dario exchanged a few words with the bartender, who nodded in acknowledgment before stepping around the counter. I understood the unspoken message.
Taking a deep sip of my drink, I set it down and ventured onto the dance floor.
The rhythmic pulse of the music enveloped me, its thumping beat resonating through every fiber of my being. A surge of energy surged through me, compelling me to surrender to its call. As the melodies cascaded over my senses, I allowed my body to be swept away, moving in fluid, sinuous motions that seemed to mirror the very essence of the music. Beside me, Harper’s infectious grin illuminated her face, a rare radiance that had been absent for too long. Her laughter intertwined with the music as she let herself loose, her hips swaying and her body swiveling with a contagious enthusiasm.
In response, I inched closer to Harper, our movements beginning to harmonize like a synchronized dance. Our eyes locked, a shared trance that transcended the crowded, pulsating room around us. Time and space faded into insignificance, the world reduced to the beats and melodies that guided us. It was a moment of sheer liberation, an escapade from the shackles of everyday life. The pressing concerns, the mundane worries, all faded into obscurity as the music carried us on its current.
The peripheral awareness of our surroundings revealed that we were far from alone in our dance. Men, their hungry gazes flickering like fireflies in the dim lighting, had turned their attention to us. A wave of fleeting acknowledgement passed through me, yet I refrained from indulging their interests. Harper, on the other hand, reveled in the attention, a natural magnetism emanating from her every sway and twirl. Some of the men couldn’t resist the invitation, joining the rhythm that pulsed around us. Harper’s flirtatious demeanor lured them in, her laughter like a siren’s song, captivating their desires.