Shadowed (Team Zero #4) by Rina Kent

I’m the one who rejected him, but I’m itchy about the fact that I’m unworthy of a glance.

Well, screw him. He doesn’t exist for me either.

And yet, my gaze rakes over that mesmerising height of him and that ‘fuck the world’ posture. It doesn’t help that I’ve been visiting Nonna and the old woman has been telling me all sorts of stories about Shadow’s childhood. Most of them are tragic.

The only reason why I’m hung up on him is because I pity him. Nothing more.

Still…

I cut a glare at Scar who’s wearing a short Barbie-style dress that hugs her petite, soft body. I want to ruin her perfect face and cut up her entire wardrobe. She’s the only woman here, aside from Mist, who dares to talk casually to Shadow and Julian.

I hate that.

I rip my gaze from them and search for Natalie. It’s almost closing time, and I need a drink stronger than my usual coffee.

There’s no trace of Nat in the club, so I head to her sanctuary. She spends a shit load of time in the storeroom. Her way to hide from all the chaos, I guess.

I halt at the foot of the stairs when I hear distorted noise. The music from the club hushes in the background as I approach the ajar door with careful footsteps.

“No, please.” Natalie’s brittle voice. “They’ll kill me.”

My heartbeat skyrockets as I touch my lotus bracelet.

A gruff male voice speaks next. “All you have to do is tell me what they want, babe, and then out ye go.”

“No, no. Please.”

I shove the door open and stride inside. A slim but tall man has a trembling Natalie caged against the row of alcohol boxes. Panic smudges her brown eyes and she shrinks back.

The man is wearing a leather jacket and jeans that don’t flatter his bony physique. At my entrance, he throws a bored glance my way. His cheeks protrude and a long, faded scar runs from the middle of his forehead to his left cheek.

I’ve seen that repulsive face in Liam’s reports and during that fight a few weeks ago.

Johnny. President Joe’s second in command.

I should’ve known that Mist’s mysterious guest has something to do with President Joe.

Johnny obviously found a way to escape the security because I doubt they’ll let him roam Le Salon so freely.

His filthy eyes travel up my bare legs, measure my hips, and my breasts before ogling my cleavage. He makes no effort to hide the lust written all over his face.

It takes everything in me to swallow down the discomfort.

“Who do we have here?” His attention is on me, but he doesn’t leave Nat alone. “Where does Mist find you pretty lot?”

Instead of kicking his face, I smile wide. “Thank you. That’s so kind of you.”

I discreetly motion for Natalie to move away.

Johnny slams his hand on the other side of her. Natalie flinches and bows her head. Curls of brown hair cover her face.

I slowly approach them as Johnny clutches her chin and squeezes until she whimpers. “Now tell me or I’ll slash your fucking face.”

“She’s a useless whore.” I continue smiling, but the urge to commit violence is barely contained under the surface. “How about I help you?”

Johnny lets go of Natalie and whirls around. There’s a sadistic gleam in his eyes like he needs to hurt and watch others suffer just because he can.

Like my father.

And Shadow.

Of course a scum like President Joe will have someone like Johnny as his second in command.

Finally free, Natalie steps away. She gives me an unsure look, tears streaming down her cheeks. I nod and she flees out of the storeroom.

Johnny yanks me forward by the arm. A tightness forms at the bottom of my stomach and sweat beads on my brows. I can almost feel the rush of adrenaline for a panic attack.

I swallow and smile at Johnny. “What did you want to know?”

“Well, babe.” A thick finger traces from my temple to my cheek, leaving disgusting trails in its wake. “I wanna have a good partnership with these arseholes, but we can’t catch a weakness on them. Maybe you can help with that?”

I place a hand on his chest. My docile, flirty act is on, but all I’m fantasising about is to ruin his scarred face some more. “What do I get in return?”

He grips both my shoulders and squeezes so hard, pain explodes under the skin. “Your head will stay on these pretty shoulders. How about that?”

I swallow the bite of pain and grin. It’s in my benefit to help him, but if I do that without asking for something in return, Johnny will find it suspicious that I’m betraying Le Salon without something that benefits me.

“They’ll kill me if they find out. I was hoping for a better salary if I come to work at your club.” I pause and deliver a final stroke to his ego. “I heard you’re the one with the most power and therefore the only one who can help me.”

A smug look takes over his face. “I can see to that, babe.” His harsh features return. “Now, speak.”

“Here’s what I know.” I pretend to play with the zipper of his leather jacket. “If you want to strike any deal, avoid when Shadow is around. You will have a better chance if you appeal to Mist and Ghost. They’re more rational and they don’t want a war. It’s Shadow that keeps destroying the deal.”

His lips curve in that sadistic smile. “So I should chop off his head?”