I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I was holding as Thea released her long hair from its constricting bun. The strands cascaded down in soft waves, and for a moment, it felt as if I had been the one suffocating. I felt slightly light-headed as I watched her. Her ample curves moved gracefully as she danced with the other girls, her hair bouncing rhythmically as if choreographed. I ran a hand through my dark hair and then down the back of my neck, where I let it rest for a moment, letting out another sigh.

This girl was going to be the death of me.

"You look whipped," Trevor remarked, joining me at the bar. He leaned casually against the counter with a drink in his hand, taking a sip of his whiskey with a smirk.

"That's because I am," I admitted, motioning to the bartender for a drink of my own.

"Does Skye know?" he asked, his tone serious.

I froze for a moment at the mention of my mother's name. Memories of all the times she had pushed girls away from my life flooded back. Her intentions were always good, and I understood that, so I never held it against her. She wouldn't have intervened if she didn't have a bad feeling about them. So far, she hadn't done anything to push Thea away. Perhaps that was a good sign. Thea genuinely seemed like a nice girl. However, my mother was always against mixing business with pleasure, especially if it involved someone she was working with. She believed that if a girl got close to me while working for her, she would be too distracted to perform her best.

I shook my head slowly, my eyes never leaving Thea's dancing form. The bartender placed my drink on the counter, and I briefly tore my gaze away from Thea to take the cold glass in hand.

I took a sip of the drink, savoring the burn of the alcohol as it went down. It gave me a momentary distraction from my thoughts. Trevor watched me closely, his expression unreadable.

"Just be careful, man. You know how your mother can be," Trevor said, his tone tinged with concern.

I sighed, knowing he was right. Mum had always been protective when it comes to me. She was scared that any girl who came into my life wouldn't be able to handle our mafia lifestyle or uphold our family's reputation. That fear had driven her to push many potential relationships away. But I couldn't shake the feeling that Thea was worth the risk. There was a connection between us, an undeniable chemistry that drew me to her.

"She asked Thea to interfere when she saw the Clark girl coming towards you."

"I know." I chuckled, pressing the cool glass against my lips. "And you know this how?"

"Val." He shrugged, chugging the rest of his drink down in one gulp. His face twisted as if he had eaten an entire lemon as he did. I raised an eyebrow at his answer, surprised.

"What's going on between the two of you?" I asked curiously with an accusing stare at him. Clearly there was something going on. Trevor had never been one to bring dates to these parties, especially with his parents around. His mother wouldn't let him hear the end of it if she got a whiff of the fact that he was with a girl. She'd have them married in days.

"Nothing." He said, his face still twisting in weird ways. I could tell he was lying through his teeth. Before I could interrogate him more, he started walking towards the dance floor.

"Where are you going?" I asked with an amused smile on my face, knowing well that he had caught sight of Valerie who was now dancing with Thea and Elise.

"To dance with my girl." He called back, leaving me shaking my head and laughing as I watched him join the girls on the dance floor.

I watched Trevor stride confidently toward the dance floor, his eyes locked on Valerie. Thea noticed him approaching and shot him a playful glance before continuing to sway to the rhythm of the music. I couldn't help but smile. There was something about her that made everything else fade into the background.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw Nate standing there with a serious expression, his dark hair slightly disheveled, eyes piercing through the low light.

He placed a black file before me, his hand pressing down on it firmly. "Speak."

"Thea's file." His voice was low, almost a whisper, but the weight of his words was unmistakable. I hesitated for a moment, savoring the last taste of whisky before setting the glass down.

"Have you gone through it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued despite the fatigue that settled over me like a heavy blanket.

"Not yet. I'm busy with security now." Nate's voice was clipped, his eyes darting around the room, ever vigilant.

I nodded, understanding the unspoken tension that hung between us. "Leave it in the office. I'll take a look into it later on."

Nate gave a curt nod and retreated, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Thea's laugh was like a melody that played on repeat in my mind, and her quirky personality was the kind of intoxicating puzzle I wanted to solve. We had this effortless banter that made every interaction feel like a game I never wanted to end. There was something about her that drew me in, a magnetic pull that I couldn't resist.

Nate had handed me her file. In it lay her deepest and darkest secrets, the kind of information that would give me complete control. But I wouldn't open it. Not because I wasn't curious—I was—but because I enjoyed the mystery that surrounded her. I preferred to draw her secrets out with clever questions and playful teasing. Spoiling the suspense would ruin the fun.

In my line of work, it was important knowing everything about everyone. Information was power, and trust was a luxury we couldn't afford. I had to be aware of every detail, every potential threat. But with Thea, I wanted something different. I wanted to experience the thrill of discovery, to earn her trust rather than take it by force.

Every time we talked, I found myself captivated by her stories, her laughter, the way her eyes sparkled with mischief. She was a puzzle, one that I was eager to piece together, one tantalizing piece at a time.

The more I'd get to know her, the more I'd discover the fragments of her past that had shaped her into the woman she was today. And that woman was someone I wanted to explore, to understand, to protect.

But in the world I lived in, could I really afford to let my guard down? Could I risk getting close to someone when trust was such a dangerous gamble? Thea was a risk, a wild card in a game where the stakes were life and death.

Yet, as I stood there, watching her laugh at something trivial, I knew that some risks were worth taking. She was a risk I was willing to take, a mystery I was determined to unravel, no matter the cost.

The room was alive with the pulsating rhythm of the music, the bass thumping in my chest as I sauntered towards the group. The tailored suit jacket I'd put on after the game felt constricting, and I shrugged it off, tossing it over the shoulder of a passing waiter. With a pat on his back, I continued my approach, my eyes locked on Thea.

The lights had dimmed, and the disco lights swirled, casting brief flashes of red, blue, white, and green across her face. Each flicker seemed to highlight her features in a different light, making her look even more enchanting. As I drew closer, everything around me seemed to slow down. The music faded into the background, replaced by the sound of my heartbeat echoing in my ears.

I placed my hand on her low, curvy waist, the other one slipping into my suit pants pocket. Her hair brushed against my face, a soft reminder of our first meeting in the restaurant. She turned around, her expression darkening with a frown. Her bracelet-clad hand shot up, ready to slap the pervert she thought was touching her, but I caught her wrist just in time.

Her eyes widened slightly, recognition dawning in their depths. Her plump, pink lips parted, forming a smile that made my heart skip a beat. She rolled her eyes, a playful glint replacing the initial irritation, and slapped my hand away from her waist. Her own hands found their way to my chest, her touch sending a jolt of electricity through me.

She leaned in, her face so close that I could feel her breath against my skin. Just as I was about to pull her closer, she scrunched up her nose, hiding a smile, and pushed me back. Before I could react, she darted into the crowd, her laughter trailing behind her.

I stood there for a moment, watching her disappear into the sea of people, a grin spreading across my face. The chase was on, and I had every intention of catching her.

I wove through the throng of bodies, the thumping music and flashing lights creating a dizzying backdrop. Thea's laughter was a siren call, drawing me deeper into the crowd. I caught glimpses of her as she danced through the mass of people, her movements fluid and graceful.

My mind flashed back to our first encounter. It had been in a restaurant, the kind of upscale place where the air is heavy with expensive cologne and whispered deals. I'd been discussing business when she walked in, her presence commanding the room. Our eyes met, and in that instant, everything else faded away. She'd been a challenge from the start, and I was a man who thrived on challenges.

I pushed forward, my focus unyielding. The crowd parted slightly, and there she was, hiding a little behind an oblivious Elise and Conrad who were lost in their own world, with a mischievous smile playing on her lips. I approached, my pulse quickening. This time, I wouldn't let her slip away so easily.

She saw me coming and tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "Took you long enough," she teased, her voice barely audible over the music.

I grinned, stepping closer until our bodies were almost touching. "You like making me work for it," I replied, my hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face.

Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Maybe I do. Keeps things interesting."

Before I could respond, someone jostled Thea, causing her to lose her balance. Her eyes widened in fear as she began to fall, but my reflexes kicked in, and I caught her waist just in time. Her fingers clutched my collar, her eyes squeezed shut, waiting for an impact that never came.

I pulled her up, her chest pressed lightly against mine. She opened her eyes, those deep brown orbs locking onto mine. For a moment, everything else faded away. She released her grip on my collar, regaining her composure and trying to step back. But I wasn't about to let her slip away again.

As she turned to leave, I caught her hand, stopping her in her tracks. "Dance with me," I said, stepping closer.

She smirked, always the tease. "I'll think about it."

I tightened my grip on her hand and pulled her closer in one swift movement. "I wasn't asking." She stumbled into my arms for the third time that evening, her breath hitching as she realized our proximity. The playful facade slipped for a moment, replaced by a flicker of vulnerability. Her hesitation melted away, and she wrapped an arm around my neck, placing her hand in mine.

"You really don't take no for an answer, do you?" she said, raising an eyebrow.

"Not when it comes to you," I replied, a playful glint in my eye. "Besides, you like it."

She rolled her eyes but didn't pull away. "Confident, aren't we?"

"Just observant," I said, leaning in a little closer. "I noticed you didn't push me away this time."

"Maybe I'm just getting tired of resisting," she shot back, her lips curving into a smile.

I chuckled. "Or maybe you're starting to realize that you enjoy my company."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," she teased, placing her hand on my chest. "This is just a dance."

"Sure, keep telling yourself that," I said, twirling her onto the dance floor. "But I can tell you're having fun."

She shook her head, laughing softly. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Impossible to resist," I countered, guiding her through the crowd.

"Don't flatter yourself," she replied, though the smile never left her face. "I just haven't found a good enough reason to walk away yet."

"Good, because I plan on giving you plenty of reasons to stay," I said, pulling her a little closer as we moved to the rhythm of the music.

She leaned in, her lips brushing against my ear. "We'll see about that."

I led her further into the dance floor, twirling her effortlessly. The music seemed to slow down, the lights dimming as we moved together. Her body fit perfectly against mine, her movements fluid and graceful.

We danced as if we were the only two people in the world, lost in the rhythm and the moment. Thea's eyes sparkled with a mix of mischief and something deeper, something that made my heart race. I held her close, my hand resting on the small of her back, guiding her effortlessly across the floor.

END OF CHAPTER THIRTEEN: TANGO TROUBLE
2343 words

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