Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Stepping inside, she was assaulted by the scents of alcohol, perfume, cologne, hot machinery, and a floral air freshener. Her demon wrinkled its nose, not a fan of the abundance of smells.
There was nothing dingy about the illegal gambling den. It was modern, classy, and fashionable with purple and blue LED uplighting, soft leather sofas, an uber-long chrome bar, and strobe lights that slashed through the air. Domed security cameras were mounted on the high ceilings, catching every little thing.
The den also had fighting cages in the basement, but no one talked much about that.
The soft patterned carpet muffled her footsteps as she wandered through the place. People were perched on stools at the backlit slot machines. Others were gathered around card tables, roulette wheels, or the trendy bar. Servers walked back and forth, taking orders and passing out drinks. Suited-up security guards prowled around the space, their eyes sharp.
Sounds were plentiful. Gamblers chattered, dealers called out for bids, alarms dinged to announce winners, dice tumbled over felt. Despite the noise, the place wasn’t rowdy. The atmosphere was fairly calm until someone won. Then a round of cheers would go up.
The den was exclusive to members, most of whom were demons. Some were from Luka’s lair, which had relocated here from Russia long ago. Others were outsiders.
A girl didn’t exactly dream that her anchor would be firmly entrenched in the dark underbelly of the preternatural criminal underworld. But crime boss Luka Belinsky had a code of honor. It was skewed and fluid and sometimes ignored, but it was there.
Typically, though demons could be found in just about any walk of life, they tended to aim for positions of authority. It answered their inborn hunger for power, respect, and control. Therefore, it was easy to see why being the boss of an underground crime syndicate might appeal to some.
It was a fitting position for Luka’s breed of demon. A breed that was relatively rare and often avoided. He was what was known as a legion, a demon who shared his soul with not one malevolent entity but three. As such, his yearning for power and authority far exceeded that of an average demon.
Ella couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have three inner entities. She found having only one to contend with quite a trial. She’d once told him as much, asking how he was able to handle it. He had shrugged and said that he had nothing to compare it to; that it was all he’d ever known.
She personally didn’t see how it being his norm would ever have made his struggle to remain dominant over multiple entities any easier. Managing to maintain supremacy over just one could be tricky enough. It was why legions were always so determined to find and bond with their anchor—it relieved them of the pressure of having to always be on their guard to avoid one of their entities attempting to take over.
Since legions were quite literally a one-man army, people smartly avoided getting on their bad side—or bad sides (plural), to be more precise. As such, you never saw patrons at Infernal causing scenes, verbally abusing staff, or counting cards. People wouldn’t dare.
Well … unless they were imps. They were both immoral and reckless, which had led to quite a few being executed by Luka. Something he never made quick or painless.
Of course, the Primes of those imps hadn’t at all liked the situation. They also hadn’t wanted to take him on, though. So they’d formed an agreement with Luka—they would keep their lair members away from his businesses, and he would stop sending their severed heads to their families. It worked out for everyone.
Reaching a roped-off set of stairs, Ella exchanged a nod with the familiar burly guy there. He unclipped said rope, allowing her to pass. She clambered up the steps and into the massive VIP area. It certainly screamed ‘luxury’ with the chandeliers, backlit tables, and the lilac and blue velvet sofas on which many people lounged.
Luka stood near the bar with his shoulders back and his feet planted, clothed in a dark-gray tailored suit. No amount of smart clothing would hide the apex predator in him. There was just something too uncivilized about him. Too precarious. Like he could burst into violence at any given moment.
He was a sight for sore hormones. Long. Lean. Dark. His eyes were velvety black, just like the light layer of scruff on his strong jaw.
Ella did a double-take as she noticed two of the Black Saints hanging near a slot machine not far from the VIP area. Huh. She hadn’t known that Luka had granted the fallen angels memberships to Infernal. The Black Saints sure had a talent for squirming their way into the good books of powerful demons.
Continuing toward the bar, she refocused on Luka. His two bodyguards, Nikandr and Mikhail, stood relatively close. The identical twin brothers were never far from Luka. It seemed ridiculous that he’d have such protection, given how powerful he was. But someone with his position in life would always attract danger and cultivate enemies. Bodyguards came with the package.