THE KING OF THE GOLD SYSTEM GAMING

MY IPHONE

I grab my phone from the bowl in the hallway and rush to catch up to Syd and Maker, who are waiting by the elevator.

“You good?” Sydney gives me a once over as we descend to the lobby.

“Of course.” I smile, unlocking my phone and checking for any notifications. My eyes snag on a Discord message from Herson.

SHIELD:lmk if you need a ride

I check the timestamp to see he sent it a little over an hour ago and gnaw on my lower lip, contemplating whether or not to text him back.

We exit into the lobby and head out into the chilly night air. The valet brings Maker’s blue Porsche around, and I stare at it with knowing dread.

“I’m going in the back, aren’t I?”

Maker places a hand on my shoulder and gives me a wry smile. “You are the shortest.”

I let out a deep sigh as he shifts the passenger seat forward so I can crawl into the obscenely small backseat. Honestly, I don’t understand why these cars even bother having back seats.

The passenger seat locks back into place, and Maker and Syd get into the car.

“Comfy?”

I give Maker a sugary-sweet smile. “Positively cozy.”

Maker takes off, revving the engine as he races through the streets. Sydney lets out a hiss at his speed, but he just reaches over and rests his hand on her knee.

I look down at my phone again, at Herson’s message. He’d said he drove me because Leyla asked him to, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. So, why was he there? Maybe he really had been in the area. But that still didn’t totally explain everything.

My brain spins, like it’s trying to solve a Rubix cube but half the colors are missing.

Maker swings out at the front of my apartment complex and comes to a stop.

He scowls looking up at the building. “I really wish you would move.”

“I’m a big girl.”

“You’re five foot.”

“Technically, I’m five four with these heels. Now, let me out of this car.” I tap on his headrest.

“Fine,” he grumbles, getting out and folding his seat forward. I take his offered hand and try to gracefully crawl out of the car.

“Thanks.”

“Text us when you get upstairs,” Syd calls from the passenger seat.

I roll my eyes. “Okay, Mom and Dad.”

I give them a wave as I walk backward from the car before spinning around. The darkness looming around has me uneasy, but knowing that Syd and Maker are watching settles the anxiety that threatens to bubble up. Once I’m in the brightly lit lobby of my complex, I let out a small sigh.

I’d successfully left my apartment and come back in one piece. I was safe, and honestly, I really didn’t need to be that worried about the outside world. I’m just creating monsters in my mind.

My body moves on autopilot until I arrive at my front door. I drop down to pick up a little brown package perched on my rug and tuck it under my arm as I fish out my key and unlock my door.

I toss the package onto my island before grabbing a pair of scissors to slice the box open.

A shiny pink taser sparkles back at me.

Then again, you can never be too safe.

“Thank you.”

Aur smiles up at me through hooded eyes. Droplets of tears bead her lashes after being mercilessly face fucked. I look down at her, but I don’t feel the satisfaction or relief that typically comes after our sessions. It has been happening more and more lately.

Which is a pain.

I give her a noncommittal hum as I work on undoing the ropes bound around her plush upper body, signaling the end to our session. Normally, I look forward to meeting up with Aur. She is the brand director for some fashion company and one of the main investors for Cardinal Club, so it’s all high discretion, low commitment with her. But something is off now.

I coil the black rope and place it back in my bag while she stretches out on the bed like a cat.

I don’t want to look for a new partner; it’s hard enough to find the right person these days. Yes, the Cardinal Club is one of the most exclusive clubs in North America, catering to the sexual needs of the elite, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

With all the extra attention The Gold System has been getting lately, I’ve had to keep a tighter hold on my private life so I don’t rock the boat or create any leaks. The Cardinal Club prides itself on discretion, but the right person knows where to look to findthe club. There is little you can control once the paparazzi sniff a lead, and I’ve never liked the idea of being unable to write my own narrative.

I’m not like Maker; I don’t relish the media attention. But I also am not like Aleksander; I wouldn’t purposely blow the media off, either. Trying to find the middle ground is hard work, and all I want is a little privacy and an outlet for my stress.

I pour Aur a glass of water and hold it out.

“Thanks,” she purrs. I give her a nod and her brow quirks up as she takes an audible sip. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I grunt.

“You’re quiet. Well, quieter than usual.”

“Am I?”

She sits up and cocks her head as she leans forward, bracing her elbows on her thighs. My eyes dip to her massive tits. Even if things are starting to go stale between us, there is no denying that Aur is sex on a stick.

Ugh. Finding a new rope bunny is going to be more work than I want.

Suddenly another face flashes in my mind. A short woman with fuckable tits and an innocent look that begs to be ruined.

I try to scrub the pink vision away.

“Wow, you’re really out of it. I’m not sure if I should take offense.”

My gaze snaps back to Aur’s assessing eyes. I open my mouth to bite back but stop. None of this is her fault.

“Sorry,” I finally sigh, taking a seat on the edge of the bed next to her.

“It’s fine,” she shrugs. “You know I don’t expect anything outside the session.”

“Yes, but you at least deserve my attention while I’m here.”

Her eyes soften and she places a reassuring pat on my knee. “Stop. You always treat me well.”

When I don’t say anything more, she slips off the bed and goes to rummage through her handbag. She pulls out a small purple stick and presses it to her lips, taking an inhale that makes the bottom of it light up blue. When she exhales, a small cloud floats from her lips that smells like grapes. “So, who is she?”

“Who?”

“The girl who’s apparently rented an apartment in your brain.”

“There’s no girl.”

“Sure,” she drawls before taking another hit. “Is it the one you told me about?”

I stiffen.

“You’re the only person I’m involved with.”

Surprise ripples across her features. “Since when?”

“I don’t know. A while?”

She lets out a laugh. “And you’re sure there’s no girl you’re pining over? Really.”

“Aur,” I growl.

Her spine straightens at the warning and her eyes widen a fraction. “I’ll drop it.”

I grit my teeth together and get up to grab my clothes from the chair in the corner and put them on. The more I think about it, the more it bothers me. I hadn’t even realized that Aur is the only person I’ve been seeing—seeing being a very loose term—and even this is losing its shine.

I turn back to her, ready to break things off, but she stops me with a raised hand.

“I know.” She walks up to me and brushes some lint off the shoulder of my sweatshirt. “I hope you sort things out, Herson.” She gives me a smile before twirling around and heading into the bathroom. “I’m going to have a shower. Make sure you shut the door behind you.”

My eyes track her, giving her naked body one last appreciative look as she disappears.

I grab my phone and wallet from the nightstand before throwing on a black face mask and baseball cap. Then I slip on my limited-edition sneakers before picking up my duffle and heading out of the VIP room.

My jaw is clenched tight.

I’m not even in the mood to think about what I am going to do now. Even the idea of trying to find someone to replace Aur has me annoyed.

Not because of her, but because every time I try to conjure an image in my head of someone new, all I see are flashes of pink.

Which is fucking stupid.