"Where's Anirudh at? Where'd everybody vanish to?" Aurora tossed out, playing curious like it was an Oscar-worthy line.
"Beats me. Didn't spot him when I rolled in—swept the second floor too. No clue where he's hiding!" Amy shook her head, still half-convinced Anirudh had been holed up in her sister's bathroom minutes ago.
"Right here…" Anirudh's voice cut through from the villa's front door. Both women spun around, catching him sauntering in—clothes crisp, grin dialed to charm.
Amy's lingering doubts melted like ice in the sun. One way in, one way out—if he'd been in Aurora's bathroom, no way he'd stroll in from outside. Aurora, though, flicked a quick, stunned glance—how the hell'd this kid pull that off?
"Aurora, Amy, this place is insane—bet it cost a mint, huh?" Anirudh gushed, laying it on thick like he'd been casing the joint from the curb all day.
"Insane like your crib? Eleanor's the one swimming in cash!" Aurora teased, tossing him a flirty eye-roll—this little punk's got game.
"Heh, come on—chow time! Dig into Amy's cooking!" Aurora chuckled, waving him over. Anirudh didn't blink, plopping down at the table like he owned it. Amy shot him a playful side-eye but sashayed off to the kitchen to grab the grub.
While Anirudh scarfed down dinner at Aurora's pad, across Chicago, in some ritzy villa, Anbery sprawled on a couch in a bathrobe, face dark as a thunderhead. Jarod stood there, twitchy as a cornered rat.
"So that punk played us last night? He's at Chicago Business School?" Anbery's voice oozed venom, pinning Jarod with a glare. He'd never swallowed a loss this fat—since last night, he'd been a walking powder keg.
"Yup! Same dude Kimbell sicced us on today!" Jarod nodded, jittery.
"You take care of him?" Anbery sneered, ice in his tone.
"Nah. Right as we were about to jump him, some teacher struts out. Kimbell looked like he'd seen a ghost—we couldn't touch him…" Jarod choked out, guts twisting.
"Useless! A teacher's got you shaking? You think I'm dumb? You just skimped on backup—scared he'd wipe the floor with you again!" Anbery snorted, cutting deep.
"Boss, you're too sharp…" Jarod flinched, knees buckling as he hit the deck.
"But he's got moves. Barely anyone I've got can take him solo. Tomorrow, I'm calling Zalman—he's rolling with you!" Anbery mulled it over.
"Thanks, boss! You're the man!" Jarod groveled hard.
Rust Knights muscle knew Zalman's cred—an ex-army beast. Three or four punks couldn't get near him, and his blade work? Faster than a blink. Full tilt, he'd crack the crew's top five. Nailing some student with him on deck? Done Deal.
"Beat it—don't wreck my groove…" Anbery waved him off, bored. Jarod scurried out like a whipped dog. Hall clear, Anbery smirked, snapping his fingers. Lights dimmed, red glows flared up, draping the room in a sultry haze. Smooth tunes kicked in, and eight tall, barely-there babes strutted out—closing in on Anbery. Two dropped to their knees, hands teasing his legs; two slipped behind, tongues flicking his ears; the rest worked the floor, hips swaying—clothes shedding fast 'til the place turned into a full-on sin-fest…
Anirudh had zero inkling Anbery was tapping a Chicago heavy like Zalman just to squash him. Right now, he was drowning in the eye candy across the table.
Not the food—the two jaw-dropping beauties. Aurora, still radiating post-hookup heat, was pure fire—low-cut halter gown, shawl loose over her shoulders, but at the table, that killer cleavage popped, creamy with a pink flush that screamed touch me. Her cheeks glowed soft, sneaking glances at Anirudh that sent his pulse into overdrive—this chick's a damn vixen.
Amy rocked cozy home gear—tamer than her sister, but when she leaned in, flashes of creamy skin peeked out, jacking up Anirudh's hunger. He gulped hard, no control.
"No meal's legit without booze—I'll grab a bottle. Amy, rinse three glasses!" Aurora grinned at the spread.
"Aurora, I don't drink…" Anirudh freaked—his tolerance was garbage. What if he tanked?
"You're drinking, period!" Aurora steamrolled him, heading upstairs. Amy smirked—you're toast—and spun off to snag glasses. She hadn't forgotten him owning her at dice last night. Revenge was cooking.
Their locked-in vibe told Anirudh he was getting blitzed, no escape. But with two stunners in tow, crashing didn't sound half-bad. His eyes tracked Aurora up the stairs—calves, thighs, then—holy hell, no panties!
That little tease! Anirudh's heart slammed…