NIRVANA:THE MAFIA'S WILD SIN

Burned

The tension hung thick in the air, charged with an energy that neither Nirvana nor RAyNe could ignore. His fingers hovered at the curve of her waist, barely touching, yet she felt the heat of his presence sear through the thin fabric of her dress.

“You might just get burned,” he warned, voice dangerously low.

She tilted her head slightly, a teasing smirk gracing her lips. “Then make it worth the scars.”

Before RAyNe could respond, Siara’s voice cut through the moment like a blade.

“There you are,” she said, stepping between them with a smile too forced to be genuine. “RAyNe, come dance with me.”

Nirvana suppressed a laugh, stepping back smoothly as Siara latched onto RAyNe’s arm.

RAyNe didn’t move, his gaze locked onto Nirvana’s as if silently daring her to react. She didn’t. Instead, she turned to Gianni, who had been watching with a smirk of his own.

“Dance?” she asked, her tone light, almost mocking.

Gianni chuckled and extended his arm. “With pleasure.”

As she walked away, she could feel RAyNe’s eyes on her back, burning hotter than ever. Good.

The dance floor was a swirl of elegance and power, couples moving in perfect synchrony to the soft melody of the orchestra. Nirvana placed her hand in Gianni’s, the other resting lightly on his shoulder as they began to move.

“I’d say you enjoy making him suffer,” Gianni murmured, spinning her with effortless grace.

She smiled. “And I’d say you enjoy watching.”

“Guilty,” he admitted. “But be careful. RAyNe doesn’t take well to losing control.”

“I know,” she said, her eyes flicking toward RAyNe, who was now on the dance floor with Siara. The woman was talking animatedly, but RAyNe wasn’t listening. His entire focus was on Nirvana, his expression unreadable but his grip on Siara’s waist noticeably tense.

Gianni followed her gaze and smirked. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“I always do.”

The dance ended, and Nirvana excused herself, making her way toward the balcony for a moment of quiet. The cool night air kissed her skin as she leaned against the railing, gazing at the city lights below.

A presence approached before she even heard the footsteps.

RAyNe.

She didn’t turn immediately, allowing the silence to stretch before finally speaking. “Shouldn’t you be inside entertaining your date?”

He was behind her now, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body. “And miss this?”

She finally turned, only to find herself trapped between the railing and RAyNe’s towering presence. His gaze burned with something unreadable…something primal, something dangerous.

“You like pushing me, don’t you?” he murmured, lifting a hand to brush a stray curl from her face.

She held his gaze, unflinching. “And you like the chase.”

His thumb grazed her bottom lip, his breathing uneven. “Careful, Nirvana.”

She leaned in slightly, a whisper of space between them. “Or what?”

His lips hovered over hers, close enough to taste the anticipation in the air. Then, just as she thought he would close the distance, he pulled back, a slow smirk tugging at his lips.

“Or you’ll find out.”

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving her breathless, frustrated, and more entangled in this dangerous game than ever before.

The air on the balcony was thick with tension, the scent of expensive cigars and champagne drifting from the banquet hall below. Nirvana leaned against the railing, watching the sea of powerful men and their adorned companions move through the grand ballroom. Her nails tapped lightly against the iron as she watched a particular car roll in. Celeste. Alone. No Adrian Holt to shield her tonight. Too bad she had better things to do tonight but she was going to get her soon and she make it fun.

Interesting.

"You done scheming?" RAyNe’s deep voice cut through her thoughts like a blade.

Nirvana barely turned her head, lips curving in a smirk. "I don't scheme, boss. I strategize."

RAyNe’s gaze flickered with amusement, but he masked it quickly. The men around them..Gianni and three others…stood at attention, waiting for orders.

"Is the plan clear?" RAyNe’s voice was sharp now. "No conditions. No complications. You do what needs to be done, Nirvana."

Nirvana turned to him fully, crossing her arms. "What, no last-minute warnings? No speech about how I should behave?"

RAyNe stepped forward, closing the distance between them, his presence suffocating in its intensity. "You surprise me, kitten. You didn’t fight this plan. Not even a little bit."

She smirked. "Maybe I like the dress."

RAyNe's gaze dragged down her body, drinking in the way the fabric hugged her curves. "You don’t do things without reason. So what is it?"

She lifted a brow. "Maybe I just enjoy playing the game."

A lie. A beautifully delivered one. The real reason sat heavy in her chest. Clement Holt deserved to fall, and she would make damn sure he did. If that meant playing bait, she'd do it gladly.

RAyNe reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a small black object, pressing it into her palm. "A tracker. Tiny. You won't feel it, but I'll know exactly where you are."

She rolled her eyes. "You really don’t trust me, huh?"

RAyNe leaned in, his voice dropping to a murmur only she could hear. "Not even a little."

Before she could fire back, he dropped to one knee in front of her. Her breath hitched as his fingers trailed up her thigh, pushing the slit of her dress open. His touch was professional..calculated…but the heat it sparked was anything but. He secured a thigh holster around her leg and slid the small pistol inside.

Nirvana swallowed hard, pulse thrumming. She forced her voice to stay steady. "I can strap a gun to my own thigh, you know."

RAyNe smirked, gaze dark and teasing as he straightened. "Oh, I know. But watching you shiver is worth the trouble."

She shot him a glare, but her body betrayed her. He turned away before she could think of a sharp retort, gesturing to Gianni. "We move in ten. Stay close to Nirvana."

Gianni gave a curt nod. Nirvana exhaled, smoothing her dress before turning back toward the ballroom. Time to play the game.

Inside, the air buzzed with power plays and whispered conversations. Clement Holt stood near the bar, a glass of scotch in hand, a smirk curving his lips as he eyed the women in the room like they were merchandise.

Disgust curled in Nirvana’s stomach, but she masked it behind a slow, confident stride. She moved through the crowd with practiced ease, knowing every eye was on her. RAyNe’s gaze burned into her from across the room, but she ignored it.

Clement noticed her instantly. His smirk widened as she approached, his posture shifting slightly, as if he was already imagining how his night would end.

"Well, well," he drawled. "You must be new. I never forget a beautiful face."

Nirvana gave a small, coy smile. "Then I must not be as memorable as I thought. We've crossed paths before."

Clement frowned slightly, but it was fleeting. He gestured to the bartender. "A drink for the lady. Whatever she wants."

"Whiskey. Neat."

His brows lifted. "A woman who drinks whiskey. I like that."

She leaned in slightly, letting the low neckline of her dress do its job. "I hear you like a lot of things."

Clement chuckled, intrigued. "Depends. Are you offering?"

She sipped her whiskey, letting the warmth slide down her throat. "Maybe. But I don't come cheap."

His grin turned predatory. "I wouldn’t expect you to."

Behind them, RAyNe was watching. She could feel it. His patience had limits, and she was dancing on the edge of them.

"Why don't we take this conversation somewhere more... private?" Clement suggested.

Perfect.

She placed her glass down, giving him a slow, teasing smile. "Lead the way."

Clement’s private lounge was dimly lit, decorated with old money excess. Nirvana stepped inside first, subtly scanning for exits.

Clement shut the door behind them, eyes dark with intent. "Now, tell me, beautiful. What’s your name?"

She turned slowly, letting her dress slip slightly off one shoulder. "Names ruin the mystery."

He chuckled. "Fair enough. But I’d like to know what brings a woman like you to a place like this."

She stepped closer, placing a hand on his chest. "I could ask you the same."

He caught her wrist, pulling her flush against him. "I don’t do small talk."

Neither did she. And she was done pretending.

In one smooth motion, she pulled the gun from her thigh holster and pressed it against his ribs.

Clement stiffened, eyes widening. "What the f**k…"

"Shh," she whispered, pressing harder. "You move, you die."

His breathing was rapid now, adrenaline and confusion warring in his expression. "Do you have any idea who you’re f*****g with?"

She smiled. "Oh, Clement. You have no idea who you’re f*****g with."

His grip on her wrist tightened, but she only laughed. "Do you feel powerful right now? Like you’re still the one in control? I bet you thought you’d have me on my knees by now."

Clement’s jaw clenched. "What do you want? Money? Power? I can give you both."

She leaned in, lips brushing his ear. "I want to watch you fall. Just like you helped Adrian ruin my family."

His entire body went rigid. "What?"

She pulled back, grinning as realization dawned in his eyes. "Oh. Now you remember me."

Clement’s lips parted, but before he could speak, there was a sharp knock at the door.

"Sir?" A voice called. "You in there?"

Nirvana sighed. "Tsk. Looks like our fun is over."

She stepped back, gun still raised, and with a smirk, she blew him a kiss before slipping through the back exit, disappearing into the night.

Outside, RAyNe was waiting by the car, arms crossed.

"You were supposed to gather intel," he said. "Not threaten to kill him."

Nirvana grinned, slipping into the car. "I improvised."

RAyNe sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before sliding in beside her. "You’re going to be the death of me."

She smirked, looking out the window. "Only if you’re lucky."

“Don't worry, I'll get that info another way” she smiled knowingly.