Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Playing A Dangerous Game
After ending the call with Aurora, Xander tucked the phone away, his expression hardening as he stepped out from the dimly lit alley.

Beneath the dim glow of the city’s neon lights, his altered appearance—a concealed identity with hardened, unrecognizable features—camouflaged him among the shadows. His stride was confident as he crossed the street toward the throbbing bass beats of the nearby nightclub.

Inside, flashing lights cast chaotic bursts over the packed dance floor as patrons revelled in the thick haze of smoke and heat. Xander cut through the crowd, his sharp gaze locked ahead as he bypassed the dance floor and ascended a narrow staircase leading to a secluded section.

Two burly guards stood before a door at the top, their faces stone-cold as they sized him up. “Sekem,” one of them greeted him, a hint of respect laced in his tone.

With a slight nod, Xander submitted to the routine frisk, arms held out as their hands roamed his suit. Finding nothing, they opened the door, allowing him into the room, where a different world awaited—a darkened haven for men of power and malice.

The air was thick with smoke and the scent of whiskey, and the low notes of jazz reverberated against the walls. Around the spacious room, dangerous men lounged with an air of authority, attended by women whose expressions teetered between seduction and fear.

Bottles of scotch lined the tables, and transparent packets of white powder sat beside stacks of cash, the stakes for a high-stakes chess game currently underway.

Xander approached the group, exchanging firm handshakes with the men seated around the room, his demeanour relaxed yet watchful. He settled into a space on the leather couch, maintaining an impassive face as he observed the game, allowing each move and muttered taunt to sink into his awareness.

The man beside him offered him a cigarette, but Xander waved it off. “I quit. Bad lungs,” he explained smoothly, his tone indifferent. The wary glances around him softened, the tension dissipating as his answer was taken as the truth.

When the game ended, the loser slammed his fist onto the table, shouting obscenities as he lamented his loss of both money and powder. The others laughed, ribbing him over his defeat, while Xander’s eyes never left the scene, absorbing every dynamic, every clue.

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted the jeers, and a middle-aged woman entered, leading three young women into the room. She directed her attention to a man sitting alone on a single couch: Mr. Derek. A well-known crime figure, Derek exuded a dark, calculated charisma. He regarded the women with a cold, assessing gaze, dismissing the older woman with a wave before zeroing in on a particular young woman among them—a nervous girl with sleek black hair and a short, crimson dress.

Derek grabbed her arm, dragging her over to Xander. “This one’s for you, Sekem,” he sneered, pushing the girl forward with a smirk. Xander met the girl’s terrified gaze and then returned Derek’s stare with a flat, unimpressed expression.

“I’m not interested,” he replied, taking a deliberate sip from his glass. The room fell silent, the laughter dying as the jazz music ceased, replaced by an almost suffocating stillness.

One of the men broke the silence with a mocking laugh. “You don’t like women, Sekem? Prefer men, do you?”

Xander glared at him with a flash of irritation. “Careful what you suggest,” he growled. The man quickly raised his hands in surrender, while Derek watched, amusement glinting in his eyes.

“Then what’s wrong with her?” Derek’s tone turned dangerous as he drew a gun from his coat pocket, and pressed it to the girl’s temple. She gasped, trembling as the cold metal touched her skin. “If she’s not good enough to please you, Sekem, she’s as good as dead.”

The tension in the room skyrocketed as Derek cocked the gun, his gaze locked on Xander. Xander’s mind calculated his response, aware of every eye trained on him, every expectation for him to react with rage or fear.

“If you want to kill her, don’t let me stop you,” Xander replied coldly, leaning back casually. “But if you want to know why I refused her, I’ll tell you. I don’t accept women who have been used.”

The room burst into laughter, the tension defused as Derek lowered his weapon, laughing alongside his associates. Even the girl, visibly shaken, managed a relieved breath, though she kept her gaze on the floor.

Derek stashed the gun back into his coat and retook his seat, grinning at Xander. “Sekem, you should have said so from the start. Thought you were angling for a bloodbath.” He motioned to another girl in the lineup. “You—go to Sekem. Give him what he wants.”

The girl approached, tentative, her steps faltering as she extended a hand to touch Xander’s face. In an instant, he snatched her by the neck, his grip firm as he feigned fury.

“Sekem, don’t kill the girl!” someone shouted as others jumped up, horrified. Xander held the girl in a controlled grip, watching Derek’s reaction from the corner of his eye. Derek was amused, his fingers tapping idly on the armrest, entertained by the scene.

Xander let his expression turn cold as he tightened his hold slightly, then shoved the girl away, wiping his hand with a napkin from the table. She stumbled to the floor, coughing, her eyes wide with fear.

Derek laughed heartily, gesturing to the room. “All of you, watch your steps around Sekem. Cross him, and you’ll have me to answer to.”

The men murmured in agreement, watching as Xander pretended to simmer down, refilling his glass and downing the scotch with a grimace. Inside, his mind was a hive of thoughts, each move calculated, each action part of a larger plan.

“I’m not in the mood for blood,” he finally gritted out, forcing a scowl. “All I care about is the safe arrival of my container. Customs sniffing around might spell trouble for us all.”

Derek chuckled and signalled for another drink. “We’ll handle customs. As for you, Sekem—try to relax. Tonight’s for pleasure, not business.”

Xander nodded, though his mind remained on the mission, the next step of his infiltration unfolding as he melted into the shadows of the dangerous company he’d willingly entered.