Knox
The memory of her smile stays with me as I step into my office at the Black Card Society. Hours have passed since the bar, but I can’t shake the way she looked at me—steady, curious, and unafraid.
Courtney.
It’s rare to find someone who doesn’t crumble under the weight of my attention. Most people fold, eager to please, desperate to be seen. But not her. She met my gaze like an equal, her sharp wit balanced by a subtle vulnerability she tried hard to hide.
I glance out the window, the city lights stretching endlessly into the night. The Black Card Society isn’t for everyone. It’s a sanctuary for those willing to step beyond the boundaries of ordinary life—a world where power and desire intertwine, where freedom takes on a dangerous edge.
Bringing someone like Courtney into this world is a risk. But the best things in life always are.
The door creaks open behind me, and Elliott steps inside, his usual air of quiet mystery intact. He leans against the frame, his arms crossed, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“She’s here,” he says simply.
I set down my glass of bourbon, a slow smile spreading across my face. “Good. Show her in.”
Elliott doesn’t move immediately. Instead, his smirk deepens. “You’re in a good mood. Don’t tell me the great Knox has found someone who actually holds his attention for more than five minutes.”
I shoot him a warning look, but the amusement in his eyes only grows.
“Should I warn her?” he adds, straightening. “Let her know what she’s getting into?”
“No,” I reply, standing and adjusting my jacket. “She’ll figure it out soon enough.”
Elliott chuckles as he steps aside, holding the door open. Moments later, Courtney appears.
She pauses at the threshold, her gaze sweeping the room. The dim lighting casts long shadows across the polished wood and leather furnishings, the air thick with the scent of cedar and faint traces of lavender. She takes it all in, her expression carefully neutral, but I see the flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
“You came,” I say, leaning casually against my desk.
Her eyes meet mine, steady and unflinching. “I said I would, didn’t I?”
I push off the desk and move toward her. “Most people hesitate before stepping through that door.”
“I’m not most people,” she replies, her voice steady.
“No,” I say, a small smile tugging at my lips. “You’re not.”
Before I can say more, the sound of footsteps interrupts us. I glance over to see Kingston and Jacob entering, their timing, as always, impeccable.
“Well, well,” Kingston says, his deep voice laced with mockery. “Knox actually invited someone into his sanctum. I didn’t think it was possible.”
Jacob, ever the instigator, grins as he leans against the wall. “Let me guess. She didn’t melt under the infamous Knox stare? That must’ve been a first.”
Courtney’s brow arches slightly, her curiosity sharpening as she looks between them.
“Courtney,” I say, gesturing to them, “meet Kingston and Jacob. Two of the Society’s most… opinionated members.”
“Charmed,” Kingston says, his tone bordering on teasing.
“Very charmed,” Jacob adds, his grin widening. “Though I have to ask—what’s your secret? Knox usually scares off anyone who gets within five feet of him.”
Courtney surprises me by laughing softly. “Maybe he’s not as intimidating as he thinks he is.”
Kingston lets out a low whistle, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I like her already.”
“She’s quick,” Jacob agrees, nodding approvingly. “You might finally have met your match, Knox.”
Elliott, who’s been silently watching from the corner, finally speaks up. “Are you two done? Or should we grab popcorn?”
I roll my eyes, turning back to Courtney. “Ignore them. They live to annoy me.”
“Oh, we’re just getting started,” Kingston quips, his grin turning wolfish. “It’s not every day Knox brings someone here. We’re entitled to a little fun.”
Courtney smirks, and I can tell she’s enjoying the banter. “I can handle it.”
“Good,” Jacob says, raising an eyebrow at me. “Because Knox isn’t known for taking it easy on anyone.”
“That’s enough,” I say, my tone firm but not harsh. “Courtney didn’t come here to be entertained by you lot.”
“Are you sure about that?” Elliott mutters under his breath.
I shoot him a sharp look, and he shrugs, clearly unbothered.
“Shall we?” I ask Courtney, gesturing toward the plush armchairs by the fireplace.
She moves to the chair with the same poised confidence she’s had since the moment I met her. I take the seat opposite, studying her as the firelight casts warm hues across her features.
“You intrigue me, Courtney,” I say, breaking the silence. “But stepping into this world is no small thing. Are you sure you’re ready for it?”
Her lips curve into a faint smile. “Why don’t you tell me what I’m stepping into first?”
“The Black Card Society is a place where the rules of the outside world don’t apply,” I explain. “Here, you can be anyone, do anything. It’s freedom in its purest form. But freedom comes with risks.”
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