The Empty Spot

He owns the bar she works in. She doesn't know that yet.

Adeline Hayes has been the reliable one since she was old enough to count. Reliable through the bullying, through her parents' third job, through two boyfriends who only ever touched her with the lights off. She's never once let go of anything.

Then she serves drinks to a man in a four-thousand-dollar suit who looks at her like she's something he's already decided about.

Nicolás Vega has rules. A safe word. A schedule. He has never broken any of them and he'll tell you that like it settles something.

It works. Friday to Sunday, Wednesdays, nothing else. It works right up until she calls him Nico and he doesn't correct her.

But there's a reason a man like him gives money away where no one can see it and a reason he can't say the word love hearing his father's voice underneath it. When someone finds both secrets at once, Nicolás does what he always does.

He decides what's best for her. He doesn't ask.

Dark Romance | 18+ | Billionaire | BDSM | heavy themes