4. Tate
CHAPTER FOUR
TATE
I ’ve had the week from hell. I’m no further forward in finding the pricks that have been dealing in my clubs, and it’s grating on my last nerve. I’m Tate Matthews; I own this part of town, and I’m being made a mockery of.
Something has to give.
“Rick, have you sorted out the extra security for tonight?” I ask from my office chair.
“All done. They’re dressed as you required and set up with earpieces. They know the drill.” He nods with certainty. “I’ve also got Clint watching the men closely.”
“Good. I don’t want them getting away this time.” I requested six men who work closely with me and Rick from the other side of my business. The not-so-legit side. They know the score and what’s at stake, so they’ll get the job done discreetly. They’re used to blending in with a crowd, which is why I’ve specifically asked that they don’t wear club security gear and dress for a night out.
“They’re just arriving now,” Rick informs me, waving his phone and indicating the text just came through.
“Show time. I don’t want any fuck-ups tonight, or a valid reason to pull my gun out.” I stand in front of the security screens, watching all angles of my club, looking for anything suspicious.
Rick joins me. He’s looking closely at one of the monitors. “You’ve got to be fucking kiddin’ me.”
“Something interesting?” I ask, continuing to glance at the other screens.
“They’ve got balls, I’ll give them that,” he states heatedly.
“Who?”
He points at the monitor sharply. “Those two.”
Sure enough, it’s the two feisty girls from last weekend. “Well, I’ll be damned. Seems my warning went unheard.” I smirk.
I’m impressed they have the nerve to walk back into my club, but I don’t have time for their shenanigans tonight.
“Get a couple of men to keep an eye on them for now,” I tell Rick.
“Already on it.” His fingers tap vigorously on his phone. Sure enough, two men appear on the screen, close behind the pair who are unaware they’re being watched. He returns moments later, studying the monitors intently.
“She got to you, didn’t she?” I’d be lying if I said the one who threw a drink at me didn’t. But I’m not in the mood for getting into all that when there’s a mission ongoing. One I never thought would be this close to home.
“What? No.” His shoulders tense. “I’m just annoyed that she’s come back, that’s all.” I know he’s lying. Normally, I would press harder, but too much is going on around me and I need to focus.
I spend the next two hours watching the multiple screens, and so far, nothing is out of the ordinary.
“I can’t stand here any longer. I’m going to head out front. If they see me, they might get brave or careless.” I down the finger of whiskey in my hand and slam the glass down on my desk. I’m getting angrier as the night progresses.
“I’ll head out with you. I need a different perspective.”
We exit the office and head past the guy who stands guard in front of the office door. He gives me a head nod in respect.
“Check in with the guys. I want to know if they’ve seen something we haven’t.” He fits an earpiece in and radios through. I’m wound up so tight that I didn’t see him grab one before leaving the office.
“Nothing yet, boss,” Rick informs me as we reach the loud music. I stay on the top floor overlooking the entire club. It gives me a better vantage point, and I can hide in the shadows. I scan the crowd, looking for anything or anyone that doesn’t belong. Then I find her. The girl from last weekend. The one brave enough to stand up to me.
I watch her closely. Her hips sway to the music deliciously, her hands gliding up her sides and into her long brown hair that runs down her back. When she grabs hold of her locks and lifts them up, I spot a tattoo running the length of her spine. The backless dress shows just enough to spike my imagination.
She’s the definition of perfection with an edge of curiosity, and I’m invested in finding out more about her.
She spins around and throws her head back. Her eyes are closed and she’s laughing, completely carefree. She has me utterly captivated and she doesn’t even know it.
I’m hidden in the shadows, but I know she feels me. She gazes in my direction with her lust-filled eyes, and I’m glued to the spot. Never before has a woman gained my attention like this. It’s like she’s cast a spell over me and lured me into a whole new world where only she and I exist.
I’m the one who breaks the spell, severing whatever link was binding us together.
I live in a dark world. I can’t afford to have distractions in my life, and she would be one. One I'd most definitely enjoy, but a distraction, nevertheless. I continue with my search of the club, but now and then, my eyes find hers again. She's intoxicating, a drug like no other, and damn it, I want a taste. But I know, one taste of her and I'll be addicted, hooked on her forever. She doesn't deserve to be dragged into the depths of darkness that is my world just so she can fulfil my needs and desires.
I catch sight of her grinding her body against her friend’s, full of seductiveness, and it has me wondering just how dirty she'd be willing to go.