Chapter 7 The Charlatan
THE CHARLATAN
QUINTON
If Club Hades is the underworld, then The Charlatan is the gate into our sinful paradise. My fingers tingle as soon as we cross the threshold, and I breath in all the glorious secrets that call this lounge its home.
Despite Amir’s ego, I must give the man credit for creativity. Each and every single one of his club fronts are impeccable establishments in their own right. If there wasn’t a sea of elitist debauchery behind that sacred vaulted door, this bar could easily become a Manhattan icon.
Emery shivers despite donning a thick fur jacket, and I don’t need superpowers to see right through the fabric.
I know that her skin is buzzing, that her nipples are perked and ready for tonight’s deviant little games.
The promise of pleasure glitters in her gorgeous green eyes as she glances toward me, biting her lower lip.
I can practically taste her arousal already.
“Gentlemen.” The guard gives us a respectful nod as we approach the hidden pressurized door that leads to the underworld. He holds out his hand. “Cards?”
Damon places his metal membership card in the guard’s hand, and I fish mine out of my pocket.
As the two sheets of steel slam on top of each other, my phone rings.
Damon glares at me, silently scolding me for not checking in my devices.
He’s quite particular about distractions, but we’re in the middle of an investigation.
Well, I am.
With an apologetic look, I lean over and place a lingering kiss on Emery’s cheek. “Why don’t you two get started without me?”
Emery frowns, but I don’t let her protest. This call isn’t one I can afford to miss. We can afford to miss.
“Go on, darling. It’s work. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Emery sighs. “Fine. But hurry.”
Damon’s skeptical gaze flits across my controlled features. “Work? Seriously, Q? We’re—”
I remove the phone from my pocket and press it against my ear. He can give me a lecture later. Without a word, I wave them off, stepping off to the side as Damon and Emery disappear down the candlelit hallway.
I wait until the door closes.
“Yes?”
“Texas.”
Red’s voice sends a shiver down my spine.
It’s been weeks of close calls and red herrings.
I’ve come to learn that Toni Mancini is rather brilliant.
She knew from the beginning that we’d be doing everything in our power to track her down, and she’s decided to play with our desperation like a true mastermind.
It’s taken weeks to detangle her web of lies and false leads. I admire her gall. She thought she could outsmart us. But Toni doesn’t know we have Red and her multimillion-dollar tech castle. I’ve also learned a lot about Red these past few weeks as well. She hates to lose.
“Are you certain this time?”
Despite the lack of uncouth undertones in my voice, Red snaps. “Yes, I’m sure! I wouldn’t call you if it weren’t confirmed.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “It was simply a question, Red. I’m not doubting your ability to do your job.”
Red grumbles. “Sorry, it’s just… This bitch is annoying me.” She lets out a labored breath. “She’s holed up in an abandoned estate outside Dallas. I’ve cross-checked with a dozen sources. She’s there.”
My spine straightens. “I see.”
Red’s silent for a moment. “You don’t seem…happy.”
I swallow, jaw tense. Dread pulses through my veins, and I feel a familiar pang of unease gnawing at the edges of my conscience. Despite our agreement to honest with one another, I've been keeping this manhunt, or womanhunt, a secret from Emery and Damon.
Guilt buzzes through me, but I push it away, burying it beneath layers of determination and resolve.
Emery has been so bright and happy since returning to New York, and I don't want to be the one to dampen her newfound outlook on life. She deserves to believe that everything is going to be okay, and it’s my job, my sacred duty, to keep the light on in her heart.
She’s had enough darkness to last two lifetimes.
Red's voice cuts through my thoughts. "Are you going to inform the FBI that we've found Toni?"
I pause for a second too long before answering. "Once I tell the FBI, Toni will know and we'll lose her again. We’ve worked too long and too hard to miss this opportunity, Red. It’s the best chance we’ve had to catch her in weeks.”
Red sighs, clicking her tongue. "I would highly recommend you share this information with the FBI, Dr. Marquis. I know you’re frustrated, but it would be a shame if you did something stupid. Real stupid."
"I know…” I grit my teeth. “But—”
"Tell them in person, no electronic trail,” Red suggests. “Don’t go chasing trouble, Doctor. While I think your determination is endearing, it’s foolish to think you can handle her alone. For all we know, she could have half a dozen foot soldiers at her beck and call.”
I scoff at the unnecessary warning. "I’m well aware of Toni’s capabilities, but this is the FBI, Red. They have protocols to follow. They aren’t going to agree to go analog just for us. Plus, they’re convinced their firewalls are bloody impenetrable."
She snorts. "Their confidence is cute."
“Cute is hardly an adjective one wants to hear when discussing a federal law enforcement agency.”
"So, what’s your plan then, Doc?” she asks, her tone tinged with amusement. “Take down Toni all on your own?”
Frustration creeps into my voice as I respond. "I don't have a plan right now. I... All I know is that I need her to disappear."
Red chuckles softly. "Disappear? Planning on adding another teardrop tattoo to your collection?"
My muscles tense as I get a mental flash of Simone's lifeless body.
"No," I reply sharply. "Not that type of disappearance."
Emery thinks I haven’t processed Simone’s death yet. That I haven’t dealt with the guilt and shame of taking a life. But she’s wrong. The moment that my finger pulled the trigger, I accepted my fate.
Simone was seconds away from killing Emery.
I have no qualms with my choices. I did what I had to do.
But Toni isn’t directly threatening Emery.
She’s not holding a gun or a knife. It’s almost worse.
The threat of the unknown. That’s the problem.
We don’t know what Toni wants. If I don’t know her motives, I can’t stop her. I can’t offer her another choice.
“Well, you better come up with a plan quickly, Doctor,” Red hums. “Who knows how long Toni will stay in Texas? If I were her, I’d move around every month, but hey, that’s just me.”
“I appreciate the advice,” I say. “Keep me updated.” I draw in a sharp breath. “And um…thank you, Red. Truly.”
“Hey,” she chuckles, “keep the checks coming and I’ll be at your service day and night.”
With a snort, I hang up the phone and take a moment to collect myself, my thoughts. Tonight’s not the night for revelations and revenge. I need to compartmentalize. I need to separate church from state.
Tonight is all about Emery. About fulfilling her needs.
Her desires. It’s about showing her that there’s no need to be embarrassed.
That there’s no need to hide her true self.
There’s nothing dirty about her wants. There’s nothing filthy about the way she craves our touch.
If anything, her yearnings are pure, raw in their honesty.
The guard releases the vault door when I give him a nod, and I step through the threshold into Club Hades.
My mood shifts instantly, and I bottle away the last ten minutes, focusing solely on the melting moans that penetrate my ears.
The scent of sex and sin dizzy my senses, and I unbutton my collared dress shirt.
Each of The Playrooms are occupied, some doors ajar, a few curtains pulled open for prying eyes.
In a past life, in the after and before, I’d stop and watch.
I’d pull my cock out and stroke it until the walls were sticky and white.
But as I walk down the crimson halls, I have no desire to gawk and stare at women who are not my own.
Her magnetism pulls on me like the moon beckoning the storming shores.
Her presence guides me to The Playground, to the far left corner of the room, where she’s on all fours, Damon pounding her sweet little cunt from behind.
Emery’s gaze snaps toward me, her eyes blazing with lust, her lips parted in a silent plea for more.
I can see the hunger in her, feel the heat radiating from her body as Damon quickens his assault.
She's a vision of ecstasy, a goddess of pleasure, and I'm powerless to resist her allure.
My cock hardens against my briefs, throbbing for her as I approach my fucked little princess.
I reach Emery’s side, my fingers trailing lightly along her skin, igniting a trail of fire down her spine. She arches into my touch, and I lean in closer, my breath mingling with hers in a heady exchange. "Having fun, darling?"
Emery expels a moaning plea, her breath heavy with need as she begs for more. Damon gives her everything she wants, and my pulse quickens. I gaze down at her, utterly captivated by her beauty as she takes all of him. Such a greedy, greedy girl.
I caress the curve of her jaw with my thumb, tracing the line of her lips with a featherlight touch. She leans in, her lips parting as she whimpers softly, so desperate to taste me on her tongue.
I offer her my thumb. A little appetizer. And she eagerly accepts, sucking on it as if it were my cock. Christ, that tongue. Those eyes. Those fluttering little lashes. Fuck. I growl, reaching down to unbuckle my trousers.
“Open your mouth for him, mami,” Damon grunts, wrapping Emery’s hair around his wrist, forcing her head up as her spine arches to the most prettiest of angles.
Emery obeys like a good fucking girl, so willing and needy. I palm the base of my dick as she sticks out her tongue, patting the tip along her pouty, wanting lips.
A flash of defiance crosses her features, and with a smirk, Emery surges her whole body forward, taking every inch into her mouth.
Jesus Christ. Her bravado sends a rush of arousal coursing through my veins, my muscles clenching as she laps and sucks.
The sight of her taking me so eagerly, her lips stretched around my cock, drives me to the edge of madness.
Christ, I can’t believe that she’s mine.
Mine to hold. To kiss. To touch. To fuck.
Mine.
Damon's relentless hammering only add to the intensity of her messy, sloppy blowjob, each thrust catapulting Emery further toward the brink of ecstasy. He slaps a sharp hand across her ass, and the sound is so delectable that it may just be my new favorite song. With each slap, her cries of pleasure grow louder and loader. It’s like music to my fucking ears.
I bury my fingers in Emery's hair as I guide her, her tongue swirling around me, all perfect and wet.
As Damon's pace quickens, I can feel my cock throbbing, vibrating, ready to explode.
A low groan rumbles in my chest, and Emery takes me deeper, harder, her own whimpers driving me off a goddamn cliff.
My hot cum shoots down her throat, and she swallows, her ivy-green eyes never leave mine as she comes undone herself.
She shakes beneath Damon as he explodes inside of her, sweat rolling down the side of her damp hairline.
I can’t look away. I don’t ever wish to watch anyone but her. So beautiful. So raw. So mine.
So ours.
There’s no one else. Only the three of us.
Forever.
Emery pants, her body still quivering under our touch. “Again,” she breathes. “Again.”
“Anything you want, darling.”
I’d give this woman my last breath.
I’d force her to take it.