Prologue #9
I removed the envelope holding the hotel’s key card from my purse and placed it on the bartop. Slowly, I slid it in the stranger’s direction.
“Sleep it off.”
Without another word, I emptied the glass of champagne I’d just poured and stood. The parts of my dress that had hiked as I sat flowed down my legs, grazing my skin and forcing small bumps to rise.
Click.
Clack.
Click.
Clack.
His eyes burned holes in my back. Still, I continued out of Bar Balgaria. My head tipped back a bit. My nose pierced the air. My shoulders squared. My spine was as straight as a stripper’s pole.
He’s the law. I surmised. It doesn’t matter which department or which field. Go home.
We’d been there and every Childers and Domino had felt the consequences of Teddy’s happiness. It looked so damn good on him, but it had cost us all.
Click.
Clack.
I floated across the open floor. His scent lingered.
So did his depth. There was so much more to the lone wolf at the bar.
And, as a person with a fetish for digging, probing, and discovering new information about situations and people, it was hard to leave him at the bar without asking the questions that would sooth my natural desire to be knowledgeable.
“Uh hm.” I cleared my throat as I swallowed the unspoken words.
The line didn’t interest me the second time either. I stepped up to the desk where a guest was waiting to be checked in. The long, slim, and chocolate-colored stiletto nails tapped against the counter.
The young lady who’d taken my bag paused momentarily, peering in my direction. Nervously, she smiled back at the man in front of her. She was unsure if she should continue serving him or tend to me. I made her choice an easy one.
“Sir–”
My attention departed. My line of vision weaved through the hotel guests in search of the source of the small commotion that others were anticipating. It wasn’t long before I spotted it.
Of course.
I glided across the lobby, nearing the bar, again. Just as the hooded stranger stumbled forward, I looped my arm underneath his and held him upright.
“Sir, we’re going to have to as–”
“He’s fine,” I exclaimed, squaring my shoulders and pulling my lips apart with a smile.
I patted his chest, sure to stand him upright.
“Hmm? You’re fine, right?”
An exaggerated nod confirmed my claims.
“You two have a great night.”
“You do the same, sir.”
The fragile, easy target went about his way as I started toward the elevator with the handsome stranger on my arm. I pressed the button upon arrival. It opened instantly, relieving us both.
Inside, he retreated to the far left corner. I took the right. Starting from his shoes, I analyzed his frame. Inch by inch.
Six three. Four, maybe.
Two fifty. Two sixty. Two fifty, surely.
Single-parent household.
A product of poverty.
Hungry for change.
Secrets.
Skeletons.
Regrets.
Revolver.
He’s a Revolver man.
I kissed the skin of my teeth as a chuckle rolled off my tongue.
The clearing of his throat silenced me. I rolled my inner lip through my teeth, waiting for words to follow. There were none.
Ping.
He gathered himself as best he could and stumbled off the elevator. I was close behind. Even in his drunken haze, he was still glorious. His legs were slightly bowed. His frame wasn’t thin nor thick. It was perfect. He wasn’t too tall, but he definitely wasn’t short.
He’s capable of making long, Black babies.
I closed my eyes as I reached the hotel room.
Many cops are.
“Right here.”
I pushed the door open after gaining access. His legs finally stopped moving and backtracked after realizing he had gone too far. I held the door and my breath as I waited for him to pass me. And, once he did, I still didn’t let it go.
Quietly, I closed the door behind me. His silence was as peaceful as it was agonizing. Drunks were loose at the lips. He hadn’t said a word.
I deepened my presence in the room, finding him sprawled out on the bed. He’d gotten rid of his shades, but the hoodie was still tied around his neck. His focus was upward. His eyes were fixated on the ceiling.
Slowly, I blinked, hoping to erase his aesthetics from my memory. He would be a pretty big problem for all I loved. Every law enforcement was… no matter the division.
“Check out is at twelve. Pull yourself together by then. Maybe your spectator will have decided to call it quits.”
I didn’t wait for a response. I knew there wouldn’t be one. And, I had shit to do. Lusting over a piece of pork that feasted on donuts and was fueled by coffee wasn’t going to get it done.
As my hand touched the cold metal, a deep, uneven baritone stopped me in my tracks.
“Thank you.”
Simple.
Straight to the fucking point.
He didn’t use more words than necessary and I didn’t plan to waste more seconds than necessary. This time, I didn’t bother looking back or acknowledging him. I pulled myself up by the spine and raced to the opposite side of the door.
Once there, I pinned my back against the wood and closed my eyes. I swallowed warm saliva. As it slid down my throat, I tipped my chin upward. By the time it reached my belly, I was on the elevator, again, forgetting the existence of the hooded man.
As best I could, at least.
With my eyes trained on the hotel receptionist, I neared the front desk. The bottom of my black bag collided with the countertop. Wordlessly, I retrieved it, turned, and beelined for the door. Too much of my time had been spent in The Balgaria. It was never my intention to overstay.
I removed the valet ticket from the side of the bag as I exited. The midnight breeze welcomed me with a whistle. It kissed my cheeks and patted the tip of my nose.
“Good evening, ma’am. Your car?”
I nodded, extending my hand. I’d return to the loft another day to retrieve my other set of wheels. Tonight, I’d be in the set that got me to The Balgaria hours before my date.
“Right there.”
The SUV hadn’t moved much. It was nestled between a navy Phantom and a white Maybach.
“One second.”
“There’s no need. Keys, please.”
My patience was thin and my bedroom was beckoning for me.
“Are you su–”
“Keys.”
“Sure. Sure thing.”
I observed as the young, vibrant valet attendant opened the small cabinet full of keys. He retrieved those linked to the ticket in his hand. As he placed them in my hand, one foot was already in front of the other.
I pounded the pavement, making my way toward my vehicle. Confliction carried me all the way. I pressed the proper button on the fob to unlock the doors. Before I could grab the handle of the rear driver’s door, the attendant snatched it open.
He slid the bag from my hands and placed it on the backseat. I slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. My reflection in the visor mirror was interrupted by the tumbling of the bill it once held. I caught it just before it fell into my lap.
“Thank you.”
The young man accepted the one hundred dollar bill with a nod of his head.
“Thank you, ma’am. Goodnight. Drive safely.”
He shut the door, closing me inside with my thoughts. I pulled the seatbelt over my body and stuffed the buckle into the connector. Everything behind me blurred as my wheels began turning. Nothing more mattered than getting home… safely.
Phase three.
I watched from across the bar as Odessa’s body turned in every direction as she attempted to locate me. After satisfaction soothed me, I stood on my feet and headed toward her. Still, she was clueless, unaware of her surroundings.
Reddened, puffy eyes met me just inches away from her body. They swelled with surprise as her hand went over her mouth.
“Oh God, you scared me.”
“This way.”
She scurried behind me, attempting to keep up. Her five foot frame was no match for my six foot frame. She was falling behind drastically. I took my seat and waited for her. Breathlessly, she slid in across from me.
In her hand was a brown envelope. I watched as she slid it in my direction. I did the same with the file in my possession.
“Is this it? Is this everything?”
“It’s never everything. But, it’s enough.”
“You told me–”
“I don’t care what I told you. You have the images. There are no copies. You won’t get everything.”
“There’s more?”
Ignoring the question, I slid the folded papers from the envelope. The four numbers on the first sheet were enough to save Odessa’s husband’s life. Phase four was next and my involvement would cease if we made it to that point.
Rhea’s request would be overturned just before the clock struck twelve on the final night of August. Teddy would handle it from there. And, Range would be left to clean the mess he made. It was simple. And that’s how we preferred it. Unfortunately, we respected our mother’s wishes.
No bloodshed during my birthday month.
“Thank you.”
I sipped from the glass of wine. It was my third and it was as lovely as the first. Once the glass hit the table again, I leaned forward and released a steady breath. I’d seen Odessa’s kind far too many times than I wished.
Pretty.
Innocent.
Gullible.
Untrained.
Hopeful.
Loyal.
All she wanted in return was to be loved and cared for. Those desires ran deep. Too deep. Consuming her identity and turning her into a magnet for men like Derrick.
Narcissist.
Cheaters.
Hypocrites.
Misogynists.
An unpleasant human with enough money to help the helpless and hopeless forget just how unkind he was.
His financial firm was a huge asset to the triad. However, his business was no longer wanted. He was becoming a liability. Sloppy. Loud. And, again, very unpleasant.
The retrieval of his ledger was detrimental to the success of our departure. He held too many of our coins to end his life. Therapy required bloodshed. Even if it didn’t start that way, it would end that way. It always did.