3. Jaelyn
CHAPTER 3
JAELYN
I can feel his eyes on me with every step I take toward the bar.
Good. He’s curious.
Or horny.
Either way, I can use those things to get into his head.
The one on his shoulders, that is.
Nate told me to be inconspicuous but really, what was I supposed to do when that disgusting beefcake put his hands on my junk?
It’s not like I planned to send him flying into the reason why I’m here tonight.
As I peek over my shoulder to give Sergio Villani a final once-over, I instinctively lick my lips.
Good Lord, he’s so much more delectable in person.
Not that I’m in the market for anything other than a little reconnaissance. I’m just here to kill a couple of birds with one stone.
One, to try and fit in with the dancers from our nightclub, The Sapphire Lounge.
And two, to dig into the man who’s very intent on buying the success that he clearly can’t generate himself, judging by the fact that I’m able to get a drink at eleven o’clock on a Saturday night without having to elbow a single person.
“Figure out his angle,” Nate said before I left the club. “Get a read on him and watch out for any of his associates. I know the rumors, but I wanna see if anyone on our radar shows up there.”
I studied the pictures Nate dropped on my desk for an hour.
Just call me Columbo.
I toss a casual glance back in Sergio’s direction, eyeing his muscular form as he huddles together with a couple of other guys dressed from head to toe in black. They don’t look familiar. Must be low men on the totem pole.
I know exactly who I’m looking for.
It’s the same person who’s looking for me and Nate.
The one we’ve managed to escape for the past three years.
But nothing lasts forever.
And that’s why Nate sent me in here.
The Italians and the Russians are laying pipe all over this city, trying to grab whatever power they can. It only makes sense that the Mexicans would want to get in on the action so they can take advantage of new distribution lines for their drugs.
And once they show up on the scene, it won’t be long before they find us…if they haven’t already. That’s what Nate is afraid of. What we did on the night of the verdict, ambushing the Bowman brothers to get our own justice, was devastating to the Becerra Cartel. And they’re an unforgiving bunch of assholes.
Go big or go home.
A chill crawls down my spine.
Well, we can’t go home. They made sure of that. We lost everything when we fled Miami three years ago, and there isn’t enough money in the world that can replace what’s long gone.
What the Becerra Cartel stole from us.
My throat tightens, and I grip my shot glass tight, coaxing the disturbing memories back into the recesses of my mind.
I can’t fall prey to that kind of destructive emotion right now.
Emotion equates to weakness.
And weakness makes you vulnerable…to a lot of bad things.
Like death.
And if the Becerras are in with the Italians, it won’t be quick and painless.
It will be the exact opposite.
“Jae,” Ashleigh nudges me. “What are you staring at? You’re, like, in a trance.”
I give my head a quick shake and turn back to my assistant, the only girl at the club I’d actually call my friend. And even then, I keep her at arm’s length because everyone can be bought.
I’ve learned that harsh lesson.
I scoff. “Can you believe that guy I pummeled before is still hanging around? I mean, how did they not kick him out?” With a roll of my eyes, I turn back to the girls, the dancers who aren’t on schedule to perform at Sapphire, and force a fake bright smile. Nate says if I smile more, the girls won’t be so intimidated by me.
But I prefer it that way.
I don’t need to be their friend.
I’m better on my own, just like I have been since we left Miami.
A heavy weight settles over me.
Dammit! I don’t want to think of Miami!
It haunts me enough when I sleep at night, more so now that the threat is looming again.
Nate’s the one who heard about the Becerras working their way west toward Vegas. One of the guys in his inner circle caught wind of it from a neighboring motorcycle club.
Some might say we’re stupid for not leaving Vegas before the threat becomes a reality.
We say we’re not gonna let the Becerra Cartel strip another fucking thing from us.
And if this buyout meeting turns out to be a ruse for some grand-scale attack on our place, we’ll be ready for it.
Getting that information may prove to be a little bit tricky, though.
I mean, how willing is this guy Sergio going to be to divulge business secrets to a girl whom he?—?
I quickly flip around back to Ashleigh.
A girl whom he can’t seem to stop looking at.
And said girl can’t quite keep her eyes off of him, either.
Dammit, I didn’t want to get caught staring. I was trying to be slick about my sidelong glances and I failed.
Epically.
I take the tiniest sip of vodka, nursing the clear liquor as I nod and smile at whatever bullshit gossip the girls are giggling about…which of the dancers frequently star in their own gang bangs, which one fucked a horse, which one used to be a dude.
I really couldn’t care less what they do in their own time, as long as when they’re in our club and on our stage, they make us fat wads of cash.
Money is really the only savior for us right now.
It gives us choices.
After the Bowman brothers’ massacre, it was the only reason we were able to make such a clean getaway.
It’s how we were able to build up this club and its sister clubs within only a few short years.
The more we have, the more opportunities we can grasp.
And that’s why Nate is so intent on not selling. If these guys are clamoring for our business, that tells us there’s way more money up for grabs. Why should we give up our claim to it and let the Italians pocket our hard-earned success?
We’re not letting anyone chase us out of this city!
I tap my fingernails on the side of my glass.
I have a job to do tonight, and standing here listening to this drivel is getting me nowhere fast.
I sweep my eyes around the perimeter of the room, peering into the darkness. It seems that my target has slipped away.
Dammit.
I can’t afford to miss a single detail.
What if I could get into his office?
Would there be some incriminating information in there?
Then I let out a snort.
Yeah, sure, Jae. I’m sure he’ll have a Post-it stuck to his desk that says, “Friday, 10:00 P.M. - Shoot up The Sapphire Lounge with my new friends in the Becerra Cartel.”
Maybe he has a reminder in his phone?
I give my head a quick shake.
This is ridiculous. I have to find him and figure out a way to get the details I need.
Because this place…I look around and a shiver runs through me since there’s not nearly enough body heat being generated…is a joke that is rapidly on its way to becoming a faint memory.
And desperate situations unravel quickly.
I gulp down the rest of my shot and hand the glass to Ashleigh. “I’m going to the ladies’ room,” I say.
She nods, still captivated by stories of the illustrious lives of our Sapphire dancers. A smirk tugs at my lips as I watch her soaking in the sordid details with rapt attention. Ash has the look of a porn star, but the innocence of a virgin, and sometimes I wonder how she fell into this life in the first place.
I run a hand through my hair, slowing my pace as I pretend to search for the restroom. I’m really searching for Sergio. Maybe he’s hunkered down in his office with an associate. He wouldn’t do business out here in the open.
I creep down a short hallway, my brain rattling in my skull, vibrating from the pulsating electronica echoing through the vast space. Up ahead, I see a sign for the ladies’ room, but I don’t stop. And there are no other doorways in this hallway from what I can see. Where could he have gone?
I keep walking, looking, and listening until I strike gold…maybe.
An unmarked door.
I twist the knob and push it open.
Bingo!
There’s a staircase leading to a second floor.
I take a deep breath and step inside the doorway, not knowing what the hell I’ll find up there.
But I came here on a mission, and I’m not leaving until I complete it.
A lot hangs in the balance, and I’m not willing to take another loss.
The walls leading up are dark, matching the décor of the club. But there are faint lights shining down from the ceiling that guide my path. My heart races as I proceed up the steps, swallowing a gasp as my phone vibrates in my clutch bag. I fish it out and lean back against the wall, clicking to accept my brother’s call.
“Hey, how’s it going? You see anything interesting?”
“No,” I whisper. “Not yet, but I might be on to something.”
“Why are you whispering? And why don’t I hear music?”
“I found a staircase,” I say in the softest voice possible to avoid it echoing on the landing. “I think it might lead to an office, maybe his. It looks private and hidden, so I’m going to sneak up there to see if I can hear?—”
“Jae!” Nate exclaims. “Are you fucking crazy? I told you to keep an eye on him, to see who he talks to, to watch him in the club! Don’t fucking stalk him into a restricted area, for Christ’s sake! We’re trying to figure out who we’re dealing with, not get you killed!!”
“Well, we obviously know who we’re dealing with, Nate,” I mutter. “I mean, the guy is practically oozing olive oil and marinara sauce. He’s clearly connected. And I think there might be something going on here tonight. He was huddled with his guys, and then he disappeared.” I let out a huff. “And thanks for the vote of confidence, by the way.”
I take another step.
It’s dark.
Desolate.
I hope that means nobody is lurking around up there, just waiting for the quivery voice at the bottom of the staircase to appear.
That would be very bad, especially since I only have a can of Mace in my bag.
And it’s been a while since I used it, so hopefully, the nozzle isn’t all crusted up.
“What if he left the place, Jae? Don’t go up the goddamn stairs! Get the hell out of there before you get hurt, or worse!”
“Relax,” I say. “And give me a little more credit. It’s not like I’m little Miss Innocent. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, or did you forget that I’m pretty damn skilled with a knife?”
“And you have a knife on you right now?” he asks in a gruff voice.
“Well, no, but?—”
“Exactly. Get the fuck back to your friends! I never should have told you to go to that club in the first place.” Nate tries to control his voice. “Jae, please. This is dangerous. Don’t go up there, okay? Please just listen to me.”
I let out a sigh. “Fine,” I say. “I’ll go back to the girls. And we’ll just wait until Sergio shows up at Sapphire for your meeting to see whether or not he’s working with the Becerra Cartel. And if so, oh well. We’ll just agree to be sufficiently fucked.”
Nate snorts. “Relax. We’ll come up with another plan. I never should have asked you to go there tonight. I need you here, anyway. This place is a madhouse, and without my right hand, it’s murder.”
“Ha,” I say in a light voice. “Funny. You said the ‘m’ word. You don’t know how close to accurate you might be.”
“Smartass,” he mumbles. “I’ll see you later.”
I click to end the call and lean back against the wall as I stuff the phone back into my bag, pull out my Mace, and take another tentative step upstairs.
To find Sergio’s office.
Because there’s no way I came this far to duck back without any answers.
I creep up the full flight of stairs and tiptoe down a corridor lined with modern-looking wall sconces lighting the way.
A few feet ahead, I come to a closed door with a bright light shining out from under it.
But there is nobody standing outside.
I furrow my brow.
That doesn’t make sense. What the hell kind of mafioso doesn’t have security staked outside of his office, you know, just in case?
It makes my job easier, but it’s really kind of stupid on Sergio’s part.
I press my ear to the door, struggling to hear something…anything…but it’s all in some other language.
Italian.
One of the voices switches back to English, but it’s one I don’t recognize. It’s not the sexy, growly, hungry voice of Sergio. This one is raspy and gritty.
“So you got the meeting scheduled. Good. Now, how about the cash?”
I recoil.
Meeting.
What meeting?
Oh, please tell me what meeting!
“Don’t worry. I’ll have it ready in time.”
A shiver flutters over my skin.
Sergio.
“And what about the other guys? They’re fucking persistent, boss. Like flies on shit.”
Some rumbling follows, mumbling in Italian in a voice that sounds less than thrilled.
What other guys?
The voices drop and now I can only make out single words.
Barely.
And I don’t like any of them.
Bad situation…that prick…fifty million…kill…bloodbath…
I swallow a screech of frustration and stomp my foot against the floor.
The beat drop is so damn heavy that the clanging between my temples drowns out the voices.
Heavy footsteps clunk along the floor behind me and I spin around, fully expecting to see some angry bouncer ready to pull me out of this restricted area and back up to the lounge. But when I flip around, my breath hitches.
It’s not a bouncer.
It’s a group of four men, short, dark-skinned, all wearing menacing smiles on their bearded faces.
“Are you here for the meeting, sweetheart?” one of them asks. “I didn’t realize there would be entertainment.”
My heart stills in my chest, and I twist around to see that there is no escape route behind me.
There’s just another wall.
I wandered into a dead end.
And suddenly the words I overheard explode in my mind like bullets.
Ha, ironic.
Kill. Bloodbath.
Fuck!
“I was, ah, just looking for the restroom,” I say, keeping my voice as steady as possible. I straighten up as much as possible and push past the first two, still holding my breath as I shove through the second string.
I almost let it out when one of them grabs my wrist and yanks me back so that my face is pressed against his stubbled cheek. “Up here?” he says, winking at one of the other guys. “I think she’s lying, what do you say, ese ?”
“I think she’s looking for some action,” the other guy replies with a leer. “Maybe we take her as a parting gift. I can think of some things we can do that’ll get her blood pumping.” He lets out a low-pitched chuckle. “And our cocks pumping.”
I struggle against them, my piercing screams ricocheting off the walls as I kick, scratch, and punch with every ounce of strength in me.
Suddenly, the door flies open and Sergio appears. His eyebrows knit together, a furious expression on his face as he looks left and right before his gaze settles on me. “What the fuck is going on out here?” he growls. “And why is she up here?”
“We found this puta outside your door, Villani,” one of the men says. “She one of your bitches?” He wrenches my arm behind me and I spit right in his eye, the fucker that he is.
I tug my arm, pushing off of his beefy chest, and Sergio puts up a hand.
“Let her go,” he says in a threatening voice. “I’ll take care of her, not you.” His eyes flicker at me and I am plain speechless about what I’ve wandered into.
Holy Christ.
How exactly is he going to take care of me?
Sergio levels one of the guys with a look. “Where’s your boss?” he snarls.
The guy shrugs. “He was busy,” he says in a flip tone. “Said for me to come and get all the details.”
Sergio nods, his eyes narrowing. “Well, you tell him that if he wants to work together, he can come and talk to me himself. I don’t take meetings with his fucking peons, you understand? Ese ?” He grabs my other arm and pulls me close so that I face-plant right in the center of his chest.
I can’t help but breathe in his delicious scent. And dammit, I want to run my hand down the front of his starched shirt, tracing the outline of his defined pecs beneath it…
Oh holy hell, Jae!
You’re in the middle of some impending rumble, and all you can do is think about this guy’s chest?
I inhale once again, resting my face against the fabric for a split second, biting back a moan.
And the answer is yes.
That is the only thing clouding my mind and my better judgment in this second.
Ugh! I’m not that girl!
I try to pull myself away, but Sergio’s grip on me is tight.
He wants to keep me right where I am.
I can’t lie. My knees quiver the tiniest bit at that realization.
For whatever reason, he likes me pressed against him.
Typical guy.
I’ll take it.
My eyes flicker over to the thugs who are slicing into me with death stares.
But I’m impervious, happy to say.
The meanest looking one turns his scowl up to Sergio. “This isn’t finished.”
“Actually,” he replies. “It is. Take that message to your boss.” His arm winds around my waist, pulling me even closer, something I didn’t even think was possible.
“He won’t be happy to hear that,” the guy bites back.
“Well, then, maybe he’ll remember how important it is to make time in your schedule for the person he needs something from. Because that’s what this is. Not the other way around, you get that?”
I swallow hard as the guy’s face gets more and more pinched with anger as Sergio spews those words.
Without another word, he turns and leads his pack of slimy asshats up the stairs and back into the club. Sergio pulls away from me and nods at his guys. “Make sure they leave, yeah?”
And just like that, we’re alone.
Now, I’m no stranger to seedy business. Nate’s motorcycle club was always dabbling in illegal dealings, and since I was around the clubhouse pretty often, I’d overhear some off-the-record conversations. Nothing crazy since the important stuff was left for church, but if you kept an ear to the ground, you’d hear enough to know that there were enemies out there.
Hell. That’s how I found out about the Becerra Cartel scoping out a partnership with the motorcycle club in the first place. The girls would screw around with the guys and overhear things when they were buried between their legs, blowing them. Then, they’d gossip about what they heard.
I sensed danger back then and I can smell it now.
Let me just say that the air around us is damn pungent.
Sergio looks down at me, his expression grave. “Do you know who I am?”
I tilt my head back so that I can meet his eyes. “Well, you never told me your name, but?—”
“Why’d you come up here?” His voice is gruff, almost accusatory.
I shrug. “You disappeared and I, um…” Heat coils in my belly as his eyes narrow. “I didn’t think we were finished.”
“And so you figured you’d just wander to the back of this club, find a hidden staircase, and come upstairs to see if I was around so we could…?” he stops abruptly, lifting an eyebrow at me.
“Uh…dance?” I barely squeak out. “I wanted to dance with you.”
He backs me against the office door, his eyes dark. “I think you’re full of shit.”
My throat tightens as he locks my arms tightly in place so I can’t do a damn thing except head-butt him.
“I don’t think you’re looking for a dance partner,” he grunts. “So why don’t you tell me what you really want?”
“I promise, I just wanted to dance!” I hear the way my voice pierces the air and I hate myself for it. But it really is hard to breathe right now, and for as turned on as I am by his alpha badass kitsch, I am a teeny bit scared of him snapping my arms out of their sockets.
“You think I’m some kind of fucking idiot?” he hisses, tightening his grip. “Because I can’t think of a single reason why you’d be up here right now…” he pauses, his eyes narrowing to slits. “Unless you’re a cop. Is that it? Are you here to investigate my operation, sweetheart? You looking to make a name for yourself down at the precinct to prove your worth to the clowns you work with? You got cause for being here right now? If so, you’d better fucking arrest me. If not, then get the fuck out of my club,” he seethes.
“It doesn’t seem like you want to let me go,” I rasp, my body pinned in the most delicious way possible.
His lips curl into a sneer. “I never said you weren’t hot as fuck. And I’m a guy pressed up against you. Can’t blame me for taking advantage of the situation. Now, are you gonna read me my rights or not? I suspect the answer is no because this place is tighter and cleaner than a million virgins.”
I shake my head. “I swear I’m not a cop,” I whisper.
“And you really only wanted to dance?” He quirks an eyebrow. “My instincts are pretty fucking awesome and I’m not buying that shit.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Can you ease off me, please? I can’t really breathe.”
“You gonna pull a gun on me if I do?”
“I don’t have a gun. I told you, I’m not?—”
“A cop, yeah, I get it.” He stares at me for a second, then pulls away.
I immediately wish he was blanketing me again. God, I’m twisted.
“You know what I’ll do if I find out you’re lying?” he hisses.
My mouth is drier than the Mojave right now, and it’s not out of fear, but from sheer animal lust. I shake my head.
He smirks at me. “Nothing, because then you’d have something on me. See how that works? I don’t know who you’re used to working with, but I guarantee I’m not like anyone else.”
Oh no, you most definitely are not. I bite down on my lower lip, trying hard to look as seductive as possible. “So, are we cool now? How about that dance?”
“As the owner, I don’t typically intermingle with the guests.”
“But you want to make an exception,” I say, twisting a lock of hair around my finger, forcing my lips upward into a coy smile. “Right?” I sway next to him, brushing my chest against his. I almost expect him to recoil, but he stands perfectly still, still staring at me with curiosity.
“There are a lot of guys downstairs you can dance with,” he murmurs.
“I know those guys,” I say. “They’re all cut from the same cloth and I wanted something different tonight.” My breath hitches as goosebumps splay across my skin under his heated gaze.
“You got involved with my business.” His face darkens. “I don’t appreciate it when people interrupt my meetings.”
“It didn’t seem like your meeting was going to get very far, anyway,” I purr, flipping my hair over my shoulder. At this point, I need to make him believe that it’s him I want, not information, especially since he already has zero trust in me. And the way his eyes are stripping me bare right now, I seriously doubt he’s thinking about that meeting anymore. And since I have no visual on the kingpin, I’m just as clueless as I was before about the whereabouts of the Becerra Cartel.
The thugs who were ready to attack me a few minutes ago weren’t in any of the pictures Nate gave me to study. As far as I know, they could be part of any crew…any crew with a taste for blood, that is.
Things could have gone down a lot differently if Sergio hadn’t come out of his office in time. But he’s here now.
And we’re alone, for better or worse.
I’m no closer to finding out his intentions for our nightclubs or who he’s aligned with, but I’m damn near to the point of exploding from the rush of desire coursing through me.
“Should I have saved your life before?” he asks, brushing his fingertips over my bare shoulder. “Are you worth it?”
“You have no idea how much,” I reply in a breathless voice. Oh my God, who am I? I’m not the girl who does the whole flirting thing. I don’t get that fluttery feeling in my gut when a guy makes sexy innuendoes. I don’t fall for the ‘come hither’ look.
But something about this guy, this alleged dangerous and calculating man, makes me quiver and quake like a teenage girl with a crush.
“You’re gonna have to prove it to me,” he growls, pushing me against the wall and sliding himself between my legs.
Oh Lord, yes.
Fuck dancing.
Let’s just stand here…forever…
He runs a hand down the side of my neck, gently fisting the hair on the back of my head. And the tingles that follow?
They don’t just swirl in my belly.
They command my entire body.
“So, dancing,” he says, his lips crooking upward. “That’s what you want to do?”
The lump in my throat is so large, it takes effort to nod my head.
He hovers over me, his lips close enough to mine that I can bite them. The seconds later, he pulls away and motions to the stairs. “After you.”
Shock settles into my bones since dancing…fully clothed…was not really on the forefront of my mind.
And judging by the thickness pressed against my leg, it doesn’t seem to be on his, either.
But dancing it is.
Any excuse to keep myself close to him.
You know, just in case anyone else shows up for a ‘meeting’ and I can link him to the Becerra Cartel.
I lace my fingers with his, flashing him a sly smile as I lead him to the staircase and slowly walk down the steps toward the main club floor.
Yeah, sure. I’m all about digging for information on the Becerra Cartel right now.
Digging into Sergio is more like it.
Once we’re on the main floor, he takes the lead and snakes an arm around my waist, guiding me to a darkened area of the dance floor. “I don’t like to be in the spotlight,” he murmurs against my ear as he slides his hand onto the small of my back. Our movements are fluid, we’re fused together, grinding and swaying to the sultry beats. I wrap my arms around him, trailing one hand down his muscular back as my own back arches. His cock hardens as I rub myself against him, shifting my hips against his, rocking to some tune playing in my head, not the crazy pulsating beat that has faded to the background.
Our hands grope, our bodies gyrate, and I can’t remember a time when I’ve felt more alive and alert.
Good God, if this is how he moves with clothes on, imagine how he’d ride me while I’m face-down in his bed…
“Are you gonna tell me your name? Or are you just about the anonymous torture?” He mumbles against the side of my hair.
“Torture?” I tilt my head back, widening my eyes like I don’t know exactly what he’s insinuating.
“Your body. Your face,” he says, cupping my chin. “You’re fucking gorgeous from head to toe.”
I allow myself a self-satisfied smile. Looks like his self-control is waning.
I bet I could get him to tell me anything right now.
Anything…
“Names can mess everything up,” I say with a playful grin. “Don’t you think? Makes everything so real. Besides, I haven’t decided if you’re worth it.”
When his hand lightly grazes my ass, it’s a warning for me to push it away, to knee him in the groin, to stomp on his foot.
But I ignore the flashing red lights and let it happen.
Until he drops it like he’s just stuck it over an open flame. He steps back with a cocky grin on his face. “I guess it’s good that I decided for you, then.” He sweeps a hand through his thick, longish dark hair. “And if you’re not a cop, you’ve got some other agenda that you’re baiting me for. So why don’t you take it to the bar, have a drink on me, and enjoy the rest of your night?”
My jaw drops as he saunters off of the dance floor, leaving me gaping after him.
Did that just happen? Did he seriously just blow me off after accusing me of having an agenda? Which I absolutely do have?
So I shouldn’t be so shocked.
Sexual tension can only take you so far when you have self-control.
And Sergio clearly does.
A rush of cool air blasts me from an air-conditioning vent overhead, and I wrap my arms around myself.
Well, here I am, duped and freezing my ass off with nothing to keep me warm but my own damn arms, so yeah!
It fucking happened, and I have absolutely nothing of value right now. What a waste of a night!
“Jae!” Ash runs over, her blue eyes wide with concern. “Where have you been? You said you went to the ladies’ room like, an hour ago!”
“It wasn’t that long,” I grumble, stalking off the dance floor without a glance backward.
“What were you doing?” she asks, hurrying after me.
“Nothing important,” I snip, tucking my clutch bag under my arm and stomping across the floor of the lounge to where the other girls are standing.
“This place is so beat,” Violet complains. “Let’s go somewhere else.”
“I’m actually really tired,” I say, forcing a big yawn. “I’m going to go home.”
Ashleigh’s eyebrows knit. “Are you sure you’re okay to drive?”
I nod. “One-hundred percent okay. You guys go and have fun. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Ashleigh links her arm with mine as we walk out to the parking lot. “I’ll go with you to your car so that you’re not alone,” she murmurs.
But I give her a little shove toward the rest of the group. “You know that Vi will leave your ass here if you’re not in her car once she starts it. Just go. Have fun.” I smirk. “Just not too much fun.”
Ashleigh bites down on her lower lip, peering into the distance where I parked my car. “Why couldn’t you just park it here where everyone else did?”
I roll my eyes. “I figured it would be packed and I didn’t want my car buried.”
She snickers. “Oh, well, that actually makes sense, you know, in theory.”
“The reality is a much different thing.” I smirk and give her a quick hug before pushing her toward the girls. “Now go!”
“Okay,” she says with a bit of hesitation. “But call me as soon as you get home.”
“Promise.” I smile. It is kind of nice, I guess. Having a friend. Or as close as I can get to one, anyway, since every time I even think about getting close to someone, things go sideways.
My lips stretch into a tight line, fists balled at my sides.
Or they fucking disappear after blowing my ego to complete bits.
I turn back toward my car with a huff and hurry along the uneven pavement. Tall, thick grasses line the fenced-in area of the club and if it was busy, there would be wall-to-wall cars and I wouldn’t have my heart lodged in my throat as I walk-jog.
But that’s not the case, and it’s a little eerie to be out here by myself, even with the Mace in my bag.
Speaking of which, maybe I should get it out, just in case.
I fumble inside of my bag, not stopping for even a split second, until my fingers close around it. A couple of quick sprays confirms that it is, indeed, useless. I toss it to the side and keep going just as I see a long, dark shadow move in my periphery. I pick up the pace, my heels clicking along the pavement as deep, shuddering breaths heat the back of my neck. I scream, quickly ducking to the right and pulling off my shoe. I spin around with the heel poised to impale who the hell ever dared tail me to my car.
Because, it seems that whatever the fuck else can go wrong tonight, will.
And I have to be ready.
A strong hand grasps the back of my neck, tugging my hair backward so that I stumble into a thick, hard body firmly rooted behind me. I yelp as I spin around, shooting out my arm and slamming my makeshift weapon straight into the guy’s cheek.
He stumbles backward, giving me the chance to get the hell away from him. A loud roar erupts from his chest as he pulls the blood-soaked heel out of his flesh. I kick off my other shoe, my feet pounding the pavement as I head for my car ahead in the darkness. He grunts, low and menacing, his beady black eyes so dark, he looks like a demon. It’s definitely the leader of the dipshit crew who was trying to meet with Sergio. I don’t dare look back. I just run, ignoring the bits of gravel slicing at my soles. But damn, it’s so dark. So dark and?—
I scream, stubbing my toe into the side of a pipe sticking out of the road. I pause only for a second, but it was one second too long and he grabs me by the hair, yanking me backward.
“You thought you were gonna get away before, didn’t you? Thought he was gonna protect you? But putas like you never think about anything besides sucking cock. Well, I’ve got a cock for ya. A nice fat one that you’re gonna enjoy.” He points a knife blade at my jugular, his other hand tugging my hair. “Drop to your knees, bitch, and open wide!”
My screeches shatter the air and I know there’s a knife blade pointed at my neck, but there’s no way I’m sucking anything! I let my body go limp against him, catching him off-guard enough that he has to either catch me or let me hit the ground.
Either way, I win.
And he chooses to let me fall, fucker that he is. I fall between his legs and flip around, driving both of my fists straight into his groin. I use every shred of power in me and he collapses to the ground, narrowly missing my head. I roll out from under him and leap to my feet as he writhes around on the ground, clutching himself. I take the opportunity to stomp on his cock once more before I kick him in the head and in the throat for good measure. He tries to grab for me, but I easily sidestep his fists.
Blood rushes between my temples as I back away from him, running toward my car. I move as fast as I can, turning back to make sure he hasn’t miraculously rolled to his feet. “Help me!” I scream at the top of my lungs. “Someone, please!”
“What the hell is going on out here?”
I hear a deep, male voice along with scattered footsteps pounding along the pavement in my direction. I keep jogging, taking large gulps of oxygen, daring to look back for one split second.
I squint in the darkness.
Yes, it’s definitely him.
Sergio Villani.
He slows down when he sees the guy still floundering on the ground, and then rushes past him until he reaches me. “What happened? Did that cocksucker come after you?”
“He grabbed me,” I seethe. “Forced me to the ground with a knife to my throat.”
“And he’s the one laying on his back now.” He grins at me. “Impressive.”
I glare at the guy. “I did what I had to do. And I’d do it again! Harder! ” I shriek.
He pulls away and looks at my feet. “Where are your shoes?”
“I kicked one off and stabbed him in the face with the other one.”
“I won’t lie. This whole Black Widow routine you’ve got going on is making me kinda hot.” He smirks.
I roll my eyes.
“?Maldita puta! ?te mataré!” he screams at me as Sergio’s guy shakes him and smacks him on the side of the head.
I glare at him, not really sure what he said, but it didn’t sound good.
Sergio grabs him by the collar and shakes him, pulling him close so that they’re practically nose to nose. My eyes fall on a marking on my assailant’s collarbone, something I didn’t see earlier because it was hidden by his shirt.
I clap a hand over my mouth, bile rising in my throat, the image branded in my memory forever. I’ll never forget it…never forget what I saw that night.
It’s how we found out who killed Mom and Dad, how we knew the Becerra Cartel tore apart our family and our lives.
My fingers twitch as I run them over the symbols sliced into the leather headrest of my parents’ totaled car. I drag them over the blood splatters, leaving streaks of red in their wake. Tears run down my cheeks, dripping onto the leather, still warm from where my father’s body lay hunched over the steering wheel. A sob erupts from my chest as I stare at the message that was left for Nate…for us.
305 BC.
Nate told me the numbers are the Miami area code. The BC was for Becerra Cartel.
They carved their message into the driver’s seat to make sure we’d find it, to make sure it would haunt us forever.
For as long as I live, I will never be able to erase that image from my mind. I’ll never be free from the guilt that plagues me every day. I’ll never forget my last words to my father. I’ll never forgive myself for what I did.
And three years later, I’m still searching for a way to eradicate that guilt, to avenge my parents’ senseless death. They were innocent. They were good. They didn’t deserve to die.
Sergio motions for one of his guys to come closer. “Marvin, take Javier inside and get him cleaned up. Then get him a drink. I’ll be in later and we can have a little talk about how you’re supposed to behave when you’re looking to partner with someone.”
“I need to get to a hospital,” Javier moans, still hunched over. He spits at me as Marvin pushes him toward the back door of the club.
My hands tremble as I smooth down my hair. Javier works for the Becerra Cartel. Sergio is going to have a meeting with him to discuss a partnership. He’s sending him inside to get cleaned up and to have a drink?!
I bite back the words that are on the tip of my tongue. I want to lash out at Sergio so badly but I can’t. He’s meeting with Nate in a week. I can’t tip him off about who I am and why I’m here, even though I want to take a fist to his handsome face.
Swallow it down, Jae. Keep your shit together or you’ll rain holy hell on everything!
If Nate was pissed about me staking out Sergio’s office, he will probably skin me alive if I give him anything he can use against us. For all we know, Becerra is in on this buyout and they might be planning to make a move when we’re distracted by offers and deals. Tipping off Sergio now means their first attack may come a lot sooner than anticipated.
And we’re not about to give up the keys to our kingdom…not by a longshot.
“You’re pale,” Sergio says, peering at my arm. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say stiffly, but my heart is thumping out of control and I can’t decide who’s more to blame…Javier or Sergio.
“You don’t look fine.”
“Yeah well, excuse me for being a little shocked that you’re not going to beat the hell out of him or anything,” I huff. “Clean him up and get him a drink. What the hell is that? You really want to work with someone like that?”
He levels me with a stare. “It’s business.”
“It’s bullshit,” I hiss, stopping with that because even though I want to say so much more, I know I can’t. I have a chance to get some information, real information that may actually help us, and I can’t jeopardize it.
“Come inside. Let me get you a drink,” he says, studying my face.
I swallow hard, the realization of what I just saw choking me almost as much as my throbbing pulse. Adrenaline floods my veins, and if I’d known about that ink when he was lying on the ground…holy crap, what I would have done to him! “I don’t need a drink.”
Oh yes, I fucking do!
He doesn’t listen and moments later, we’re back in his office, me still barefoot. He leads me inside before slamming the door closed.
“You didn’t have any security guys outside your office before,” I say, my voice thick. “I’d have figured the manager of a club like this would have been a little more careful, especially with guys like Javier skulking around.”
“Why are you so interested in him, anyway?”
I shrug. “Just an observation.”
He turns to stare at me before grabbing two shot glasses and a bottle of what looks like whiskey. “It wasn’t my choice to leave myself exposed like that,” he says in a dark voice, pouring the amber-colored liquid. “But it’s been handled.”
He hands me one of the glasses. I swallow it down fast and it singes the sides of my esophagus, scorching a path to my empty belly.
“Good?” he asks, lifting an eyebrow.
I nod. “Yes,” I choke out, gritting my teeth as he works. “So you run a nightclub, not very well, by the way, since it’s deader than a cemetery down there. And you work with some seriously nefarious people. Interesting life you lead.”
He chuckles. “That’s probably the tamest way I’ve ever heard it described.”
“So it’s worse?”
“Let’s just say it’s a lot more colorful.”
“Colorful…like blood red being the primary hue?”
“You ask a lot of questions for someone who doesn’t like to answer them.”
He’s right. I’m the queen of evasion. But it keeps me alive, so divert, divert, divert!
Sergio grins at me and puts the glass to his lips before tipping it back.
I don’t want to smile at him. I want to hate him for what he’s planning to do to us. I want to incinerate him for working with the cartel. And most of all, I want to gut him for all of the bullshit he fed my brother about a buyout. He wants money, yeah. But I bet it won’t come from us. Sergio’s pockets are going to be lined by the Becerra Cartel if he can make the deal with us.
Our enemy.
Sergio doesn’t give a shit about me and Nate.
He only cares about building his own empire.
And he’ll sell us out to anyone who can clear his path.
I think I need another shot…
Because even though I know all of those things, it doesn’t stop the butterflies from fluttering around in my gut.
It doesn’t stop the tingles from shooting up my arm as his fingertips graze mine when he refills my glass.
And it doesn’t stop my heart from leaping into my throat when his heated gaze lands on me, hot, hungry, and oh so intense.
I take the second shot, letting the liquid heat my insides. “Thanks,” I mutter. I need to get out of here now. I’ve already seen, heard, and felt enough.
Now I have to figure out what to do with all of it.
He puts down his glass and inches toward me. Blood rushes between my ears, drowning out every sensible thought running through my mind right now.
“I’m going to leave now,” I say, not moving a muscle as he continues to creep closer and closer like a predator eyeing his prey.
“Okay,” he says, closing the rest of the distance between us. He runs a hand down my spine, stopping just above my ass. He presses me into him, his other hand tangled in my hair.
Oh, Jesus. What is he doing? And why am I letting him do it?
He drags my head backward, exposing the column of my neck. He sweeps his tongue down the side, eliciting a gasp from my lips. Wetness pools between my legs as he pushes me against the locked office door, his hands on either side of me, holding me captive in an invisible cage of unbridled lust.
His lips hover over mine, his hot breath fluttering against my prickled skin. “Is this what you wanted when you came looking for me before?” he growls, one of his hands inching up my skirt. He cups my pussy, sliding my panties aside and sliding his fingers inside of me. “Did you want me to do this?”
I shake my head, too breathless to even respond.
“No?” he whispers. “Did you want something else?”
I nod. My throat is so tight right now that I can’t even squeak out a reply. But fuck yes, I wanted more. And I hated myself for it!
Still do.
His lips curl into a smirk and he attacks my mouth in a frenzy. Our tongues tussle, snaking around one another like heated coils of carnal lust. I fist his thick, dark hair, capturing his lower lip between my teeth as his fingers work my clit. With his one free hand, he yanks down the top of my dress, clasping his lips over each of my taut nipples, paying equal attention to both.
My head falls back against the wall, rolling left and right as he feasts on my breasts.
This is crazy! And wrong on so many levels!
But yet I can’t make him stop.
Nor can I stop myself.
His thick cock is rock hard against me and my legs instinctively fall open, my pussy begging me to start the party. I yank off his belt and pull open his pants, sliding them to his knees.
He grabs a condom packet from his pocket and rolls it on, positioning himself at my entrance. I lift my leg, locking it around his waist as the head of his dick grazes my opening.
Oh my God, what the hell am I doing right now?
I have to stop! I have to push him away! I have to get out of here right now!
I grab his shirt, pulling him close, smothering his mouth with my own as he plunges into me. My pulse hammers against my throat, my mind an explosion of flashing lights. Electricity crackles between us, sizzling every single nerve ending in its path as he drives into me, deeper, harder, and with increasing urgency.
He lifts my other leg, burying himself deep inside of me. I try to bite back the screams, but they pierce the otherwise still air. My pussy clenches him tight as I arch my back, forcing my hips upward to meet his thrusts. I bury my head in his neck as he plunders me, wrecking me in the same instant. I quiver against him as the orgasm charges through my body like wildfire that scorches everything in its path. I throw my head back, my legs still wrapped tight around his torso as he thrusts a couple of more times and collapses against me.
We clutch each other, entwined, breathless, and sated.
It’s perfect.
And horrible.
I need to get the fuck away from him immediately, if not sooner!
I slide down the length of his body, averting my gaze as I fix my dress. I can feel the heat from my body explode into my cheeks as I comb my fingers through my hair. I wiggle my toes on the floor.
At least running away will be easier without five-inch heels hampering me.
I clear my throat. “Thanks,” I murmur because what the hell else am I supposed to say?
“That’s it? Just a ‘thanks?’”
“Thanks, it was good.”
“Ouch.” He drops the condom into the trash, zips up his pants, and steps away from me. “Never heard that one before.”
I try to bite back the smile, but despite myself and the completely messed up situation, I can’t. “First time for everything?”
“I guess.” He grins. “You got a name? I don’t usually ask, but I don’t know. You’re…different.”
I clear my throat. “Um, Jae.”
“Jae as in…?”
“Jae,” I say firmly. “Just Jae.”
“Okay, ‘Just Jae.’” He grins. “You look like you need another drink. Can I tempt you?”
I shake my head and swallow hard. “I’m fine, thanks. I have to go.”
“You shouldn’t be driving right now. You sucked down those two shots real fast.”
“I shouldn’t have done a lot of things,” I say in a low voice, my eyes tangling with his. “But I’m making the smart decision and leaving before I do any more of them.”
He places his hand over mine, the one I’m using to clutch the doorknob. “You didn’t ask my name. Don’t you wanna know who I am?”
My lips stretch into a tight line. “That’s the problem. I already do. And it’s why I need to go.”