Chapter 29
Zephyr
Alina Volkov talked to me while I was at the Louisiana Derby with Hugo. I”d been warned about the possibility, especially since Hugo had been in touch with Alina. In addition, Alina”s NOPD surveillance team had prepped me when she arrived at the racecourse with two bodyguards in tow.
I liked the Louisiana Derby. I was a big fan. When I was growing up we used to have stables at the Bayou Belle mansion, though they disappeared once my father died. Maybe it was his love for horses that I carried in my heart as a way to remember him. Who knew?
I still rode, but not frequently. I used to have a couple of horses that I stabled but after they retired to an estate in Virginia to end their days giving rides to children, I”d started to attend races. I”d even thought of buying a racehorse, but I knew as much as I enjoyed the race and the pump and beat of it, raising horses was not my jam.
The derby was fun, and I would”ve loved to bring Grace along. I missed her like hell, but we knew we couldn”t be seen together. Any hint of us being romantically involved could jeopardize the operation.
The horse racing event brought out the opulence and eccentricity of New Orleans, a day where the spectacle of the races was matched only by the parade of attendees who came dressed to impress. I navigated the grounds, feeling the electric pulse of anticipation in the air, the hum of conversations blending with the distant calls of the race announcers.
I was dressed in a crisp, light gray linen suit, a choice perfect for the warm weather and the occasion. Around me, men and women flaunted outfits that ranged from traditional Southern charm to bold, statement-making ensembles. Wide-brimmed hats adorned with feathers and flowers were in abundance, as were seersucker suits, vibrant dresses, and an array of sunglasses to shield eyes from the bright April sun.
It wasn”t Ascot or even the Kentucky Derby, but it was our own brand of crazy.
The air was filled with the scent of mint juleps and the rich, earthy aroma of the track, a mixture of excitement and tension that only horse racing could evoke. The sounds of hooves thundering down the track, the cheers of the crowd, and the sharp trill of the bugle marking the start of each race created a symphony of tradition and thrill.
I”d seen enough pictures of Alina Volkov. However, she was impossible to miss, standing by the paddock, her presence commanding attention. She wore a striking red dress that clung to her stunning body, bold and unapologetic. A wide-brimmed black hat, along with wide sunglasses, veiled her eyes and face. Her attire was a stark contrast to the pastel palette that dominated the day, a visual declaration of her confidence and power. She”d left her blonde hair loose, and it cascaded around her beautiful face.
I watched as she approached me with the appraisal of a man interested in a desirable woman. After all, I did have a reputation for being a lady”s man, though she didn”t hold a candle to my Grace.
”Would you like some company?” she asked, her accent tinged with Eastern Europe.
”With beauty like yours, how the hell could I refuse.” I held out a hand. ”Zephyr Doucet.”
She shook my hand. ”Alina Volkov.”
I turned her hand and brought it to my lips. Grace was probably watching from somewhere and would be fucking furious. For some perverse reason, that thrilled me. If she was jealous, she was still mine.
”I must tell you a secret,” she drawled, her voice smooth, her accent tinting her words with an exotic allure. ”I know who you are. I”ve been looking forward to meeting the man who”s caused such a stir.”
”Stir?” I quirked an eyebrow, letting go of her hand.
She sidled next to me, and we watched the horses race past.
”You are famous for your music,” she purred. ”And your other talents.”
”I hope you”re talking about” — I grinned wide and ran my eyes from boob to thighs — ”how good I”m with my hands.”
I could almost feel Grace rolling her eyes. I had been outfitted with a recording device, so I knew she was listening…or, at least, Nick was.
Alina”s lips curved into a knowing smile, the kind that hinted at secrets and unspoken agreements. ”I hear that you”re having some problems.”
”Me, cher? Nah. I”m the problem-free Doucet.”
”Now, now, I thought we were friends, Zephyr.”
As the next race began, our attention momentarily shifted to the spectacle. The crowd”s roar crescendoed as the horses burst from the starting gate, a blur of color and power that captivated everyone watching. For a moment, the world narrowed to the track, the collective breath of the audience held in suspense until the winner crossed the finish line. I cursed under my breath. My horse had not won. I just lost thirty grand of NOPD money.
”I believe you have problems…like betting on Black Betty,” she remarked. ”Those were poor odds to go after.”
”I got a tip,” I said sullenly.
”I”m someone who knows how to solve problems…like yours.”
As if on cue, Eddie passed by, waving at me. More threat than greeting. The rumor around town was that I owed him over five hundred thousand dollars. How on earth anyone could lose that much money gambling seemed utterly nonsensical; but I was told that high rollers lost and made that kind of money before their day actually began.
”Again, doll, I don”t have any problems.”
”You already owe Fat Tony five hundred grand…and you added thirty more to your tab with your most recent loss.”
”Who da fuck is Fat Tony?” I asked cheerfully.
”Eddie works for Fat Tony, Zephyr.” She sighed then, a long elaborate exhale. ”Are we going to play games, or are we going to get to the point?”
”Darlin”, I love playing games. I see a woman like you, and my dick says, let”s get this pussy in a room so I can fuck her six ways to Sunday. So, you see, the only problem I have right now is the one in my pants that I hope you”re planning to do somethin” about.”
Grace was going to kick my ass for that. But both Nick and Ash had told me not to capitulate the first time. To flirt, to prevaricate, but to not give in. I knew how to lay down a charm offensive and get a woman into my bed, so I was using some well-honed technique here.
”Oh, I do plan to do something about it,” she replied, her gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that felt like a challenge. ”Especially at the right price.”
I scoffed. ”Darlin”, I don”t do whores. You”ll have better luck with some others. Sorry about that.”
I was all but turned around and about to leave when her temper flared. ”How dare you?”
I raised my hands, palms out. ”Hey, I”m just sayin”…I don”t do that right price shit.”
”Considering you spend an inordinate amount of time at Big Daddy”s…how much do you owe Madam Trixie? I hear fifty Gs.”
Jesus, how much fucking did people think I did to owe a whorehouse fifty thousand dollars? My dick was probably about to fall out. This debauched lifestyle I was supposed to live would have had me six feet under years ago.
”You seem to know a whole lot about who I owe what to, Alina.” My voice went from flirty to clipped. It was the right time to let her have the upper hand.
”I also hear that you”ve joined the Bayou Belle Holdings board,” she continued smoothly.
”Like I said, you seem to know a whole hell of a lot about me. Didn”t know I was that interestin”, doll.”
She smirked. ”I can help you pay your bills and also make sure you can always pay your bills.”
”I”m a Doucet, cher. I can always pay my bills.”
”Not the way you”re bleeding money.”
”Lady, do you know who my family is?” I laid it on thick with a little smarm. I could almost feel Grace”s elbow in my chest for that.
”I know that Blaze Doucet has cut you off. Rome Decuir doesn”t want to have anything to do with you to the point that he doesn”t even let your sister talk to you. Who”s left that can help you? Your whore Angela?”
My blood ran cold. I knew they”d go after my family but not Angela. She didn”t have anything to do with this. She was vulnerable.
Focus, Zephyr! Now is not the time to show you”re crazy.
”I don”t need a whore to fund my habits. Like I said, I”m a Doucet.” I didn”t even have to pretend to calm my tits down when I said this. Fear for my friend had already done that.
”We”ll help each other, Zephyr,” Alina murmured. She slipped a card into the front pocket of my suit jacket. ”Our friendship can be a win-win in more ways than one.” Her hand ran down my chest, and she cupped my cock.
Yep, Grace was going to kill me.
She went on tiptoe and brushed her lips against mine.
Fuck me, this was all probably on video.
”See you soon, lover.”
Not if my girlfriend murdered me, you won”t!