Chapter 44
Impressive Acting
A low, pulsing bass vibrates through the lacquered floorboards, heavy enough to rattle the ice cubes inside the crystal tumblers. The lounge is drowning in a deep, crimson neon glow, the rhythm of the music hitting straight against the chest.
Kai leans his weight against the polished mahogany of the bar counter. His gaze sweeps across the shifting silhouettes of the crowd before cutting back to Victor. "How did you even track her down this fast?"
Victor does not look up from his glass. He slowly swirls the amber liquid, watching the dark gold catch the sharp edges of the ambient light. "Instagram. TikTok. The usual."
Kai lets out a dry, disbelieving laugh under his breath. "You stalked her social media? For this level of an operation?"
"It is the baseline of intelligence gathering," Victor replies, his voice dropping into a smooth, unreadable chill. "You master a target's patterns, their weaknesses, and their routines before your boots ever touch their territory."
"Did you talk to her?"
"No."
Kai’s brows furrow. "Why not?"
"A sudden follow followed by a direct message makes a woman uncomfortable," Victor says, his tone calculative, completely devoid of emotion. "It triggers her defences. We need her open."
"DM her now," Kai urges, nudging Victor’s shoulder with a sharp jerk. "Send a message. Otherwise, we are going to end up sitting here all night doing absolutely nothing."
Victor does not answer. His silence is absolute.
Suddenly, the deafening roar of the club music cuts out, plunging the room into a heavy, expectant quiet.
The stage lights shift, bathing the platform in a sharp, golden hue.
A woman steps onto the platform, moving with an innate, dangerous elegance that commands the entire room instantly.
In one hand, she holds a sleek, matte-black wireless microphone; in the other, a slender flute of bubbling champagne.
Her hair is a striking, sun-kissed blonde, falling in perfect waves over her naked shoulders, and her eyes possess a sharp, mesmerizing depth.
Kai tenses beside him, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "Is that Alessio’s sister?"
Victor’s gaze locks onto her. The surrounding world blurs into insignificance. Every line of her posture screams power and unchecked privilege. "Yes," Victor murmurs, his throat tightening. "That is Alicia Gambino."
"Don't fall for her, man," Kai warns quietly, catching the sudden, predatory intensity in Victor's eyes.
"I am not falling for anyone," Victor snaps back, his focus never wavering from the stage. "Confirm the target. It's her."
Alicia speaks into the microphone, her voice smooth and captivating as she welcomes the crowd, but Victor is already turning away, his mind moving three steps ahead of the room.
"Let's buy a VVIP room," Victor commands.
"Why?" Kai asks, struggling to keep up with the sudden shift.
"To approach her. A woman like Alicia does not mingle with the public, nor does she frequent the standard VIP lounges. She will only meet with the VVIPs."
Kai pulls up the club’s digital menu on his phone, his eyes widening at the price tag. "How much is it?"
"Twenty-eight thousand, seven hundred and fifty dollars," Victor states flatly. "Roughly twenty-five thousand euros."
Kai lets out a breathless scoff, trying to mask his shock. "Casually low cost, right? Just pocket change."
Victor pulls out his wallet, his expression entirely blank. "Are we paying with your card or mine?"
"No way," Kai mutters, holding his hands up in surrender. "I am not paying for a VVIP room just to talk to a target. I will buy the drinks, Victor, but I am not buying the real estate."
"Fine."
Victor slides his own platinum card across the counter. Minutes later, a premium access voucher transfers to his device. They move away from the main bar, navigating the heavy shadows toward the guarded private corridor.
Two massive security guards step into their path, their expressions stone-faced. Victor does not blink. He presents the digital VVIP entry confirmation. The guards glance at the screen, then nod, gesturing for them to lift their arms.
While Victor is patted down, his eyes remain fixed on the distant stage where Alicia is finishing her toast.
The guard's hands check his jacket, his waistline, and his ankles, ensuring no knives, firearms, or surveillance gear cross the threshold.
Satisfied, the guards step aside, unlocking the heavy double doors.
The VVIP suite is an oasis of dark luxury. The walls are lined with soundproof velvet, reducing the club's roar to a distant, heartbeat-like thud. A plush, deep-red leather sofa dominates the centre of the room.
Almost immediately, a waiter enters, bearing a crystal decanter of ultra-premium Masseto wine and a polished carbon-fibre box containing elite Cohiba Behike cigars.
Kai sinks back into the leather sofa, stretching his arms across the headrest, trying to look casual. The door clicks open again.
Alicia Gambino steps inside.
Behind her, a parade of eight stunning hostesses follows, trailing the scent of expensive perfume into the room. Alicia stops at the edge of the seating area, a sharp, knowing smile curving her lips. "VVIP treatment," she purrs, her voice dripping with artificial warmth.
Victor rises slightly, returning the smile with a perfectly practiced, aristocratic charm. His eyes lock onto hers, holding her gaze with absolute confidence. "We have no need for the hostesses, thank you," he says, his tone polite but entirely unyielding. "We prefer a more exclusive conversation."
Alicia’s smile falters for a fraction of a second, her curiosity piqued by his refusal. She dismisses the women with a subtle wave of her hand. Her eyes scan Victor, drawn to the quiet danger and wealth radiating from him.
Kai seizes the opening, leaning forward to rest his forearms on the glass table.
"Miss Gambino, let's talk about expansion. We aren’t here for standard tourism. We are looking to establish a highly exclusive venture, and your properties make you the perfect candidate for a principal business partner."
Alicia remains standing, her posture guarded but her interest clearly piqued. "An expansion? My properties are doing exceptionally well on their own. But I am always open to listening to a serious proposal. What exactly are you offering?"
"A joint venture," Victor cuts in, his smooth, low voice instantly capturing her full attention.
"You handle the local logistics and the political protection. We provide the offshore capital, the international high-roller network, and a digital integration system that will double your casino's revenue within the first quarter."
Alicia’s eyes scan Victor, drawn to the absolute authority and absolute certainty radiating from him. "A joint venture of that scale requires massive liquidity, Mr. Victor. I don't sign contracts based on promises."
Kai doesn't argue. He reaches into his jacket, pulls out a thick stack of bills, and places two thousand euros flat on the glass table.
Alicia looks down at the money. Her expression doesn't change, but her eyes linger on the cash. She remains still, her silence sending a clear message: This is not enough to buy my time tonight.
Without a word, Kai reaches into his pocket again and drops another five thousand euros onto the table.
Victor cuts a sharp, warning glance toward Kai, his eyes demanding to know exactly where he had been hiding that much cash.
But Victor quickly maintains his composure, turning his gaze back to Alicia.
Victor's expression is like steel, completely unreadable, projecting the aura of a man who owns everything he looks at.
Kai watches the interaction closely, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The guy is a natural, Kai thinks to himself. He needs to be auditioning in Hollywood, not doing field work.
Victor reaches for his glass of Masseto. He takes a slow, deliberate sip, his throat moving as he gulps the rich wine down. A soft, low groan escapes his lips—a sound of pure satisfaction that causes Alicia’s gaze to drop to his mouth.
Leaning forward, Victor reaches into his breast pocket and pulls out two cards: a black American Express Centurion and a JP Morgan Palladium card. He places them gently beside the stacks of euros.
Alicia’s breathe hitches slightly at the sight of the elite credit cards.
"Let's be direct," Victor says his voice dropping to a low, dangerous register that commands her complete attention. "How much do you want? I want this bar, and I want the casino right next door. I know these two properties are your most precious assets."
Alicia hesitates, her professional facade cracking just a fraction. "I am sorry, but... yes. They belong to my family's empire. I am still very much in love with what we built here."
A slow, predatory smile curves Victor’s lips.
He leans in closer, lowering his voice until it is a low, predatory murmur against her skin.
"If I ever become your business partner..."
he pauses, letting his eyes trace the cards on the table before rising to lock back onto her face.”
I promise to possess everything you treasure.
I will claim your casino, absorb your bar...
and eventually, I will take the empire's queen for myself."
Alicia’s chest rises and falls rapidly. She claps her hands together, a sharp sound to break the suffocating tension he has built around her. Instantly, two of her personal security men step into the room, carrying a leather folio filled with legal documents.
"You follow me on my social media, don't you?" she asks, her voice slightly breathless as she tries to regain control.
"Yes, pretty woman," Victor answers smoothly, his smirk widening.
"Where are you from, Mr. Victor?"
"Russia."
Alicia lets out a soft, intrigued laugh. "Wow. I love Russian men."
She places her hands flat on the table, leaning across the glass toward him. The distance between them vanishes. Her warm breath brushes against Victor's lips, heavy with the scent of champagne.