Chapter 24 Monroe
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
MONROE
Curiosity killed the cat and you my dear, you’re the stupid, stupid cat.
Celeste sure does know how to entertain, especially when it’s to steer away from a hidden agenda.
When Alaric presented us with an opportunity to catch our unsub, I had a feeling that she had something up her sleeve.
Even if she was more than welcoming, allowing us to come undercover, I had a feeling something big was going to happen but I kept it to myself.
She had Alaric wrapped around her finger and he wouldn’t believe a word I had to say when it came to her.
However, he definitely seems off tonight.
I guess I’m responsible for that due to sending that text with the link of an article written about her.
It confirmed my suspicion on her, making me want to dig deeper into her past. She owns the strip club, which we already knew and she was gone out of the country for some time before she came back after her father’s recent passing.
It was noted that she was seen coming in and out of her father’s business building for reasons unknown.
She has an apartment in the city at a fancy complex.
Her net worth is six-billion dollars and she’s actually pretty young for being so successful.
Her mother passed away when she was younger.
It was noted that she’d died of cancer. She’d battled long and hard before her body couldn’t handle it any longer.
Her father had remarried a woman named Bianca who recently moved into a smaller home in the suburbs.
I spent hours looking into her and I almost forgot that I needed to sleep before our big event tomorrow.
It’s become a slight obsession I didn’t mean to dive into.
As a friend, I have a duty to look out for him and that’s all that I’m trying to do but it’s making me look like a lovesick person trying to sabotage his relationship.
He jumped in so quickly with her and that wasn’t normal for him.
Of course I want him to be happy, but how can you love someone who keeps so many secrets from you and is an heiress to the most deadly Mafia gang in New York.
Her family are literal criminals who deal and without a doubt kill people but always walk away without being touched.
It’s not fair of me to judge her by her family’s choices, but something about her strikes me that she’s just as deadly as they are.
She’s not innocent but she’s stayed out of the spotlight to avoid getting caught.
When Alaric opens the door, I almost don’t recognize him.
He’s clean shaven, different colored eyes, and dressed to the nines.
We had to alter our identities tonight and I’m not sure how either of us feel about it.
After our little exchange, we head to the club that’s jammed packed and thriving.
She must be doing something right with all the people lined up, desperate to get in.
Luckily we don’t have to stand in that damn line and get right in.
The music is loud, the decor is perfect, and satisfied customers fill the air.
Cheers are echoed as players win at the poker tables, which is a good touch for the night and the girls look immaculate.
We grab our drinks and a velvet voice sounds from behind us.
Alaric freezes for a moment before we turn around to Celeste standing in front of us.
“Mr. and Mrs. Parker, so glad you were able to join us tonight,” she purrs.
I’m not going to lie, she looks breathtaking and she has a mask on, of someone who’s powerful and untouchable.
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world, Ms. Hansley. I really admire what you’ve done with the place,” I respond a little too nervous and without thinking, I move into Alaric, wrapping my arm around his.
I feel Alaric tense at my touch and I try to push down the feeling that I might just die tonight from this movement.
“Christina, I do hope your paws stay within boundaries and you don’t get too handsy with your husband.
You both should enjoy our girls tonight and have a little fun.
” Her eyes dart to my arm wrapped around Alaric’s and I don’t miss the fire that ignites with fury before she quickly looks away and slips her indifferent mask back on.
She will mark this and lock it away for later to address even though we’re to appear as a couple. She doesn’t give a fuck, I’m touching what is hers. Everything seems to go in a blur for the next few minutes of our interaction. She takes her leave after our exchange to god knows where.
We both look around as if we’re trying to find what activity we want to participate in but we make quick work scanning the area for anything out of the ordinary.
Beckett speaks in our ears that they haven’t seen him yet and we decide to make our way to the love seats.
Dancers come over to us giving a dance and we blend in looking awestruck by their performances.
The DJ announces the big show and next thing you know a female descends from the ceiling, absolutely captivating.
Once she meets the floor, she moves with such grace and seduction, it has me sucking in a breath.
She’s impeccable, something about her seems familiar and when her eyes look up from her prowl, I can’t help the gasp that leaves my lips.
What the hell is she doing? She’s in disguise but those eyes have the same fire from earlier and she doesn’t hesitate and sways over to Alaric, worshiping him as long-lost lovers and whispering unknown promises. She’s going to fucking blow our damn cover.
Once she’s finished with him, she moves behind me, brushing her fingers, causing a chill to run up my body and her mouth is a breath away from my ear before she speaks.
“If you ever get close to him like that again, you better pray that we never cross paths alone.” Her voice is venomous with no threats but a damn promise to end my existence. Before I can defend myself, she leaves to the next guest and finishes off the performance before disappearing once again.
We both sit in silence for a moment, trying to wrap our heads around what just happened.
Alaric takes a couple deep breaths as if trying to gain his composure again.
He enjoyed himself way too much in those moments but now he’s fuming from seeing others look at her with pure desire.
I mean I can’t blame him for that and if I were him, I would have flipped my shit from the stunt she pulled.
Regardless of her position, she didn’t prepare him for it and we both know damn well that she doesn’t partake in the performances.
The crowd was wild and eating up the new dancer, which also confirmed that this wasn’t a normal dancer who works here.
We can hear Samason and Beckett in our ears going on about the performance and how much they wish they were inside. I wince as these stupid idiots have no idea who that woman is and they are knocking at death's door right now.
“Don’t you have something better to do than obsess over my girl,” Alaric growls into the earpiece, which shuts them up right away.
He’s fighting so hard to keep it together, I don’t miss the look in his eyes. Something dark, so unnatural for him.
“What the hell is she up to? She just put a huge target on her back and there’s no doubt he didn’t watch that performance and was absolutely fuming from it,” I comment before noticing the man from earlier get up from his seat and head towards the smaller bar.
He looks agitated and I notice a slight shake in his hands.
“I don’t know what she was thinking but maybe it was meant to help us. There’s too much security for him to take action here. The guy from earlier who was watching us, have you seen him?” Alaric gets up from the loveseat and I follow him, making our way to the poker tables.
“He moved over to the smaller bar. He looks way too uncomfortable for someone who willingly came to a strip club. Let’s play a game while we keep an eye on him. Samson, see if you can get a good visual of his face and run his identity,” I murmur my response.
About an hour and a half later, we find ourselves back at the bar getting drinks with the couple we beat from earlier. Celeste hasn’t made another appearance since the show and we haven’t seen her out mingling with her guests either. Maybe she’s watching from a distance, planning my undoing.
The guy from earlier remained alone, having little interaction with anyone and looking down as if avoiding any cameras.
Samson wasn’t able to get a good scan on him and he hasn’t done anything to warrant us to take him into custody.
So when he gets up and leaves, there’s nothing for us to do but remain and hope the undercover outside gets a good look at him and where he might be going.
Looking over Alaric's shoulder, I notice someone weaving through the guests by the back exit and she pauses looking in our direction. Celeste stands there as if she’s contemplating something and in deep thought.
She doesn’t notice my staring but before Alaric turns around to see what I’m staring at, she moves and slips through the back door.
She’s still in her wig but in comfy clothes, not appropriate for the scene. Is she leaving?
“Excuse me, I have to use the ladies room really quickly. Will you get me another drink, dear?” I ask Alaric and give the couple a sweet smile before I slip away.
I head towards the bathroom as I know Alaric is watching and once he turns away, I quickly avert and head to the backdoor, slipping out to follow Celeste.
She’s wearing a sweater, holding her bag to her chest, walking weary down the alley.
I follow her, sticking to the shadows against the wall.
She makes a turn and I count to five before I proceed forward turning the same way.
My footsteps echo and I slip behind a dumpster before she whirls around to see who’s behind her.
I wait a few minutes before I come out from my hiding spot when I notice she disappeared.
I make quick work trying to catch up to her looking down the different alleys noticing they are empty.
How the hell did she get away from me so quickly?
I choose the next alley and walk quickly down it until I make it to the end.
I notice a black van with no windows and double doors to the back that are closed.
Something about the van makes my blood run cold.
This part of the area we wandered deep into isn’t the best part and I wonder why she came back here alone.
Is she making some sort of drug deal? She’s still nowhere to be seen.
In fact, I don’t see anyone around and no movement from inside the van.
Someone surely would have come out if they’d seen me.
Something doesn’t seem right and despite all my senses alerting me to get back to the damn club, I don’t.
I make sure it’s clear before I cross the small road to the other side to get a better look at this weird van and hear footsteps coming from the opposite side of it.
I can’t see who they belong to but something in my gut tells me I need to get the fuck out of here and report back to the team.
But if I try to speak in low whispers into the earpiece, I might be heard so I keep quiet.
I wait another minute or two before I peek around the corner when my eyes collide with a solid figure in front of me.
I freeze and true terror rolls through me.
Of course my weapon isn’t quite accessible at this moment as it’s tucked underneath my dress.
He’s too close and when my eyes look up to the mystery person invading my space, it’s the guy from the club.
“Hello, Agent Monroe. So nice to see you again.” My eyes go wide and before I can react, I’m slammed against the building wall with a cloth over my mouth. Everything goes blurry and I lose myself completely.