Chapter 2
New Orleans
Alexander
A vibrant city at any hour of the day.
Music blared, the scent of delicious, spicy food coming from every corner on every street. This was my hometown and there was no place I’d rather be, although the large crowds annoyed the hell out of me.
I’d been called away from a meeting regarding potential new real estate to handle Randy, which had prompted the bad mood to turn worse. At least while I was here, I could check on Emmeline and our booming business. Indulgence was our bread and butter.
At least on the legitimate side of the corporation.
An entire city block of buildings with the first floor catering to tourists and locals alike.
We owned several specialty stores from a bakery and coffee shop to a winery and bookstore.
But it was the restaurant and two clubs on the upper floors that made the most money and had boosted both our family’s notoriety and reputation.
My sister had her hands full running the bottom floor, but she adored being a leader in industry.
Thinking about her allowed a smile to cut through my shitty mood. As I headed away from the warehouse and toward the busy street, the rush of adrenaline continued to throb in my veins. Inflicting pain and eliminating lives were simply a part of the world created generations before.
I’d never flinched in being required to handle a situation, starting at a young age. It was my duty to ensure the employees remained in line and the clients were happy. What I reveled in was the violence allowed by being kings of the underworld, a seedier yet more profitable side of New Orleans.
My brothers often teased me, stating my appetite for violence was the only indulgence a cold-blooded man such as me understood.
Over the years, I’d begun to think they were right.
Drugs were off limits and had always been.
Liquor was enjoyable, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gotten drunk. And women? Well…
It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy the company of a beautiful woman, savoring the softness and passion they allotted me. I could simply turn off the need like a faucet when necessary.
Very little in my life excited me, violence less and less.
Yet I was mafia, prince in both name and position, heir to a powerful throne and I’d accepted the responsibility when I was nine years old. Nine. That’s when I’d lost my childhood, on my way to becoming a man.
I pushed through the throngs of people, savoring the continued feeling of control. That’s what I craved. Dominance and power in all things and with all people. We had our share of enemies, but few had dared try to infiltrate our company or act in a way as to suggest the need for retaliation.
At least until now.
Some would consider us blessed.
By black magic, according to all sources.
The thought always made me laugh. We might as well be vampires according to certain members of the press. With our French Creole background and disturbing history, our family had not only come to accept but use the notoriety to our benefit.
As evidenced by the gothic appearance of our French Quarter shops and themed galas at Club Indulgence and for our appearance in the Mardi Gras. My sister’s insistence. Not anything I participated in. She’d reminded us that we were in business to make money and that marketing took all forms.
My sister was correct. However, I was more interested in the darker, seedier side of the corporation, remaining in the shadows. Maybe it was the darkness I preferred where my sister was the shining light in the family.
I turned the corner and a noise captured my attention fully and completely. A laugh.
Not just any laugh, but a woman’s laugh so sultry and evocative that my body instantly reacted, a deep longing coming out of nowhere. I was momentarily taken aback just before I collided with someone, sending the person tumbling forward.
And straight into my arms.
My hands gripped her forearms instantly, but she was still swaying, the phone she’d had in her hand slipping to the sidewalk. The brutal crack made her cringe, her pert nose turning up out of frustration.
“Shit. Shit. Shit. Goddamn it. Fucking hell.”
A sly smile curled on the corner of my mouth hearing her exclamation and the scent of her perfume captured more than just my attention. I’d never felt such instant, immediate arousal. She wasn’t just beautiful. She was breathtaking in a way that captivated all five senses.
For a moment I was caught dead in my tracks, as if the entire world around me had stopped turning on its axis. I wasn’t known for freezing under any circumstances, but here I was, caught in a time warp where I hoped we could remain for as long as possible.
A slight smirk had already crossed her face as the frustration lingered, much like her citrusy perfume had already stained my skin.
Almost immediately after the words flew from her mouth, she realized she’d cursed like a sailor, her porcelain skin drifting into a beautiful blush crossing her cheeks. “I’m sorry. That was…” She laughed again, more nervously than before.
“Adorable.”
She finally lifted her head, studying my eyes.
With the waning sun providing a golden halo behind her, I was fixated on the color of her eyes.
Luminous green the color of emeralds, her irises rimmed in gold.
Holy fuck. She was without a doubt the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on, but I was captivated by the soulful look she offered.
Still flustered, she didn’t immediately realize I continued to hold her or that her body was still swaying in my arms. Arms that were meant to pull her against me just before I thrust my cock into her sweet pussy.
The light in her eyes shifted as she took a few seconds to lower her gaze from my face to my lips, which I found fascinating.
They moved lower still to my chest and in a daring move those lovely eyes dropped to the thick bulge between my legs.
Where her actions had been slow and easy before, she snapped her eyes back to my face quickly, her blush deepening to a perfect crimson.
Only then did she decide to pull away. Before she had a chance, I crouched down, reaching for her phone. “I’m sorry. It would appear I owe you a new cellphone.”
“Nonsense. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”
I kept a firm hold on the iPhone as I handed it to her, forcing our fingers to touch. Even I wasn’t prepared for the sharp, penetrating jolt of electricity.
“Well, then we’ll agree to disagree.”
“Nice try, but I’m always right.” She dared drag just the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip. She had no idea she’d just awakened a hungry beast.
The beauty sensed the instant connection as well, jerking her hand free, her rosy lips pursing together. As if crowding her space, she took a step away, obviously in an attempt to collect herself.
“Do you do that often?” I asked, a part of me wanting to keep the conversation going.
“Do what?” Her nose wrinkled again as she glared at the huge crack running diagonally across the screen. “Oh, well. The call can wait.”
“Assume you’re right, even with a stranger.”
My statement caught her off guard, but I was rewarded with a laugh again. “Yes, because I am.”
“Very certain in your abilities.”
“When you know your strengths, you flaunt them. Isn’t that what you always do?” Her eyes drifted again, this time lingering on my fisted hand.
With a quick glance I confirmed blood had stained my skin, my knuckles slightly swollen. She didn’t miss a beat, giving me a look that would stop traffic. “Did I interrupt something highly dark and dangerous?” There was something far too inviting about her question.
“Much like your phone call. Nothing that can’t wait.” Was I somehow in the process of asking her to share a cup of coffee with me or perhaps a drink? I couldn’t remember the last time I’d flirted with a woman.
What caught me as much off guard as her eyes or her wicked tongue was the fact I wasn’t usually attracted to women like her.
My father would call her buttoned up, her outfit a conservative gray suit that, while well-tailored, barely acknowledged what I suspected was a voluptuous figure.
Even her blouse didn’t provide enough definition of her lush curves, but I sensed they were there.
A vision had already formed that would haunt me for the remainder of the day.
With her hair twisted in a tight bun, I longed to rip whatever was keeping her long strands from allowing me to tangle my fingers in them. I’d never been so overcome with a need to peel away a woman’s clothing alongside the layers of her complexity.
“Unfortunately, while my girlfriend will manage on her own without finishing her tale of woe with a very bad date with a horribly distasteful man, my job won’t.
Thank you for the offer of replacing my phone.
I have it under warranty in case of little mishaps like this.
” She backed away, her smile indicating she remained interested, yet she was putting a wall between us.
Not that I blamed her. If and when she learned my identity, she’d be very happy she hadn’t fallen for my lame attempt at flirtation.
I shoved my hands in my pockets, uncertain what to say, still shocked she had managed to knock me off balance.
She turned around then thought better of it, spinning once again and offering a wider smile.
“But maybe it’s a good idea if you watch where you’re going the next time.”
As she rewarded me with another laugh, my balls tightened.
If the incident had happened on any other day, I would have followed my instincts, either grilling her about her very existence or following her. But this wasn’t an ordinary day.
Sighing, I finally managed to tear my eyes away from her, but only when I was about to lose sight. After a shake of my head, I continued walking. Barely two minutes later my phone rang.
Seeing my brother’s number flash across the screen wasn’t unusual, but my instinct immediately told me something was wrong.