Slowly, I flipped the pages of sheet music to a song I had never played before. The notes were soft, creating a tranquil melody that the lavish clients would no doubt appreciate as they sipped on their expensive drinks and ate overpriced hors d'oeuvres.
As I played, I noticed a large man dressed in a tailored white suit come through the door. He was surrounded by bodyguards, their bodies built like tanks. He had a smirk on his face, his eyes glittering like they owned the world.
For a moment, I imagined him walking over to me, grabbing my hand, and promising me the adventure of a lifetime.
Now, wouldn’t that be exciting?
Alas, he didn’t even seem to notice me. Instead, he walked to a table in the back. Immediately, white-gloved waiters flocked to his side, catering to his every beck and whim. A few women slid into the booth next to him, curling their hair around their pretty little fingers, obviously trying to get his attention.
My eyes moved to his bodyguards, remembering my daydream in the shower. If I ever became a high-class pianist, I would need bodyguards like that too. Maybe even bigger.
I finished my song and a few people clapped politely. I smiled brightly, thinking for a split second that I truly was in Vegas and this was my adoring audience. That dream quickly vanished when one of the new bartenders dropped a bottle of top-shelf scotch, causing it to shatter on the ground.
Silence.
The man in the white suit chuckled. “No worries, my dear. No worries.” He called out to her as her cheeks turned into small flames. “I’ll settle for a bourbon.” She nodded, but it was clear that she was shaken over her mistake. Such a bottle had to cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars, probably more than she made in a month.
Just as everything started to settle back down, someone else walked into the bar, catching my attention. He wore a black tuxedo with a matching bowtie. Usually, I wasn’t much of a fan, but it really did look quite dapper on him. Maybe it was his powerful neck and broad shoulders, or maybe even his chiseled jawline. Whatever it was, it suited him.
If I had been any other girl, maybe I would have walked up to him, pulled on that bowtie just to get him closer. Our bodies would lock together like two puzzle pieces until we were stuck together like glue.
I imagined kissing his pink, soft-looking lips, completely blowing him away with how fiery I was. In the end, I would walk away, leaving him wanting more.
Then, if I wanted things to get really exciting, I would sneak him in the back, take his hand and run it along my thigh, all the way up the slit of my dress, teasing him with my silky skin until he just couldn’t control himself any longer, ravishing me right then and there.
But, I think I’m getting a little ahead of myself. It’s funny how wild your imagination can get when you haven’t had any excitement in your life for God knows how long.
The man in black scanned the bar like he was looking for something, his eyes eventually falling on the man in white.
How interesting.
Could there be some kind of a feud going on between them? A sort of good guy, bad guy situation? Already, my mind started to conjure up a dozen different scenarios, each one more dramatic than the last.
He walked up to the bar and sat down, but every once in a while, he would look over his shoulder at the man flocked by bodyguards.
This was getting very interesting indeed.
To accentuate the mood, my next piece was one with a faster tempo. I felt like I was the music director in a movie, cueing in a high point in the plot. As my fingers danced over the keys, I waited for something to happen.
But, to my dismay, the minutes ticked by, dragging into hours.
It seemed like tonight would just once again be a boring night in the life of Brooke Aguiar.
Chapter 2
ZACH
Ace was sitting in the back of the bar. He had his bodyguards flocked around him in his usual manner which would make getting to him quite the high order, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle.
“What will you have, cutie?” An attractive bartender leaned forward as she addressed me, her bright red lips pursed in a seductive manner.
“I’ll have a dry martini.”
“You got it, handsome.” She winked, starting to mix the drink. As she did so, I looked over my shoulder, studying Ace.
He was sipping on a glass of bourbon, the color rich and golden. Surely, the most expensive drink in the house. Ace was definitely a high roller, but soon enough, he would be rotting in jail.
“Here you are. Say, do you have a name?” She asked, batting her eyelashes ever so slightly like she wanted something from me. “Maybe a number too…” She trailed off, leaning forward just a little bit more, the top of her cleavage showing.
Playing the part, I flashed her a bright smile, running my fingers through my slicked back brown hair. “Name’s Zach –”
Before I could continue, someone cleared their throat. The bartender turned around to find her boss standing there, tapping her foot against the floor. Beside her, a smaller, more docile-looking girl was busy mopping up what looked like spilled liquor.
“Missy. What have I told you about flirting with the customers?” The boss hissed.
The girl turned red in the face before she started to serve some of the other customers.
“I’m sorry about that, sir.” The older woman apologized with a gracious tone.
“Oh, it’s not a problem at all.” I smiled before taking a sip of my drink.
From there, I was free to observe Ace as I pleased. I needed to find the right moment to join him and infiltrate his inner circle. If I could do that much, then it was only a matter of time before I gained his trust and at that point, he would be as good as mine.
I had been investigating Ace for quite a while now, using different disguises to find his hideouts. It was no easy task, he knew how to stay under the radar. None of his associates had given the mafia leader away, so it was high time I talk to him myself.
I left a tip on the counter for Missy before I headed for the back of the room.
His guards instantly got up when they saw me approach, their hands balled into fists like they were about to knock me out right then and there.
“At ease.” Ace prompted. He had a light and airy way about him almost as if he thought he was untouchable. “Let the man talk.”
I met his words with confidence, knowing that a man like Ace would find value in my moxie. I sat down right beside him, forcing the blonde he was fondling to move away.
He grinned, looking interested.
“I hear that you run high stakes poker games every weekend. I was hoping I could buy in.”
Ace raised an eyebrow with intrigue. “Oh, is that so? I’ve never seen you around here before.”
“I’m actually from out of town.” I lied smoothly, keeping my expression steady.
“Which town?” He asked quickly, obviously testing me. No doubt, he probably had hundreds of people trying to scam him in the past. Probably a dozen or so undercover cops. But none of them were me. Where the others had failed, I would succeed.
“Attleboro,” I answered without batting an eye. “You know Big Heidi? Well, I’m her cousin.”
“Zach?” Ace asked, his eyes widening ever so slightly before he brought me into a tight hug. “Why didn’t you say something sooner? Hell, if you’re related to Heidi, you’re practically family. You know, her mother, she made the best chicken parmesan.”
“Oh, you don’t have to tell me.” I laughed, playing my part to a T. “That tomato sauce… it was to die for.” I pinched my fingers together and faked like I was savoring the taste. “I honestly don’t know how she did it. I kept badgering her for the recipe, but she said she would take it to her grave.”
“Maybe we should go dig her up and find it.” Ace joked, jabbing his elbow into my side. I didn’t know if he was doing so to prompt me to laugh or to subtly check whether I was carrying a gun. Luck
ily, I was smart enough to come unarmed. You can get yourself into quite a pinch if someone finds you with a gun when you’re supposed to be all friendly and buddy-buddy to them. And, honestly, I much preferred to break someone’s nose over blasting their brains out. Guns made things way too easy.
“So, do you think I can get a spot at one of your poker games? Heidi wouldn’t shut up about it.”
“That’s because Heidi has never won a penny.”
“I expect she gets too plastered to think straight. You know how she loves her vodka. Straight. Pinch of lemon.”
Ace’s shoulders sagged a little, relaxing just a tad. Up until now, he kept his guard up, not easily fooled by stories and ruses, but I had done my homework. I knew Big Heidi inside and out.
“Hmm, there’s an opening tonight, but it’s a friendly game. $10,000 buy-in. You’re free to come… but there’s one rule.”
I raised my eyebrow in question. “And what is that?”
He smirked. “You have to bring along a beautiful woman.”
“Is that all? I can have ten women by the time the night is over.”
“Then, I look forward to seeing you later tonight. The game starts at 3:00 A.M. Don’t be late.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out an Ace of Spades, handing it to me. “That’s your invitation. If you show up without it, my men won’t hesitate to make quick work of you.” The bodyguards nearly growled at me at their boss’ words. “Well, it has certainly been a pleasure, but I must get going now.” He snapped his fingers and instantly, two women flocked to his side, holding onto his arms. His bodyguards were quick to follow.
I waited until he left the bar before I slumped back into my seat. While I was good at my job, it didn’t mean it was easy. I grabbed Ace’s unfinished glass of bourbon and sniffed it. I spun it around to the clean side and downed the expensive liquor, enjoying the taste as it effortlessly ran down my throat, warming me from the inside out.
As I sat there, staring at the bar, I planned out my night. I would need to find myself a date and quickly. I could call the station and ask for a female officer to come along with me, but none of them were really cut out for the part. Besides, none of them had been thrust into such a dangerous situation before. I hardly thought they could handle it since most of them only issued parking tickets or handled routine traffic stops.
Ace was a whole other ballpark.
He was the town’s biggest mafia leader. The overlord of the city’s underbelly. If someone needed high-end drugs, he was the man to call. If someone needed a hit, he was the man to call.
For years, the department has been trying to take him down, but every time an officer got close enough to bust him, their body ended up in the river, decomposed beyond recognition. The only way we were ever able to ID the victims was by their police badges which were always nailed over their hearts.
I knew, by taking on this assignment, that I might be the next corpse floating down the river, but honestly, I needed to take this man down. Five years ago, my sister had been walking home from a late-night class and back to her dorm when a couple of guys jumped her.
She was never seen alive again.
After an investigation, it was discovered that she looked just like Ace’s ex-girlfriend, a notoriously rich woman that was in the blood diamond business. Their breakup had been like World War three and my sister had been caught in the crossfire.
She was going to be a goddamn surgeon one day.
I would be damned if I allowed Ace to go without punishment.
When I finally have him in my hands, he will be begging for mercy.
I grinned, blinking back into reality.
Doing so, I spotted the beautiful pianist, dressed in a long black gown, her hair falling down her back. Even from this angle, I could tell she was strikingly beautiful. A doll-like face. Cute button nose. Sensual lips. A knock-out body.
She was exactly the woman I needed.
Now, all I had to do was convince her to go to a little poker game with me.
Chapter 3
BROOKE
By the end of the night, the bar was all but empty. A few stragglers still held their glasses in their hand, their cheeks rosy from the alcohol. Almost everyone had stopped listening to me and I was mostly just playing for myself at this point, pretending I was hosting a concert, all my adoring fans hanging on my every note.
But, there was still one person who seemed interested.
It was the man in the black tuxedo. At some point, he had joined the back table, making small talk with the man in white. A part of me wished I had been able to hear what they were saying, but I was content with making up my own version of their dialogue.
Eventually, the man in white left with his entourage, but the man in black remained. His bright blue eyes stared at me all night from that point forward. I almost expected him to swoop in, take me in his arms, and run off. I’d make a fuss of course, but there’d be honestly nothing I could do once I was in his big strong arms. I’d be his helpless little victim until the good guy came and saved the day.
God, I really needed to go out more…
As the owner started to corral people out of the establishment, I got up, fixing the wrinkles on my dress. The second I looked up, the man in black was already standing there, leaning against the back wall, his eyes crawling up and down my body, taking in the sight of me.
“Can I help you?” I asked, pursing my lips.
For a split second, he looked vaguely surprised. Surely, he didn’t think I could be so bold. I bet he was expecting me to go weak in the knees at his mere presence, but I wasn’t that kind of girl.
I could hold my own, even with the best of them.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed you watching me all night long.” I lowered my voice to a sensual tone, getting closer to him, pushing him into the wall.
Suddenly, he turned the tables. He grabbed my wrists and in an instant, they were pinned above my head. Our bodies locked together and I could feel the slight outline of his member against my thigh.
My heart kickstarted in my chest.
Tonight might not be so boring after all.
I grinned up at him, maintaining eye contact. “Rough… I like that.” I leaned forward as much as I could, our lips almost touching. I knew by the way his eyes fell to my lips that he was tempting me. He wanted to kiss me, but there was something holding him back.
“You should really be careful who you play around with. You might just get hurt…” He leaned down, whispering into my ear, sending a shiver running through my spine. “And I wouldn’t want to see a pretty girl like you getting hurt.” His free hand ran down the curve of my body before it rested on my ass.
“I think I can take care of myself.”
“Is that so?” His lips finally made contact with the side of my neck, his tongue teasing my skin, making me shiver. “And if I wanted to have my way with you right here and now, how would you stop me?”
“Maybe I don’t want you to stop.” I countered, knowing I was playing with fire. I knew nothing about this man. For all I knew, he could be some kind of drug lord, about to drag me into a life of crime, but hey, it would be more exciting than a desk job, that’s for sure. Not that I was looking into a life of crime or anything. It was just a thought.
He chuckled, finally letting me go. “I have a favor to ask you.”
“Oh?” I raised my eyebrow in question. “At two in the morning… I wonder what you have in mind.” I was already picturing him pushing me onto a bed, his body hovering over mine. I had no doubt that he looked like a god underneath that fancy suit. I bit the inside of my lip to keep my fantasies at bay, but it was so hard with him standing so close… I just wanted to grab him by the lapels, pull him close, and kiss him hard. Maybe I should…
I was just about to do exactly that when he grabbed my wrist. “Not here.” He pulled me toward the back entrance, almost like he knew about my fantasy. I grinned, thinking I was
finally about to get some after months without even so much as a guy glancing my way.
Was I getting desperate?
Who knows? Who cares?
I followed him outside. There, the nighttime breeze pushed my hair into my face. To my surprise, he carefully pinned it behind my ear in an almost romantic manner. “Really, you shouldn’t bother with all the sappy stuff. I’m not really into it.”
He laughed. “I’m not trying to woo you. If I’m reading you right, you’re already soaked just thinking about me, but that’s not why I brought you out here.”
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