“It means I’m looking to make some money myself. I’m not in the Marshals service anymore.”
She narrowed her eyes, riveting them on his face. He could tell that she was pondering whether he was telling her the truth, and he hoped his steady gaze convinced her.
“So, what does your friend want with me?”
“He thinks you might be able to hook him up with some business connections in Mexicali.”
“Perhaps,” she said, resting her fingers just below his belt. “So, there are two of you?”
“Two of us,” Fetsko said. “Let’s go check him out.”
He felt relieved as soon as they stepped out of the bar and moved toward the elevator.
Fetsko opened the door to his room, and then opened the door between the rooms, hailing Lucas. Lucas walked in and, upon seeing Marlena, tried to control his surprise; Fetsko had not prepared him for a Marilyn Monroe look-alike. Fetsko introduced them to each other, and Marlena looked Lucas up and down.
“A really long drink of water,” she said. Fetsko suppressed a laugh. Marlena sounded like she had been watching too many American Westerns.
She stepped toward Lucas and surprised him by grabbing his belt buckle. “Are you long here, too, caro?”
Lucas was not amused, but he forced himself to relax. He knew what she wanted, and he had to at least give the appearance of letting her have it.
He flashed as genuine of a lecherous grin as he could.
“Well, ma’am,” he said with a slight Texas accent, “they tell me I’m right outstanding in my field.”
He was surprised when she laughed; her English had to be fairly proficient to get the double entendre.
“I’m delighted to make your acquaintance,” she said, “both of you.” She made it sound like she meant him and Fetsko, but she was looking squarely at Lucas’s crotch.
“So you are new to Calexico?” she asked him.
“New to Baja California, ma’am. I’m from Arizona, and I represent the Arizona Livestock Company.”
“Ooh, a cattle man, so charming,” she said. He could tell she had also tried to adapt Marilyn’s speech patterns, although her thick Spanish accent was not easily hidden. “Nick tells me you’re looking to do business in Mexicali.”
“Yes’m.”
“So are you in the cattle moving or the people moving business, señor?”
He looked at Fetsko who nodded.
“Well, I’m in the cattle business, but I’m looking to hook up with someone in the people moving business.”
“I see,” she said. “How can I help you?”
Lucas sat down on the divan. “I’m curious whether there might be people of your acquaintance, in the people moving business, of course, who can help me. As the owner of an extremely large ranch, I need a lot of help. My friends require a lot of help with ranch work.”
She looked at him with a definite bedroom come-on expression.
“Yes, I can probably think of one or two with whom you might be very interested to do business.”
She got up from where she was sitting and came to sit on the divan next to him. She sat very close with her red taffeta dress falling in folds across his thighs. She had one hand on his arm, and the other on his leg.
“Of course, the information does not come free,” she said.
“Name your price, mujer.”
“I’m interested in things other than your money, señor,” she said leaning in to his ear.
She ran her fingers across his three-day stubble. “I prefer clean-shaven men,” she said, “but I’m very interested in what you have here.”
She went for his groin, and he was annoyed that her expert fingers made him swell into a hard-on almost immediately.
“Oh, I see that you are interested, too,” she said.
She leaned in and engaged his mouth, working his erection until he was rock-hard. He really wanted to find out whether she knew something before she went any further.
He let her unbutton his fly and reach inside his shorts.
He cupped her breasts and returned her kiss.
Fetsko retreated to the far end of the room.
“How’s about giving me a name or two, then we’ll see what we can do.”
“Oh, no. I kiss and tell; I don’t tell before I kiss.”
“And I don’t kiss before I get information.”
“Then, it seems we are at an impasse, caro,” she said, “unless….”
She moved her hand farther down inside his shorts. He took a hold of her wrist. “Before we do this, I think Fetsko has something else for you.”
She turned to see that he had laid out two lines of cocaine and moved across the room to the other couch.
He poured himself a drink from the well-stocked refrigerator, slipped back into his own room, closing and locking the door behind him.
His thoughts turned to Audra which were immediately intruded upon by thoughts of Elena. He was so tired of the guilt and regret. In fact, he had realized that wreaking revenge on Blanco for revenge sake alone would not release anything. He had to focus on taking him down for Audra’s sake. That was the only way either of them would get a new lease on life.
A clatter in Fetsko’s room was followed by a loud thump at the door. He started to jump up, thinking someone was coming through the door, when he realized that Fetsko and the girl were going at it in the next room.
His erection wasn’t going away. Suddenly, the sight and smell of Audra surrounded him, her beautiful pink parts that he had only encountered for the first time a few days ago. He saw in his mind the encounter in the dome room, her lying back on the couch, her breasts uncovered, her eyes so full of desire for him.
He wanted to imagine, inch by inch, what it would be like to enter her, but he wouldn’t allow himself to. No, despite having gotten himself off a few times thinking about her, he wouldn’t allow himself to picture that ultimate act. He wanted it to be fresh and unknown and spontaneous when it occurred. Suddenly, he couldn’t wait to get back to her. He must find Blanco.
27
Lucas slept late the next morning and awoke wondering if Fetsko was awake. Moments later, he came through the door between their rooms carrying Mimosas and handed Lucas a glass.
“What are we celebrating?”
“I thought we deserved champagne considering the success of last night’s campaign.”
Lucas raised his eyebrows, and Fetsko nodded his head. “She came up with Blanco’s name and said that she not only knows where he lives but that she can get me an introduction.”
Lucas’s heart skipped a beat. “Blanco? You mentioned Blanco to her?”
“I didn’t have to. After my virile performance last night, she started babbling names. I drew her out, got her to talk about them, and then focused in on Blanco. The only downside that I see is that she said it could take a few days, even maybe a couple of weeks before she can arrange anything.”
Lucas nodded slowly, thinking. “What kind of contact did you give her?”
“My untraceable, disposable cell.”
# # #
It was a waiting game now. Luckily, they didn’t have to wait long. Two days later, Fetsko’s cell phone rang.
Fetsko disconnected his phone call and looked at Lucas. “It was Marlena. She’s coming up with news of Blanco. I know you’re trying to avoid her. She wants to deliver the message directly to you.”
“I’ll bet she does. Can’t you just meet her downstairs in the bar?” Lucas asked.
“I could, Roberts, but you’ve got to put in an appearance.”
They debated, but before Fetsko could call her back to propose meeting in the bar, she was at the door, and Fetsko quickly faded from the picture.
Lucas caught his breath as she swept through, struck again at the uncanny resemblance she bore to Marilyn. She wore a blue and white cotton piqué dress with a white bodice, polka dotted skirt, and spectator pumps. She threw her head back and laughed as she tossed her purse onto the div
an, an obviously practiced gesture.
There it was again, instant hard-on. Damn! How does she do it? He imagined pushing her back against the wall and fucking her, her laughing the whole time until he emptied himself into her. She’d love it and so would he…until about twenty seconds after the deed was done.
It wasn’t out of guilt about Elena he realized suddenly; it was out of his desire for Audra. Audra! He wanted to get away and call her. To hear her voice. More than anything he wanted to be next to her.
As all of this was passing through his brain, apparently all Marlena saw was his dumb and full of cum expression.
“Caro,” she said, stroking his face. “Your shadow is getting thicker. I thought you would have shaved it by now, knowing how I love smooth skin,” she said, feigning hurt.
“Sorry,” he said, stroking his chin. “I’m rather fond of it.”
“More fond of it than of me, caro?”
“Oh, I’m very fond of you, chica,” he said.
“Chica? I’m a woman,” she said, “not a girl. Maybe too much woman for you?”
Ah. Hard not to rise to that challenge, he thought, especially since he already had.
He grabbed her, pulling her to him, biting her lower lip hard, then crushing her mouth with his, and pushing her against the wall. She kicked off her shoes and unbuttoned his shirt. He started to unzip her dress, and she began pulling at his belt.
“Oh,” she said, brushing her fingertips against his erection. “You want Marlena.”
He allowed his pants to fall to the floor. He stepped out of them, then he pushed her head against the wall, attacking her throat with his teeth. Then, he put his hand around her throat and squeezed. “You have word for us from El Toro Blanco?” he said.
“I have a message for you,” she said.
“Directly from the mouth of The White Bull himself?”
“From one of his ayudantes principales.”
“From an adjutant?” he demanded, letting her up from the wall.
“Sí, ayudante principal.”
She rushed to him again, pressing her body into him and seeking his erection with her hand.
He pushed her away. “What’s the message?”
“He wants to meet with you at his villa de playa.”
“His beach house, eh? Sounds cozy? And would you be coming, too?”
“Claro.”
“When would this take place?”
“No sé. It could be tomorrow; it could be a month from now.”
Lucas sighed. “So, you didn’t actually speak with Blanco himself?”
“No, señor. All the arrangements are made by his ayudante.”
“So, you’ve never even talked to him?”
“Talked to him? I’ve made love to him,” she said, pressing her body up to him again, “like I want to do to you. Why don’t you let me show you how I kept him interested for hours?”
Lucas felt slightly ill at the thought of penetrating the same space that had been visited by his arch enemy.
“So just how would I know,” he asked, as she pushed him onto the couch, putting one knee between his legs and splaying her hands across his chest, “that this is not some kind of setup.”
It was her turn to back off now. “That, I cannot tell you, señor. Nick asked me to get you an invitation to see El Blanco. What happens after that is between the two of you.”
“So, you could be delivering me to some lucrative business or luring me to my death.”
“What would be in it for me to set you up to die? I’m sure I stand more to gain from you alive than dead.”
“Unless Blanco pays you better,” he said.
“Why you insult me, caro?” she asked. “I would rather have your young, hard body than that fat pig, no matter what he pays.”
It was tempting all the way around, tempting to lay her, tempting to trust her. What she said made some sense, but he didn’t doubt for a minute that she wouldn’t be swayed by better money, no matter who was fucking her. But of course Blanco would have to be tipped off somehow to try to double-cross them.
“When this weekend?” he asked, reaching up under her dress, following her stockings to the top and discovering that she wore no panties. He pressed two fingers into her which didn’t help his hard on.
“Saturday afternoon,” she said, repositioning herself more firmly upon his hand and beginning to undulate against it. “He’s giving a party. He will make time for you then.”
“So, where is his beach house?” he asked, as she stroked him back, first through his shorts, then reaching her hand beneath.
“Up the cliff behind the marina,” she said, breathlessly, “where he can keep an eye on his yacht.”
He closed his eyes. Just the information he had anticipated for far too long. He removed his hand from her and reached to catch the wrist that stroked him, but that was something else he had anticipated far too long….
28
Early that evening, he pulled out the phone device that Gordon had given him. Here was technology he couldn’t begin to understand. There were no obvious cell towers near Gordon’s complex, and the space over the complex was unreachable by satellite, so how he could communicate with them, he wasn’t sure, but he was grateful for it.
At Gordon’s request, this would be only the second time he had used it—the first upon arriving in Calexico.
“I’ve received part of the information I came here to find,” he told them, “so I’m much closer to accomplishing my mission than I have been up to now.”
“That’s good news, buddy,” he heard Jerry’s voice. “What’s next?”
“It will be a few days before I can execute the next phase, so it will just be a wait and see from here.”
“Understood,” said Gordon.
Silence crackled between them for a moment.
“Is she there?”
“Of course she’s here,” Jerry responded.
“Can I talk to her?”
“Oh. You mean right here.”
“She’s out in the dome somewhere,” Gordon said. “I don’t think….”
Just then there was a sound in the background. The fidelity was so clear that the sound of the opening door was unmistakable.
“Is that her? Can I talk…?”
He heard a slight commotion in the background, and Jerry’s voice fading away.
“Everything okay?” Lucas asked.
“Of course, buddy,” Gordon said. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Just a little jumpy, I guess,” Lucas responded. “Is there somebody else there, right now?”
“Nope. Just the three of us,” Gordon said.
“You’re sure I can’t talk to her?”
“We need to cut this short, buddy,” Gordon reminded him.
“Can I call back later?”
“Too soon. You’ll have to wait a few days.”
“Okay, then. Just wanted to catch you up,” Lucas said.
“Thanks. Oh, and be careful with that Rubicon. She’s a real looker.”
“Yup, she is,” Lucas replied, and Gordon disconnected the call.
29
He had no idea what that had all been about, but it was enough for Lucas. He was only four hours from Audra with nothing to do until they heard from Marlena again. He would drive back to the compound.
Fetsko connected with the chief on an untraceable cell phone and found that the setup had been successful. As far as the chief knew, Michaelson would have heard it by now, as well. Lucas was relieved. The chief had quickly made good on his promise.
Lucas decided to leave the Rubicon for Fetsko in case he needed to go in before he got back. A vehicle like that was not something a federal marshal would drive, so it would help to convince Blanco that Fetsko was a mercenary.
He had Fetsko drive him to a used vehicle dealership. He just wanted something cheap and practical, but his eye fell on a Harley for sale. It had been a number of years since he had ridden a motorcycle, but it wasn’t som
ething one forgot. He purchased a Bell helmet with it, so Lucas was ready to go as soon as the cash was out of his pocket. The State of California gave him ten days to register a new vehicle, so he’d take care of it when he returned. That way he’d be flying under the radar for the moment.
# # #
Fetsko checked out of the hotel in Calexico and drove across the border, taking a room at the Lausanne hotel. As soon as he was there, he called Marlena.
“What do you have for me, muñeca?” he asked.
“I spoke to Blanco’s ayudante again. There is a party happening soon, and I’m still trying to get you an invitation. Maybe you can come with me, but they have to say so first.”
“All right, then. Marlena?”
“Sí, Nick.”
“I’m at the Lausanne.”
“At the Lausanne? Oh, Nick! Can I come see you?”
“Oh, yes, baby. You can come all you want.”
She giggled, and the call disconnected.
# # #
It was well after midnight when Lucas pulled into the compound. Gordon had undoubtedly been watching his approach and had the dogs at bay. He wheeled the motorcycle beneath the camouflage, parked it, and removed his helmet. He looked up to see Gordon standing in the door of the outermost Airstream.
Lucas stood and looked at him for a few seconds. Then, Gordon retreated inside the Airstream and closed the door. After the earlier phone call, Gordon’s actions seemed strange but made it even easier to do what he had come here to do.
He walked into the Airstream that he and Audra shared but was startled to find her absent. A thousand thoughts converged on him at once, but he remained calm. He looked around and didn’t find even a trace of her. Her duffle, clothes, toiletries, everything had been removed. The bed had not been slept in.
He dropped his backpack and headed back up to the first Airstream. He didn’t have to knock; Gordon opened the door as Lucas hit the step.
“She’s up in the dome. She’s been up there a couple of days,” he said. After a few seconds, he continued, “There’s no stopping you two, is there?”
Lucas didn’t answer him. He headed out into the dome and looked up, pretty sure where she would be. He saw a faint glow coming from the apartment they had gone into together.
BILLIONAIRE BIKERS: 3 MC Romance Books Page 58