by K. A. Ware
The Red Dragon
251 NW Broadway St, Portland, OR 97209
“Are you, like a pimp?” I asked keeping up the valley girl act.
He smirked at me, “It’s a gentlemen’s club, we are always looking for new dancers, and you look like you can move.”
My skin was crawling but I played along, we only had three more floors before the lobby. “Maybe I will,” I said with a slightly defiant tone. “Is the money good?”
“Come and find out, we’re holding auditions for new dancers next Friday at seven at that address,” he smirked again as the doors opened, he winked at me and strode into the deserted lobby.
My stomach rolled as the doors closed again and I began my final descent into the parking garage. I pulled out my phone and opened the Facebook app. Mouse had set us each up with a dummy profile that couldn’t be linked back to either of us. I posted a stupid cat meme and tagged him in it with the caption:
LOL!!!
Each exclamation point signifying an hour of security footage he needed to erase. Since it was a high end hotel they didn’t use a closed circuit surveillance system, a fact that Mouse had discovered the week before. Instead they used an internet based system that was easy enough for an experienced hacker like Mouse to infiltrate. He had been messing around for the last two days on the system, dropping feeds and making it seem like there was an issue with the software or platform connection. Eventually I’m sure someone would piece together the timeline but initially it would look like another glitch.
The doors to the elevator opened and I made my way out of the underground parking garage and onto the street with a cruel smile stretched across my face.
Chapter 39
Carlo
I had stopped pacing an hour ago when Enzo called to inform me that Mia had picked up her car. I told him not to approach her, just follow her and make sure she got home.
Now I was sitting behind my desk, head in hands going over and over in my head what the hell I was going to do when she got home. I was unbelievably relieved that she was okay but I was also furious at the shit she just pulled. I swear to God as soon as she walked through that door I was never letting her out of my sight again, even if I had to lock her up.
The door to my office opened and I jumped up. Mia walked into the room, shoulders back and head held high. She removed her wig and threw it on the side table along with her purse and keys. Kicking off her heels, she turned to the men in the room.
“Everybody out,” When they didn’t move, she added, “NOW!”
At that, Angelo and Sal quickly left the room, Angelo giving me a weary look.
“WHERE THE FUCK—“ I started, but she cut me off.
“You know where I was. Look, I know I owe you an explanation, and you’ll get it but just give me a minute to wash all this shit off okay?” She said as she walked towards the en suite.
I followed behind her, no way was I letting her get out of this that easy. I watched as she immediately started to strip when she entered the bathroom. First her tight black dress followed by her bra, panties and thigh holster and push dagger. Once she was completely naked she headed over to the shower. Turning the handle, she let the water run over her hand and adjusted the temperature, slipping into the stall and sliding the door closed as if it were any other day.
My blood was boiling. I wanted answers and I wanted them now. If she was going to insist on taking a shower fine, but she damn well better be prepared to multitask. I quickly discarded my clothes and silently followed her. She let out a surprised gasp as I snaked my arms around her waist and tugged her out of the stream of water and to me.
Her body was slick, pressed up against mine, her back to my front and I could feel goosebumps erupt over her skin underneath my hands. My dick stirred to life against her ass. Despite how infuriated I was at her for making me worry, I still wanted her.
I was sure our relationship was fucking with her head, it was fucking with mine too. I didn’t know how to navigate it, how to incorporate the way I felt for her into my already existing life. Her connection to me was what had gotten her best friend killed. Gina’s death had been a realization of my worst fear; that somehow someone would see my relationship with Mia as my one weakness, the one way to get me to bend to the will of another. The one way to break me.
“Tell me what you did,” I said in a hoarse whisper. The relief I felt with her in my arms again didn’t erase the anxiety of not knowing where she had been for the past fourteen hours.
“I killed him,” she said softly and covered my arms with her own.
“Who?” I had a pretty good idea but I needed to hear the words from her mouth.
“Boris Kashnikov.”
I didn’t like that she was giving me only small pieces of information, like I had to ask the right questions to unlock the answers. I was used to getting what I wanted when I wanted it, but Mia wasn’t one of my men.
“How?”
“I slit his throat.”
I spun her around and looked into her eyes. They weren’t void of emotion like her tone had implied, instead they were alight with lethal calm I had learned to expect from her when she released her inner savage. I sagged with relief once I realized she wasn’t in shock or reverting back to the catatonic state she had been in after we found Gina. Lowering my head to the crook of her neck, I inhaled her scent and traced the curve of her neck with my lips until my cheek rested against hers and my lips hovered over her ear.
“I am so relieved you’re okay,” I whispered as my hands ghosted up her sides. “And we will be talking about this, in detail.” I pulled back to look into her eyes so she knew there was absolutely no room for argument on the subject. When she nodded her acquiescence I continued, running my hands back down her sides and around to cup her ass. “But right now I just need to feel you,” I said as I hoisted her up by the backs of her thighs forcing her to wrap her arms and legs around me. She gasped as I lifted her and shifted us so that her back was against the tiled wall. She looked down at me and a second later her mouth came crashing down on mine.
It reminded me of the first time we had been together, hurried and desperate. I gripped her waist and tilted my hips back to get the angle I needed and pushed forward with such force the back of Mia’s head smacked against the tile. If the moan that she let out when I was finally fully inside her was any indication, she either didn’t notice or didn’t care. I pounded into her harder than I ever had, and with a tight grip on her hips I pulled her down to meet me thrust for thrust. She was biting and sucking at my neck, her nails sinking deep into my shoulders and her heels pushing hard against my ass.
I circled her neck with one of my hands, the other still on her hip guiding her to me, and squeezed. Not hard enough to cut off her air supply but enough for her to feel it, feel me. She let out another long moan and I felt her clench and grow even wetter for me. I lowered my head to take one of her nipples into my mouth. As soon as I got one tight bud into my mouth, I sucked hard and tightened my grip on her neck. She went off like a rocket, her orgasm tearing through her, back arched and pussy clamped down on my dick so hard I thought I might pass out.
I thrust into her harder and faster. Letting go of her throat I slid my free hand between our bodies and swirled my thumb against her clit, chasing my own release and coaxing another out of her. I felt the tingle at the base of my spine and before I knew it, I was spilling into her with a deafening roar. She fell over the edge with me, screaming my name.
Chapter 40
Mia
After our shower, Carlo wrapped me in a towel and carried me upstairs to his room. I had never been inside his room before. Carlo had always come to me. Now that I was here, it seemed odd that we never spent any time in his space. His room was set up much like mine but instead of a bed with a gauzy canopy and light accents this room was dark. The giant four-post bed was made of cherry wood and even the bedding was a dark navy. We lay naked under the covers, my body curled into his, our legs inte
rtwined and my head on his chest.
“Tell me,” he demanded, but his tone was soft.
“It’s easier if I just show you,” I said, uncurling myself from around him and reaching for my purse on the nightstand. I pulled out the phone I had used tonight, well last night technically since it was morning now. Pulling up the camera roll, I clicked on the video and turned the screen to Carlo. I could hear my voice coming through the speaker as I taunted Boris, his screams filled the room and I was momentarily brought back to the memory of sitting astride him and watching the life leave his eyes. Carlo snapped me out of my daydreaming.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” his tone immediately put me on the defensive.
“I was thinking that this fucker was the one responsible for murdering MY BEST FUCKING FRIEND!” I screamed the last part at him, climbing off the bed and turning to face him. I felt better on my feet despite the fact that I was bare-assed naked.
“No shit Mia! He’s fucking dangerous!”
“Was,” I said steadily. My heartrate started to pick up and I could feel the fury spreading from my chest and flushing my face. “He was dangerous, now he’s dead.”
“Jesus Christ, Mia. You have no idea, none. God, you could have been killed!”
“I was careful. I planned it out and executed, just like you would have done.”
“Bullshit, you went off half-cocked without backup into one of the most dangerous situations you could have possibly put yourself in. I wouldn’t have done that.”
“No you’re right. You wouldn’t have done anything, just like you haven’t fucking done anything in the last two months since Gina died!” I was out of my mind pissed, I didn’t even mean what I was saying. I knew Carlo had been looking for a way to get back at the Kashnikov’s but he also had a fucking empire to run. Carlo looked at me as if he’d been punched in the gut, hurt and guilt rolling off of him like waves. I hated that I had put that expression on his face, but I was still too angry to stop the word vomit spewing from my lips.
“Don’t be pissed at me for doing what you couldn’t,” I seethed. That seemed to snap him out of it.
“What I couldn’t? You have got to be fucking kidding me! I’ve been doing this a hell of a lot longer than you have. I knew where they were before your little tech friend ran the first fucking search!”
I was stunned, he what? He knew and he did nothing? He didn’t even tell me.
“Yes. I knew. And yes, I kept it from you for this exact reason, Mia, because I know you. I knew that if you had the information you would go off and pull some stupid vigilante bullshit like you JUST FUCKING DID!”
“I am not stupid,” I spoke the words slowly as to not be misunderstood, my voice quiet but laced with unbridled anger. My father had called me stupid, it was practically a pet name growing up. No one had called me that in a very long time. I knew it was an insignificant word to get riled up about but it was like he knew every one of my buttons and he was pushing them all at the same time.
“Shit!” Carlo started to pace the length of the bed on his side, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, something he only did when he was exasperated. “I didn’t say you were stupid Mia, I said what you did was stupid, because it was.”
Well, that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, not. When I didn’t do anything but glare at him he continued.
“Look, I am not going to argue with you about this. Going after Boris by yourself was reckless and foolish. You should have come to me.”
I scoffed, “So you could what? Keep me in the dark some more? I. Wanted. My. Revenge!” I jabbed my finger into my chest, punctuating my point.
“That’s the problem! You weren’t thinking, you were feeling. All you could see was your need for revenge instead of the big picture!”
“What big picture?”
“Oh, I don’t know, how about not starting a full blown FUCKING WAR!” he roared.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, completely confused.
Carlo’s nostrils flared as he took several deep breaths in an effort to calm himself. If I didn’t know the man as well as I did I would be pissing myself. He looked massive standing there completely naked towering over half the bed as he leaned forward staring at me unblinking.
“What I’m talking about is a war between us and the fucking Russians. You just killed Vitaly Kashnikov’s son, the brother of the most twisted and uncaring sociopath I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. What do you think they’re going to do when they find his body? When they find the word Omertá carved into his fucking chest? Ivan is no longer contained by his father, he’s been let loose and he has the money and resources to go fucking nuclear. They will know exactly who is responsible and they will come after us.”
“They already came after us, we can be ready for them this time.” Even as I spoke the words I knew how pathetically naïve they sounded.
“You can’t prepare for a madman! This is why I was waiting, biding my time. Gina wasn’t an attack, it was a warning. It was Ivan telling me that he could reach me, that he had my number and he knew exactly how to hurt me. Mia, Gina wasn’t an accident of mistaken identity, they knew who they had, and they wanted us to feel how close they could get.”
“How do you know that?” I asked, the sting of fresh tears pricking my eyes.
Carlo let out a long sigh, “They sent me a video the day after we found her.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I was hurt that he had kept yet another thing from me. I had thought we were a team. I had thought we were partners, now I could see how wrong I was. He didn’t want me by his side, he wanted to keep me tucked away as his dirty little secret so he could keep up his front as the heartless crime boss.
“What good would it have done for you to know?” he asked, his tone much more gentle than before. He was being careful with me. He had never done that before, that was one of the things l loved most about him. He didn’t act like I was this fragile doll. Sure he tried to protect me but he never made me feel like I was helpless.
“I deserved the truth, Carlo.”
“Look—”
“Cut the shit. I don’t need your empty fucking apologies. We’re done dancing around this. You have a decision to make, either I’m in or I’m fucking out. No more of this limbo shit. Either you tell me what your plan was before and we come up with a new plan together or I’m gone.”
Carlo blinked at me, not saying a word. His fists clenched and released over and over again. I could see that his jaw was tight and that vein in his forehead was on full display. I suddenly realized that Carlo had probably not been challenged like this since he took control after his father’s death. I had just given him an ultimatum, me or his lonely throne of one.
“Fine,” he hissed.
Inside I was celebrating, but on the outside I remained unmoving, staring him down just as hard as he stared me down. I wasn’t going to give in. I had to show him I was serious about this. “Good,” I said climbing back into bed. It took Carlo a minute to regain his composure and join me. When he did his body was stiff and I could feel his anger and resistance emanating from him.
“So,” I started, knowing full well he wasn’t going to open up without some prodding. “What was your plan before I went and fucked it all up?” A little self-deprecating humor always helped to lighten the mood, right? Carlo cut his eyes to me without moving, propped against the headboard with his head tilted back and his legs straight out in front of him. I nudged him in the side with my elbow, nothing.
His eyes stared back at the ceiling, his breaths slow and deep. He was fucking brooding. I realized as I stared at him awestruck, his precious male ego had been wounded by my challenge.
Men are such fucking babies.
I moved quickly and without warning, straddling his lap and linking my hands behind his neck. His arms automatically went to my waist as if he had no choice but to hold me when I was this close. I hid my smile in his neck and whi
spered in his ear. “Come on, baby. Tell me what you had planned.”
“What good will it do now?” he grumbled.
You have got to be kidding me with this shit.
“Now who’s not seeing the big picture?” I teased and he sighed.
“Fine.”
“You said that already.”
“Are you going to shut up for five fucking seconds so I can tell you what you want to know or are you going to keep interrupting me?” he huffed.
I narrowed my eyes at him, “Go ahead, I’m listening.”
Chapter 41
Carlo
She was on top of me, both literally and figuratively. Mia had taken control and hadn’t given it back yet, if she ever planned to. Her threat to leave had completely pulled the rug out from under me. She had to know by now that I wouldn’t let her go for anything, let alone push her away to spare my pride. I had known it was coming. I knew she wouldn’t stand by and let me run the show while I kept her protected in the dark but I didn’t think it would come to a head this soon.
“You first. Tell me what happened tonight. Everything.” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.
She rolled her eyes, “Well…”
My body went rock hard with tension as she told me how she had stalked Boris and got him to pick her up in the club.
Her shoulders sagged with a sigh and she rolled her eyes again, “Relax, I didn’t let him touch anything important and I didn’t let him kiss me. Just enough flirting to get him to take me back to his hotel,” she said the words like they meant nothing, like just hearing that he had laid a fucking finger on her didn’t make me want to raise him from the dead so I could kill him all over again.
I squeezed my eyes shut trying to block out the images my imagination was creating of her flirting with the bastard, touching him, making him want her. Fuck! I shook my head to clear it and pinned her with my gaze, “Keep going.”
“I made him a drink when we got back to his hotel and slipped him something—“