by A. J. Macey
“Why would you continue to go if you weren’t meeting with Frank?”
“Because we’re together.” Kiera flashed a sinful smile, curling into my arm. “Kind of hard to date your boyfriend when you don’t see him.”
“You’ve been dating your stepbrother since you were younger?” The question was littered with judgement and disgust, but Kiera just laughed.
“Six, almost seven, years and counting.” Kiera’s eyes lit up in genuine happiness as she looked up at me despite lying through her teeth about how long we’d been together.
Has she really liked me for that long?
“Now, if you’ll excuse us,” I redirected the conversation after smirking down at my kitten. “We have plans.” Without allowing Agent Venry to start another line of questioning, I steered Kiera around the woman and toward the car we had parked on the circular drive. Kiera’s eyes sparkled when I opened the door for her, my fingers trailing across her thigh and ass as she slipped by me and into the car. I ignored the agents as I strode around the car and got in. Pulling out of the driveway, I felt tension building in my body about them following us.
“Hey, Prick,” Kiera greeted when her phone rang. “They still there or did they follow us?” Brooks’ voice was muffled as he relayed what they were watching at the house, my eyes darting to the mirrors every so often in paranoia. “All right stay locked down until they leave. Keep me updated, and we’ll let you know how Euphoria goes.” She hung up and dropped her phone in her bag before finally turning to me. “Feds are walking the perimeter of the house, saying they’ll have to reassess how they want to go about the investigation on Frankie. So it really doesn’t look like they’re onto us, more just that the Bloodhound is struggling with catching a scent.”
“Good,” I ground out, irritated that I had been so rattled at the encounter. “Chase send word that he’s at the club yet?” Kiera checked her phone quickly, humming an affirmative.
“Yup, he’s waiting for you in the designated booth.”
“Kitten,” I whispered, my hand leaving the steering wheel to brush her leg as I pulled into the parking lot, “be careful.”
“Of course, I’m always careful,” she smarted with a teasing smile.
I sighed and rolled my eyes at her cocky response, but I shouldn’t have expected anything else from Kiera. She’s too into her plan right now, I reminded myself as we exited the car, she needs to focus and not have me fussing over her.
“Love you, Kitten,” I murmured against her lips once we entered the strip club. She smiled brightly, the happiness radiating in her expression squeezing my chest, especially after her breakdown the other day.
“Love you too, Asshole,” she said with one last kiss before starting toward the back hall and women's restroom. Rolling my shoulders, I turned toward the table I knew Chase was at, his dirty blond brown hair peeking out over the top of the booth.
“Hey,” I greeted as I slid into the circular booth. Chase seemed bored as he turned to me, his smile appearing when I sat down.
“Hey, Gar. Glad you’re here, I was about to fall asleep,” he told me, lifting his glass to his lips. “Kittycat doing her thing?”
“Yeah,” I replied, grabbing the second glass on the table that Chase passed to me. “How do you get tired in a strip club?” I found myself asking as I drank.
“I don’t get attracted to people,” he explained without shame. “Kiera is the only one who holds my attention. Besides, last time we were here she got jealous, and while it was adorable to see her so fired up, I don’t want to distract her from what she’s doing.”
My eyebrows shot up. Kiera, jealous?
Chase seemed to read my mind and laughed. “Yeah, it was a shock to me too, but you saw how she was with Bambi any time she was trying to hit on you at the club.”
“Okay, fair point. I don’t think I really noticed before,” I explained, pretending to watch the dancer on the stage.
“I know, trust me. It was obvious as fuck that you two loved each other long before either of you decided to do anything about it,” he challenged with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
“Yeah, I’ve cared about Kiera for a long fucking time,” I huffed. How the hell did we get talking about me? “I don’t believe you about Kiera though.”
“Trust me, she’s fancied you for years. She’s mumbled your name lots of time while she was sleeping,” Chase told me. I couldn’t stop the laughter at the phrase ‘fancied you,’ but then I sobered, realizing what he had said. “And yes, I heard about what she said to Agent Venry about the seven years thing, and I fully think if you two hadn’t been so stubborn, she would have snatched you up back then.”
“Fuck off, assassin…” I mumbled uncomfortable with being the center of the conversation. He always knows exactly what to say and when to say it to poke and prod everyone in the most uncomfortable manner. Thankfully, my phone buzzing and flashing Kiera’s code to let me know she had Chan cut off any more embarrassing things Chase could throw in my face. I gave him a tiny nod as I slid out of the booth, weaving through the other patrons and girls working, and headed toward the back hall.
Slipping quietly into the room, I noticed Brian Chan tied to the chair he was sitting in, a rag stuffed into his mouth to keep him from screaming. Wide, terror-filled eyes centered on me as I walked over to Kiera’s side, her confidence and power radiating through the room as she stared down at the pitiful man who worked for her father. In the brief moment before she started her questions, I couldn’t help but feel relieved that she was back to herself. I had seen her break once before when I finally found out what she had been going through at Frankie’s house, and it had haunted me for years, so I would be grateful for any tiny relief she got from her spiraling.
She’ll be okay, I reminded myself, she’s strong, and she’s powerful. Well… at least until she breaks again, but hopefully killing her father will help.
I would hate to be Frankie with the amount of pain coming his way.
Kiera
Walking away from Garrett, I felt those warm and tingly emotions radiating in my chest so strongly that I had to actively push them away. Come on, head in the game, I told myself as I slipped into the women’s dressing room. The room was empty save for Candy, who was supposed to be dancing for Chan tonight. She was fixing her makeup in the mirror before slipping back into the racks upon racks of skimpy clothing. When she was out of eyesight, I moved over to her glass and dropped the bit of sedative I had. Scurrying back to the darkened corner I’d originally hid in, I waited for her to return. I couldn’t stop the smile as she drank the small amount of water she had in her cup, her body swaying not long after.
She collapsed on the ground, and as she did, I hurried over to her. I maneuvered Candy over toward the clothes racks, hiding her amongst a pile of costumes until she was mostly concealed from view. As soon as I was satisfied with her truly being out of eyesight, I stripped out of my dress, shoving it into my handbag before hurrying across the hall. One minute until Chan will be going to his room, I noted, looking at the watch I took off. Before chucking my stuff in the corner of the private room, I pulled out the rope, tucking it slightly under the chair, and stepped up to the light up stage and pole with my back toward the chair.
“Well, hello there, sexy,” Chan’s nasally voice echoed in the cavernous space, mixing with the sultry music playing through the room. Glancing over my shoulder, I gave him a seductive once over, my lip curling as I took him in. Brian Chan ate up the attention I barely showered him in. His scrawny frame was clothed in a suit and dress shirt, the signature attire that all of Frankie’s mob of minions wore.
Taking a seat in the chair, Frankie’s accountant relaxed back while his eyes trailed over my exposed skin. Making a few circles around the pole and stage, I assessed whether he possibly had a weapon, but the only thing I saw was a slimy smile and tiny cock. Poor man, hopefully he knows how to use it; otherwise, it would suck to be the girls he’s with. I cl
osed the distance between us and distracted him long enough to grab the rope.
Punching him in the side of the head, I disoriented him long enough to wrap the binding around his chest and shove the rag I had into his mouth. While he groaned and shifted against the restraint, I shot a text to Garrett to let him know I was ready for him to join me. Walking back to the front of the room, I set my bag and phone down on the table and took position in front of my father’s employee. A snarl curled my lip as I glared down at him, the fear in his eyes amplified as the door swung open. I chuckled as Chan attempted to scream, thrashing against the rope in a shit poor attempt at freeing himself. This is why you shouldn’t work for shit employers, people, you never know who they might have pissed off.
“Brian Chan,” I started. “Frankie ‘Smokes’ Casterelli’s accountant. So, Bry, what can you tell us about what Frankie is up to over at the Solace? I know he’s locked down, and I want to know why.”
“Probably would help to take this out of his mouth.” Garrett took over, striding forward and gripping Chan’s face tightly within his grasp as he yanked the rag from his mouth. Chan tried to scream, but Garrett’s tightening grip had him whimpering instead. “Now, I suggest you keep your voice down, or you’ll learn exactly what we’re capable of. Answer the lady’s questions.”
“I don’t know, I swear,” he sputtered when Garrett released his face. Chan’s golden skin was now pale as he gaped in fear, his eyes darting between the two of us. I raised an eyebrow and glanced at Garrett giving him a tiny nod. At my command, Garrett regripped Chan’s jaw in an unforgiving hold. I stepped forward, closing the distance between him and me.
“That is a complete fucking lie,” I murmured, gently running my finger down his chest and over the rope holding him. “I suggest you tell me the truth, seeing as how you’re at our mercy,” I whispered, flashing him a cruel smile and grabbing his pathetic dick in a tight fist before he could do so much as fidget. He squealed in pain, and I let go. “Now, why is Frankie locked down?”
“I honestly don’t know. He’s got this contact from the west coast. Him and his lawyer have a meeting set up. Jace Corden and I had to make first contact before they could officially meet,” he rambled, his words slurring together as he blurted everything out. “Something about expanding west... I just know he told me to prep the books for some big money moves, but he didn’t tell me what.”
I stared down at him, lost in thought. Make first contact with Jace Corden? That would explain the meeting I’d stumbled across that night in the desert.
“When is the meeting between Frankie, Cory, and the west coast fuckers?” Garrett bit out.
“Tomorrow night, out in the desert,” Chan relayed.
“You got the coordinates?” I questioned, crossing my arms over my chest. He nodded shakily before telling us, my mind committing them to memory so I could add it to my notebook and wall later. “Thank you very much,” I murmured, leaning forward again to rest my hands on his thighs. “Now, if I hear you so much as think about telling Frankie or any other of his mindless followers about this, I will kill you, slowly and extremely painfully because remember, Brian, I’m watching you.”
“Oh god,” he breathed in fear, his eyes seeming to widen even further until it was almost comical. His body trembled under my palms as he nodded violently.
What a spineless little man, I thought. Good for us though.
“Good. I’m glad we have an agreement.” I smirked, moving back and nodding to Garrett to release him. I walked over to my phone as Chan scrambled from his chair and out into the hallway. Sending the code to Chase, I waited until he confirmed he had eyes on Chan. “He’s leaving, but it looks like he’s walking on foot to the strip club and bar one block over.”
“I think you may have scared him, Kitten,” Garrett teased, coming up behind me, his inked arms wrapping around my stomach. I scoffed.
“I think we scared him, asshole. It was a team effort,” I threw back playfully, my smile turning from joking to seductive when I saw the heat burning in Garrett’s emerald eyes. “You’re pretty damned sexy when you’re threatening people, Garrett.”
“You’re pretty fucking sexy when you take charge,” he whispered, his tongue darting out quickly to barely brush against the curve of my ear. An idea sparked, and I turned, his arms falling as I moved. Grabbing his tie, I pulled him to the chair before shoving him into it.
“Take charge, huh?” I circled him, my fingers brushing his broad shoulders. “Then just sit back and enjoy the show.”
Stepping up toward the pole, I let the thumping of the music take over as I spun and circled seductively. It had been a while since I had practiced on the pole, but it came easily, especially being fueled by the heat in Garrett’s eyes as he watched me. Holding his gaze, I strutted toward him, the clicking of my stilettos nearly drowned out by the sound of my heartbeat in my ears as power and desire flooded my system.
I didn’t speak as I turned away from him, my thighs brushing his pant legs as I moved. It only took a few sways of my hips to feel his rough hands gripping my ass tightly, teeth nipping the exposed flesh. Grabbing his hands, I pulled them away from my body and held them against the arms of the chair. I was in charge, and right now, I wanted him to enjoy the show.
Keeping his hands secured to the side, I sank down just enough for my ass and legs to brush over the hard bulge that was straining against his pants. The groan that rumbled deeply in his chest had my pussy flooding, soaking through the thin lace of my underwear until it was wetting Garrett’s clothes. I wanted to see his face, to see the heat and tortured pleasure at being able to see me but not able to touch, so I moved until I was straddling him.
The emerald irises were practically glowing in his half-lidded gaze, his fingers clawing at the chair with the urge to touch me. But right now? I’m in charge. I smirked, circling my hips over him, grinding my throbbing clit over his cock. Gripping his jaw, I angled his face up before moving in, nipping at his neck every time I surged my hips forward. His strangled moans made my nipples pebble and my skin erupt in a wave of goosebumps, a shiver working its way down my spine at the pained sounds. But at that point, I was lit up like a firework, burning with the need to explode, so I let go of his stubbled face and unzipped his pants, his cock bobbing free.
“Fucking hell,” I moaned as I lined up, moving the edge of my underwear to the side before sinking down onto him, stars sparkling behind my lids at the overwhelming sensations of pure desire and the beat of the music thrumming through my veins. Wanting to feel his hands on me, I grabbed his wrists and made him cup my chest. With no further urging needed, he kneaded my tits, rolling the pebbled nipples between his callused fingers in a way that only fueled the raging inferno.
I started to ride harder, faster, until I was bouncing off his muscled thighs and he was coming undone beneath me. After being denied my pleasure with Brooks earlier, and the erotic allure of the power coursing through me, I came hard and with lightning speed before I collapsed against Garrett’s chest. He continued to fuck me relentlessly, following me quickly into that sweet pit of oblivion.
“Holy shit, Kitten,” Garrett muttered, his voice hoarse as he panted against me. I chuckled, groaning slightly as I moved my completely spent body off his lap.
“Come on, let’s get out of here and head home before someone comes in to check on the space,” I murmured with a satiated grin after I checked the time. His eyes lit up once more as he repositioned himself.
“Does that mean round two in our bed? Because I’d love to watch you take this off,” he whispered against my ear as we scurried out of the room.
Oh, fuck yeah, it does.
Chapter 15
May 26th
Sunday Morning
Kiera
My alarm dinged early, the sun barely filtering through the curtains as I cracked my eyes open. Need… energy… I groaned, flopping ungracefully out of bed as I stumbled to a standing position. I need more than two hours of sleep, espec
ially after sex that leaves my still healing body throbbing. I pushed the grumbling thoughts away as I made my way from my room to the kitchen where Chase was singing off-key and making breakfast, bacon and all.
“Thank you, my little assassin,” I whispered softly as I grabbed the cold can of energy drink off the counter, my free hand rubbing down his back as he swayed to the music playing through the speakers.
“You’re welcome, Kittycat. I figured you’d be tired after last night.” Chase’s eyes warmed as he raised an eyebrow at me. I chuckled and sank onto one of the chairs with the plan of only taking a couple minutes to chug my liquid life essence before getting to work until the rest of my men came stumbling in a few moments later.
“Fuck yes, coffee.” Garrett nearly ran to the freshly made pot before chugging the scalding mug.
“Fucking hell, Warden, save some for the rest of us,” Brooks barked, trying to yank the pot from my stepbrother’s hand. I rolled my eyes at their fighting, and when I saw Stone opening his mouth, I cut them all off.
“We’ll fucking buy another damned coffee maker. Now share, or I’ll put you all in time out and ground you to your rooms, or whatever it is parents do,” I grumbled, eyeing the three gazes that landed on me. Chase didn’t even try to stop his laughter as he focused on cooking.
“You tell them, Kittycat. I love seeing you put them in their place.” He smirked at me before throwing a saucy wink at the three officers. They scoffed but didn’t argue as they finally decided to play nicely and pour their own coffee into mugs like big boys.
Note to self: buy two more coffee makers and scribble names on them.
“So, how are we going about the meeting tonight?” Garrett asked, sitting down in the stool next to me. I finished my drink, burping loudly before answering.
“Go to The Bank and pick up everything we need for the stake out. Also, would be good to have stuff on hand in case things turn south,” I explained, making a quick tally of everything we would need.