by Unknown
He ground his teeth. Maybe he would call Sofia and ask her to give someone else the assignment. If he couldn’t do his job, another agent should be on the case.
If Natasha was guilty, someone had to bring her down.
CHAPTER 5
Mark Okle blew his nose on a tissue before tossing it in a nearby wastebasket. His sniffling and sneezing had to be allergies. He was certain mold must be in the retirement center’s vents or something—he wasn’t knowledgeable about that kind of thing, but he knew he’d been allergic to mold and dust mites from the time he was young.
His mother would be so disappointed if he hadn’t stopped by today like he did every Wednesday and Sunday, so he hoped the runny nose and the damned sneezing wasn’t a cold coming on. He didn’t want to get his mother or anyone else in the retirement center sick.
He approached her wheelchair from behind. It was positioned in front of the TV and she was watching the end of “Jeopardy.” He knew it was the end because he made sure to time his visits so that she would be finished watching her favorite show.
Jeopardy’s theme music began as the host ended the episode, and the credits rolled. Mark knelt on one knee next to the wheelchair and looked into Martha Okle’s keen brown eyes when she turned to see who had arrived. Her features were heavily lined from years of sun exposure, not to mention the fact she was well over eighty now.
“My boy.” Her features lit up as he rested his palm on the chair’s arm and she patted the back of his hand. “You are such a good young man to come see your mother.”
“Of course.” He smiled at her. His mother had been his world since he was a young boy and his father had abandoned them. Mark gritted his teeth. My sperm donor, not father. “How are you today, Mother?”
“As good as someone who’s eighty and in a wheelchair can be.” Martha cackled. “Raced George and Betty down the corridor this morning. I won.”
Mark chuckled. “I bet the staff wasn’t too happy about you having wheelchair races in the home.”
“I’m too old to give a damn what they think.” Martha waved away his comment. “Where’s that pretty girl of yours?” She looked behind Mark. “Here she comes.”
Mark glanced over his shoulder to see Selena Gallo and his dick hardened at the sight of her lithe form and curves he knew so well. Even with the expensive tailored slacks and fitted jacket she wore, she looked both sexy and dangerous at the same time.
She had pulled her hair back into a smooth knot, emphasizing her sharp cheekbones and exotic features that came from her Greek and mixed heritage. He had looked up the meaning of her first name—Moon Goddess. It fit her perfectly.
He always wondered how he’d gotten so lucky to have a woman who could have been a runway model interested in him. They’d hit it off after a “business associate” introduced them, and had been together ever since. Wanting to appeal to her even more, he’d lost weight over the first six months they’d dated.
These days he wasn’t told he could play the part of Santa Claus if he had a long white beard and a red suit. That had always pissed him off, so he’d worn thick black-framed glasses, colored what hair he had black, almost always wore business suits, and kept a close shave to help him look as different as possible. Once he’d lost weight, he’d ditched the glasses, but kept the rest. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything he could do about his growing bald spot.
The fact that Selena had talents beyond sucking his cock, talents that benefited his business, was purely a bonus. She more than earned every extravagance he attempted to bestow on her.
When he’d learned that she had been an assassin for the cartel, he’d been a little intimidated when they met. That didn’t last for long—she’d gone down on him the same night they’d met and sucked him dry.
“Lovey.” Martha spoke to Selena as she held her arms open, bringing Mark’s attention back to his mother. “Come give your future mother-in-law a hug.”
Mark’s face warmed. He and Selena hadn’t said the “L” word, much less talked about marriage. But his mother was determined Selena and Mark would have a big wedding before she died. She didn’t want her only child still single when she passed away.
“Hello, Martha.” Selena never seemed to mind his mother’s insistence on calling Selena her daughter-in-law. It made Mark wonder if Selena might love him. She leaned over and hugged his mother, a smile of genuine caring on his girlfriend’s gorgeous features.
His girlfriend. It never ceased to amaze him. She did not appear to be interested in his money, which he had loads of. She brushed away talk of financial statuses and preferred that he not give her expensive gifts. She wouldn’t even take payment for the jobs he had for her, insisting that theirs was not a business arrangement, but a partnership that went deeper on an emotional level.
But he liked to give things to her and she humored him by wearing a simple but very expensive diamond and gold tennis bracelet, along with matching earrings, and she used the various Versace purses that she deemed useful.
The gift she clearly appreciated the most was the Beretta 92FS 9mm. It was considered a man’s handgun, but she said she preferred the solid design and the fact it was one of the best long-range pistols available. She used it and her skills at commanding his men well. She wore a Beretta Nano in an ankle holster and kept the 92FS in whatever Versace purse she was carrying that day.
“What’s the plan?” Selena looked from Martha to Mark. “How about board games?”
“We haven’t done that for a while.” He let his gaze drift over the crowd. “I’d say a game of Risk for half and Trivial Pursuit for the rest.” Both games allowed up to six players each. “For today let’s go with Trivial Pursuit’s Vintage Years edition.”
“Sounds great.” Selena gave him a sensual look that nearly set him on fire. The woman was so fucking hot.
She turned away to track down the well-used board games. It wasn’t long before Mark had the game of Risk going with four old men and two even older women with a few onlookers. Martha was with Selena and five other women, while two men sat nearby and watched. Both of the old men who didn’t participate were assholes, so Mark was glad they just watched. Their heckling was bad enough.
Mark and Selena didn’t play—they refereed. Sometimes the games got a little heated with a bunch of old folks going at it, some of them crankier than others.
Two hours later, the board games had been put away and Selena and Mark had said goodbye to each person in the home. Mark gave his mother a kiss, put on his coat, and pulled out yet another tissue on his way out the door with his girlfriend and lover.
Girlfriend, lover. He loved to think of her in those terms. It was so hot when she went down on him and let him come on her bare breasts. He liked to fuck her, too, but she seemed to prefer oral to intercourse. He couldn’t remember how many times they’d actually fucked during the year plus they’d been seeing each other. He was happy to watch her beautiful mouth slide down his dick as she took him deep. She had the kind of body he had to explore whenever he got the opportunity.
His coat kept him warm and Selena looked comfortable, despite the chill wind, in the mink coat he’d bought her for Christmas. The fur was one other thing she’d accepted from him. She turned and met his gaze. She was a little taller than him, even more so in her heels, but that sure as hell didn’t matter. She could have been a six-five Amazon for all he cared.
They reached his silver Mercedes and climbed in. He used another tissue before he pulled the car into the street that ran in front of the retirement home.
“Are you sure it’s allergies?” Selena’s brow furrowed, but she looked as lovely as always. “I would hate to see any of the elderly at the home get ill.”
“Yes.” He snapped the words. “Just allergies.”
She turned and looked out the window, as if irritated with him for acting the way he just had.
“I’m sorry, babe.” He didn’t want her to be upset with him. He didn’t want to lose her. “I—” He bare
ly managed to grab a tissue in time to sneeze into it. His nose was starting to feel raw from so much snot and the tissue.
She was an enigma to him, somewhat of a puzzle. He enjoyed putting that puzzle together, piece by piece.
He tossed the tissue onto the floorboard behind his seat as he drove. His phone rang and he sniffled as he looked at the caller ID. His stomach twisted into a knot. “Unknown Caller” was on the screen. Every single time Mark answered that ID, the unknown caller was Rodrigo Jimenez. Rodrigo was better known as El Verdugo, The Executioner. EV was the leader of the Jimenez Cartel and Mark’s employer. He was probably calling from the family compound in Mexico.
Sweat broke out on Mark’s forehead. He positioned his Bluetooth earpiece in his right ear before touching the answer/disconnect button. “This is Okle.”
“What is the status on the Denver shipment?” EV always sounded like he was pissed off—unless some piece of ass was sucking his dick while he was on the phone. EV was known for enjoying getting off while conducting business, likely forcing a young woman—one of the compound servants—to do it.
“Everything’s in place.” Mark guided the car along the two-lane highway. He always tried to sound smooth and professional, as if EV didn’t scare the shit out of him. “The tradeshow opens tomorrow and the buyers are ready to go.”
“Good.” EV had a hard edge to his voice. “The bitch is gold, so don’t fuck it up. I have millions invested in the product she is delivering to the buyer in Denver.”
Mark had to bite his tongue. He, not EV, was the one who had come up with the way to move the product. He, not EV, had found Natasha and convinced her to sell the statuettes filled with product. The bastard should show a little respect. Mark didn’t give a shit about Natasha beyond the fact that she could make him some damned good money. She was a means to an end.
Mark clenched his teeth before letting out his breath. “I’ll let you know as soon as the product is in the buyer’s hands.”
“Yes, you will.” EV disconnected the call.
Mark clenched the steering wheel tighter as the phone went dead. “Bastard.”
A moment later, he removed his Bluetooth and tossed it into an empty drink holder. Sometimes he wanted out so badly that he had the desire to yell at EV and tell him to fuck off. That, no doubt, would get Mark executed. EV wasn’t called The Executioner for nothing. Mark had seen what the cartel leader did if his employees crossed him, and he had damn near shit his pants. What Mark did to men who deserved a little extra “attention” was child’s play compared to what EV could and would do.
He’d gotten involved with EV for the money to get his mother into the best local retirement center. He’d done it for her. But then he’d grown accustomed to the perks as the money rolled in. Mark was good at what he did, which was moving product, and that afforded him a lifestyle he couldn’t have had any other way. He never used the product himself, something EV had made clear was against the rules for his key men.
Yes, Mark had learned a lot from the cartel leader, from staying away from blow to torturing information out of anyone he needed to. He’d been surprised how easily that had come to him.
He glanced at Selena to see her still staring out the window at the winter-yellowed grass and other scenery passing by. She didn’t pay attention when he was on the phone for his legitimate or illegitimate endeavors. She preferred to clean her Beretta or shoot someone rather than being concerned with his business.
When they were alone, they sometimes spoke of politics, and he’d been pleased her views were much the same as his. She was a great conversationalist when she needed to be in social situations, while other times she remained quiet and let him do the talking. She always knew what to do or say at the right time.
He smiled to himself as he paid better attention to the road, and narrowly missed a pothole.
Selena was the perfect companion. Supermodel gorgeous, she was intelligent and easy to talk with. She refused to have anything to do with drugs, was pleased to donate her time to the retirement home, disinterested in his wealth, and smart enough to not pay attention to his business dealings. And cold enough to kill for him when he needed her to.
Only one thing bothered him at times. She said little of her past and managed to turn the conversation back to him, asking him about his childhood and the artists and art pieces he worked with.
She had known what he did with most of the art from the beginning. He used a great deal of it to move cocaine and heroin. He even dabbled in a little ecstasy, more recently known as Molly, and it was something he’d slipped into Selena’s drink a time or two. Come to think of it, those were the times they’d fucked. The thought of driving his dick into her wet pussy made him horny as hell.
He might just have to put something into her drink tonight.
CHAPTER 6
The home Natasha parked near was on the outskirts of Denver. It was one of the biggest houses she’d seen outside of TV or the movies.
Gary had said that the host liked to show off his house. This was definitely the type of home some people would love to put on display.
Lights blazed from the sprawling two-story house and people were walking from their parked cars, up salted stone steps, and along a stone path. The path was lined with luminaries perched on the edge of every step. Each filigreed brown luminary gave off a buttery yellow glow from candles flickering within.
It never failed to make her wince when she was about to go into a two-story home. The memory of climbing out of her car on the upper floor of that home she’d crashed into was still so vivid. Jeez, she’d had enough accidents and near misses to cover the rest of her lifetime.
She was glad she had chosen one of her colorful flowy skirts and a pair of boots that reached just below her knees. They looked good with her outfit, yet protected her feet from the cold, ice, and snow. She didn’t feel overdressed or underdressed.
The moment she killed the engine, cold air pressed against the windows as if it couldn’t wait to get inside and wrap itself around her. She tugged on her jacket as the car grew colder.
She grabbed her purse, opened the door, swung her feet out, and stepped onto crunchy snow. She looked around at people parking their cars and heading toward the house as if they were children following the Pied Piper.
Even though she had grown up in Indiana, she had already become accustomed to Arizona weather. Her fingers felt as if they had turned to ice and her teeth chattered. She buried her hands in her jacket pockets and started for the stone steps.
Thoughts of her brief time with Brooks came to mind. He was so good-looking, in a hard, masculine way. She’d had the intense desire to touch him, to feel his hard body beneath her palms, but she had kept her hands to herself. She didn’t even know Brooks and she wanted to be all over him in a way she had never experienced with a man she’d just met.
By the time she reached the entrance to the magnificent house, she knew she wanted to get to know Brooks a lot better. She hoped like crazy he would be here tonight.
Gary met her at the door, as if he’d been waiting for her. Maybe he had. She smiled at him and he gave her his surfer dude’s grin.
“I’m glad you came.” He took her hand and pulled her into the house. “You can put your coat and purse in the coatroom.”
She raised her brows. “This place even has a coatroom?”
Sure enough, she was taken to a massive walk-in closet with an attendant at the door who watched them closely.
The closet was filled with rows of hangers, a good number of coats already there. After she removed her coat, Gary hung it up. She thought about how Brooks had helped her out of her coat unlike other men she had known.
“You can leave your purse.” Gary gestured to the hanger. “There’s always someone on guard.” He nodded to the attendant.
She smiled and arranged the cross-body strap so that her hands were free. “I’d rather keep it with me.”
He shrugged and grabbed her hand again. “Let
’s get to the party.”
She squeezed his hand. He had become such a good friend that he made her smile. She started to tell him she’d invited Brooks, but Gary was being extra chatty, telling her about the house, and she let him go on.
The moment he led her through a set of double doors, she was hit with the powerful smell of marijuana and was nearly overwhelmed with the haze filling the room. No way did she want to be someplace where drugs were involved. She started to step back before it occurred to her that she was in a state where MJ was legal. She didn’t like the smoke, and wasn’t crazy about the fact that the smell would cling to her hair and clothes, but she was here and might as well stick around. Brooks might show up and she didn’t want him to arrive after she had run off.
“I’ll get you a drink and then introduce you to Mitch.” Gary gestured across the room to a guy with shaggy brown hair reclining on a gigantic curved couch made of black leather. A bong was positioned on the couch between Mitch’s thighs, and a blonde and a brunette cuddled close on either side of him. “What do you like to drink?” Gary drew her attention away from Mitch. “He always has a full bar and a bartender.”
She definitely did not want alcohol at a party like this. “Coke would be great, if he has it.”
“Mitch has everything.” Gary laughed. “You wait here.”
He vanished into a small crowd to her right before she could say she’d go with him. She turned her attention back to the room, letting her gaze drift over the couples and groups mingling around the enormous place that had to be about half the size of a ballroom.
She wanted to hold her breath, hoping she wouldn’t get high from secondhand smoke. There had to be a patio or something, maybe one with heaters. A guy who had this kind of place had to have heated patios. But when she thought about it, she realized this wasn’t Arizona and she doubted heaters could give off enough warmth to fend off the cold in the middle of winter in Denver. Maybe she wouldn’t stay too long.