by Hart, Lena
The Bedpost Queen
Lena Hart
Copyright © 2013 Lena Hart
The Queen Chronicles
Book II
A Sinful Short
The Bedpost Queen
Copyright © 2013 Lena Hart
Edited by Elizabeth Stock
Proofread by Shara Moon
All cover art and design copyright © 2013 by SM Publishing.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
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~DEDICATION~
To Shauna and Elizabeth for being my second and third eyes—your feedback and support are invaluable.
THE BEDPOST QUEEN
Lena Hart
The Bedpost Queen, better known as the Queen of Spades, exhibits a mastery over herself…and her men.
♠
Chapter One
“It’s gonna be tight but I know you can handle it.”
“I know I can handle it,” Athena Lewis said. “But why the rush?”
Lounging on the plush seat of his empty nightclub, Joey Acerra regarded her with cool, pale brown eyes. “You let me worry about that. Just know that it needs to get done. Tonight.”
Athena stared at the dark haired man sitting across from her. She didn’t like this situation. Usually a job like this required planning—and a plan for the plan. But Joey was giving her only a few hours to complete a job that she had just learned about—and didn’t even want.
Unfortunately, she had no choice.
She turned as a large, muscular man came walking toward them through the dimly lit club. She and Joey sat at the far end of the nightclub, where private lounge seats lined the walls. She couldn’t make out the man’s features in the orange glow of the wall lamps but she could tell he wasn’t an Acerra. He had close-cropped blond hair, which made him look bald. All five Acerra brothers had a full head of dark hair.
“Who’s he?”
The large man pulled a seat up to their table and sat down. She couldn’t help but follow the thick, black lines of his tattoo, which crept up from his dark shirt and slightly curved around his broad neck.
“This here’s Jay,” Joey said. The man lifted his chin in acknowledgement but said nothing. “He’ll be working with you to make sure everything goes smoothly and I get my package,” Joey added.
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Athena said, staring directly at Jay, mirroring his indifference. Then she turned to Joey. “I told you I can do this.”
Joey snorted, exasperation flashing in his light brown eyes. “You’ve been out of the game too long, money tits. I can’t afford for you to screw this up.”
Athena glared at him, which many wouldn’t dare to do, but she hated when he called her that. It was because of him she had spent most of her teen years wearing sports bras, trying to conceal her fast developing breasts. Only the unknown consequences kept her from smacking that smug look off his face. Growing up, she had witnessed Joey Acerra’s dangerous and impulsive nature. But she was used to being around dangerous men and Joey was no different. The only thing to do with men like him was to be just as tough—and show no fear.
“Whatever,” she snapped, rolling her eyes. “Just because I’ve retired from this shit doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Joey smirked. “No one ‘retires’ from this life, babe. We just find ways to be…creative. Like you and those fancy computer skills you’re letting go to waste.”
Athena gave him a level stare, hating that he knew so much about her. She had known Joey and his band of brothers since she’d been young enough to steal without being suspected, but old enough to know better. The brothers had adopted her wily brother into their “crew” of castaway boys when he proved good at sneaking in and out of places. But they didn’t know what to do with a nine-year old girl who refused to leave her older brother’s side. Until Dave Carrone had stepped in and defended her right to stay. It hadn’t been any grand gesture, but when Dave had simply instructed the rest of the boys to “leave her the fuck alone,” he’d forever won a place in her heart. And after that, the boys had pretty much ignored her, until she proved just as cunning as her brother.
But that was a lifetime ago. A lifestyle she had left behind eight years ago, when she’d decided she wanted more for herself than to see how much she could take without getting caught.
“Well I’m through and so is Anthony,” she said, enunciating each word. She wouldn’t let this asshole tell her how she should live her life. “After this job, I want you to lose our number.”
Joey laughed at her sharp retort. “As long as you get what I want, we’re square. Just make sure your punk ass brother keeps his head down and you won’t be hearing from me.”
“Why don’t you let me worry about Anthony. And you worry about Reese.”
Joey’s eyes flared and his jaw clenched tight at the mention of his younger brother. She was playing with fire by bringing up his incarcerated brother, but he needed to know that she could give as good as she got. And that she was just as protective of her only brother as he was of his four.
She steeled herself against his anger but just as quickly as it flared, it was replaced by cool detachment. “Anthony owes us two hundred grand so you can’t afford to make any mistakes.”
Athena narrowed her eyes at him but inside she was reeling. Two-hundred thousand dollars. What the hell did her brother do with that kind of money? She silently prayed he wasn’t gambling again.
“Like I said,” she repeated. “I know what I’m doing.”
Joey regarded her evenly. “Tonight is our one and only shot. Carrone’s smart and once he finds out what’s happened, that place will be guarded like a damn prison. So I hope, for Anthony’s sake, you get my package.”
Athena stared unblinkingly at Joey’s hard face. His threat was not lost on her. Anger and apprehension settled deep within her, but she couldn’t let that cloud her mind right now. She had a job to get ready for and usually that required mental preparation as much as it did physical.
She turned to Jay, who lounged back in his seat and stared at her with piercing blue eyes. His intense scrutiny grated on her nerves. Didn’t he speak? She was tempted to continue ignoring him but instead shot him a hard glare.
“And what do I do with him?” she asked.
The smile that formed on Joey’s lips was arrogant and Athena found it infuriating. He proceeded to tell her when and where she would meet up with the silent, tattooed thug so she could hand over Dave Carrone’s computer.
****
Athena pushed the luggage cart down the quiet, empty hall. She couldn’t believe how easy it had been to sneak into Royal Courts private floor, although it helped that Joey had made sure everything was arranged for her. From the bellhop uniform she now wore to the empty luggage piled inside the cart. The devil was in the details.
When she reached room 2328, she passed four more doors before she stopped and parked the cart. She grabbed her s
mall black bag, pulled out the keycard she had swiped from a careless maid, and retraced her steps.
The card slipped easily into the door slot. She breathed a sigh of relief when the soft green light flashed and then the lock clicked. She pushed the door open and was greeted by darkness. A curtain was pushed back slightly to let in just a little light.
She walked through the front sitting area, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness. A half wall separated the sitting area and the bedroom. Athena moved further into the dark room, not wanting to attract any attention by turning on the lights. From the light spilling from the window into the suite, she could make out the rich, mahogany furniture and the large, king-sized bed near the windows. The hotel suite was just as immaculate as the hotel itself. Plush carpeting lined the floors and muffled her steps. The room was literally fit for a king—or at least for the man who owned and operated this beautifully designed palace.
She moved through the suite, familiarizing herself with the layout and possible hiding places for a computer. It was very likely Dave didn’t let the thing out of his sight—and knowing him that was probably the case. But she had to be sure. She had to be thorough.
Athena searched the room using the small penlight she carried as her guide. She bumped her knee against something hard and smothered a curse. Damn it! She was going to have to work for this one.
She looked in the closet and vaguely made out his dark suits and shoes inside. She rifled through all the drawers and compartments. Nothing. Across the bed, on the small desk, was a short, narrow safe that looked big enough to hold a jewelry box maybe, but nothing else. Certainly nothing as wide as a laptop.
The suite was large but well supplied, and she almost wondered if this was Dave’s second home. Or maybe his second home was the condo he kept in Summerlin. The one he’d used when he’d needed to get away during times like the Provenzano scandal.
She had followed the entire story on the news, knowing that the media had made up ninety percent of the headlines. The police and the media had been vicious, going after Dave specifically because he was a Carrone. But there was no way he’d involve himself in any money-laundering scheme. He had no desire for that life and if the police had been smart, they would know that only an idiot would get themselves—or their business—involved in such a mess.
Athena ended her search, having looked everywhere she could think of. She stood in the center of the room, trying to think fast. Tonight was her one and only chance. And she had only a few hours before security likely picked up on her activity and then the hotel would go on alert.
Okay, time for plan B.
There was no time for second guesses or regrets. She would have to set aside her feelings for Dave if she planned to get this done. She couldn’t be sure this bold idea would work but right now, she couldn’t think of any other way to get close enough to him to take the damn computer.
Athena went to her bag and pulled out the black cocktail dress and thigh-high stockings. Rumor had it that Dave Carrone wasn’t one to turn away women, much less a half-naked one, and all she needed was to get his defenses down.
She kicked off her loafers and began to undress. Moving with lightning speed, very conscious of the time, she removed her bellhop costume and threw it in the back of the closet. She stood there in a black lacy bra and a black thong.
It was nine thirty-six. If Joey’s source was reliable, Dave would be here any minute.
Athena tried to adjust the bra as best she could but her breasts still swelled over the small cups. Damn, either they were making these bras smaller or her breasts were getting bigger.
Sitting on the edge of the wide bed, she slipped on the black thigh-highs. She had heard more than once that men found black—or red—sexy on a woman. Athena opted for all black. Red just wasn’t her color. It looked too…garish against her brown skin.
She stood up, feeling more exposed than ever in the sexy get-up. She squelched the anxiety that was starting to build. She just needed to get Dave in the bed, immobile, and out of her way. Simple enough, right?
She scoffed. Right.
Athena examined the bed, wondering how she was going to get this done. Because of the wide frame, the bedposts on the ends of the headboard were too far apart. And she needed his hands tied together, not pulled apart like some sacrifice. She walked closer to the intricately designed headboard and to her relief, found several small openings that would work perfectly for what she had planned.
She grabbed the silk cocktail dress and draped it over the arm of the desk chair. Walking to the large window, she pushed back the curtains just a bit. Peering out at the city lights, she was once again mesmerized by its splendor.
The bright lights of Vegas had always drawn her, making her dream dreams she shouldn’t have. But when a life of scheming hadn’t given her the life she’d dreamt of, she’d decided to do the sensible thing and use her talents with technology to become more than a stealthy hacker. As a “white hat,” or computer security consultant, she got to work for herself and use her skills to help others. And the money wasn’t bad either. She had no regrets leaving her old life behind. It made her feel good to know everything she owned, she’d earned.
But now she was being dragged into this mess. For a moment, she was gripped with anxiety. She had never taken such risks before, never resorted to such tactics. Only the thought of saving her brother’s ass kept her in the suite.
Athena ran a hand through her short hair and braced herself for the performance of her life. The one thing that could go wrong was if Dave recognized her. Hopefully her cropped hair and long bangs would ensure he didn’t. Either way, she highly doubted he would remember the sports-jersey, baggy pants wearing girl she had once been. Fifteen years was a long time and she had changed quite a bit since then.
What would he think if he could see her now? He had always been protective of her, almost like having a sweet, gentle older brother. But overtime, her adolescent admiration and affection had evolved into a much stronger emotion. One that no amount of time had—or could have—changed.
Guilt stabbed at her as she tried again to justify what she was about to do. No matter how she tried to rationalize it, it just didn’t feel right. Dave didn’t deserve this.
He was the type of guy who gave two destitute kids food and shelter when things at home got unstable. And she would never forget the time she’d almost seen the inside of a juvenile detention center for her carelessness. It had been the one and only time she’d been caught with stolen merchandise. She had made the mistake of keeping her prize on her—a beautifully bright diamond ring. To her twelve-year old eyes, it had been as bright as the lights lining the Vegas strip. And just as captivating.
But Dave had come to her rescue, insisting to the authorities that someone had sold him the ring and he’d given it to her as a gift. No one had actually bought his story but thankfully he hadn’t been arrested. No charges had ever been brought up and she had believed it was because of who his father was. Dave had later given her a proper scolding for her carelessness but Athena hadn’t cared. To know he had taken that kind of risk for her had only endeared him more to her.
Athena turned away from the window and cursed her brother for putting her in this situation. She got into the large bed and slid under the covers. The sheets were cool and forgiving against her warm skin and guilty conscious. She pushed the niggling anxieties aside and positioned herself on the bed. She lay there, awkward and stiff. She had never slept with so little on—or with such uncomfortable underwear.
She glanced at the clock before resting her head on the soft pillow. Nine forty-eight. He could walk through that door any minute.
Then the telltale sound of a keycard sliding into the door, followed by a soft beep, filled the silence in the room.
He was here.
Chapter Two
David Carrone leaned against his desk as he ran off a list of names to his new assistant, Judith Bell. It was a little after nine, but he was used t
o working such late hours and his assistant of only six months appeared to be adjusting to his schedule.
“Be sure to add Bernard Butler to the list. He’s always been a generous contributor.”
Judith nodded then read back the list of names to him.
The charity event he and his good friend and business partner hosted every year was still months away, but Dave liked to be sure all the right people—those who made sizable donations—were at the event. The event was held at their luxury resort and casino and at fifteen hundred dollars a plate, they had a pretty good list. And it wouldn’t be hard to convince people to attend when the benefit was to support disadvantaged and abandoned kids.
“Am I missing anyone?” Judith asked.
“No,” Dave said. “I think that’s everyone. For now anyway. I’ll run the list by Gabe and will let you know if there are any changes.”
Though his business partner, Gabe, handled all of the external business for the resort, which resulted in his constant travelling, he still made the charity dinner every year and was just as involved as Dave was.
“Sounds good,” she replied.
Judith’s smile was sincere and charming. She was an attractive woman, and if she hadn’t worked for him, Dave would have considered taking her to bed. But workplace romances never worked out. Except for Gabe, though his situation had been different. And he’d been in love with his girl.
But Dave was against screwing women he worked with. If the legal shit didn’t get him, the emotional drama would. And he was a man strongly against drama.
Besides, Judith was great at her job and Dave didn’t want to be the kind of boss that chased his secretary around the office. Judith was professional—unlike his last assistant who had believed seducing him would have been a smart career move—and he wanted it to stay that way between them.