SPIDER'S WEB

by Dani Matthews

  Nikolas is silent as he processes what I’d told him.

  I don’t want the usual, ‘I’m sorry for your loss’ bit, so I speak before he can. “I want my father destroyed so I can have a life where I’m not constantly looking over my shoulder. This agreement, it’s important to me, Nikolas.”

  He nods, a look of understanding in his eyes. “We’ll take him down, Catalina.”

  I nod and turn my head, gazing out the window. There isn’t much to see since it’s dark outside, but I want to take a moment to pull myself together. It was difficult making the first move, but I know it was the right one.

  “If you want to get out of the house Thursday evening, you can attend the poker game with me if you’d like,” Nikolas says, his voice cutting into my thoughts.

  I turn and look at him with surprise.

  His expression is guarded as he says, “It’s not an atmosphere I think you’ll enjoy, but the offer is there if you want to accept.”

  “Why wouldn’t I enjoy it?” I ask with interest.

  “It’s quite similar to the strip club environment.”

  “Look pretty and act dumb?” I ask dryly.

  “Yes.”

  My eyes narrow. “How much of a show do we have to put on?” Because if he’s going to pull anything underhanded, it’s not worth the trouble.

  “Nothing extreme. The women typically congregate at the bar while the men play poker. You’ll be on the opposite side of the room most of the time.”

  I can handle that. “I accept your invitation.”

  Nineteen

  Catalina

  Thursday evening, I join Nikolas as the limousine whisks us towards downtown Los Angeles. Santos and another guard, a man with dark hair and hard blue eyes named Xavier, are riding with us in the back. Tomàs is sitting up front with Nikolas’s personal driver, Sergio.

  Santos and Xavier are both unsmiling and act is if I’m not there. Though to be fair, they aren’t speaking with Nikolas, either. They’re with us for protection, not to socialize.

  “The game is being held in a private room below a cocktail lounge owned by an associate. It’s invitation only, so it’ll be an intimate gathering,” Nikolas informs me.

  I nod and adjust the hem of my dress. There was only one dress left in my wardrobe that I hadn’t worn yet. The fabric is black with gold floral designs, and has a jewel neckline and half-sleeves. The entire dress molds to my curves and has a knee-length, pencil hem. It’s simple but classy.

  “Make friends if you wish, but don’t approach me without invitation,” Nikolas advises.

  This earns him a look.

  His eyes bore into mine. “These aren’t my rules. They are, however, in place for a reason.”

  “They’re still sexist,” I retort.

  “Gatita, knowledge is power, correct?” he asks patiently.

  “Of course.”

  He looks at me speculatively. “Then doesn’t it make sense that girlfriends, dates, and spouses should be left out of important discussions that can put their lives in jeopardy—and the success of the cartel on the line. One can’t betray the other if there’s no information to be traded.” He waits to see if I’ll acknowledge that he has a point.

  I arch an eyebrow. “What if a woman wanted to become an associate?” I ask instead.

  “If she has the power to back her up, then I wouldn’t have an issue with it.”

  I look at him doubtfully.

  He releases a low chuckle. “I am not the sexist man you think I am. If a woman can prove she belongs at the big table, then so be it. But those that are not involved in the business—or play a role in it—have no reason to be present during such discussions.”

  I decide it’s wise to simply allow the subject to rest.

  A short time later, we’re exiting the limo with Santos, Xavier, and Tomàs surrounding us. The building is in a prime location downtown, and as we enter the lounge, I note that it’s a sophisticated establishment that caters mostly to businessmen and the wealthy. The bar extends the length of the room with leather stools in front and shelves stocked with high-end liquor bottles in back. Opposite of the bar are booths lining the wall. Everything is dark wood with warm accent colors that blend easily into the ambience of the room. It’s busy tonight, and a few curious eyes turn our way.

  We make our way through the lounge since the poker game is being held in the lower level of the building. A well-dressed employee leads us past the restrooms and through an ‘employees only’ door. We’ve now entered a small, casual suite I assume the employees utilize for breaks, and then across the room is another door—this one unlabeled. It leads to a staircase, and when we reach the bottom, we step into a large, elegant room that boasts a large, L-shaped bar across its entire length. Plush, burgundy sofas are strategically placed throughout the room for those to relax on if they’re not interested in the bar. The opposite side of the room holds a large poker table with a simple but elegant chandelier hanging above.

  We appear to be the last to arrive, because several well-dressed men are lingering around the table while their dates or wives mingle at the bar.

  Nikolas touches my lower back and leans down, his cologne drifting over me as he says in my ear, “Order whatever you like and be pleasant.” His breath tickles the fine hairs around my ear, and gooseflesh pop up all over my skin. Before I can reply, he presses a brief kiss to my temple before he releases me and walks to the table, dismissing me for the evening.

  I note that Santos, Tomàs, and Xavier have station themselves along the wall near the poker table. A few other men, who also appear to be security, are standing with them.

  Not wanting to look out of place, I cross the room to the bar where several women are lingering about and sipping from cocktails. A woman bartender is manning the bar, and she’s dressed in a white, crisp button-up blouse, black slacks, and her blonde hair is pulled back into a simple chignon.

  Seeing my approach, she smiles and asks if she can get me anything. I request a Mojito as I gracefully ease onto one of the stools. Nikolas had told me to socialize, but I’m just here to get off the estate. I’d rather drink my Mojito while watching the poker game than converse with women that I’ll likely never see again. Hopefully that doesn’t make me look like a snob, but I just want to enjoy the evening without lying as to why I’m here and why I’m with Nikolas. Plus, I’d like to watch him in his element. It’s always interesting watching him command the attention of other men.

  The poker game has begun, and I sip my drink and watch with interest. As the evening drags on, I note that a few women seem to be watching Nikolas, too. Not surprising. He is the youngest in the room, and by far the most handsome.

  A pretty blonde in a silver dress approaches the bar, pausing beside my stool as she requests a Cosmopolitan from the bartender. As she waits, her blue eyes curiously flicker my way. “I’ve never seen you here before. Then again, Nikolas rarely brings a date. You must be special,” she comments.

  I don’t see any animosity in her gaze, just natural inquisitiveness. “I wouldn’t consider myself special. I just happen to be with him this evening,” I say lightly.

  The blonde picks up her drink after thanking the bartender, and she flashes me a genuine smile. “Well, good luck. That one has the attention span of a gnat,” she muses, nodding towards Nikolas.

  She isn’t telling me anything I haven’t already heard. “Yes, I’m aware.”

  “If you want to join us, you’re more than welcome,” she says, glancing at the women that are all lingering near one of the plush sofas—deep in conversation. “Though they’ll likely bore you to death.” She rolls her eyes. “I believe the topic was plastic surgery when I made my escape.”

  “You sound like you’ve been to many of these poker nights.”

  She sips her drink as her eyes turn cynical. “I have.” Her eyes shift to a man seated to Nikolas’s left. He appears maybe fifteen years older than Nikolas and is attractive with a strong face and silver
hair. He exudes wealth and confidence. “Stefano and I have been together for almost a year now.”

  “You guys must be quite serious,” I comment with a smile.

  Her smile turns wry. “I just found out last week that he’s screwing someone else on the side, so we’re not that serious.”

  I’m completely thrown as to how to respond to that.

  She gives me a dry look. “These men will never settle down. You’ve been warned,” she murmurs. Before I can reply, she turns and walks back to the small group of women who have now seated themselves on the sofa. A couple of the women glance my way but make no move to invite me to join them.

  I pick up my drink and take a long sip. That conversation is exactly why I’d rather drink alone. Small talk isn’t really my forte, at least not in this kind of environment. My eyes shift back to Nikolas, and I observe him as he plays poker. His expression is unreadable, which probably makes him quite the opponent tonight. I’m certain he’ll be walking away later with many winnings.

  After a while, my body grows stiff from sitting on the stool, but I’d rather suffer than sit with the women. I shift on the stool and re-cross my legs to get the blood flowing once more.

  I’m just sipping the last of my drink when a flurry of black enters the room from the stairwell. Men in black fatigues rush in, semi-automatic rifles raised and already firing as Nikolas and the men at the table dive for cover. Santos, Tomàs, and Xavier quickly try to cover Nikolas as they draw their guns and fire back at the men.

  Chaos promptly ensues.

  The glass I’d been holding drops from my fingers as bullets spray throughout the room. This time, instead of freezing, I fling myself to the floor to make myself as small a target as possible. My folded arms cover my head as loud and sharp bangs echo as bullets fly. High pitched screams from the women sear my ears as I feel debris raining down on me.

  Knowing I can’t stay in the open, I peek out between my arms as panic seizes my chest. The sight that greets me is the type of scene one would expect to see in a movie, not in real life. Two men from the poker table are on the ground and covered in blood. The one is on his back, eyes staring sightlessly at the ceiling. A woman in a green dress is fleeing from the bullets, and I watch as bullets rip through her body, blood splattering as she falls to the ground.

  The air stalls in my lungs.

  I don’t want to move. If I move, I become a target.

  That’s when I see Nikolas racing towards me, blue eyes filled with fierce determination as Xavier shields him—gun firing as he moves fluidly with Nikolas.

  The second they reach me, Xavier uses his body to shield us as he fires his gun at those that have ambushed us. Nikolas hauls me to my feet and practically tosses me over the bar counter. I’m momentarily airborne before I hit the hard floor, jarring my hip and still healing shoulder. I lie there for second, trying to process everything as he drops down beside me. Splinters of wood promptly rain down on us as bullets tear up the bar counter where we’d just been. The bar is momentarily protecting us, but it won’t last long.

  I’m concerned for Xavier when he doesn’t join us. It’s hard to fight semi-automatics, but then again, even those guns have to be reloaded. As long as Nikolas’s men can make clean headshots in all this chaos, they might have a chance.

  Nikolas’s hand presses against my back, firmly keeping my chest flat against the floor as he lowers his head towards mine, eyes grim. “Stay put,” he orders before he yanks out his gun and moves towards the end of the bar. This way, he can peek around the edge and shoot without getting his head blown off.

  Glass shatters above, and I flinch as is sprinkles down upon me. My heart is thundering inside my chest as I lie there, stunned over how fast the evening had taken a horrific turn. As I try to breathe through lungs that feel constricted, I catch sight of the blonde bartender.

  She’s ten feet away from me, visibly struggling to breathe as she presses a hand to her chest. Her white shirt is covered in red, and dust and pieces of debris are falling all around her.

  I know the bar is shielding me, so my natural instinct to help kicks in. Scrambling on hands and knees, I crawl to her. She has three bullet wounds in her chest, and as her eyes meet mine, I see that she’s terrified. Her lips move, but I can’t hear anything over the gunfire still going on. My eyes fill with helpless tears as I take her free hand, clasping it between my own. “You’re not alone,” I promise her as my voice breaks.

  Her hand briefly squeezes mine.

  An arm suddenly grips me around my waist, yanking me from her as I’m dragged back to the opposite side of the bar. “There’s nothing you can do for her,” Nikolas bellows harshly to me.

  Before I can reply, someone dives over the counter, and Nikolas takes aim at the blur with his gun until we see that it’s Xavier. He kneels beside us as he reloads his gun. His hard eyes glance my way and then back to Nikolas. “Take her out the back exit. I’ll cover you,” he says.

  Nikolas’s mouth tightens as he nods. He takes hold of my right arm and urges me to the far corner of the bar. I scoot along with him, taking care to stay low as Xavier moves with us. When we reach the end of the bar, I can see part of the room but thankfully no gunmen.

  Nikolas looks at me sternly. “We’re going to run, and you’re not going to freeze up or look back.”

  “There’s a back exit?” I hear myself ask with hope and uncertainty. I’d thought there was only one way into the room, and that was the stairwell the men had come down. Another exit sounds like miracle, but there’s the danger of having to get there first.

  “Twenty feet away, there’s a hallway that leads to the restroom. There’s no shelter, it’s wide open until the hall,” he warns.

  Twenty feet through flying bullets? That might as well be a mile. Nikolas must see the terror on my face, because he quickly sets his gun down and frames my face with his hands. His eyes bore into mine steadily. “You’re going to be fine. Xavier and I will be right there with you,” he promises.

  Xavier fires bullets across the room before dropping back down behind the bar. He flashes us an annoyed look. “Go!! There’s reinforcements coming, and they’re not ours!”

  Nikolas swears and grabs my hand. “Ready?”

  I shake my head but willingly allow him to pull me closer to the edge of the bar. Xavier moves in close, guns in both his hands. He glances at us and gives a sharp nod.

  I’m suddenly yanked forward as Nikolas drags me away from our shelter, his free hand pointing a gun as he fires bullet after bullet while we run. Xavier is at my back, more bullets echoing in my ears as we make our way to the hall that I hadn’t noticed earlier.

  The second we are close enough, Nikolas gives me a strong shove, and we both dive for cover as bullets whiz past us. I’m no sooner hitting the floor when I’m being hauled to my feet and propelled down the hall, and around a corner. When we come upon a back exit, Nikolas pushes his body against the door, but it won’t budge.

  I can’t help but look behind us, half expecting men in fatigues to be rushing towards us with bullets firing. Instead, the hall is empty. Xavier is nowhere in sight, but the gunfire is still going and sounds nowhere close to ceasing.

  When I turn back around, I see Nikolas shoving aside the lock on the upper part of the steel door. We’re lucky it was locked from the inside, or the men in the fatigues would have overtaken the entire lower level. We would still be cornered behind the bar with no way out.

  “Sergio should have the exit cleared. Stay behind me.”

  I nod, and he props his shoulder against the door and then pushes it open in one quick movement, gun ready to fire. Thankfully, we see the limousine and Sergio guarding it with a gun, two bodies lying on the ground mere steps from the door. He quickly hurries to the limousine’s side door and opens it for us.

  Nikolas pushes me inside before climbing in beside me. The door closes firmly, and then a second later, the limo’s tires squeal as we pull away from the building.

 
My ears feel like cotton has been stuffed inside them after all the gunfire, and the silence seems unnatural. With shaking hands, I ease my hair away from my face. Did that really just happen? On the heels of that thought, I quickly worry over Nikolas’s men.

  I turn to him to find him sitting there, expression flat.

  “What about Tomàs, Xavier, and Santos?” I ask, my voice sounding strange in the quietness.

  “This is what they train for,” Nikolas clips out, but I can see the tension in him. Loyalty is everything to him, and I’m certain it’s hard leaving his men behind in the middle of so much gunfire.

  A heaviness settles deep within my gut. There’s a chance that Nikolas will lose some men tonight, and I find myself worrying over them as well.

  The ride to the estate is mostly a blur, and then before I know it, Nikolas is ushering me to the guest room I’m staying in. As soon as we step inside, I feel everything hit me all at once. The adrenaline from the aftermath, the near-death experience, the death I’d witnessed… This world—I don’t belong in it.

  I jump when hands frame my face, and I blink when I realize I’m shaking like a leaf.

  “Look at me,” Nikolas orders.

  I focus on his blue eyes as turmoil builds within me like a burgeoning tornado.

  Something stirs in his gaze, and then his lips suddenly claim mine in a hungry, soul-searching kiss. I didn’t know I was waiting for it, or that I needed it until my lips greedily part beneath his. I suddenly feel alive and desperate to be touched—to anchor myself to something safe. The kiss deepens as we devour each other.