by C. J. Thomas
I glanced over my shoulder. “Like you’re not?”
Alex nodded, thinking about it. “Would you do it if that’s what he wanted?”
I turned back to the window. “I’ve done some things, but I’ve exaggerated. You know this. We both know this. When I think about the way he makes me feel when I’m around him—like I’m living in the tropics, all hot and bothered—I know I have no choice but to sign it.”
“And is that your head or your heart speaking?”
“You know it’s not my heart,” I said firmly, pushing my fears to the side, knowing that the excitement I was after when going to work for the Madam was within reach. “It’s just that … I’m scared.”
Alex pushed the papers to the closest edge to where I was standing. “Sign it. Be with him. Clearly, there is something there between you two.”
I knew she was right. But that wasn’t the reason I was afraid. I was terrified of what he wanted to do to me and how far he’d take it, or even if I could handle it. “First I need to message him.” Alex watched me type up my text to Kelly.
Signed and sealed but need to know where to deliver it.
Not a minute passed before he responded.
“What did he say?” Alex sat on the edge of the couch with a straight spine.
I lifted my gaze up away from my screen and said, “He’ll take it when he picks me up for our date tonight.”
“Holy shit. This guy doesn’t mess around.”
14
Kelly
Okay, I’ll be waiting.
I smiled at the message I’d just received from Kendra, confirming where I’d pick her up for our date tonight, when Giselle entered my office.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I think you oughta see this.” Giselle pulled a new case folder out from under her arm and handed it over to me.
I pointed at the empty chair across from my desk, wanting her to stay so we could discuss any questions I might have. She settled in and watched me scan over the documents, beginning with the files on top. “His name is Mario Jimenez, and he’s charged with the murder of Maria Greer,” she began filling me in.
I glanced up at Giselle.
She nodded. “Looks like we found our guy.”
My heel tapped wildly beneath the desk as I went back to reading his case file.
“And guess who he’s requested to have represent him?”
“Did he request us specifically or was he referred by someone?” I asked, continuing to read more on this potential new client of mine.
Giselle crossed her leg over her knee and shook her head. “Unknown.”
“What about the deceased? Have we learned any more about her?” I licked the pad of my finger and flipped through a few more papers. “Was she a working girl or just an unlucky one?” I looked across my desk at Giselle from under my brow.
“Still working on it. I’m also not sure if there was more to her story or if she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Too many unknowns to form any kind of conclusion. But we’ll get there soon. I have our people working on it now.”
“Good. Let’s get there soon.” I pulled out the images of Maria. “There’s no time to waste.” The photos twisted my gut just like they had the dozens of times I’d stared at them before. It wasn’t a pretty sight, nor one easily forgotten. Not all cases hit me like this one did. I hadn’t been able to push her murder from my mind, no matter how hard I tried.
A vein pulsed in my temple and my hand balled into a tight fist as it rested on top of my desk.
With Maria, it always came back to the bruises and cuts on her wrists and around her neck. Giselle was probably quietly wondering what it was about Maria that had me by the balls. And a small part of me wanted to confess my reasons to her. But I couldn’t. Not without looking guilty myself.
Giselle sat quietly as she watched me do a side-by-side comparison of both the victim and accused.
Mario had a smug look on his face and parted his lips just enough for me to recognize a gold tooth. “Ever hear of this guy before today?” I asked.
Giselle’s swinging leg stopped. “New face and name for me, too.”
“Does he have a record?”
“Nothing. No record of employment either. The little I know about him is in that thin file I handed you. The man’s a mystery and I’m not entirely sure he’s guilty, either.”
My gaze bore a hole through his photo, making sure I stared at him long enough to sear his image into my brain. I hadn’t recognized him, and based off of first impressions, he didn’t seem to be one who could have had access to the nightclubs—the ones where members paid upwards of $100K in monthly membership fees—that offered up the BDSM lifestyle that could possibly inflict the types of injuries found on Maria.
“What do you want to do?” Giselle asked.
I ran my hand over my face, thinking. He was dirt. He was trash. That much was apparent off of my first impression of the man. And if it wasn’t for the crime he was accused of committing, I would happily swoop him up and put him on my list of clients to represent. But, if he did kill her, he deserved to get locked away forever.
“I don’t know,” I said, just as my cell started ringing. I glanced at the screen to see who was calling. “Excuse me. I need to take this.”
Giselle left my office, closing my door on her way out as I answered the call.
“Not even a thank you note?” the Madam cackled through the line. “After the trouble I went through to give you exactly what you wanted, this is how you treat an old friend?”
“How do you know I don’t have flowers on the way?” The corners of my lips curled into a thin grin.
“Because, dear,” her southern accent was a nice touch to normal SoCal flare, “you only give flowers to the women you fuck.”
I leaned back, turning my gaze to the window, and laughed. “You might be right about that.”
“Might? Oh, hun. I know you better than you know yourself,” she said proudly.
“Then consider yourself one of the lucky ones, because not many do know me that well.”
“So?”
I arched a brow.
“I’m waiting.” Her voice rose as she wouldn’t give up on demanding I thank her for finally giving in and handing Kendra over to me.
“I’m courteous.” I wet my lips. “But I’m not polite.”
“Kelly…” She sounded so disappointed by my behavior.
“Besides, what you did, don’t you think what you put her through was a bit excessive?”
“Hardly. I just like to keep my girls on their toes. Keeps them sharp.” I heard her heels clacking as she drifted across the hardwood floors of her office. “It’s a good state of mind for the business we’re in.”
“You scared her half to death,” I said, remembering the look on Kendra’s face when she arrived at the club.
“The girl could use a good scare.”
“Well, let’s just hope that it won’t ruin my date with her tonight.”
“For you, I hope not either,” she said sincerely. “But this isn’t why I was calling.”
“Then what can I do for you?” The tension in my neck released as I looked forward to seeing Kendra again.
Glancing at the clock, I knew that I had to get going if I wasn’t going to be late. Standing, I pulled my jacket off the back of my chair, taking my wallet inside my hand as I walked myself out of the building.
I knew Kendra would come around to agreeing to my terms. All I needed was to shield myself in case of any kind of fallout. Then once I had that guarantee in place, it was fair game to gently lead her into my world.
“I’d like to start making investments to Emmanuel. Today.” The Madam was back to business.
“Can’t happen.” All the excitement I was feeling only a second ago vanished and I felt my face harden. “It’s too early. I thought we discussed this already? He needs a week to get prepared.”
“A week is too long,” she urged.
Her impatie
nce was new. Madam was a woman who planted seeds, nurtured them, and watched them grow, only to harvest the fruit when it was good and ready. It was skilled manipulation and no one did it better. Madam nearly always got what she wanted. Just like me. But her urgency kept me feeling unsettled.
“By then we’ll be backed up and we’ll be playing catch up,” she told me as I found Maxwell waiting on the curb. “You know I don’t like a rough start. Go talk to him again. Make it happen, Kelly. You know better than most. Money doesn’t wait.”
I gave Maxwell a quick nod as I slid over the smooth leather seats in the back of my SUV. “This isn’t my problem. I told you I’m done negotiating for you.”
“After all I did for you?” Her voice was soft and sweet like I’d hurt her feelings. “This is how you repay me?”
“If you need advice pertaining to our original agreement, I’m here.” Maxwell sat behind the wheel and started driving. “Anything else is off the table.”
“I’m not liking what I’m hearing, Mr. Black.”
“You can find someone else to handle those types of transactions,” I said, knowing that I was getting under her skin. Madam rarely used my last name. When she did, she made it clear that she needed me more than I needed her.
“I gave you Kendra, but I can still hold off on giving you Blake Stone.”
And there it was. Stone’s name was dropped without me hinting toward it. Now I knew something was up, as it seemed the worst of my fears were coming true.
I closed my eyes and the moment my vision darkened behind thick lids, I saw Maria’s lifeless body and I wondered if her death had any connection to Blake Stone and his associates that everyone around me couldn’t seem to stop talking about.
When my eyes opened, I stared at the world outside, not wanting to know any more about what the Madam was up to. Because she definitely was up to something. Something that my gut told me I shouldn’t be a part of. Whether or not she was the one to be fueling this impending drug war on the streets I was hearing about, this was one corner of her business I needed to bow out of. Solving Maria Greer’s murder and keeping my focus on Kendra was my top priority. Nothing else mattered.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Darling, please.” Her voice was cheery. “You know you can ask Madam anything.” I could almost see the sparkle in her eyes the way she spoke.
“Do you feel your business is secure?”
“My girls are safe with me, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“No new competition that may be after you?”
“Not in this town.” I could hear her shaking her head. “I squashed that long ago.” She laughed. “Why are you asking, anyway? Do you know something that I don’t?”
“No. I’m just trying to find answers to that young girl’s death. The one I showed you photos of.”
“Tragic.” Madam’s voice went quiet. “But I didn’t recognize her face.”
“It’s an ugly world in which we live,” I murmured.
“Blame Blake Stone. He’s the one who fucked this city long ago,” she said coolly. “That’s why we need to be sure he never walks free again.”
“Is that why you want me to represent him? Revenge for what he did to our city? Or is there another reason you’re not telling me?”
“You know me, honey. I just want what’s best for everyone.”
She was right. I did know her. And I knew that what she really wanted was what was best for her growing empire. Maintaining power was a daily struggle and no path to riches didn’t involve a little blood. Now, whether or not the Madam would go on the offensive and start a war to annex a little more of the city she was trying to own herself, that was still undecided. “And may the best man win,” I said, just as Maxwell turned into the neighborhood I was picking up Kendra in. “I gotta go.”
“Do keep me posted, Kelly. I’m as interested as you are to get to the bottom of what happened to that girl.”
“You know I will.”
“And I’ll forgive your impoliteness today. But only this one time.”
“You’re so kind,” I said as she laughed, ending our call.
Kendra was already waiting on the corner block, and fuck me, she looked stunning. I couldn’t wait to have my hands on her and as soon as the car stopped, I stepped out and took her by her wrists. “My God. Look at you.” My eyes traveled the length of her.
She sucked her pouty bottom lip into her mouth, taking it between her teeth, and let me continue fucking her with my eyes—one long lingering gaze at a time.
She was wearing an angelic long-sleeve club dress that fit her tight as a glove. Her gorgeous tits spilled out from the deep V-neck that easily provoked the nastiest of thoughts a man could conjure up. My core heated and all the blood traveled to my groin.
“Do I have you hard yet?” She tilted her head to the side.
She was so damn sexy I couldn’t stand it. Slowly, I leaned closer, inhaling all of her feminine scent that went straight to my head, making me dizzy. “Painfully stiff,” I said as I kissed both her cheeks.
“You don’t look too bad yourself.” She leaned back, still holding onto my hands, taking me in.
We were made for each other. There was little doubt that once I fucked her, the passion between us would be explosive. “The Madam sure knows how to dress her women.”
“How do you know I didn’t choose this dress myself?”
“I don’t doubt you could. I’m sure you have a fine sense of fashion.”
“But you don’t think I did?”
I shook my head.
“Confidence can be sexy, but I can’t decide if you’re confident or just cocky.”
“Would you like to feel for yourself?” I brought her hand to my flexed abs, tempting her to reach between my legs and feel how cocky I was. “Besides, you think the Madam wouldn’t mark what she considered her own?”
Kendra’s gaze narrowed as she angled her head to the side.
“Only women working for Madam have the privilege to wear the rare stone Tanzanite in their ears.” I gently pinched and tugged the lobe of her ear. The blue-purple gem was as immaculate as my date. But, together, the combination was absolutely gorgeous.
Kendra blushed and I knew that I’d managed to render her speechless.
“Lucky me,” I said, reaching into the backseat. “I chose wisely.”
Kendra watched me pin a blue orchid flower to her dress.
“It’s beautiful, Kelly. Thank you.” She looked down, smelling the flower petals. I squeezed her hand and led her into my waiting vehicle. “Careful with me, Mr. Black. You might just get what you’re after.”
15
Kendra
I glanced over my shoulder to find Kelly on the sidelines schmoozing with another couple who’d come up to greet him.
He caught me staring and flashed me that confident grin that clenched my sex.
Never had I expected to have so much fun at a charity ball. It really wasn’t my scene. And though my bank account was comparable to many of the people who were here in this room, our personalities didn’t match up which generally made me feel like the black sheep who wasn’t invited.
But not tonight. Tonight, I felt free as I moved through the room, stealing bites to eat as they passed, swaying to the live music playing against the murmur of conversations the swirled around me. People danced, laughed, and the mood was light.
A server passed with a platter of bacon wrapped scallops. The scent of bacon and sea water filled my senses and I just had to steal myself a taste. It was succulent and tender when I bit through the meat and I let out a pleasurable moan. When the tray of drinks passed, I plucked a flute of strawberry champagne between my fingers and headed toward my man.
Kelly noticed me coming for him just as he was finishing up his own conversation. I bit my bottom lip, loving watching him interact with so many different faces. He was a real charmer, that one, and indeed, I needed to be careful.
“Need some rescuing
?” I asked, shortening my step as I closed the gap between us.
His devilishly handsome eyes darkened as he closed his fingers around my elbow. Leaning close to my ear he whispered, “Don’t tell anyone. But I can’t wait for this to be over.”
I gave him a look, somewhat surprised to hear it. If asked, I would have sworn he was enjoying himself by the smile on his face.
His other hand clamped around my arm, sending trails of desire shooting across my body. “That dress is killing me.”
My breath hitched as his hot breath swirled over my ear, drawing my nipples tight. “And here I was under the impression you weren’t interested in arm candy for fancy dinners.”
The crinkles around his eyes deepened. “I’m not.”
I leaned more of my weight into his heavy body, appreciating a man who could take a little smack talk. My finger trailed down the center of his chest, feeling his muscles dance against my touch. He looked deliciously handsome all dressed up in a black tuxedo he’d put on just before we arrived.
“Just a means to an end.” He slid his hand possessively around my waist, stopping only when it hit the area just above my ass crack.
I knew what he meant, and what was on his mind. The dress I was wearing would undo any man with the dark desires I knew Kelly Black harbored. Anticipation of where he’d take our night flooded my senses, and though I was having fun mingling, eating all sorts of gourmet foods and drinking all I could get my hands on, just like Kelly I couldn’t wait to get back to it being just the two of us.
“Is that a promise?” I asked.
He shook his head. “A guarantee.”
I smiled. “Keep this up and I’ll make sure that our night never ends.”
He pressed his thick lips against the center of my forehead and chuckled. “My God, woman. I swear you will be the end of me.”
I closed my eyes as lust filled my body with warmth. I hated how attracted I was to him. My intention was only to sleep with him. Show him a good time. That was it. I knew I shouldn’t be falling for him as quickly as I was. Even if the Madam said to keep my legs closed, with Kelly doing what he was doing, it would be impossible to deny him.