“Marissa, I came here to apologize for the kiss. I didn’t know, you took me by surprise.” I looked at her; she had a face of disappointment.
“You came all the way here to tell me this?”
“Yes,” I answered. “I wanted to apologize.”
“I know, Evan, the deal. It’s her and I know where I stand.”
She gets up from her seat to walks toward me. We get interrupted when my phone rang. She moves back, giving me space.
“It’s the office,” I say as I answer.
“Hello?”
“Evan, plans have changed. Mission needs to be done tonight instead of tomorrow. Come to the office soon.” I end the call and head out as I tell Marissa.
While heading to the office, I text Natalia.
Evan: I will meet up with you at Frederic’s little later. Working a little late tonight. Miss you.
Instead of going straight to my office, I enter the conference room. There’s the whole office team in here. My bosses, their bosses, and their bosses. All in suits and some with ties.
“Evan, there you are.”
“We need the best man for the job here, Bennett says as he points at me.
“What's going on; why the plan change?” I ask
“Mission needs to be completed tonight, we have the teams all ready,” Bennet answers.
Dammit. I hit the table with my fists, the room silently quiet.
I run my hands through my hair and pace. “I thought it was for tomorrow,” I say calmly out loud. I did not want to really show how angry I really was.
“We found new information. Frederic and his team are bringing in an order of contrabands from another state. They are stashing it in a private room in the back of the club,” he adds.
“We just need your order, sir.” Bennet stares, waiting for my answer. “Everyone is on it right now, Evan. It’s too late to change plans,” Joe said as he crossed his over his chest.
What am I going to do? I had no choice but to go on with the mission. I think for a second, but I guess there is nothing else to do besides go on with the plan. I looked at my team as I said. “You have my permission.”
I head fast out of this office to mine; I had to get a hold of Natalia. I picked up my cell to call her and it went to voicemail, so I texted her instead.
Evan: Where are you?
I waited a couple of minutes patiently. The door opens to my office. What Marissa? Are you ok?
Natalia is there tonight with her friends and I need to take the out before anything happens.
Don't worry we can go over after we finish here and I’ll go with you. You got to get back in the conference room.
After two long hours talking about the plan and what will go on, I head out to the club.
We arrive at the place and Marissa right behind me. I look around and I see Natalia, Alyssa and Alex in the VIP area. I tell Marissa to stay put and after all I cannot make a scene right now. I get pissed off instantly. I see Natalia dancing with a man that’s all over her body. I want to grab him by the neck and kick his ass. “You need to stay calm, Evan,” Marissa hollers at me. I gave her a look of don't get in my business.
I walk toward Natalia and I grip her arm maybe a little too tight but I didn't hurt her. She tried to push away, and I released her arm to avoid a scene.
Rubbing her arm, “What the hell are you doing? You are hurting my arm.”
The tall blond, boy looking like a Barbie Ken was coming toward me. “Hey, man, what are you doing?” Marissa came right in the perfect moment and took him away. If not I would have dislocated his jaw out of his face.
I know Marissa can handle the situation. We need to leave now and I will explain.
Natalia’s POV
Chapter 18 (Before the altercation)
It’s Friday and the mall is packed. Alyssa and I decide to go shopping in between class and work to buy an outfit for our double date tonight. I’m looking at the clothes rack and while Alyssa is trying on shoes.
“I’m excited for tonight,” Alyssa says, waving her hands around in some form of excitement. “Are we meeting at Frederic’s or your apartment, Nat?”
“We can meet there at the lounge if you want. I will let you know if anything changes.” We go to a couple of stores until we both find our perfect outfits.
Home sweet home, I think as I walk into my apartment from a busy day at work after the mall. I didn't have a chance to look at my cell the rest of the afternoon. I check now and notice two texts from Evan.
Evan: I will meet up with you at Frederic’s little later. I am working a little late tonight. Miss you.
Evan: Where are you?
I reply to him now
Nat: I will text you when I am on my way there. Can’t wait to see you!
I jump in the shower and then straighten my hair and apply a little bit of makeup. I get dressed and look at the clock to see it only took me about an hour, not too bad.
Modeling in front of my bedroom mirror, I think I look damn good. I am wearing a sapphire blue, glittery dress with a low cut v showing just enough cleavage. The back is open straight down to my lower waist. I added a pair of silver peeped toe five-inch heels and some silver hoop earrings.
Deciding that I look hot enough to go to the club, I grab my bag and run out of the door. I flag down a cab and wait for one to stop. Once inside the cab, I give him the address to Frederic’s. I am bouncing my foot in anticipation of seeing Evan.
The cab driver lets me off at the front of the club. I start my walk to the front of the line when I see the two bouncers, George and James, notice me right away. Thank God for having connections. They’ve been working for Frederic for the past couple of years so it makes it easy to get in quicker.
“Hey, sexy girl!” George yells, trying to get my attention.
“Hey, boys,” I say as I give them a quick wave.
“Tonight has already started off crazy, so be careful with the drunk men,” George says.
I bypass everyone and walk right through the front doors. I am walking straight to the VIP area. I am hoping Alyssa is already here. As I began to glance around the VIP area, I notice from a distance Frederic is sitting with four girls surrounding him. I look over to them see Alyssa and Alex and two other guys on the other side of them. This lounge is packed tonight with people, but it usually always is. Is the place to be in the area?
The security guard offers me a hand to climb the step to the VIP area. Alyssa jumps on me, giving me a huge hug. I give Alex a high-five.
“What’s up, Nat?” he asks while smiling and waving his hand to me.
“Where is the alcohol?” I loudly ask while moving to the beat of the music playing.
I see Ben, Alyssa‘s friend from class who is also one of the bartenders here, bringing drinks and he hands me a glass.
I lean over to him, bringing his ear down to my mouth. “What is this?”
He replies, “It’s a Margarita made by me.”
I grab it happily and start sipping.
“You look amazing,” he says, eyeing me up and down.
“Thanks!” I turn away from Ben and wave a ‘Hi’ to Frederic and he nods as well and continues on with his ladies all over him. I shrug my shoulder while holding my gag reflexes.
“Where is Evan?” Alex asks me.
“He should be here soon. Let me text him, telling him that I’m here which I have completely forgotten to do.”
I notice tonight the VIP area is even busier than usual. Some women and men are entering the VIP areas, which are personal friends of Frederic.
We are mingling and having a great time dancing to the music. I look over and Alyssa is all over Alex. I yell “get a room” and continue dancing. I look at my watch and time has passed by so quickly. The night is close to being over. I guess Evan is not coming after all. I check my phone and no text either. I decide to go out of the VIP area, to go dance on the dance floor.
A good-looking guy joins me and we dance together. He’
s tall, blond, and handsome. All of a sudden, I feel a tight grip on my arm that jerks me off to the side. I went to raise my arm so whoever was holding it would let me go. When I get loose, I turn around and see Evan.
Rubbing my arm, I yell, “What the hell are you doing? You are hurting my arm.”
Looking around, I notice that he wasn’t alone. “Who is he?”
“I don’t know him he asked me to dance.”
“So you just dance?”
“Apparently I did.”
“We will finish this later, but right now, you cannot be here. Please, let’s leave now and take your friends with us,” he says with urgency in his voice. He looks and sounds desperate.
I feel so confused right now. “Why the fuck should I leave? Because you say so, I am just supposed to do whatever the hell you want me to?”
“Please, Natalia.”
“Please nothing. I am going back over there to dance some more.” If you move toward him, I will pick you up myself and take you out of here.
He grabs my arm again. “No the fuck you’re not. Quit being so defiant.”
“If you'd told me the real reason I need to leave maybe I wouldn't be so defiant.”
“I can’t tell you right now. I took an oath! He took a deeper breath. I took an oath, Natalia,” he repeats through gritted teeth. “I can’t tell you unless we are married.”
“I hope this isn’t a proposal because that is so not happening just so you could tell me.”
I look at his face, seeing how pissed he really is, but there is more there. He looks guilty.
“You’ve been lying to me and you are pretty damn good at it. I think you actually enjoy it.”
I am so pissed off right now. I know my face is red. I can feel the heat coming from it.
“Hey, guys. What’s going on?” Alyssa interrupts with a smile that starts fading when she notices how upset I am.
Turning to Alyssa, I say, “Can we have a minute, please?”
She turns around and walks away toward Alex.
“I am not leaving with you, Evan.”
“Do I really have to remind you what's at stake here, Natalia? There's a very serious problem here where we might not get out of this alive. Any of us.”
I freeze with his words and I decide to take it seriously.
“Now get your friends and let’s leave now.” I am still standing there when he yells, “Do it!”
He walks away as I start moving toward my friends. I keep my eyes on him and I watch him walk right to that same woman that he was with the night I met him and that night at the club. Marissa I think is her name. I go ahead and tell Alyssa and Alex that we need to leave.
“What is going on?” Alyssa asks with a worried face.
“I don’t know but something is about to go down.” I notice the crowd is being evacuated by the bodyguards as we start walking.
The night flew by; I didn't realize it was closing time. We start walking faster to the exit door. At this point, I just want to be home and away from this chaos. Evan has some explaining to do.
Alex, Alyssa, and I stay outside for a couple minutes before we decide to wait across the street in the distance of the club to see if Evan meets with us before I go home. New York City traffic is heavy. Cars and people going their own way.
I send him a text to let him know where I am. Alex and Alyssa sit on the grass as I just stand there, leaning beside a tree, just looking to see if there are any signs of Evan.
Evan’s POV
Chapter 18
I finally got Natalia to leave with her friends. I feel better and now I can concentrate on my job. I wait for the club to clear before sending the order in. My team and I are all ready to put all this to rest. We clear the streets and clear the venue.
There are some suspicious movements in the VIP area. I look in that direction in a discreet manner. I can see the guys that were in the office when I went in to see Frederic.
I nod over to Marissa as we walk out of the building. I hold my left hand to my ear and whisper, “It's time.” The whole team hears my order, but only one is allowed to answer. It was Michael. “Copy that.”
“Everyone, take your places. Seize will start in two minutes.”
As we are walking out, police cars come prowling down the empty street. A second car squeals around the corner behind the other cop car and everything goes to hell of a blink of an eye.
Out of nowhere, an army of men all dressed in black carrying shields briskly walks to the main entrance of Frederic’s Lounge. The whole building is surrounded now. Two helicopters from the sky brighten the scene with big spotlights.
A whole team of cops crouch outside the door with shotguns and machine pistols. Assault vests and helmets worn over civvies. Marissa and I are to one side. Paul, Mark, and Michael are on the other.
Paul and Mark wait for Michael's order to give the door several quick, powerful kicks. The call comes through and Mark splits the wood from the door and tears the hinges from the frame. It falls open. The team of cops surge into the office.
They break in the door to Frederic’s office and it makes a deafening bang as it opens. Men are barging inside and suddenly gunfire erupts.
Everything is done in seconds, having the best team of NYC helps get this job done quickly. No one is dead, but some are hurt. I hear over my ears that the mission was done as efficiently as possible for the safety of our men and the public.
Frederic and all of his team members are being escorted out by the swat team. The helicopters are finally making their departure. I check my phone and find a text from Natalia.
Nat: We are across the street.
They never left to go home. I take a look back and that’s when I see them on the opposite side of the chaos. I start walking across the street toward them.
“What are you guys still doing here?”
“We never left, obviously,” Alyssa sarcastically answers.
“I told you to leave.” I directly look at Natalia.
They get up from the ground and Natalia walks toward me. “What’s going on?”
“What’s going on with my uncle, Evan?” Alyssa asks as she walks over closer to me, Alex following closely behind her.
“Right now, I want you all to leave. I'll be with you all in a bit and I will explain.”
I lean over to Natalia’s ear to whisper, “Please go and I’ll be there soon.
“I want to know everything about my uncle, Evan. Like now. I need to know what's going on,” Alyssa says, cocking an attitude.
Alex grabs her hand, making her walk the other way to leave. Natalia follows. I walk back over to all the anarchy. I talk to some of my superiors, telling them I need to leave. I explain that I need to check on some people that were in there earlier tonight. Luckily, they let me leave.
30 minutes later, I am able to send a text to Natalia, letting her know that I am on my way to her.
I ring the doorbell twice, one right after the other. I hear footsteps and the door swings open, looking as though it was going to come off its hinges. I walk in, “How everyone’s doing?”
“How do you think I am doing?” Alyssa asks with malice. “Evan, you need to start talking.”
I look over at Alyssa; her eyes are dark and her face is full of fury. Alex is still seated with his elbows on his knees and hand covering his mouth. I look at Natalia and she is just confused.
“Evan, what happened tonight?” Alyssa demands as she hit the dining table. She was livid!
“To start, you need to calm down and I will tell you what you need to know,” I say firmly
“What happened tonight?” she asks again, a little bit calmer.
“Your uncle and the club have been watched by the police department of NYC for the last few months now. There have been activities of drugs, weapons, and prostitution. He is being investigated as we speak, it doesn't mean he is guilty, yet.”
I look over at Alyssa and her face changes to a more somber demeanor.
&n
bsp; “If you or anyone of your family members wants to see him, I can help you with that as time goes by.”
“How did you know it was going to happen? You came and asked us to leave the club. Who are you?”
I say nothing to Alyssa, with all my concentration focused on Natalia.
Natalia turns to me. “You knew this all along didn’t you?”
Alyssa snatches her purse and runs out, Alex following behind her. Natalia and I are left alone. The apartment is silent and you can feel the tension building up. She turns her body toward me with worried eyes.
“Who are you?” she asks, looking straight into my eyes
“I am an FBI agent.”
Her eyes almost fly out of their eyes sockets as I walk toward her. She takes a step back.
“You are a cop, Evan?” she asks in disbelief.
“Yes, Natalia; I investigate cases and this one happens to be your best friend's uncle.” I reach out her, pulling her closer, but her body pulls back.
“You were using me to get information weren't you?” she yells at me.
I grip on her hand. “NO, I wasn’t. Listen to me.”
“Get out!” she yells back
“NO! You will listen to me first, and then I can leave if you want me to.”
Her eyes start watering. I reach over to dry her tear off her cheek, but she moves my hand away.
“Don’t cry, Natalia.”
“I am crying out of anger because my best friend is hurt. She thinks I lied to her, which I would never do. She is my best friend, the sister I never had, my family. When she is hurt, I hurt twice as much.” You lied to me Evan.
“I’m sorry. I was working that night I met you, the first night I saw you dancing by yourself on the dance floor alone. That night, I couldn't let you go without knowing your name. I stopped you before you left, remember?”
She nods her head and I dry her tear off her face.
“Why didn't you tell me the truth?” she is yelling with frustration.
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