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“It aligns well with the rest of the Cortez portfolio. But I also have one or two casinos.”
“Ahh, right. The Grimaldi.” I remember the call from Abel to collect his car. “An interesting mix.”
“Drink?” He holds his hand up to the barman.
“I’m working, but please. Help yourself. There’s whiskey and champagne on offer.”
Chance shakes his head and orders a vodka. Neat. “Join me?” He signals to one of the chairs with a view of the pole.
“You weren’t interested in Jay?” I ask but oblige and take a seat.
“Good guess, but no. Not tonight.”
“And what would have to be on offer to temp you, Chance?” I ask, knowing I’m playing with a dangerous man.
“In our kind of work, it takes a lot to turn my head. But sometimes you want something that’s familiar – cut from the same cloth. I’m sure you can understand that, Mariana.”
And I do.
All too well.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
KAI
Afresh shirt on, and I start walking. No need for my bike with that address, and I need the thinking time anyway. I’m not even sure why I’m going. I shouldn’t be, but damn if she isn’t the only thing that’s been on my mind all week.
Work’s meant nothing, and no amount of caution from Viper’s mouth has made me think of her any less. Might still be pissed that Dragon didn’t try beating on me, too. Could’ve helped in some ways. Either knocked some sense into me or at least given me something to vent on. As it is, I’m still thinking too hard about something I should be avoiding, despite ignoring her texts and trying to forget about her.
At least Ash is being left alone. She texted me and said Jonny hadn’t been around since last time. Had I done anything? I didn’t answer. I’ve eased my own worthless conscience there, as far as I’m concerned. Houston is done and over.
I arrive at the building before I’ve got myself ready for it and look up at the old brickwork that’s been renovated. A set of steps lead to the wide lobby area, and then I’m climbing stairs upwards rather than taking the elevator. Can’t stand the damn things since I came out. Must be something to do with the cells wrapped around me for too long.
Eventually I’m outside a penthouse door and about to ring the buzzer. My hand lifts, but something stops me pressing. I know what that is. It’s my own self-worth trying to stop me travelling this road because it knows damn well, once I go in here, there’s no turning back. I’ll be making a choice. Choosing to get myself lost in her. And everything that comes with her.
Music’s drifting out from the place, and there’s a fair amount of low talking going on inside. I back up a step and stare – thinking. And then the door opens at the same time as I lean on the wall. A big guy in a sharp, grey suit steps out, same kind of dark features on his face as Dragon has. He looks at me leaning here and shrugs into a long coat, holding the door open and not saying a word. Another guy follows him out, laughing about something. Stops laughing the second he sees me, and that seems to get them both interested.
It only takes a few seconds to realise who the second guy might be. He’s bigger than Mariana, and a damn sight more dangerous looking, but there’s no denying those eyes. Blue like hers, and exactly the same shape other than a masculine brow. This is probably her twin – Shaw. Maybe the other one is Poe given the familiar features.
“You going in?” Maybe Shaw asks.
I look past them into the lowly lit space, taking in the party that’s going on. “Yeah. Just waiting on a call.” The one that looks a little like Dragon narrows his eyes and looks me over, stepping into my space as if he’s got something to say. I don’t move, nor bow down, because if I’m stupid enough to be here, or dense enough to even consider this a relationship of some kind, the last thing I’m doing is showing weakness because of who they are.
“What call?” he asks.
“What?”
“What call?”
“The hell’s it got to do with you?”
Maybe Shaw laughs and puts his hand on the other guy’s shoulder, near dragging him away from whatever he might have started. “Suspicious much, Knox?” he says. Knox? And before anything else is said, they’re gone into the elevator.
The door’s still open, which gives me a clear line of sight into the place. I can already see Mariana from here. She’s talking to some dude, and damn if that doesn’t wind me the hell up.
I’ve kicked off the wall and walked in without questioning it anymore. Two women walk towards me instantly, blocking out the view. One drapes her arm over my shoulder, and the other starts tucking in real tight. I lift the hand off my shoulder and move sideways out into the room, searching for Mariana again. It’s then that the obvious nature of this party hits me. Guys and women are everywhere, most of them getting involved in the beginnings of what clearly will lead to fucking. I look up and around, taking in the sights: A gold pole, with two strippers doing their worst on it. A bar, with another sparsely dressed woman serving. She comes out from behind it, carrying a gold tray of champagne, and offers me one as I get closer. I don’t take it, nor do I give in to the woman who’s still trying to goad me by putting her hands where I didn’t invite them.
“Back off,” I murmur, looking at her face and red hair. “I’m with someone.” Kind of. “I'm not here for whatever this is.”
