Protector: City of Sin

by Jenny Lynn

  “I need your assistance with something,” I told the woman who answered as I looked out over the vast city skyline. “It’s a bit of a unique request, but I’m hoping you can help.”

  3

  Ella

  I held one dress against me, then another, trying to decide between the two. It was my first night out in ages; I wanted to look and feel good. Circa was a pretty exclusive club, and I was nervous about wanting to fit in.

  “Which one?” I turned and asked Reya.

  We were sipping wine in my apartment, getting ready. She took the night off from working at the club to go out with me, and even got us VIP access. One of the benefits of having a gorgeous, popular exotic dancer for a friend - she seemed to know everyone in Vegas.

  “Gold sequin, definitely. That dress is amazing. In fact, I’m totally going to ask you to borrow it sometime.” She gave me a thumbs up and I hung the other option, a grey silk slip, back in the closet. I stepped into the winning dress, zipping it up and letting my hair down.

  “Perfect!” Reya exclaimed. She looked amazing in a backless red dress, her full lips were also scarlett red. “Should we get a taxi?”

  I grabbed my clutch and put a few things inside; cash, cards, my ID and lipstick. Glancing at my reflection in the mirror I nodded.

  “I’m good to go.”

  Reya finished her glass of wine, leaned over to touch up her lipstick in the mirror, then grabbed me by the arm. We left my apartment, I locked up behind us, and we headed downstairs. It was Friday and the streets were busy. The week had flown by, work was busy, and tomorrow I would get to see Beckett. Tonight was girls night.

  Reya flagged down a taxi, standing on the sidewalk in her towering heels. A car pulled up and we got inside. She told him where we needed to go and off we went, blending into the rows of cars fighting for space on the road.

  I watched out the window as we made our way to the main strip; there were groups of people laughing, walking together on the streets and partying. Vegas was the place where people came to let loose and get a bit of excitement in their lives. For me, it was home.

  We pulled up outside the club, there was a long line of people stretching down the street. An intimidating bouncer was waiting outside, keeping watch, deciding who got in and who would be waiting longer - maybe all night. The gatekeeper.

  “Keep the change,” Reya said as she handed the driver cash.

  “Thanks,” I told her as we exited the car. “First round is on me.”

  “If we play our cards right, the first round will hopefully be on a couple of cute guys tonight,” Reya winked at me as we walked up to the door. Reya didn’t wait in lines, she skipped them. The bouncer looked us both over as we approached.

  “Hi there,” Reya smiled at the bouncer. “We’re on the list. Reya Lane plus guest.”

  The man looked down at his clipboard, ran his finger down the list of names, then gave a nod as he unclipped the velvet rope stretched across the doorway.

  “Have a nice night, ladies,” he told us.

  Reya looped her arm through mine and we walked past the doors, into the bustling club. The music was loud and energetic, there was a packed dance floor and couches all along the walls. In each corner there were elevated VIP sections with groups seated and drinking. A bar was in the middle of the room, a crowd gathered ordering cocktails and bottle service.

  “How about I order us a couple of drinks and we grab a seat?” I asked Reya.

  She scanned the room, her eyes settling on an empty couch in the corner.

  “I’ll save that couch for us. Vodka soda, please!”

  “You got it.” Reya walked over to the corner to secure a space for us, while I went up to the bar. A group of guys grinned at me and made space so I could order. When I caught the bartender’s eye, she came over and asked what she could get me.

  “One vodka soda, one vodka cranberry,” I told her. She got to work on the drinks, moving with the practiced efficiency of a bartender who worked in a busy club. When she put the drinks down in front of me I opened my clutch to pay.

  “We’ll get her drinks,” one of the guys beside me offered. I gave him a polite smile and shook my head.

  “I’ll get these, thank you.”

  The last thing I wanted to do was be stuck with a group of guys for the rest of the night; for me this was about having a nice time out with Reya. Having a few cocktails, maybe dancing a bit. I paid, picked up a glass in each hand then walked over to the couch where Reya was sitting, but she wasn’t alone. She was never alone for long, as stunning as she was.

  “Here you go,” I passed her the drink and sat down.

  “See? My friend is back,” Reya patiently told the man beside her. “It was nice to meet you, but I’m going to catch up with her, if you’ll excuse us.”

  He nodded and begrudgingly got up, then walked away.

  “Awww. You made a friend,” I teased as I sipped my drink. “Could he be the one?”

  Reya rolled her eyes at me and pointed across the room where the man was already talking to a couple of women on the dance floor. “He’s bounced back just fine.”

  We both laughed, shaking our heads. For some men, it was all a game. Approach as many pretty women as you can, and eventually, one will give in to you. I was glad to be off the dating market right now.

  “So how are things going with that mysterious guy you can’t tell me about?” Reya asked. “I hope you know, I have my theories.”

  “Oh you have theories, do you?” I raised my eyebrows, curious to hear more.

  “Yes. I haven’t landed firmly on one conclusion, but you’re gone practically every weekend making me think he lives locally. So far I’m torn between whether he's an undercover FBI agent, or a famous musician with an act in Vegas. At first I thought it might be a married man with a double life, but you’re not the homewrecking type. Then I thought maybe he was a dangerous criminal kingpin, but since you’re a crime reporter, you’re just too upstanding a citizen to condone breaking the law.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” I teased. “For the right criminal, maybe I could be tempted.”

  Reya laughed and shook her head.

  “You’re too much, girl. Are you seeing him again this weekend?”

  I nodded. “I look forward to our weekends together so much since I met him.”

  “Do I ever get to meet him? I’m curious who you’re spending so much time with, and you know I can keep a secret. Don’t you trust me?”

  I placed my hand on hers.

  “You know I trust you Reya, more than anyone. It’s honestly just better this way. What we have is different, but I’m so happy with him. Maybe one day things will change, but for now, this is what works for us.”

  “Hey - if you’re happy, I’m happy.”

  Reya quickly finished her drink then gestured for me to do the same.

  “Come on, I want to dance!”

  I laughed. “You dance every night for a living, I assumed you’d enjoy sitting down for a while.”

  “I didn’t take dance at Julliard to work a pole, at least here I can dance however I want to. By the way, I was excited to tell you - I got a job as a backup dancer in a music video shooting next month!”

  “That’s amazing Reya, I’m so happy for you! What style?”

  “It’s a very slow, sensual song. Free flowing interpretive dance with a bit of ballet. I’m excited to have aced the audition. Maybe one day soon, I’ll end the chapter of my exotic dancing career.”

  “As soon as people see what you can do, they’re going to be blown away and book you for more jobs. Just you wait.”

  “I hope so. Let’s grab a shot, then get on the dance floor!”

  We abandoned the couch and headed for the bar, where Reya elbowed her way to the front and ordered two shots of tequila. When she got the drinks she handed me a small shot glass, then tapped hers against mine. I removed the lemon from the top, poured the tequila past my lips, and winced as I then bit into the lemon
. The liquor burned my throat. We left the empty glasses on the bar, then made our way to the dance floor.

  Raising her hands up, Reya twirled then started to move her body. She swayed her hips, gyrating in time to the beat, and I did my best to not look like a flapping duck in comparison to her smooth controlled movements. I smiled, having a great time as song after song we danced and laughed, cheering when songs we loved came on over the speakers. A group of guys came over and started to dance with us, we let them, and together we dominated a section of the dance floor. I was warm, the constant movement and sea of bodies getting to me. Eventually I pointed towards the bar.

  “I’m going to get a drink of water,” I shouted to Reya over the music.

  “I’ll be here,” she told me, leaning into one of the cute guys and dancing with him.

  I wove back through the crowd towards the bar, waiting my turn then getting a bottle of water. As soon as I paid I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning, I expected it to be a guy trying his luck with me, but it turned out to be a tall bouncer.

  “Is your name Ella James?” he asked me.

  I nodded. “Is everything okay?”

  “Follow me,” he said, then turned away. I followed him through the club, towards a corner where the largest of the four VIP sections was. He unclipped a rope and gestured for me to walk past. Confused, I went inside then looked at the faces in front of me. There were four well-dressed men and five stunning women. While I stood there confused, one man looked at his entourage and pointed towards the club.

  “Give us five minutes,” he told them. Obediently, everyone got up and walked away. I stared at him, trying to place his face. It looked familiar, but I was drawing a blank.

  “Do you know who I am?” he demanded when I said nothing.

  I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I don’t. But you look familiar.”

  “I should look familiar.” His face was serious, no trace of a smile, and I was starting to feel nervous in his presence. “I was in the room every day during Marco Venetti’s trial. My father’s trial.”

  My blood chilled in my veins. “You’re Tony Venetti.” Shit. How had I not recognized him? Was it the dim lights, the alcohol, or was it my subconscious trying to protect me?

  “There it is, finally. Some recognition,” he sneered. “You may not have noticed me, but I noticed you. Every day at the trial, and the second you walked into this club. My club. You destroyed my fucking family, Ella.”

  I stood my ground, balling my fists at my side.

  “Your father tried to kill me, Tony.”

  He huffed. “So you say.”

  “Are you kidding? It was proven in court. I had bruises. He tried to strangle me, and would have if the Vegas Phantom hadn’t saved me.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, I blame that lunatic too for what happened to my father. Did you know my mother has been a wreck ever since his arrest? She sleeps all day, and when she’s not sleeping she’s drinking. My father was a legitimate businessman, and you slandered him.”

  “We both know what your father was Tony, no matter what lies you try to pass off as truth.”

  “The thing about a family business,” he continued, “is that when one person steps down, another takes his place. My father groomed me to take over, and while he’s in prison that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

  “If you break the law Tony, you can expect to end up exactly where your father is.”

  “Consider this a warning, Ella,” Tony stared daggers at me. “You’re a problem for my father, you’re a problem for me, and if I need to find a solution to my problem, I will.”

  My blood went from cold to ice.

  “Is that a threat?”

  He shook his head, slowly, then picked up his drink and took a sip.

  “No Ella. It’s a promise.”

  He looked past me and snapped his fingers. The bouncer came back and unclipped the rope, taking me by the arm and leading me away. I squirmed out of his grasp.

  “I want you out of my club, Ella. You’re not welcome here,” Tony shouted after me.

  “I wouldn’t want to stay in any place connected to you, Tony,” I told him, then walked away. I found Reya still dancing with a group of guys and tapped her shoulder. “We need to leave - now.”

  She turned and saw the expression on my face, then nodded.

  “Of course,” she said. “Is everything okay?”

  “I’ll tell you outside,” I assured her as we walked away.

  I didn’t look back, but I could feel Tony’s eyes on me as I wove my way through the crowd and out onto the street. I wouldn’t let myself be intimidated by him or his threats, I knew from experience that men like him operated on fear. If he chose to follow the same path as his father did, I would do my job and report on every single detail. And if he ever tried to lay a finger on me, I knew Beckett would be there to protect me. There was nothing he could do to me. His words meant less than nothing.

  4

  Beckett

  Everything was ready, I was ready, the only missing piece was her. She buzzed up from the lobby and I waited for her in front of the elevator doors, excitement coursing through me. I felt light and optimistic, I could see it on my face when I glanced in the nearby mirror. She did this to me - made life feel like something other than a constant struggle against evil. Ella had no idea what I had in store for her, but very soon, she was going to find out. The doors slid open and suddenly she was standing there.

  She was wearing her hair down, it tumbled in loose waves over her shoulders and framed her face. Every time I saw her felt like the very first time; she was as soothing to me as that first sip of water when your throat is parched. The pale green sundress she was wearing flattered her figure, but if I was honest, a paper bag would flatter her figure. To me, Ella was perfect. And she was mine.

  I picked up my overnight bag and stepped into the elevator beside her before she could step out. She blinked and looked at me, confused that we weren’t following our typical routine of staying in. Normally I’d already be undressing her by now. I wanted to - but I could also be patient when I needed to be.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “You’ll see,” I answered with a smile.

  Downstairs the driver I hired was idling by the curb, just as I planned. I opened the door for Ella and she slid inside, watching me closely with those suspicious eyes.

  “Seriously, Beckett, what’s going on?”

  I turned to her with an exaggerated sigh, suppressing a grin and trying to keep my face a blank slate. She was such a reporter, always asking questions. It made teasing her overwhelmingly tempting, just like I knew she enjoyed teasing me when I was being too serious.

  “I’m kidnapping you,” I told her matter of factly.

  “Again?” she rolled her eyes. “Is that like, your signature move or something?”

  I shrugged. “Unconventional, but it worked on you, didn’t it?”

  Ella shoved me playfully as the driver pulled out into traffic.

  “Come on,” she giggled, tugging at my sleeve. “What’s going on?”

  “You’ll see when we get there. Now, no more questions. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

  Ella finally gave up and relaxed beside me, sliding her small hand into mine. I wove my fingers with hers and we sat in comfortable silence while our driver made his way to our destination. When she saw signs for the airport, Ella’s eyes widened.

  “Okay, now you have to tell me,” she insisted.

  I shook my head, still refusing to give up my secret. She was squirming, curiosity was one of Ella’s weaknesses and this was torture for her. We made our way around to the back terminal reserved for private flights. When the car parked, I opened the door and stepped out onto the sun-baked tarmack. Picking up our luggage I started to walk.

  “Let’s go, Miss James,” I told her as I approached the small aircraft.

  “Whose plane is that?”

  “It’s mine,” I told h
er. “Come with me. It’s time to go.”

  Wordlessly she followed me, up the steps into the plane where we took seats across from each other. I sank down into the luxurious cream chair; Ella didn’t take her eyes off me for a second.

  “Okay, Beckett. I’m in the plane, my seatbelt is on. Now can you tell me? Please?”

  “I love our weekends together Ella, hiding away from the world in my penthouse. But I want to give you more. I want to go out for dinner with you, I want to walk along the beach hand in hand without the risk of anyone local seeing us. So, I’m taking you to Hawaii for the weekend, where we can act more like a real couple for a change.”

  Ella’s face brightened and she squealed, loud and unashamed, the cabin crew turning and chuckling at her adorable display of excitement. She launched herself towards me, forgetting that she had her seatbelt fastened. She fiddled with it, freeing herself, then jumped up and wrapped her arms around me. She pressed her soft lips against mine, then looked into my eyes.

  “Thank you, Beckett.”

  “Anything for you, Ella.”

  She never made demands of me, even though I asked so much of her. I wanted to give her this, and her reaction sent a jolt through my long-dormant heart. Ella James, you’ve resuscitated me. Do you know that?

  “Are we ready to go, Mr. Carter?” The pilot called to me from the cockpit, interrupting my train of thought.

  “We’re ready, Jameson,” I told him, fastening my seatbelt as Ella did the same. She was buzzing with energy, staring out the window excitedly as the plane roared to life and started to move down the runway.