by Cheri Marie
When I look back to the VIP area, Richy and the woman are no longer there. I search the crowd for them, spotting them coming down the stairs and that’s when I recognize the woman on his arm. What the fuck? Jumping from my seat, I push my way through the crowd towards them and grab her by the arm.
“What the fuck are you doing with these losers?”
She spins to face me. Richy now glances between the two of us. “You know this asshole, Anya?”
“No. I’ve never seen this man before in my life.” A pleading look flashes in her eyes but it’s gone as quickly as it came.
I’m not sure what the hell is going on, but if she’s in some kind of trouble with Donnely’s gang, I sure as fuck don’t want to make it worse for her, so I just play along.
“My apologies. I thought you were someone else.”
Without another word, Richy snakes his arm around Camryn’s shoulders as he leads her to the back of the club and through a door that says employees only.
I watch the door, waiting for her to come back out. I’m not sure how long I’ve been waiting when the door slowly swings open and she slips out of the door alone. I watch as she walks towards the bathroom again and I make my move.
Sliding off my barstool, I quickly make my way to the bathroom hallway just as another woman comes out.
“Excuse me, Miss? Is there anyone else in the bathroom?”
“Oh, there’s only one other girl in there.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“No problem, sugar.”
I wait until she’s out of sight and then I slip into the women's bathroom, locking the door behind me just as Camryn finishes washing her hands. When she turns to walk towards the door she jumps back.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“I want to know what the hell you’re doing with Richy.”
“I’m not doing this with you. It’s none of your business.”
“Anything that puts you in danger is my business. Richy and the rest of Donnely’s crew are bad news. They’re dangerous, Cam. Do you know what it would do to me if something happened to you?”
Her eyes cast to the floor and I reach out to caress her cheek, but she quickly steps out of my reach.
“I know the level of danger I’m in. Richy isn’t anything I can’t handle. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Stepping around me she reaches for the door, but I grab her arm, stopping her.
“Owen! Let me go. I have to get back!”
“No. I’m not going to let you willingly walk back into the lion’s den.”
“That isn’t your decision to make, it’s mine.” I keep a hold of her arm, not willing to release her. “I need to get back before he comes looking for me. I can’t imagine that would be good for you. Please, don’t mess this up for me, O,” she begs, tears welling up in her eyes then overflowing onto her cheeks.
“Does this have something to do with MacKenzie?”
She flashes me a warning look. “Like you give a shit. You wanted me to give up looking for her a long time ago.”
“Cam, she’s been gone for eight years. At some point, you have to move on with your life. Obsessing over your sister’s disappearance isn’t healthy.”
“She’s still alive, Owen. I can feel it.” She chokes through a sob. “And Donnely’s gang is my connection to finding out where she is. If you ever really loved me, you’ll let me go…please.”
I close my eyes and drop my head between my shoulders. It’s a low blow on her part to use my love for her against me. An unfair advantage she knew she could use, because there was never a moment I let her doubt how much I loved her. Opening my eyes, I stare into her pleading ones and slowly release my grip on her arm. I watch as she flips the lock and disappears out of the door and into the crowd of the club.
Chapter 9
Camryn
I take a deep breath and head back to where I left Richy, trying to shake off my encounter with Owen. I need to pull myself together or this whole thing is going to go to shit. Seeing Richy getting cozy with another girl, I’m partially relieved but I have to play the part to get where I need to be. I hastily walk up to the skanky blonde on his arm and ask her what the hell she’s doing with my man. I honestly could not care less who he’s flirting with. If he’s with her then he’s leaving me alone, but I have to get in tight with them, so, a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.
“Whoa there, Anya.” Richy steps between us and puts an arm on each of our shoulders. “There’s enough of Richy for the both of you.”
“I don’t think so, Richy. I don’t play well with others.” I pull out from under his heavy arm.
“C’mon, Kitten, you know I only want you.”
“Really?” I say sarcastically as I step back away from him and look around to see if O’Hare has made it in yet. “Also, just for the record, I’m no kitten. More like a tiger. I’ll rip your fucking throat out and ask questions later.”
“C’mon baby, don’t be that way. Come and let Richy make you feel like the queen you are.” He moves his arm off the shoulders of the blonde and takes a step towards me. I stand there making him close the distance. I won’t let them see that I’m scared shitless because I honestly don’t have a clue what I’m doing.
“Don’t fuck with me, Richy. It’s just me or it’s not me.”
“It’s just you, baby. It’s just you.” He reaches out and pulls me to him placing a wet, sloppy kiss on my lips.
“It better be.” I placate him by snuggling up against him and kiss him on his scruffy neck. God, whatever made me decide to do this? The smell of him alone is about to make me gag.
“Richy!” A loud voice booms across the room from the main entrance of the bar.
“Murph! We’ve been waiting on you.”
“Yeah, yeah…you know how the business is.” He makes it to our corner, and I smile at him, leaving my arm around Richy’s waist. “Hello, Anya is it? I see you’ve made yourself a friend with Richy, here.”
I give him an up and down look and then look back at Richy. “You could say that.”
“She’s my girl, Murph. She knows what she needs to, nothing more.”
“As long as it stays that way, Richy.” He gives me the once over as I did him and then turns his attention back to Richy. “Hey Rich, why don’t you go get us a round of drinks. What are you drinking, Anya?”
“Bourbon, neat.” I raised my chin a little.
“Bourbon for the lady, Richy, and you know my usual.”
“Sure, boss.” He gives Murphy an uneasy look before switching his glance to me.
“Go, Richy. Now.”
Richy does as he’s told, and I take the seat offered across from Murphy O’Hare.
“So, Anya. That’s an unusual name.”
I shrug. “It’s mine.”
“So it is. I did some looking up of that gang you said your father was a leader of on the East Coast.”
“Yeah. And?” I lean back in my chair, crossing my legs, and looking him in the eyes.
“And…it seems he was a bad-ass. A real mean motherfucker.”
“He was a bastard. What’s your point?”
The big man laughs at my words before continuing. “My point, Anya, is that I want you to be more than a leach on Richy.”
“Meaning?” I hold my composure on the outside but on the inside, I’m jumping with anticipation.
“Meaning, I would like for you to hang with me for a bit. Get to know how I do business and see if you’re interested in having your own territory.”
“My own territory?” I sit forward in my seat, propping my breasts on my arm, giving him a full view. I smirk when his eyes shoot to my chest before making their way back to my face. “You don’t know me. Why would you offer me something like that?”
“I know more than you think, Anya. I’ve been keeping tabs on you since you showed up hanging around me and my guys.”
“And did you learn anything?” I try to look like I’m not surprised but I’m freak
ing out inside.
“Like I said, everything checks out. You like my offer or not?”
I look at him hard and long, trying to see if there’s anything out of place, if he might be playing me. I see nothing but a stern man waiting for an answer.
“I do, Mr. O’Hare. I do very much.” I look up as Richy approaches with our drinks.
“Murphy…please.” He takes our drinks from Richy and hands mine to me.
“Murphy, it is.” We clink our glasses, and a deal is done. Just like that.
“What the fuck, Murph?” Richy doesn’t like the idea of me being brought in as a protege, equal to himself. “We’ve only known her for what, a few weeks? And you’re just going to trust her with her own territory?”
“Are you questioning my judgement, Richy? Because it seems like you’re questioning my judgement,” he says, standing so he’s almost nose to nose with Richy. “This is my organization, and I will run it as I see fit. Like it or don’t, but you will abide by what I say, or you know the way out.” He raises an eyebrow, challenging Richy.
Richy stands there, his fists balled at his sides and for a moment I think he’s really stupid enough to challenge someone like Murphy. Not ready to witness a murder just yet, I speak up.
“Richy, back the fuck down.”
“Bitch, you don’t talk to me that way.” He turns and is now towering over me, bringing one of his fisted hands back like he’s going to swing on me.
I quickly pull my blade from my boot as I get to my feet and press the blade against his ribcage. “Choose your battles, dude. You don’t want this one.”
“You little cunt.” He pushes his body against my blade. “I’ve been shot multiple times; you think I’m afraid of a little blade?” He snarls, testing me. I don’t want to cut him, but I will if he pushes me.
Murphy takes his seat again, watching the exchange between me and Richy, as if he’s amused by the scene happening before him.
I lean in, keeping my tone even. “Oh, baby, don’t be so upset. You were just a stepping stone, but now you can go find that little blonde you were all over when I returned earlier. Sometimes a lady is just better at playing the bad guy. You go have fun now while we adults handle business.”
“Watch your ass, bitch.” He pushes past me, and without glancing back, he makes his way through the club and out the door.
“Anya, you do surprise me. Sit, let’s talk.”
“Sure, let’s talk,” I say as I sit in the chair I had vacated just moments ago.
Chapter 10
Owen
It’s been six weeks since I literally bumped into Camryn at Skylines. I’ve been going in each evening, and each evening she shows up, talks to some of the guys, sometimes she’s with Murphy, but then she leaves. What the hell is she up to?
I look down at my watch and notice that it’s ten thirty; time for Camryn, or maybe I should say Anya, to show up. And there she is, walking through the doors of Skylines looking like a woman in charge. I can’t help but watch how her body moves under the skintight blue jeans. Her hips sway with just the right amount of bounce. Her white t-shirt hugs her body in all of the right places, with a V-neck collar that dips between her ample breasts. Her dark auburn hair is pulled back into a high ponytail and her makeup is darker than I remember her wearing it from before, but then again, this isn’t the same Camryn that I used to know.
My eyes follow her, as she climbs the steps to the VIP lounge, making her way over to where Murphy is perched in the corner along with some of his men, and their women hanging around him. She places her hand on his thigh and leans in to whisper something in his ear causing him to grin and nod.
He kisses her on the cheek and reaches around to give her ass a squeeze, and the urge to rip his throat out for even looking at her, let alone touching her, has my blood boiling. I watch for signs of her getting ready to leave and I quickly slip out the door in search of her car. Luckily, it’s parked just two spots from mine, and I devise what could be the craziest plan I’ve ever come up with.
Slipping into the shadows, I wait for her to make her way to her car and watch to make sure she’s alone. When she reaches her car, I quietly sneak up behind her and grab her, covering her mouth.
“Shhh… Calm down, it’s just me,” I whisper in her ear and her body stills at the sound of my voice. “I’m going to toss you into the backseat of my car, just in case anyone is watching.”
She begins to struggle and fight against me as I lead her over and shove her into the backseat before jumping into the driver’s seat and peeling away from the club.
“What the fuck are you doing, Owen? You do know kidnapping is illegal, more so for kidnapping a federal agent.”
“A fed? Huh?” She nods in affirmation. “Shit,” I mumble under my breath. “Well that explains why it’s been like pulling teeth trying to find any information on you.”
“Why would you be looking for information on me?”
I glance at her in the rearview, and our eyes connect. There’s no need to say with words what we both already know. I know she received all the emails I’ve sent over the last few years because none of them ever bounced back.
“What was so important that you needed to kidnap me and risk blowing my cover?”
“I’m sorry about that. Let me just get you to my place where we can speak freely, and I promise I’ll explain everything.” Well, not everything.
“What? I’m not going to your place. Just drop me off here, I’ll walk back. This is ridiculous.” I can see the flash of fear wash across her features.
“Why? Are you afraid to be alone with me?” I ask, a smirk playing on my lips.
She narrows her eyes at me. “Fine. Let’s just get this over with and then I expect you to leave me alone and let me do my damn job.”
The car slowly rolls to a stop as I make a right into a parking garage attached to my apartment complex on the nicer side of town. I pull into a spot and park, before getting out and opening Camryn’s door for her. I lead the way as she follows me to the elevators and I punch in the code for my floor. A few moments later the doors slide open and we’re on my floor; my apartment is two doors down. Turning the key in my lock, I push the door open and wave her in. The walls are bare and white and there’s minimal furniture throughout the dining room and living room area. I keep things to a minimum because I wasn’t really sure how long I’d be sticking around in Sunnyville.
Camryn walks over to the small table in the dining area just off the kitchen and takes a seat in one of the chairs, and I take a seat across from her.
“You hungry? I could order some food.”
Just as I ask the question, her stomach rumbles and I wonder when the last time she actually ate was.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Pizza? Chicken, bacon, mushrooms and black olives with white sauce is your favorite right?”
She nods, her features soften. “You remember.”
“I remember everything,” I mumble, as I turn to the refrigerator to grab the number for the pizzeria up the street.
Thirty minutes later, there’s a knock at the door and the smell of cheesy deliciousness fills the apartment. I grab the pizza and pay the delivery guy, while Camryn grabs plates and two beers from the fridge.
“So, you said you would explain everything when we got here, so spill,” she says as I take a bite of a slice of pizza.
I hesitate for a moment, taking a swig of my beer before I say anything. “I know we kind of already talked about this, but I really need you to back off this case. Just for a little while.”
She just stares at me in silence for a moment and I can tell she’s holding back from telling me to go fuck myself. “Can I ask why?”
“I can’t tell you.”
She chuckles to herself. “You said you would explain everything, now you can’t tell me,” she says, tossing her piece of pizza on the plate, she leans back in her chair, looking at me pointedly.
“Just please trust me, Cam.�
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“Not until you give me something, anything, as to why I should back off.”
I sigh in frustration but decide to give her a little piece of information hoping it will get her to back off. “Fine. I started working the Donnely case shortly after joining the Sunnyville PD. I have an informant on the inside that is bringing me intel to help us take down the entire enterprise.”
“So, that’s it? You’re trying to get local PD the credit over the feds for bringing down Donnely and his gang?”
I answer with a simple, “Yes.”
“So, who’s the informant? I need to know so I can make sure to keep that person safe in case things get heated.”
Not knowing what to say, I have to think quick on my feet and answer with the first thing that pops into my mind. “It isn’t anyone you know. Besides, the less people that know his or her identity, the safer that person is.”
"Then why are you so insistent that I back off Mac's case? Isn’t it better to have two people on the inside than just one? I'm the closest I've ever been to finding out what happened to her. Yet, at every turn you're doing everything in your power to sabotage things! What gives?"
I blow out a breath in frustration. "Please Cammie, just let it go."
She eyes me speculatively. "First off, don’t call me that. Second, I know you're keeping something from me, Owen. You've never been a good liar when it comes to me. Just tell me what you know, and I'll drop it."
"I can't, Cam. Honestly, it will ruin everything. Just give me a few more weeks. Then I promise I will tell you everything."
She narrows her eyes at me, a mix of emotions dancing in them; frustration, anger, uncertainty. Suddenly she grabs her napkin from her lap and tosses it on the table. "You know what, this was a bad idea, I’m leaving.”
She stands from her seat and heads for the door. Panic sets in as the memories of the day she left me all those years ago flood back. My chest heaves with anxiety as I spring to my feet. There's no way in hell I'm letting her walk away again. But I can't tell her what I know. Not yet.
