Kamikaze Nights [Love on the Rocks 3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever)

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  “Everything is coming together just fine. As we get closer the team will be working hand in hand with all employees so things run smoothly,” Cooper told them.

  “Great. Do Graham and Daxton have things set with the security vaults?”

  “Sure do, and you’ll be happy to know that Clark and Dane Mondave are back from their trip,” Cooper mentioned.

  “Great, their brothers, Jonah, Knox, Niall, and Trace, must be happy,” Garvan said.

  “Relieved. None of those missions are ever safe ones. The risks are always so high. They got involved with some sort of situation but handled it. I’ll be happy when Jace and Micah are home safe and sound,” Cooper said and felt the twinge of concern for his brothers, Jace and Micah, who hadn’t returned from Cuba on a special detail. Cooper, Graham, Daxton, and Vaughn knew that there had been exchange of gunfire and his brothers got out of harm’s way along with their clients they were protecting.

  “How about Micah and Jace? Have you guys got word on when they’ll be arriving home?” Apollo asked him. He shook his head.

  “Hopefully very soon,” he told them.

  “I’m sure they will be. Your brothers, hell, all of you, are superb soldiers.”

  “Thank you, Apollo. I’m going to assign a few extra men in the banquet hall for the events taking place there. I know we have surveillance cameras and all and it may be overkill, but considering the high-end items on display, I feel it necessary to have the additional safeguards,” he told them.

  “Of course. We’re talking about jewels, paintings, art that is in the millions in worth. Definitely do what you think is necessary. Keep in mind that many of the patrons will be bringing their own security as well,” Apollo added.

  “Yes. Which is going to be a pain in the ass, but we’ll handle it,” he said and smirked. Apollo and Garvan chuckled.

  “We’re certain you will,” Garvan added.

  “If there isn’t anything else, I’ll head out and meet with Miss Cortland to go over the details of security at the banquet hall. It’s our first meeting and hopefully she doesn’t give me any grief,” he said about the woman who was sort of stuck-up but very professional. She was in her early thirties, close to his age, and not exactly friendly to anyone but the clients she had to serve. She tended to be flirty with him and his brothers, but they set her straight a while ago. He rubbed her the wrong way, but she had worked here for five years.

  “You know how she is with these things. Her focus is on the party and the decorations, and being sure the clients are impressed and pleased. Maybe you’ll find out if she’s hiring Louisa. That could be something to make you smile,” Garvan teased. He remained straight-faced.

  “You know I don’t date. No woman is going to change that,” he said very seriously. Both men looked at each other and then back at him.

  “We’ll see. We’ll talk later,” Garvan said and with a tone that indicated he didn’t believe a word that Cooper was saying.

  Cooper headed out of the office. On his ride up in the elevator he couldn’t help but think about that brunette again. Those damn eyes of hers were stunning as anything. They drew you in, and it was hard not to stare. She definitely gained attention and especially with that sun-kissed skin. He took a deep breath and released it. He didn’t understand why he kept thinking about her and wondering more about her. The doors to the elevator opened and he headed down the hallway after giving a nod to one of his security guards, a regular who had been working at the luxury hotel for three years.

  The door to Miss Cortland’s office opened as a blonde, semi-attractive woman who wore way too much makeup and dressed kind of slutty walked out and looked right at him. She licked her lips as she headed to the security desk.

  “Wow, some major hot guys work here. When I get hired I may not get any work done,” she said as she licked her lips and then tapped the pen she used to sign out on the sheet against them. She trailed it along her very large breasts and Gus, the security guy, scrunched his face and waved his hand in front of his face as if the woman reeked. At that same moment the stench of her cheap perfume wafted through the air and attacked his senses. Cooper coughed.

  “Have a good day, Miss,” Gus said to her.

  Cooper ignored the woman and his mind went back to Louisa. She smelled incredible. Her perfume lingered and he knew Gus liked it earlier because he actually sniffed the air. That thought made Cooper’s chest tighten as if he were jealous. Jesus, he was losing his shit. The woman disappeared into the elevator.

  “She isn’t like Louisa. Goddamn, I hope Miss Cortland hires her. That woman was classy, beautiful, and a better fit for this place. Don’t you think?” Gus asked him.

  “I wouldn’t know. It isn’t my job,” he said as Gus shrugged his shoulders and looked back at the small monitor on the wall.

  As he entered Miss Cortland’s office she was on the phone but waved him in. He gave her some privacy and turned to rub his nose as he smelled remnants of the blonde’s perfume lingering in the office. As Miss Cortland got up and grabbed some air freshener and sprayed it around her desk and the chair in front of it he hid his chuckle. Obviously she didn’t like the perfume either.

  “Yes, hello, Miss Bellino, I’m sorry to bother you. This is Miss Cortland. I would like to offer you the position you interviewed here for at the hotel. Yes, I was very impressed and I know that you’re more than perfect for the position. Definitely overqualified, but I feel we’ll work together well. When can you start?” she asked and Cooper couldn’t believe the excitement he felt inside, hearing that Louisa would be working here. Holy shit. He continued to listen to the phone call.

  “Oh, yes, I heard about that event Saturday. So Monday will be fine. We’ll have you fill out all the paperwork and details. Then we’ll spend the time working on plans for upcoming events here in the next two weeks. Wonderful. I’ll see you then and good luck with that event Saturday.” Miss Cortland hung up the phone and then sighed with a smile. She picked up a stack of files on her desk and tossed them into a box on the floor.

  “Sorry about that, Cooper. This has been such a frustrating process and I am relieved that I found a gem in a sea of rubble. Come have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?” she asked him.

  “I’m good. I guess you found someone to fit the position as your assistant?” he asked.

  “Yes, that young woman Louisa. She is more than perfect and what a fantastic personality. She’s young, too, and vibrant. So what did you want to go over with me for next weekend?” she asked and Cooper began to go over the details of security and where men would be positioned and how they would be walking through the event throughout the day and evening. She leaned back.

  “Is that really necessary, to have so much security around while people are browsing and socializing? What are the chances that someone may try something?”

  “You never know, Miss Cortland. These are very high-priced items on display for sale. They’ll bring in strange, curious individuals and someone could try something.”

  She exhaled. “I suppose you’re right. I don’t want to see men with guns on guard though. Perhaps you can be discrete. Whatever you think is necessary we’ll work it out,” she said to him in that firm, annoyed tone she constantly used when things weren’t done her way or she wasn’t in charge. Well, tough shit. He was head of security, and he knew from experience that people did stupid things when such high-priced items were on public display. It was an open invitation as the merchants requested. That meant people could come off the streets to see the items. To him it was a security nightmare and he wasn’t looking forward to any of it, and the fact that anything could happen.

  Chapter 1

  “You had her right where I wanted her, and you fuck it all up by not keeping your dick in your pants?” Liam Russell yelled at Paulano Fellini.

  Paulano stuttered. “I-I…she came onto me.”

  “Bullshit she came on to you. She wants nothing to do with you. Besides, all I asked was that you keep
her happy. You couldn’t do that, could you? Couldn’t keep things normal for another week or so so I could make my move. Now she probably won’t be attending my event in three weeks.”

  “She already got a job elsewhere,” Paulano told him.

  “Where?”

  “Hotel Ambiance owned by Corb Enterprise.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me? You had her run right smack into the middle of friends of the Mondave and James brothers. Two families I can’t stand, and their friends the Hunt men are security for that pace. How the fuck did that happen?”

  “I guess her friend, the one screwing the Corbias men, got her an interview.”

  “This is a fucking mess. She probably doesn’t even remember meeting me that one time at the office. Now it will be like starting from scratch. This is going to screw up my plans. We have jobs to do.”

  “I have some people there on the inside. I can help and get whatever you need.”

  “I want Louisa. Seducing her, having her bring me around those people would be a silent indicator of a bit of revenge on them. To know I was part of the circle, had landed one of the friends of Venetia, and they would be forced to accept me.”

  “I don’t know why you seek this revenge. They don’t even know that you’re behind the robberies and trying to destroy their security firms and businesses.”

  “That’s because it’s working. They don’t have a clue and that’s how I want it. I need to think about what to do. You better hope that job in Cuba and the information you gave paid off. If not, you owe me a hundred and fifty grand, by yesterday,” Liam told Paulano and then disconnected the call.

  He would get his revenge. He would knock Ultimate Defense security, Merk Enterprise, and the Mondave brothers on their asses and they wouldn’t know what hit them.

  * * * *

  “Are you kidding me? He tried that with you?” Venetia asked Louisa over the phone. Venetia was sitting on the lounge chair out on the deck overlooking the evening sky with the sound of the ocean in the distance. She tucked her legs under her rear and leaned back.

  “His pants were undone?” she asked.

  “What?” Roman asked as he walked out onto the deck wearing only shorts and no shirt, looking incredible as usual. She placed her fingers over her lips for him to be quiet. He narrowed his eyes at her as Garvan and Apollo came out next. They took seats around her while Titan, Zane, and Ace stood by the railing.

  “So he comes onto you for that long and you take your sweet-ass time quitting that job? He could have forced himself on you,” she said and could see the instant anger on her men’s faces.

  “Go on,” she said and she knew her men were going to ask all kinds of questions. Apollo and Garvan already told her about today and about Cooper’s reaction to her. She wondered if that guy ever even smiled. She met him and a few of his brothers before and each of them were more badass then the other. They were attractive though, and more like mercenaries than what she thought security personnel looked like.

  “I know you know self-defense and that you have learned a lot of kickboxing, but your boss is a big man and he’s never really alone. That guard of his, Trix, is creepy. I know you’re done there, but still, I think you should have confided in me or someone sooner. That situation could have turned fast. Yes, I know your threats to him worked and even got him to give a recommendation to Miss Cortland, but still, Louisa, it could have gone south fast.”

  She continued to talk to her friend and get more information. “So are you thrilled about getting hired at the hotel or what?” she asked, and Apollo looked at Garvan, who gave his brother a nod. They had been upset earlier today that Louisa hadn’t come to them first, but she got the job on her own and that was what mattered.

  “Oh, they’re over it. They’re just relieved you got the job. They heard there were a few flakes who applied. So are you able to meet all the girls on Friday or what?” she asked her.

  “Okay, we’ll talk more then. Good luck,” she said and disconnected the call.

  “What happened?” Ace asked immediately.

  “Well, basically her boss had been trying to get her in bed for quite some time. She asked me not to give details. She defended herself and made things clear. He even recommended her to Miss Cortland at your hotel, Apollo.”

  “What exactly did he do? You said his pants were undone,” Roman said.

  “She said not to tell you guys, and that she handled it.”

  Roman scooped her up into his arms and sat on the recliner with her on his lap. He stroked her cheek and then gave her ass a squeeze. “You’re going to, though. What happened?” he asked and she knew she had to tell them some of what happened.

  “Roman, I promised her I wouldn’t tell you guys. She’s embarrassed.”

  “If this guy hurt her in any way…” Zane said.

  “No, she got out of it fine on her own. Believe me, Louisa has had situations like this happen before and she’s handled them fine. Unfortunately, it has put a damper on her love life,” she told them.

  “How so?” Titan asked.

  “She doesn’t date anyone. She doesn’t trust a man’s intentions. She’s really sweet, and she needs a man who is going to be protective, caring, soft with her. She takes a lot of shit before she blows her stack. But let me tell you, when she does get super pissed off, you better not be in the line of fire. She gets that Italian, Brooklyn attitude up and all hell breaks loose.” She snorted.

  “Is there any chance her boss might still pursue her?” Apollo asked.

  “You see what Louisa looks like. What do you think, Apollo?” she asked and his eyes narrowed.

  “You be sure to tell her that if her boss contacts her, approaches her, anything at all, she is to tell you right away and you tell us. You understand me?” he asked as he pointed at her.

  “Thank you,” she said and then Roman dipped her off the side of the lounge chair making her gasp and grip on to his arms so she wouldn’t fall. She knew he wouldn’t drop her, but his teasing was great foreplay before bedtime. He swept his mouth over hers and began to explore her body with his free hand. His fingers froze as they came up under her long shirt and he found her bare to his touch. He pulled from her lips.

  “Someone wants to make love under the stars tonight,” he said and lifted her up to straddle his waist. She knelt above him and kissed his mouth as he maneuvered out of his shorts. A moment later she sunk down onto his thick, hard shaft and felt her entire body relax. She was home, in heaven when one of her men was deep inside of her, and she loved them with all her heart. Especially since they cared for and protected her friends like Louisa, too.

  * * * *

  Louisa was running around helping with all the little problems that came along with an event this size. She was helping Deanna LaMorte, a friend of hers who had her own company as a special events coordinator for high-end clients. Tonight was a big deal for Deanna because the host of the event, Liam Russell, was a very wealthy man. Deanna thought she knew more about the man than Louisa but she didn’t. Louisa knew he was into both illegal and legal businesses, which made him sought after by every single woman in the place. Hell, the man was so charismatic, even married women stared at him in admiration.

  He was older, in his forties, and his security crew looked like killers. As she took in the sight of them, especially his main guard, or “personal assistant” as Mr. Russell referred to him, he reminded her of Cooper and that other guy that was there at the hotel the other day. Why Cooper kept popping into her head she didn’t know.

  “Oh God, Louisa, I need your help. I totally screwed up,” Deanna said to Louisa as she grabbed her arm and started talking a mile a minute. She didn’t want to laugh, but seriously, Mr. Russell would flip out if a bottle of some expensive tequila was not at his private table in fifteen minutes? The rich and their stuck-up attitudes. She still didn’t let on that she knew who Mr. Russell was. In fact it was obvious when she met him earlier that he hadn’t remembered her from working for P
aulano. She was grateful and a bit insulted.

  “Go, take care of it and I’ll cover this here,” she told Deanna.

  “Thank you. Please make sure that he’s happy. I will pay you double for this. I promise.” Louisa was surprised but she didn’t let on. Truth was Deanna wasn’t paying her nearly as much as she deserved but this would make up for that.

  Louisa smoothed her hands down the black slim-fitting dress she was wearing. The event brought in numerous businessmen and women who were into importing and exporting, as well as other national and international businesses. As she made her way through the crowd, helping out servers, asking other individuals who Deanna pointed out as import, if things were okay, she spotted Liam Russell heading toward his table. She needed to help stall him.

  “Mr. Russell,” she said his name and his personal assistant stepped forward. She stopped short. What did he think she would do, stab the man?

  She gave his bodyguard/assistant the once-over and then looked back at Mr. Russell. “Is there anything I can get you, sir?” she asked and he looked her over and then gave a small smile.

  “Miss Bellino, correct?” he asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Where is Deanna?” he asked but didn’t look around for her. Instead he looked Louisa over more thoroughly, making her feel a slight tingling sensation. Was she attracted to this guy? Jeesh, she really needed to get out more. She could be attracted to a man but that was it. Never went any further because of her fears and distrust.