by Soraya Naomi
“This is not good...” Then her face falls, and she mentions suddenly, “Sometimes I hate being on the outside.”
“I’ve noticed that. But in Rosalia’s case, we’ve all been on the outside. No one knows about her crush on Wade. However, I’m guessing you didn’t really mean that. Do you want to be part of the Syndicate?” I’ve noted for a long time that Fallon often dislikes being excluded from Syndicate business.
After a long pause, she admits, “Yes. Sometimes I wish I was tough like you and allowed into the organization.”
“I’m not that tough. Just the other night, I was choking back tears because I wanted to strangle Adriano after our fight.”
“But see, you choke them back. I would’ve let them fall. Anyway, it’s a moot point because Luca would never agree to it. And I’m not going to seek trouble. It’s not that I’m unhappy, quite the contrary.”
“I get what you mean. I think hanging out with me might also have an effect on you?” I ask.
“Maybe. I like the bond you have with Luca and Adriano. You’re more aware of what’s going on with that other part of their lives.”
“Speaking of...” I trail off when our men approach us.
“A dance, Catwoman?” Adriano takes my hand in his and presses a kiss to the back of it, bowing slightly like a nineteen-twenties gentleman.
I accept, and he leads me to the dance floor where he seizes my whip and pulls the tail tight, flinging it around my lower back and dragging me close to him. We sway together for a few endless minutes with our cheeks touching, the corner of my lip brushing the corner of his. He moves effortlessly, and his familiar cologne awakens my core in an intimate moment like only he can create between us.
In an endearing tone that he uses solely with me, he confesses, “I loved you from the moment I saw you. I just didn’t realize it until later. For so long, I believed it was lust. But it was an undeniable attraction, a certainty that you belonged to me. Call it fate or whatever. But I saw all that you’d be someday. You’re fierce and courageous and the only one who could stand beside me. Every day, I realize that more and more, Cam.”
“You do?”
“Yes. And I couldn’t stay away from you. Especially when you kept me at bay. Fuck, I had so many fantasies about you after I’d been with you in the headquarters’ strip club. You have no idea how often you starred in my dirty thoughts. And still do.” He kisses my temple, and we break to dance to the rhythm of the music.
Swiveling around, I move provocatively and stop behind Fallon, sticking my tongue out at Luca when he arcs a brow. Then Adriano grinds against my back as his hands track up my sides, and I rest my head against his chest, feeling blissful in his arms again. Simply dancing, relishing in the uncomplicated things in life.
For a long time, we swirl around the dance floor and laugh. Adriano’s eyes track me continually with an expression that lights my heart. There’s isn’t a second that I’m unaware of his gaze on me, making me feel cherished.
I’m introduced to many tycoons, financiers, and entertainers. Plus, there’s lots of food and drinks being served, compliments of Adriano of course. It’s the first time all four of us are able to abandon our usual worries and truly appreciate our night.
When we return to the dance floor, Wade joins us, and then Rosalia, Alessa, James, and Carmine even dance with us as well.
“This is the best night I’ve had in months,” I whisper into Adriano’s ear while rubbing my body against him. I love dancing and going out since I never really did it when I was young.
His hand cradles my head, tightfisted, yet completely tender. “Sono felice che ti stia divertendo, amore mio.” I’m happy to see you enjoying yourself, my love.
Since I’m starting to understand Italian better, I can reply, “Sono felice.” I’m happy.
After hours and hours of having Adriano by my side, I’m back on cloud nine, but sadly, we’re still disturbed by business when a guard summons Adriano.
“Luca and I will be right back.” Adriano grips my ass and smooches me.
Fallon, Rosalia, and I stay on the dance floor while the men dismiss themselves.
“I’m so hot!” I shout to Rosalia over the music, and she bobs her head vigorously.
“Me too. Want to go outside?” she suggests.
“No, let’s go to the back entrance hall. We can get some air there.” I direct the way, unlocking the door with my fingerprint, and we stand in the hallway where it’s much cooler.
“I haven’t danced this much in ages. My poor feet.” Fallon removes her strappy sandals with heels, clutching them in her hand.
Rosalia looks down the hall. “Is this the way to the sex club? Can we go downstairs? I’d love to see it.”
“Sure. I’m curious to see how they decorated it.”
“Do you go down there a lot?” Fallon probes as we get into the elevator.
“No. None of us go down there often except the crew and the manager. But I went there to find Serena once, and it’s very sexy.” I waggle my eyebrows.
“I’m oddly excited,” Rosalia murmurs around a wide smile.
“It’s the forbidden aspect of it. I also had that the first time I came down here.” I carry on through the corridors, toward the club, and the guard grants me access immediately.
“Oh, wow,” Rosalia whispers, staring at the silhouettes of people behind the curtains of the beds.
They’ve transformed it into a harem; bold colors of purple, blue, and gold clash beautifully while there’s a sense of anonymity.
When a guy bumps against Fallon and grumbles an apology, she whips her head around to stare at him. Her mouth twitches wryly in vague recognition. The last person you’d expect it from is the first one to detect unusual activity.
“He seems familiar,” she muses, then her gaze cuts to me. “That’s the blond guy I saw in Ukrainian Village.”
“Are you sure?” An alarming tremble rakes my body.
“Yes, it’s him. Why is a Ukrainian in the sex club?” she ponders.
“I don’t know, but it’s strange. Come on. Follow me.” I go around the bar in the center of the room to the other side of the club, looking for Tez and finding him.
“Tez, Fallon recognized one of the Ukrainians in here. Has Adriano been in contact with them? Were any of them invited?”
“No. Who’s here?”
“I don’t know his name, but he went to the front of the club.” I retrace our steps, but the man has already disappeared.
In the meantime, Tez shouts orders to a passing employee.
“I’m going back upstairs. Alert Adriano,” I instruct Tez and move into the hallway, rounding the corner to the elevator with Fallon and Rosalia in tow.
Fallon stops, rests her heels that were in her hand on the floor, and holds my wrist to halt me too, then she points to her ear. “Listen.”
“I heard it too,” Rosalia utters.
“A bang of some sort,” Fallon explains.
When we overhear voices, I bring my finger to my lips.
“Shhh! Before the guards hear,” a low male voice murmurs in the distance.
Rosalia and Fallon’s eyes widen, and then we rush back toward the sex club. When I check around the corner, I witness more men I don’t recognize, so I motion for Rosalia and Fallon to turn back. Now, we’re running away from the sex club and the elevator – our exit. This place is a maze of interconnected corridors, and I know it’s almost impossible for someone to find their way around. During the raid here, we got lost on the second underground floor, going in circles repeatedly. Thankfully, I have my gun in my belt, so I grab it and hold it against my chest.
“Fallon, do you have a weapon?”
“What? No.” She bumps against me when I stop again, running into one of our guards.
“Cam,” the guard says, surprised. “What are you doing down here?”
“We have intruders in this hallway. One of the Ukrainians was in the sex club.” The words rush out in a tumble bec
ause running in these heels is killing my feet.
“I heard on the line.” His hand flies to his earpiece and he commands, “Someone hit a panic button. We have a breach on the underground floor. Fallon, Cam, and Rosalia are with me in the fourth hallway, west. Over.”
“Do you have an extra gun?” I ask the guard.
“Yes, here.” He snatches a handgun from his belt, offering it to me, and I hand it to Fallon.
“What about me?” Rosalia requests, her face completely ashen; she’s sobered up quickly.
“You don’t know how to use a gun, do you?” I ask while I’m wondering how to handle this.
First and foremost, I need to get Fallon and Rosalia to safety.
“No, I’ve only had two lessons, but I still need a weapon. I can defend myself,” Rosalia says bravely.
“Give her your knife,” I tell the guard, and again, he gives us one of the weapons from his belt, leaving him with only a baton and his gun in hand.
Unexpectedly, the corridor begins to close down when heavy steel walls that will lock us in at both ends start to slide down from the ceiling.
“What the hell’s happening?” Fallon yells.
“Fuck!” The guard eyes the far end as it closes down. “Someone triggered the hallway to be locked down.”
“I thought those devices weren’t in use. Why wasn’t I informed about this?” Panic rises in my tone.
“Wade and his team reactivated them.”
“We have to risk it and return to the sex club. We can’t be closed in down here,” I state, pushing Rosalia to my left along with Fallon.
We duck under the wall that’s halfway closed, and the guard follows us. Racing through two more passages, we enter the hall that houses the cells. On the opposite end and to our left is the sex club and the elevator, our escape route. Fallon races ahead with the guard, me, and Rosalia on her tail.
I grab Rosalia’s hand from behind me. “Stay with us. Hurry!”
Jesus Christ, now I understand how deep Adriano’s fear runs. I’m so scared of either losing Fallon and Rosalia or not being able to protect them.
The walls are almost down as the guard yells into his earpiece, which apparently has lost its signal. We’re running out of time to reach the end of the hall. Suddenly, a man appears up ahead in front of us.
“Shoot, Fallon!” I shout while releasing Rosalia’s hand and cocking my gun. “Don’t hesitate!”
She aims and pulls the trigger just as I do, and one of us hits him in the chest as we both stoop down. Then the guard slides under the wall smoothly when it’s three-quarters of the way closed and tries to jam his steel baton underneath it to stop it from closing entirely.
“Go!” I order Rosalia, and she glides underneath it too, but then the baton slips, and the wall annihilates our chance of escape, separating the guard and Rosalia from Fallon and me.
Rosalia hurriedly slides her knife under the wall to Fallon just before it closes completely.
“No. No!” Fallon bangs her fist against the wall while on her knees.
“Shit!” Breathing harshly, I rip off the cat ears.
Every area is soundproofed, and Fallon and I are now stuck in the hallway where the five cells are located, two of which hold Santino and Serena, and it’s locked on both sides.
“What now?” Fallon leaps to her feet, but before I can answer, I hear a clicking noise, and the door of one of the cells unlocks.
The sound of footsteps comes closer as the air thickens with a coil, savage tension that bodes ill, and the blond Ukrainian that Fallon recognized steps from the doorway into the dimly lit hallway.
Steadily, I aim my gun with both hands as I inch in front of Fallon to shield her. He frowns for a split-second before two other men appear from the room, targeting their semi-automatics at us, so I pull back.
“You’re outnumbered, Camilla. Relax and let me introduce myself. I’m Olek, and I’ve come to talk to Adriano but found this interesting captive: Santino.”
Outright confused about what’s going on, I stay quiet with Fallon pressed against my back.
He snaps his fingers at his guards. “Move them into the room.”
The two men snatch our guns and haul us into the cell holding Santino, who’s cuffed to the bed, glaring at me.
Olek stands there evaluating us as if he’s waiting for someone while his guards poke us in the back with their guns.
The reality of the situation is growing more alarming with every second that ticks by.
Olek flashes his crooked, yellow teeth. “Shall we play a game?”
CHAPTER 18
Adriano
I crane my neck to see Cam shining on the dance floor as Luca and I ascend the stairs.
On the balconied second floor, one entire hall is supposed to be inaccessible to guests, but I’m instantly on alert when I don’t recognize one of the guards, so I touch my piece just as the tip of – what I assume is – a gun is shoved into my back.
“Let go of your gun,” a man commands into my ear, and another stands behind Luca as he also releases his weapon. “Just continue on to your office, and we won’t disturb your party.” He has a heavy Russian accent.
Realizing that this place has been taken over by intruders, I hold up my hands. There aren’t any dead bodies, but other unfamiliar guards are inconspicuously holding mine under the threat of gunfire. Because of all the smoke on the floor and the balcony railing, no one in the VIP area can see what’s going on.
Luca and I are forced to comply since we have a club full of influential people and don’t have back-up; I can’t risk a shooting in this public part of the club.
As luck would have it, my office is soundproofed, but the scene has already been orchestrated when I’m pushed into the security room where three more trespassers are waiting.
How the hell did they get into my office and security central?
I lift a brow to my main guard, who’s seated in a chair in front of the screens with two vacant spots next to him. So far, no excessive force has been used, but there are five of them against three of us in this room.
“Gentlemen, please sit down.”
“What do you want?” I snarl, my patience gone.
“Please sit, Montesi.”
I’m jammed down into the chair at the exact same moment as Luca, and three men stand behind us while two proceed to the control panel in front of us.
“Call me Maxim. Remember how you sent Yakiv Medlov a message almost”—he taps his chin—“three months ago?” And he motions his man to take a seat at the control panel.
I lean back insolently in the chair while a gun is crammed into my temple.
“Well, he isn’t too pleased with it, and you’ve repeatedly shut down our offers to provide your club with young ladies. Now, Club 7 has become the most popular sex establishment in the Loop, and we’re not happy to be excluded from this flourishing endeavor. Yakiv can overlook you ending our former underboss, Peter, but it’s high time we come to an agreement.”
Instead of me, Luca replies, “I thought we were clear; if he wanted a meet, he could’ve requested one. What do you hope to accomplish now?”
“Who’s the boss here? We know that Club 7’s primary owner is Adriano Montesi,” Maxim blurts, moving his attention from Luca to me.
Luca and I always play this game where he and I shift taking the lead in negotiations, causing our opponents to wonder who the leader of this Syndicate is. It’s known in the underworld that Luca and I are ranked high up, but no one except our own members knows the hierarchy. This is how the highest ranking men maintain their power.
I remain silent, and Maxim aims a quelling stare at me before he grins cruelly. “Tie all three of them up.”
His guard pulls my arms back, wrapping duct tape around my wrists, and repeats the action with Luca and my main guard. Then it’s quiet for a long time while Maxim checks his phone and seems bothered by whatever message he’s reading before he types a response.
Wh
ere’s Yakiv Medlov? I believe that Medlov’s smart enough not to come in here, so he’s sent his men, again.
“This isn’t personal; it’s just business, Mr. Montesi. Although you do have good taste in women. Play the feed of Catwoman,” Maxim announces out of the blue, and the screen flicks on showing Santino’s cell with Fallon and Cam being held at gunpoint by three other men.
Luca stiffens and clenches his jaw but manages to override his rioting emotions, and I summon my composure as my heart pounds at three times its normal rate. The calmness I’ve held within reach so far dissolves when I see that Cam’s endangered.
They’re talking back and forth, but the sound is muted as I’m riveted by the sight of Cam on the screen. I scan the length of her for injuries, expelling a discreet sigh when I can’t detect any. Thankfully, Fallon’s intact as well.
“To come back to your earlier question, Luca. What do I hope to accomplish? I hope to persuade you this time.” He points his finger to his man. “Play sound.”
“Move to the bed,” a man on the screen says to Fallon and shoves her to sit next to Santino on the bed.
Angrily, Luca jumps up, but he’s jostled down, and then his feet are bound as well.
Maxim smiles slowly. “Perhaps Fallon can persuade you to accept our business?” He turns his head to address me, “Or Camilla?”
In a swift motion, I rear up and head-butt the guard behind me, causing him to stagger backward, but when I spin around again, I’m confronted with a fist. Pain crushes through my skull as I’m tugged into the chair and my feet are secured to its legs.
“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. We don’t succumb to threats, Maxim,” I snarl, blinking furiously while trying to focus.
“Nothing has to happen here, Montesi. Yakiv has just one simple request: buy your women for your sex club from us.”
“No,” I answer evenly.
“Continue,” Maxim says to I don’t know who.
Fallon’s hair is grabbed and Cam objects, “No!” Then Cam lurches forward but is caught from behind and thrown onto the bed as well.
“You’re a feisty one.” One man kneels down and tugs Cam up to sit next to Santino, pushing Fallon off the bed as he whispers something to Cam, who looks up, straight into the camera, directly into my eyes.
