by Donna Hill
“Sure. I’ll be up soon.” He looked at her for a moment. Rita was a stunning woman by anyone’s standards. Both she and Eva were close ringers for the young actress Dorothy Dandridge, from physical makeup to their finely angled features and cool brown complexions. They could make any man crazy. “Are we okay” he asked.
She looked down, opened her purse, fishing for her cigarettes. “Of course.” She didn’t meet his eyes when she replied. She snapped her purse shut, blew him a perfunctory kiss, and walked out.
Jinx slowly shook his head before turning his attention back to the computer. Yeah, she could make a man crazy, all right.
* * *
Rita stepped off the elevator, emerging on the casino floor. She took in the swelling crowd, the glitter, the noise, the flashing lights. A rush of energy heated her insides. She felt lucky and went straight to the blackjack table. No one said she couldn’t enjoy herself.
She found a seat and was dealt in the next hand. Blackjack was her game; she knew how to call and bluff with the best of them. But what was most important, she knew how to count cards.
She won the first hand, the second, the third, the fourth. Her winnings piled up in front of her, and she felt unstoppable. A crowd grew behind her, cheering her on.
Eva noticed the commotion and made her way to where the crowd had gathered. As she squeezed her way in between bodies, her heart jerked in her chest when she saw that all the attention was focused on Rita.
She muttered a curse under her breath. There was no way to get her out of there without causing more attention. This was not what they were supposed to do. Attracting attention, sticking out in the crowd was not the plan. Damnit, Rita.
Eva spotted movement on the opposite side of the table from Rita. It was Suarez. He whispered something in the dealer’s ear. Eva held her breath. The gentleman sitting to the right of the dealer vacated his seat, and Suarez took his place. He looked across the table at Rita, his dark eyes unreadable, but his half smile was unmistakable. He was going to challenge her.
The dealer dealt the next hand. Suarez lit a cigar and placed it in the ashtray next to him as he looked at his hand. His heavy lids rose; his eyes locked on Rita. She smiled and then turned her attention back to her cards.
The first hand went to Rita. The next to Suarez. The next two went to Rita. Suarez never batted an eye. He took a long pull from his cigar. The crowd was utterly silent.
“Winner take all,” Suarez said, his accent as smooth and intoxicating as a good liqueur.
Rita arched a brow, surveyed her winnings. “I like a man who takes chances.” She looked at the dealer. “Deal the cards and don’t forget to treat the lady right.” She pushed her stack of chips into the center of the table and then lit a cigarette.
Eva watched in fascination as Rita played her hand. She was either brilliant or damned lucky.
Suarez shifted the cigar from the left side of his mouth to the right as he studied his hand. His signature block diamond pinkie ring flashed with his every movement. He removed the cigar and put it in the ashtray. He looked across the table at Rita. She smiled.
Suarez slowly placed his cards on the table one by one. Ten of diamonds. Five of clubs. Five of hearts. Twenty.
All eyes turned to Rita. Jack of spades. Queen of spades. Ace of spades. Twenty-one.
A gasp rippled through the crowd.
Suarez’s cheeks flushed, and then he began to laugh, a deep hearty laugh. “Beaten by a woman.” He pushed up from his seat. “That must make you very special.” He looked at her and at his losses one last time, turned, and disappeared into the crowd.
Rita breathed in slowly, the rush of adrenaline tapering off.
“Do you wish to play again” the dealer asked.
Rita blinked until the room came back into focus. “Uh, no. I think that’s it for me for the night.”
The dealer signaled to one of the assistants, who collected her winning chips on a tray and escorted her to the cashier.
Eva decided to follow Suarez. She hurried around the crowd, trying to spot him. She caught a glimpse of him as he and his two bodyguards went up the escalator.
“Jake,” she said into her headset. “You and Jinx need to get down here.”
“I’m on my way,” Jake replied, tucking his shirt into his pants. “What’s up”
“Let’s just say that Rita beat the hell outta Suarez at blackjack, and he’s just left the casino. He’s headed up. I’m on the escalator following him.”
“Cool. Keep him in your sights. Where’s Rita”
“Collecting her winnings.”
“Hmm. That might be a good thing. Listen, forget Suarez for a minute. Go find Rita. Tell her that she wants her winnings cashed and kept in the ship safe.”
Eva smiled in understanding. “Right. Perfect. I’m on my way.”
Jinx listened to the exchange. His heart sank. This was only step one for Rita.
* * *
Eva returned to the casino and went directly to the cashier. She spoke into her headset to Rita, who once again didn’t respond. She must have taken out her earpiece, Eva realized.
Eva looked around. She needed some way to get Rita’s attention without causing too much of a scene, especially at the cashier booth. One of the passing waiters put down his full tray of empty glasses on one of the rolling carts. Eva picked it up and headed in Rita’s direction.
She got close enough to bump into her with the tray, rattling the glasses that rested on top of it.
Rita turned, her faced painted in annoyance until she saw that it was Eva.
“I’m so sorry,” Eva said. “Put it in the safe,” she whispered.
Rita’s eyes widened ever so slightly; then understanding kicked in. “Sure, no problem. It was probably my fault anyway.”
Eva smiled and walked away. “Done,” she said into her headset.
“I’m on the pool deck,” Jinx said. “Suarez and company are at the pool bar.”
“Good. I’m going to swing by the room,” Jake said. “See if he has anyone standing watch. One of them is missing.”
“I see man number three, now,” Eva said. “He’s heading for Rita at the cashier’s booth.”
The man tapped Rita on the shoulder as she finished up her paperwork. Slowly she turned around. Eva wished she could read lips. Rita smiled brightly and nodded her head. She slipped her arm through the crook in his, and they walked off.
“They’re leaving together,” Eva said.
“Stay with them,” Jake instructed.
Rita and the bodyguard headed for the escalator.
20
Rita walked onto the pool deck and was escorted over to where Suarez sat at the bar.
“Ahh, the woman who took my money,” he said, his eyes roving over Rita. “Please,” he extended his hand toward the empty seat next to him. “Join me.”
Rita’s slow smile was full of promise. “That’s very gracious from a man who just lost almost ten thousand dollars,” she said, sitting down and crossing her long legs at the knee. She put her purse on the smooth mahogany bar and turned her full attention on Suarez.
Suarez’s gaze dropped to Rita’s legs, caressed them for a moment before returning to rest on her face. “What are you drinking”
“Martini … two olives.” She licked her lips and felt her clit snap to attention when Suarez’s smoky eyes darkened with intent.
Suarez’s sidekick signaled for the bartender and ordered Rita’s drink.
“You will have dinner with me tonight,” Suarez said.
Rita cocked her right brow. “That’s very presumptuous of you … Mr. ‘I don’t even know your name,’” she said like a song lyric. She popped open her purse and took out her pack of cigarettes. One was lit before she could blink. She smiled her thanks to the handy sidekick. Casually she glanced around, taking note of the location of Suarez’s other two bodyguards. One was at the entrance, holding his position like the cruise ship bouncer; the second one was in the center of
the dining tables on the deck, giving him full view of the comings and goings and everything in between. The third musketeer was glued to Suarez’s left elbow. She saw Jinx cross the deck, pushing a cart filled with fluffy white towels. She blew a puff of smoke into the air.
“Xavier,” he said, the word rolling off his tongue as smooth as the finest Godiva chocolate: thick, rich, and totally decadent.
“I knew a man named Xavier once.” She paused, took a sip of her martini. “But he didn’t look anything like you,” she said, the words floating on a heavy breath.
Xavier chuckled. “I will take that as a compliment.” He stood. “Come, our table is ready.” He took her hand while she stood. His assistant picked up her drink and followed them. “You look quite lovely. Did I mention that”
Rita turned to him as they approached the exit of the pool deck. “You just did.” She smiled, hesitated for a moment. “Oh, I thought we were staying up here.”
“No. I have a private table reserved in the restaurant.” He waved his hand in a dismissive fashion. “This is much too busy. I want to hear every word you have to say. And maybe you will even tell me your name … before the night is over.”
* * *
“They’re leaving the pool deck,” Jinx murmured into his headset as he circled the pool, picking up the wet discarded towels and dumping them into the laundry bag hanging from beneath his cart.
“I’m going to check out the room,” Jake said. “Jinx, keep an eye on Rita. Eva meet me up on eleven.”
Eva walked a U-turn in the direction of the elevator. She wanted to tell Jake to let Jinx go with him to Suarez’s room. She wanted to keep an eye on Rita herself. She sighed, pushing her lips together in concentration as she waited for the elevator. That bad feeling she had at the very beginning of this gig still had not gone away.
The elevator doors swooshed open, and she sucked in a lungful of shock.
“Eva” The woman in front of her frowned with concentration, trying to peer beyond the black wig and employee uniform. “Eva Kelly”
Eva’s pulse beat so loud in her ears, she felt as if she were underwater. She ignored the woman and stepped onto the elevator as the woman stepped off, never taking her eyes off Eva even as she was pushed along by the exiting passengers.
Eva held her breath, kept her gaze fixed on the elevator floor, and willed the doors to close. By the time she reached the eleventh level, she’d stopped shaking enough to be able to walk down the corridor without her legs giving out from under her.
Jake was in the corridor with a dust cloth in his hand, polishing the brass railing that ran the length of the walkway.
Eva tugged in a breath and approached. She walked past him and stopped opposite Suarez’s room. She knocked on the door under the pretext of being from the hospitality staff.
There was no answer.
Jake pulled a decoder out of his pocket. It was no bigger than a BlackBerry device.
“Watch the hall,” he said.
Eva took the dust cloth from him and picked up where he’d left off.
Jake stepped up to the door lock, inserted a blank plastic card in the lock, and then keyed in a series of numbers into the decoder.
The lock clicked. He smiled, turned the handle, but the door wouldn’t open.
“What’s wrong” Eva whispered.
“Not opening.” He repeated the steps, making sure the card and the magnetic strip were lined up properly. The lock clicked. He tried the handle.
“Shit,” he spat. He shook the handle again. No luck.
“Come on. We better go before someone sees us,” Eva urged.
Jake stuck the device and card back in his pocket and followed Eva down the hallway to the elevator. “If I can’t get this to work, we’re going to have to get the key from Suarez.”
“That’s not the only problem we have,” Eva said, pushing the DOWN button for the elevator.
Jake groaned. “I’m not sure I want to know.”
She folded her arms to keep from punching him. “Well, that’s just too damned bad.”
The elevator door opened, and they stepped inside. The only thing keeping her from slapping him in the back of the head was the old wrinkled couple that was already on board.
They walked in silence to their cabin.
“All right, so what is it” Jake asked, shutting the door and tossing the gadget on the bed in almost the same movement.
Eva spun toward him. “Traci is on the ship.”
Jake figured it must be some woman thing. ’Cause he just didn’t get it. “Who is Traci” he breathed in frustration.
Eva planted her fists at her waist. “Traci Jennings!” You idiot is what it sounded like to Jake. His brow creased in concentration. For the life of him, he couldn’t recall a Traci anybody.
Eva’s chest rose and fell hard. She pulled the wig from her head and tossed it on the bed, eyeing him with fury. Jake knew she was about to lose it, and his Jeopardy! minute was running out.
He threw his hands up in the air. “I give up. You gotta tell me who Traci Jennings is.”
“Traci Jennings is Sebastian’s ex-girlfriend. And if you recall, Sebastian is my boss.” Her eyes widened to emphasize her point.
Jake’s face went through a short series of contortions as the information sank in. “Shit,” he finally sputtered.
“Yeah, my sentiments exactly.”
They sat down on the bed like synchronized swimmers, in perfect unison.
“Maybe we should just jump overboard, cut our losses, and hope to be rescued by a friendly pirate,” Eva said without a stitch of humor in her voice.
Jake leaned forward, rested his chin in his palm. “Did she recognize you”
Eva nodded. “She called me by name.”
Jake turned to her. “What did you do”
“Ignored her. She was getting off the elevator while I was getting on to come and meet you.”
“Not something we bargained on,” he said absently.
“I have two choices. I can either stay cooped up in this room until we dock or I can do what I came here to do. We’re already shorthanded, so item number one is not an option.”
“We can’t afford to have this Traci chick cause us any problem.”
“I’ll take care of her if I run into her again.”
“Do you think she’ll say something to Sebastian”
Eva sighed heavily. “No. Yes. I don’t know. If she does, I’ll just have to deal with it when the time comes.” She ran her hand across her head and pulled off the stocking cap that held her hair in place. She tossed it down on the bed with the wig.
She jerked her chin toward the decoder. “What happened”
Jake shook his head. “Something I missed in the program.”
“Is that going to be the same problem we have getting into the safe” She didn’t mean for it to sound facetious. Well, maybe she did.
Jake cut his eyes in her direction. “That’s not the plan.” He stood up, went to the minibar, and fixed a quick drink. “Want one” he asked with his back to her.
“No. Thanks.” She braced her arms on her thighs and entwined her fingers. “We’ve gone through too much to prepare for this to get screwed by some fluke coincidence,” she said.
Jake turned, leaned against the bar, and took a sip from his drink. “What are you thinking”
“I’m thinking…” Her voice suddenly broke. She looked up at Jake, and her eyes filled. She sniffed. “I’m thinking that I want this to be over, Jake. I want to go home. I don’t want to do this anymore.” She jumped up. “The hell with the sting. When we dock in Mexico, let’s just keep going.” Her eyes ran over his face.
He’d never seen her like this before. Eva may be tempermental at times, but it was always only directed at him. No job had ever rattled her. Eva was always cool—indifferent almost—when she executed a plan. More than just a few glitches in the plan were eating at her.
He crossed the room and sat down next to her. She was
holding her body so tight, he was afraid if he held her she would snap.
“Talk to me,” he said gently.
“It’s … just all wrong,” she sputtered, sniffing and wiping her eyes. “Everything. This whole thing has been a problem from day one, and it’s only getting worse.”
“We’ve been in fixes before. You never even blinked. Why now”
She pulled in a shuddering breath. She turned and looked into her husband’s eyes. “Don’t you ever think about the people we fuck over”
“No. Not really.”
Her mouth jerked slightly. The almost-smile faded. “Most of the time I don’t either. I always figured I’d been fucked over since long before I knew that’s what was happening to me, so why not return the favor tenfold. Ya know.”
Jake nodded but kept silent, letting her get it out, whatever it was.
She shrugged slightly. “Now it seems like it’s all coming back to kick us in the ass. Reaping what you sow. Know what I mean”
“You know I don’t go in for all that karma and religious bullshit,” he said half-grudgingly. “But things have been more than a little shady with this job.”
“And Jake … I don’t want to … have this baby in jail or spend the rest of our lives running with our child.” She swallowed. There. She’d said it, said it before she changed her mind. Said it, said it, made it real. It wasn’t just the plus sign in a slender white tube that she’d seen and didn’t want to believe earlier that morning. It was real because she’d said it. Said it. She breathed in and out, slow and deep. Waited.
Of course she was kidding. Eva plus Jake didn’t equal baby. They’d talked about it. She knew how he felt. He couldn’t be any baby’s daddy. It wasn’t in the genes. Hadn’t his daddy proved that According to his mother, things were great between her and him until Jake and John were born with barely a year between deliveries.
He could still hear his mother crying when the beatings started. How he used to hold Jinx tight against his chest, trying to cover his ears, shielding him from the screaming and cussing. How many times did he stand in front of his father and listen to him tell him what a little piece of shit he was that ruined his life. “Kids ruin lives. Don’t forget that, boy.” A thick, callused finger wagged in his face. “They drain you. Take everything from you. Just like you and your whining-ass brother.”
