Chapter 12

The traffic was heavy, but Eva could see from her car that Brett handled his powerful car with expert ease, and he made it easy for her to tail behind him. Twenty minutes later, he turned off the road and entered the Cuban Quarter of Little Havana, which begins in earnest, a few blocks east on Calle Ocho between 17th and 13th street. Through Bentley's windshields, Eva could see brightly painted roosters, art galleries, and the Walk of Fame honoring famous Cubans like; Celia Cruz and Gloria Estefan. The surrounding area featured so many beautiful murals and monuments, and Eva wondered how she had never known of this beautiful part of Miami city.

Brett drove for a little while, then he slid the car into a vacant space and parked. He got out of the car and watched as Eva maneuvered the Bentley into space beside his car and a Buick. He was beside her car and had the off-side door open before she could do it herself. She stepped out and marveled at the coconut palms which silhouetted against the neon skies, the beat of steel drums which hit her ears, and the strong smell of Cuban coffee that wafted into her nose.

"My God!" she said. "What is this place?"

"Little Havana!" Brett replied huskily. "Let's go get a drink first."

He took her arm and guided her through the streets to a place called La Ventanita. It was a little takeaway window and bakery shop that served Café Cubana, an espresso served with condensed milk and sugar-water. Brett bought the Café drink for himself while Eva settled for the sugar juice. Then he took her to the old Havana restaurant, which was right beside the Domino Park. Here, Brett bought for Eva a Croquette. It was a delicacy that consists of grounded chicken, ham, and which had been lightly fried. These tiny rolls filled with flavors made Eva mouth watered as she sank her teeth into them, and she washed it down with fresh lime juice. Then he ordered the Cuban sandwich, which was made of pork, Cuban bread, Swiss cheese, mustard, topped with crispy potato sticks. After she had her fill with the sandwich, Brett suggested they go for a little stroll. They could see a live band performing across the streets, and lots of crowds and tourists were gathered around them.

"Would you like to see me dance?" Brett asked, looking into her eyes.

"You can dance?" She replied, eying his powerfully built body.

"Let's go find out," he said, and he dragged her to the performing band. They were greeted with a mojito drink called the Ball and Chain's mojito. It was a drink made with crushed mint leaves, sugar, a hint of lime, and rum, and it was specially served on the rocks.

Eva sipped the refreshing cocktail while she watched Brett joined the Salsa group on the dance floor. With his built and body size, she was astonished when she saw him began to move his body rhythmically to the Salsa beats, and before a short time, young beautiful Cubans girls had flocked around him, each one pushing closer to get his attention. He glanced at Eva, and he saw that her face was set and hard, and she was looking at the girls disapprovingly.

He managed to disengage himself from the eager girls, grabbed Eva by the arm, and took her to an open fruit market that served fresh fruit juices and smoothies. Brett bought the smoothies and then guided Eva to an outdoor restaurant. He pulled out a chair for her and lowered himself into one too.

"This place is fantastic," Eva said, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she sipped her smoothie. Now that she was alone with him, she felt her body had relaxed.

"Yeah! I know the feelings," Brett replied.

"Wow! I can't believe such a place like this exists. How did you find out about this place?" she said.

"Well, all thanks to the business I do," he said, looking at her intently. "As a businessman, my type of work takes me almost everywhere. It's given me the chance to know places I'd never known before."

Eva narrowed her eyes at him. She could not believe this powerfully looking handsome man could ever be a businessman. She thought that he would be a model interested in fashion with his top knot hairstyle and looks.

"What is your kind of business?" she asked.

Brett drew in a long, slow breath. He had moved on to the tricky ground, and he knew he had to tread carefully.

"I'm a businessman!"

She looked at him quizzically.

"I've met a lot of businessmen, what kind of businessman are you?"

"I don't like to talk about myself, but seeing you are bent on knowing what I do, I guess I'll just have to tell you," he said, and he told her the easiest lie that came to his mind.

"I'm into real estate," he said.

Eva stiffened, and she looked sharply at him. The image of Darius had appeared in her mind.

"Are you kidding me?" She asked.

"Why would I kid about what I do?" he asked, feeling offended and yet remembering the warnings of Vince that he should keep his anger in check when talking to her.

"I'll be damned. There's this very good friend of mine who does the exact work that you do. He happens to be a real estate broker and a private developer."

"That's interesting to know! Many people live in Miami city, so it's normal to know someone who does a particular thing and yet know another person who does that same thing."

"I guess you're right."

"So tell me, who is he?" he asked casually.

At that moment, Eva should have kept her mouth shut, but she was so carried away by the moment that she had become so reckless.

"His name is Darius Kane. He's one of the millionaire's living in Miami Beach. You must have heard of him."

Darius Kane! The name sounded strange to Brett, but he filed the man's name away in his trained mind for future reference.

"Never heard of the name before," he answered.

Eva made a face.

"That's too bad. Well, his a very good friend of mine; I hope you also would meet somebody, you never know, things happen, don't they?"

"Yeah! Things happen," Brett said to her and thought to himself, "I hope he never crosses my path."

"Who his Brett Forest?" She asked, wishing to know more of this interesting man.

This was the part Brett had been waiting for. This was the hook. All he had to do was to spin so many yarns about himself, and she would believe him. Brett then moved into one of the monologues about himself that was so enchanting and yet funny. Eva listened and found herself laughing so hard to some of the tales that he was saying, and when the waiter came to their table to take their orders, she stared hard at the waiter for interrupting Brett, and she even went on to tell the waiter that they were not hungry.

Brett knew she was only caught up with what he was telling her, jokingly said to her that if he was to continue his tale, they must order something. Grudgingly, she agreed. Brett then turned to the waiter and ordered oysters, shrimps, and steaks with a Chardonnay bottle. Their orders arrived, and Brett opened the Champagne and filled Eva's glass cup with the sparkling liquid.

"Tell me a little about yourself?" he said to her. "Let's start with your love life."

"Well! My love life is something I don't like to talk about. It's excessively boring, even for a woman like me. I have all the money, but what I don't have his happiness," she said quietly.

Brett fane a sympathetic look at her.

"I can't believe that! A woman as beautiful as you are should live a worry-free life. It comes with money too. And you've got the two, so what could be the problem."

"Don't know how to say it!" she replied, wishing she could be open with this exciting man sitting across her.

"What is it?" he probed, "Is it that you've not found that kind of man that you want, or you've got a dumb husband or something?"

"You're dead on the nail!" Eva answered. "It is a lousy husband have got. I'll soon be rid of him. Divorce is coming up," she believed that this man who had taken his time to please her and even made her laugh deserved to know some private things about her.

"We men can be bums sometimes, right?" he asked, laughing lines around his eyes.

She saw he was teasing her, and she grinned despite herself.

"Bum is a light word, try idiots for a size," She said, and this drew loud laughter from him, and she joined in too.

"You're so funny; I think I like you," Brett said, grinning at her.

"I think I like you too!" Eva replied to him, and she knew she meant it.

"That's good to know." He said

After their meal, Brett pushed his plates away, and he checked his wristwatch and grimaced.

"I would love to stay, but have got to be somewhere that needs my urgent attention."

Eva, who had endured boredom for two weeks, wanted the discussion to continue, but she knew nothing she could do about it.

"Alright!" she said halfheartedly.

Brett rose from the chair and left her for a few moments while he settled the checks. Then, he returned to her. They left the restaurant and walked back to where they had parked their cars. When they got there, Brett could see the telltale signs of longings on Eva's face, and he smiled to himself for a job well done "I had a wonderful time," He said to her.

"Me too! I wish It wouldn't come to an end like this," she answered solemnly.

"I would love to see more of you; that's if I am allowed?"

Eva nodded and moistened her lips with her tongue.

"You are," she said.

Brett gave a boyish grin which lit up his handsome; he asked for her cell phone number, and she gave it to him, then he told her he would give her a call during the week, kissed her lightly on her cheek, slid inside his Aston Martin, and drove away. Eva stood, watching the bright twin rear lights disappeared, and she sighed. Then she got under the steering wheels of her car, started the engine, and deftly tooled the car out of the space into the streets.

Thirty minutes later, she was back inside the villa. Vince had not come back from the casino, and the house was quiet and still. Good riddance! she said to herself as she entered the bedroom, stripped off, flopped hard into the bed, thinking, Wow! What a day. It has been so long since I had so much fun, she thought; Brett is quite a guy; I've never met anyone like him. How I wish he were my… but she stopped the wandering thoughts. What was she thinking? That he was her lover? A man I just met, she thought, I can't possibly give him my heart just like that.

She got up from the bed and went into the bathroom for a hot shower. While she was in the shower that she remembered that she had wanted to pay Darius a surprise visit that day, I'll make it up to him one of these days, she thought, but instead, her mind brought up the picture of Brett Forest.

****************

Canyon stood looking down at Lolly. He lit a cigarette and snapped down the lighter lid.

"Now, I want you to rerun the whole plan for me," She said, lolling indifferently on the bed. She was wearing a pink, silk wrap that clung tightly, showing her body curves and contours. A cigarette hung from her full, red lips and her face was challenging and thoughtful as she drew on the cigarette hungrily, blowing a long stream of smoke into the ceilings.

He grimaced. He hated her for the way she loved to command him, and he had wanted to talk some sense into her, but this night, the discussion was about something which was even more important than money, and for this, he allowed his anger to melt away.

"I'm the one to play a major role in this plan. First of all, I'll fix you up as one of the new girls who are to work in the casino. You'll be working in the food section, and I'll make sure I get rid of the girl who brings Vince his meal and put you in her place. Is that enough?"

"Keep talking!" she urged.

"Now, this is the crux of the plan. All I've got to do is to get the key that opens Vince's office door. Then I'll find the right spot to fix the camcorder inside his office, and we'll wait till the day he advances on you. That day, you'll play with him, allow him to kiss you and caress you a bit, and then you get him mother naked, and when he's ready to have sex with you, you scream rape loud enough for the video camera to pick your voice, then you slap him hard on the face and run out of the office. Everything that occurred inside the office on that day would have been recorded, and then I'll find a way to take the camcorder from where I've hidden it. Then we'll nail him with the videotape. We already know he's a man who never jokes about his personality in Miami city. He loved to protect his image, especially now that his marriage was about to go sour. A scandal would ruin him, and that he's well aware of. So, we'll threaten him with the tape. He either gives up the casino, or we'll play the videotape on social media for the world to see," Canyon said the ending line of his sentence with a snarl.

Lolly stared at the cigarette, flicked ash on the ground, and gave him a cold, calculating smile.

"When did I tell you is the best time to get the key?" she asked.

Canyon ran his finger through his hair.

"The key is always on his table. So the first day he sets his eyes on you inside his office, that would be the perfect moment to get the key. Cause, like you, said, your looks would distract him, thereby creating a chance for me to get the key."

"Good! You're a fast learner!"

"I've got a question. How sure are you that Vince will fall for your looks? I've seen the way he looks at some of these beautiful girls that work in the casino, some covertly, some openly. He wants these girls, and yet he never made any move on them. He could never risk his neck for any woman, and it's all because of that damn fortune."

She lifted a long, slender leg and examined it critically.

"Don't worry. He'll fall for me! That I promise you. I'm special, canny, you should know that already, and anything special does not come cheap; it comes loaded. So don't worry your heart, I'll get him for us but beware! If we want this to work out, then we've got to take some certain precautions."

He narrowed his eyes at her.

"What precautions? Whatever do we need that for?"

"Look!" Lolly said sharply. "If you think we can go ahead with these plans without been ready to break a few eggs to make an omelet, then feel again."

"Alright," he said coldly. "I'm listening."

"Good!" she snarled. "cause I’m not going to repeat me."

"Get it on," Canyon snapped, his face a shade of red, and at that moment, the look on his face startled Lolly. She knew that tone.

"You're getting fussed up, lover," She said and laughed nervously. "Lessen up a bit. Here are the precautions. The first step is to be ready to conceal our identities as much as a possible must, especially mine. Vince must not get the idea we know each other. Secondly, you must be ready to compose yourself more than ever. Vince knows that you are tough and mean. Let's leave it that way. Don't act funny or jealous if you see Vince and me talking or if he tries to touch me in any way. I know this might be hard for you, but you've got to do it if you want that casino. Thirdly, always be at the entrance door no matter what. Don't leave that door for a minute. Anything might go wrong if I am alone with Vince, and I might need your help, so you've always got to be at the door. And here's is the last part; it may result in us using what we have to get what we want, but you already know this part greatly rest on my shoulders."

Canyon, who was pacing restlessly around the room, listening to her the whole time, lifted his eyebrow at her. Then, he took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and drew smoke into the lungs.

"I know what you're going to say, so don't say it," He told her and blew a thin, spiral smoke out of his mouth. "Do you think I'm that dumb? Hadn't I figured it out myself?"

Lolly looked shocked now, and he could see it on her cold, granite face that he had known what she had wanted to say.

"Don't flatter yourself, Canny," She said, her face set and expressionless. "You couldn't have figured it out yet."

"Maybe you're right," he said, mocking jeer in his eyes. "Maybe I hadn't figured it out yet. But I want you to listen attentively. Don't get caught up in this game. Don't let the game play you. The thing about this deal is simple. We get the tape, and we use it to fix Vince, that's all. Don't try to start something funny with Vince. Something you can't finish.

"He's a good looking sonofabitch; I would give him that. I know you've not seen him before, but you'll understand what I am talking about when you see him. We both know that you, Lolly, is a tomcat. You're a sucker for muscular men. Don't tell me because of the casino; you let him have his way with you to convince him that the thing between you two is for real. If you ever have anything to do with Vince, I am going to fix you! You heard me! I am going to fix you real bad. I can't share you with any man. Vince must not sleep with you even after we've got what we want from him."

Lolly stared at him; her face was blue-white like the color of ice. She could scarcely believe he would be able to say exactly what had been in her mind. She knew the kind of woman she was. There was always this thing about real, masculine men she could not get over with. They were like magnets, still pulling her into their vortex. If Vince was a good looking man, she could not even imagine what may happen when she sees him. Maybe, they should call this deal off, she thought.

Canyon, who had been watching her face the whole time, saw the confusion on her face and smile stiffly.

"Lolly! I know what you are thinking, but it's not going to work. Now that we've thought out these things, we can't just pull out of it, you understand? I need that casino. It was not in my mind before, but you forced out the greed in me to want the casino. Now, I want it more than even my life. Tomorrow, you're coming with me to the casino. There's no need for us to waste time. I'll fix you in the food section, and you'll meet Vince. You'll have to deal with your sexual urge when you see him. It's your cause, so deal with it. If you don't, and shit happens between you two, then I'll fix you."

She swallowed hard. He was right. It was her cause, and when the time comes, she must deal with it. If she does not, Maddox will fix her. He was a dangerous animal, and if he told her he would fix her, then that's what he was going to do.

"Don't worry," She said in a hard and determined voice. "He won't get me."

Canyon shrugged indifferently and crushed out the cigarette.

"If you don't fix him, I'll fix you. We mustn't waste time. The camcorder would be on the whole time. It's got enough memory space which could last us for months. So we needn't worry about it. What is worried about is you. Don't fuck this up. You know what I am capable of, Lolly. I don't have to say anymore."

"I'll fix him," she said, her eyes hot and intent.

"Good!" Canyon said, regarding her flushed face than her body. He could see the swell of her breasts beneath the pink wrap and also the dark soft triangle between her thighs, and it stirred his loins, and just looking at her, he felt blood rushing to his manhood. She must have known he was staring at her because she looked fixedly at him, her dark eyes glittering, suddenly tense. Canyon knew that look. She would play hard to get this night, he thought, unless he works on her. But I'm too lazy to do on her this night, he thought. I need her, Goddamn it!

Silently, like a hungry hyena, he moved towards the bed, flopped hard in bed, and crushed her body to his broad chest. Then he ripped off her wrap savagely, and something like a strangled cry escaped from her mouth, and she stiffened. His eyes feasted on her naked breasts, and he dipped his head and took one rosy nipple into his mouth. She was not in the mood this night, but he had gone for her weak point; her Achilles heel, and she knew she would never be able to fight him off. She grabbed his head to her breasts and curled up her feet on the bed. When he could not control himself, he spread her thighs apart, spat on his palm, rubbed the watery liquid on his penis deftly, and then thrust his male organ into her with a full force, and she cried out, trying to push him back as he got too deep inside her. Then he began to move back and forth wildly. It had been long he touched her, and he rode her hard until she moaned out in sexual ecstasy.

**************

Vince was sitting behind his big, vast desk, an Egyptian cigar dropping from his thick lips. He looked up from a list of quotations lying on his desk as Canyon came in.

"Howdy, Canny," he said. "How are you today?"

"I'm good, boss," Canyon replied stiffly as he used the corner of his eye to scan the room to find the right place where he could hide the camcorder. Luckily, his eyes rested on a small space between a roll of books on a shelf, and he drew in a sharp breath. That space will do just fine, he thought; all I've got to do now is to get those keys.

"That's good to know. I heard some group of gamblers is coming in from Korea this night. I can't wait to see those funny little men with their oily skins and small, mean eyes. How prepared are we, Canny?" Vince said as he leaned back in his thick leather armchair.

"We are prepared, sir," Canyon answered, keeping his face expressionless. "Prepared." His eyes were looking intently at the desk, on the key Vince had placed on a pile of documents.

Vince looked strangely at his face. What's bothering him, he thought. There was this look on Canyon's face as if the man was up to something.

Canyon looked at Vince and saw the other man staring at him. I'm slipping! He thought.

"I believe we are going to send those Koreans groups home with empty pockets this night," Canyon said, putting life into his voice. He wished Vince would stop looking at him as if he was reading his mind.

"I hope so too," Vince said as he continued to stare thoughtfully at Canyon's face. "Are you alright? you look like a pregnant duck."

Canyon winced. The man had seen it in his eyes; he was up to something. How could he have slipped like this?

"Nothing is wrong with me. I'm pretty alright, you don't have to fuss…" but he stopped, the words freezing in his mouth. A soft knock had sounded on the door.

Both men regarded each other, suspicion in their eyes.

"Come on in," Vince said in a calm and steady voice.

The door opened, and a woman came into the room.

Vince's face lit up when he saw her. For that moment, the earth stood still, and he felt a tingle creep up his spine as he regarded her. He had seen many beautiful women in his time, but not like this one standing in his front. She was tall with her hair that was ash blond, but it was her face that nailed him.

Her eyes were big, blue, and glittering like that of a cat. Her skin was milky-honey, and her well-shaped lips promise pleasure and excitement. She was hard and beautiful and hungry-looking. He watched her move further into the room; her movements were unhurried, graceful, and calm, and this sent a hot wave of blood through him. This girl is dynamite! he thought.

All the while, Canyon noticed that Vince was already captivated by Lolly's looks, and quietly slinked to the desk, picked up the keys, and then slid them inside his pocket.

By the time Vince's face had cleared and had realized his examination was causing a pause, Canyon had moved back to the door and stood there, stiff as a statue.

"What can I do for you?" Vince asked, clearing his voice and all business-like as he regarded her.

"My name is Lolly Moore, and I'm here to replace one of the girls who worked at the casino restaurant. She's critically ill, and she has not been coming to the casino for some. I'm only here to present myself to you as one of your new staff." She said regarding him steadily, her chin up, her blue eyes remote.

Vince swallowed hard. On the norms, he would have asked her who had fixed her up to work at the casino restaurant, but at that moment, he was thinking; Christ! Is she for real? I can't let this one go, not in my life. He dragged his eyes away from her to settle on Canyon's face. But the calm, gaunt look of his right-hand man face told him Nothing.

"Well! Nice meeting you, Lolly, but I'll prefer to call you, blondie, that's if you don't mind?" he said, wishing to hear her voice again. But she only shook her head, and she remained still, her eyes looking directly into his. Unable to stand her calm gaze, he looked away. He wished he could say something to her, something to make her smile, but Nothing came to his mind. Frustrated with himself, he told her she could go, and his eyes nearly fell out of his head as she turned and walked out, deliberately waving her hips at him.

"My God!" Vince exclaimed, turning to Canyon. "That's real dynamite right there!"

"Yes! She's a real one," Canyon said stiffly, letting the words slid out from his mouth as best as he could. He was glad the plan was taking shape already, and yet, the leering look on Vince's face was a threat to his happiness.

"Canyon! Here is what you would do for me," Vince said, sitting forward in his chair, and he pointed a well-shaped finger at Canyon

Canyon, he became suddenly cautious as he looked at Vince's face.

"What do you want of me, boss?"

"Let this girl come in into my office anytime," Vince said, looking intently at Canyon's face. "Don't even hesitate to stop her."

Canyon, in frustration, wanted to tell Vince that he could not do such a thing because Lolly belonged to him, but the image of the casino appeared in his mind, and he remembered the warnings of Lolly; don't act funny or jealous, or he's going to nail you, and he heard his voice saying, "Don't worry, I will do everything, I can boss."

"Good! Do that, and I'll make it worth your while," Vince said, grinning at Canyon, unaware of what was going through the other man's mind. The telephone on Vince's desk rang out, and he picked up the receiver. The voice at the other end told him the group of Korean gamblers had arrived, and his attention was needed urgently at the gambling hall.

Excitedly, he slammed down the receiver, gave some orders to Canyon, and flew out of the office. In his haste, he had forgotten to take his office keys with him. After he had left, Canyon looked around the room; satisfied that the coast was clear, he brought out the camcorder. It was one of those expensive, sophisticated mini camcorders on the market; small, concealable, and had enough memory space for recording.

Canyon had tested it before, and he knew the little gadget would do his work. He moved towards the bookshelf and fixed the camcorder between the book space he had seen earlier, and it fitted perfectly. Then he switched it on. He heard a beep sound, and he snarled. The recording had started. He knew the real action would occur at the desk, so he ensured the camcorder filming lens was directed there.

Then, he dipped his hands inside his pockets and brought out a bunch of keys. His eyes widen when he saw that key he had wanted to select had another duplicate. He grinned wickedly. This was even easier than he heard thought. All he heard of doing was select the key he needed while the other would serve his boss. Vince was not a bright man, so; he could even keep the key till the plan was accomplished. Then he detached the key he wanted from the bunch.

"Hey! what are you doing with my keys?" Vince soft voice said from the doorway.

Canyon had nerves like steel. He didn't jump out of fright nor swing around in shock. His face remained expressionless at the sight of Vince.

Vince was standing just inside the room. His eyes were hard and mean, and his mouth was fixed in a little smile.

"I came back for my keys, and I found it with you. What are you doing with it? What are you up to?" the accusations in his voice was sharp and clear, and it knifed Canyon straight in his guts.

Canyon stilled himself. If he handles this right, he thought, he would bluff Vince off. The key he had detached from the bunch of keys was burning a hole in his palm, and he slid it inside his hip pockets. Then he said to Vince ;

"What do you mean, what am I doing with your keys? I saw the keys on your desk, and knowing that you love to keep your office door locked, I decided to lock up and come downstairs to give you the keys, and here you are asking me what I am up to? What is up to him to return the keys to you."

The lie was as smooth as silk. Vince regarded him for a long moment, unconvinced at first, but the calm expression on Canyon's face and his explanation did the trick.

"Alright! I did not mean it the way you thought I did," he said. "Can I have it back?"

Canyon shrugged indifferently and tossed it to him. His mean look was plastered on his face, and he showed no sign of weakness.

"I'm your right-hand man. It's high time you show me some little respect and stop treating me like a goddamn monkey," he snarled, and he brushed past Vince and moved out of the room.

Vince looked around the office to make sure Nothing was amiss, but it never crossed his mind to check the keys in his hand neither did he noticed the mini camcorder between the rolls of books on the shelf. Satisfied, he slid out of the office, closing the door behind him.