A Good Deal (2)

A Good Deal (2)
ELENE

“Hands up,” the bouncer said.

I rolled my eyes and lifted my hands. He bent down, frisking me thoroughly before his hands brushed against the gun tucked into my waist.

He looked up at me, and I smirked down at him. “You can take it. I used the last bullet anyway.”

He removed the gun from my waist and placed it on the tray that the second bouncer held. Continuing the search, he found nothing else.

Then he picked up the metal detector from the tray and swept it slowly down my body. The device beeped loudly.

“It’s just some piercings.” I stuck out my tongue to show him.

He continued the scan and stopped at my navel. “Still the same.”

The suspicious look on his face said he still didn’t believe me.

Groaning, I lifted my shirt and loosened my belt until my trousers dropped to the floor.

“I don’t have any weapons on me,” I said dryly.

He dropped the detector back onto the tray and stepped aside.

“Thank you.”

I pulled my trousers back up and adjusted my belt before walking toward the entrance where muffled music poured through the doors. The moment I pushed them open, girls dancing on poles came into view.

Cigarette smoke curled beneath dim neon lights while bass-heavy music vibrated through the floor beneath my feet.

Men crowded around the stage, throwing dollar bills into the air like confetti. One of the dancers dropped to her knees and crawled toward an older man seated near the front. She whispered something into his ear while biting her lip seductively.

The man pulled out a thick stack of cash, shoved several bills into her bra, then pressed a sloppy kiss against her chest.

She turned around, arching her back toward him as she twerked shamelessly.

My eyes swept across the luxurious interior, and a low whistle escaped my lips.

I had expected Azrael Blackwood’s clubhouse to be some filthy underground hideout, not a place dripping with luxury and sin.

“He’s waiting upstairs.”

The voice behind me made my shoulders tense. I hadn’t even noticed someone approaching.

I turned to see a tall man dressed entirely in black standing behind me.

I gave him a small nod and followed him upstairs.

We climbed several flights before arriving at a secluded room. The door shut behind me, instantly cutting off the deafening music downstairs.

A polished round table occupied the center of the room, surrounded by black leather chairs.

A tall man sat lazily in one of them, dressed in a loose black shirt with the first few buttons undone. His chin rested against his palm while he scrolled through his phone with visible boredom.

Damp curls hung over his forehead, but his eyes lifted the moment I stepped into the room.

“Are you the one Ralph sent to Azrael?” he asked.

So he wasn’t Azrael.

“I wasn’t sent by Ralph to meet Mr. Blackwood,” I replied, walking farther into the room. “I’m here to offer a deal instead.”

One of his brows lifted in amusement.

“And why would someone working under Ralph come to us unless this is part of his plan?”

I smiled slightly.

“You give him far too much credit. Ralph wouldn’t risk exposing himself after working so hard to disappear. Even the mayor of this city couldn’t find him.”

The man studied me silently for a few moments before placing his phone on the table.

“I’m Joel,” he finally said. “Azrael’s assistant.”

So that was who he was.

“Unfortunately,” I began, sitting across from him, “I can’t make any deals without seeing him personally. I’m risking my life by coming here, so I need to make sure we both leave with an agreement.”

Joel nodded in understanding.

“That’s fair.” A smile crossed his lips. “You’ll have to wait for him to return, which will be...” He glanced at his watch. “A few more hours.”

I leaned back in my chair without breaking eye contact.

“I can wait.”

. . .

LIORA’S POV

“What are they doing?”

My brows furrowed as I watched them dance together.

Mara’s hands roamed shamelessly over his body while his own rested possessively on her thigh, slowly pushing her skirt higher.

Watching how intimate they were made an uneasy twist in my stomach.

They couldn’t possibly be about to—

No.

I slapped my cheek lightly.

“Snap out of it, Liora. Mara isn’t that crazy.”

Then again... maybe she was.

With Mara, there was honestly no telling what went through her mind.

She suddenly spun beneath his arm before jumping into his embrace, and he caught her effortlessly. Her legs wrapped around his waist immediately.

“Are they kissing?!”

From the way Mara melted against him, I didn’t need confirmation.

Her fingers slid through his hair while his hands tightened around her waist possessively.

The man turned and started walking toward my table with Mara still wrapped around him.

Once they reached me, he carefully placed her back on her feet beside me.

Mara slowly pulled away from the kiss before biting her lip afterward.

“Uh... what’s going on here?” I asked for what felt like the hundredth time, hoping she would finally explain things properly.

“Oh, Liora.” Her eyes widened in surprise. “I didn’t realize you were still sitting here.”

My jaw nearly dropped.

“You dragged me here and forgot about me?”

“I’m sorry.” She wiped at her lips awkwardly. “I got carried away for a moment.” She paused before groaning softly. “Okay, that’s not even a good excuse.”

No, it definitely wasn’t.

She pointed toward the man beside her, whose attention hadn’t left me once.

“This is Jaycee,” she introduced. “And this is my best friend, Liora.”

Jaycee extended his hand toward me.

I accepted it politely, offering him a small smile. His palm engulfed mine.

I tried pulling my hand back after the greeting, but my movement stalled when he didn’t let go immediately.

“It’s nice finally meeting you, Liora,” he said smoothly, his thumb brushing lightly against the back of my hand.

I forcefully withdrew my hand and forced another smile onto my face.

“How long have you two known each other?” I asked Mara, whose eyes were practically sparkling now.

“Uh... he’s my boss at my new workplace. I just didn’t expect him to be—”

“He’s your what?” I interrupted in shock.

Jaycee laughed softly.

“Don’t look so shocked, Li. Mara and I have been seeing each other for a while now. I had urgent matters to handle, so I was away for a few months.”

This was insane.

“Do you already have plans with her tonight?” he asked, directing the question toward Mara.

Mara hesitated briefly while glancing at me.

The hunger in her eyes answered the question before she even opened her mouth.

I smiled knowingly.

“No,” I answered before she could speak. “I only came here for drinks anyway.”

“Oh?” He chuckled lightly. “Then I’m sorry if my presence ruined your girls’ plans.”

“Not at all.” I shook my head. “I’ll just head back to her place instead.”

“Thank you.”

Completely unbothered by my presence, he lifted Mara into his arms again, his hands resting beneath her thighs.

He wasn’t even trying to hide what they were planning to do.

“I’ll see you at home, Li!” Mara waved excitedly as he carried her away.

A tired sigh escaped my lips as I stood up and dragged myself out of the club.

Crossing the street, I headed toward Mara’s house before entering the security code into the keypad. I stepped inside and locked the door behind me.

Every part of me ached with exhaustion.