It was a tight ride to Chicago as nobody wanted to take a second vehicle. Joe insisted on sitting next to me and Claire so James and Miles were in the front. Joe wouldn’t let James near me. He blocked him anytime he tried to talk to me or come near me.
We arrived at Amber’s house. I forgot it’s glory and tight security system. She opened the door while screaming “biiiiiiittttccccchhhhh” over the intercom. She ran out and pulled me into a running hug. We held each other tight. She finally pulled back and kissed me on the cheek. “I missed you so much, don’t leave me like that again! Or worry me like you did!” She was so cute when she was sassy.
I gave her a small smile before introducing her to Claire and Joe. She raised her eyebrow at Joe and gave me a side glance, I motioned that I would tell her later what that was all about.
We walked inside and she showed everyone to their rooms, but I always stayed in her room so I made my way to her master and put my bags on her ottoman.
“So, what’s up with that hunk you got following you around?” I told her about Joe and everything that had happened lately. She was fuming by the end of it. “So he just made you go to Mexico, forced you to isolate from all of your loved ones, just to finally send you away? What an asshole!” She never truly liked Maximo and I didn’t blame her, he wasn’t overall that great to me, but shit, I loved him anyways.
We talked for hours before it was time to get ready. I was already ready, but Amber needed to shower and get ready.
My phone was ringing, I turned it over and saw Maximo’s name across the screen.
“Hey.” I said, actually happy to hear from him.
“What the fuck is this about you and James in the spa together?” Oh shit. “Why wouldn’t you tell me he was in town? Why the fuck would you be naked and all over him in the spa for?!” Fucking Joe.
“Maximo, calm down, nothing happened. James is one of my oldest friends.”
“I don’t give a shit, he loves you and you love him!”
“I did love him, Maximo. But now, I love you. Just calm down.” I tried reasoning with him, thinking that me telling him I loved him would calm him.
“Don’t tell me to calm down, Fallon!”
“Maximo, please, we haven’t talked in days and the first time we do you call to scream at me?”
“Because you are sleeping around on me!” He yelled.
“No, Maximo, I did not sleep with him. He is just my friend, why won’t you believe me?”
“Because of your relationship with him, I will never trust you around him.”
“You don’t get to send me way like you don’t care and then call me and accuse me of shit. How dare you!” Now I was mad. “You don’t trust me? I don’t trust you! I have never cheated on you, not once, but I have lost count of your indiscretions!”
“Well go ahead and add one more ‘indiscretion’ to your list, because while you were with James last night I was fucking Juliette.” Juliette? I thought they were no longer in business together.
“Fuck you, Maximo. Fuck you!” I screamed, before hanging up I said, “You wanted me to cheat? I fucking will.” I hung up and threw my phone on the bed. He called back over and over. I finally turned my phone off and left it in my travel bag.
I’ll show him just how evil I can be.
Amber looked stunning in her mid-thigh silver dress. The dress hugged her thin stature. We gathered everyone before leaving. Joe insisted on driving Amber and me, so James, Miles, and Claire followed in my car behind us.
We arrived at one of my favorite places in Chicago, the Cortex Hotel. I was so excited to see him.
I saw his office in the corner and walked slowly to the entrance. I heard James sigh across the lobby.
I leaned on the doorway. “Check in at the front desk.” An annoyed voice stated.
“Is that anyway to treat a VIP guest, Hermie?” He quickly looked up, getting out of his chair.
“Fallon, my god.” He was breathless almost. “I haven’t heard from you in so long.” He pulled me into a bear-like embrace before pulling back and running his hand down my cheek.
I heard a throat clear from the doorway, Joe. “Leave us, now.” I ordered him, he looked pissed, curling his upper lip up. I raised my eyebrow at him before making a ‘shoo’ motion with my hand.
“Fallon, dear lord, what happened.” I had not noticed Hermie’s hand on my stomach, he could feel my scar. I quickly stepped back, wrapping my arms around my stomach.
“We have a lot to catch up on, dinner?” He started to rub his chin before leaning back on his desk.
“I actually have plans tonight, Fallon.” He said, smirking. I gave him a wicked smile.
“What’s her name? Can I meet her?” I asked, excitedly. He shook his head.
“No. This is business, Fallon.” He said, almost nervous.
I gave him a questioning look. “Would I hinder that, Javier?” He flinched. He didn’t like he real name, or me calling him his real name. “Okay, well, Amber is with me, do you still hang around Justin?” I tried changing the subject.
He gave me a small smile before quickly standing up. “Uh, hi, honey.” He walked past me and kissed a beautiful blonde woman. “Jamie, this is Fallon, Fallon this is Jamie, my girlfriend.”
I gave her a side smile. “Hi, Jamie.” I walked over to her and shook her hand, she gave me a large smile back.
“Thee Fallon?” She asked, not taking her eyes off me. When she saw Hermie nod, she pulled me in for a hug. “You are more gorgeous than Javier has ever described!” She was looking me up and down. “Javier, why didn’t you tell me she was so hot?” Hermie blushed. “OH MY GOD, you have to come to dinner with us tonight!”
“Oh, thank you, I wish I could, but I have plans.” I gave her a pouty lip.
“Well change your plans! We have a room rented out in the restaurant across the road.” She smiled looking at me and Javier, “Dinner is at 7, don’t be late!” Then she gave Javier a kiss on the cheek before striding out of the room. Her hair bounced as she walked. She is gorgeous.
“Fallon, look, don’t come tonight. This is not something you want to be part of.” I brought my eyebrows together.
“I’m confused, you two seen real even though you say it’s business.” He cut me off before I could continue.
“Her dad is Helix Halik, Fallon.” My jaw dropped.
“Javier what the fuck are you doing! Do you know how dangerous he is?”
“Yes, Fallon. I do. But after you killed his right hand man, he came into town with his daughter to clean up your mess.”
I cringed, thinking about that night. He had to die. He raped my manager of The Velvet Room: Chicago, threw her out, and tried to take over my club, he’s lucky I didn’t kill his son and continued to allow them to run their whores through the club.
“Hermie, I had no choice, I had to protect my business.”
“Yeah, Fallon, I get it, but it put all of us at risk. This is a business arrangement, they are using the hotel to house their girls and book rooms when they throw their sex parties, it has been making a lot of money for me.”
I cringed. How pissed Maximo would be if he learned that Helix Halik was using one of his hotels as a front. The Russian and Mexican Cartels did not get along, and they were both too powerful to be enemies.
“See you at 7, Fallon.” Hermie said before returning to his work.
Shit.