Chapter 4
I know without a doubt if I don't act now, it will be too late. So I open my mouth and belt out Tanya's name."Tanya! Tanya Jackson, I know you're in here, come out this minute."
You guessed right. I'm just wasting my time because the din of the music completely drowns out my voice. The bouncer begins to drag me, eliciting stares from people, but I dig my heels in the ground and make it difficult for him.
The second bouncer joins him, leaving the entrance unmanned. Stupid move, but okay. Well, not for me anyway, seeing as I'd soon be thrown out, most probably on my face. He coils his hand around mine and twists.
Pain lances up my hand and I stifle the cry that jumps to my lips. Tears spring to my eyes but I blink them away. The first bouncer is still dragging me. I know he's taking it easy on me. He could easily force me onto his shoulder and carry me out of here, or worse still, manhandle me and hand me over to the police for trespassing.
Neither of the two options bring me joy though.
From the corner of my eyes, I see a few people slipping inside the club undetected by the bouncers. It's all because of me. I'm ready to capitulate, to give in, but then someone appears.
A man.
"I'll handle it!" He instructs the bouncers, who immediately let go of me and slink away.
Now, let me make you understand something. This man - he seems to ooze confidence from his very pores.
It could be the glint in his eyes, or the way he carries himself, or even the fact that people pay attention to him as he walks past them. Whatever it is, it unnerves me, because this man is stunning - not in the damn he's gorgeous, type of stunning, but in the dangerous glint of his eyes and the way he carries himself as he stands staring at me with an eyebrow cocked. And he's gorgeously tall with a lithe frame. I bet he works out.
Tanya is momentarily forgotten as I check him out.I can''t help it. I swing my gaze from his sneaker - covered feet up to the black jeans he has on, and stop at his plain black tee. This man could have been wearing a burlap sack for all I know and he would still command respect more than a man wearing a three piece suit.I don't know if I'm imagining it but his eyes seem to darken as he juts out a hand to me. "I'm the owner of this club, how can I help you, ma'am?"
My lips unknowingly coil in disgust as I reply. "Name's Alicia, and I'm here to take my sister home."
He combs his hair with his hand before his eyes flick to the people around. "Let's talk somewhere else, if you please, ma'am."
His hand is on the small of my back, already ushering me away from the stares of the vultures around. Before I know it, we're in an empty office and it's just the two of us. I feel my skin prickle as his eyes zone in on my face. This time, they go lower, and lower, lower still, until they get to the flip flops I have on my feet. Then, they make their way back up my body, scourging me with unseen heat. A smirk appears on his face as his eyes once more settle on my face.
"Your sister, yeah?" He walks a short distance away and returns with a glass containing a brown liquid in his hand. He holds it in the air. "Want some?"
I shake my head and look away. What kind of man acts this way in the face of someone else's pain? An irresponsible one, that's for sure. I mean, he owns a club for crying out loud. I shouldn't except anything more from him.
"I wish I could help you, but if she's here. . ." He shakes his head as a sorrowful look creeps into his eyes. "She's most probably snorting cocaine through her nose or whoring herself." He finishes, shrugging.
"E. . . excuse me?" The gall of this man. Tanya may be used to the streets but she'll definitely not go that way. Never!
I watch as the muscles on his face contort weirdly. And then I realize he's trying hard not to laugh. It comes out anyway. He throws his head back and lets out a large guffaw.
It doesn't matter that I'm not as tall as him, doesn't even matter that my chin doesn't get past his neck. I'm in his face before he can blink, poking his chest. "Listen here, mister, you better be kidding me because if not, I'll sue you and this garbage you call a business."
I'm in utter shock when he lifts a finger and skims my lips. "I can see you've got a big mouth on you, hazel eyes, maybe you should put it to more pleasurable use instead of sprouting threats."
Did I. . . ?
Did he. . . ?
Am I being punked right now or is this man hitting on me?
Alarm bells ring loudly in my head and I quickly swat his hand away before I step back and give him a wide berth. "I don't know what you're talking about, but you can be sure I'll be back."
I catch the amused glint in his eyes before I turn and walk out. I'm seething with anger. The nerve of the man. The absolute temerity. He dares insinuate that Tanya is a drug addict. I'm so livid, I don't see where I'm going and I bump into someone.
"Ouch!" I rub at the pain on my forehead, willing it to disappear when I look up and see- "Tanya! Oh my goodness, Tanya." I hug her small frame to mine, noting with a sad pang she's lost weight.
She struggles to let herself go from my smothering embrace. When she's finally free, she rears back in shock. "Alicia, what are you doing here, and how did you find me?"
My smile cannot get any wider. Apart from her eyes which are slightly red, she doesn't look the worse for wear. "Wait! Have you been taking drugs?"
She rolls her eyes and stands with hands on her hips. "I ask again. What are you doing here, Alicia?"
"Is that all you're going to say? You disappear for a whole week and I'm not able to get across to you on the phone because you blocked my number, and now you ask what I'm doing here." She's unbelievable. One would think she's my elder sister when the reverse is the case.
She seems to cave in on herself as her face suddenly looks older, like she's seen a lot in her just-recently-turned eighteen years of age.
"Alicia, I mean it, get away from here, you don't belong. Just go." She pushes me feebly before walking away like the world is on her shoulders.
"Wait, but. . . " she disappears around the corner. I feel like I've been punched. "I didn't get the chance to tell you mum passed away. She's left us, Tanya, and now you're leaving me as well." I finish in a small voice.
The tears I'd been holding at bay for a week now, finally fall from my eyes.
Chapter 5I glance at the man and almost feel pity for him. His breathing is labored, his breaths coming out in shallowed gasps. He sounds like a train whistling and rattling. I'm guessing a punctured lung would cause that. It comes from all the beatings which we've been giving him.He put himself in this mess. No one steals for me and goes scott free. No one. Precious stones and jewels I harvested with time, effort and hard-earned money. Something tells me things run deeper than that.A set up, maybe, or he was sent by someone?His mouth opens, drawing my attention to his face which is all bloodied and unrecognizable. It looks like someone has rearranged his features. It's a fucking bloody mass of pulp. I glance down at my curled fist which is coated slick with blood. His blood. I should finish him once and for all, snuff the life out of him with one more punch. Just one more punch and it would be all over for
Chapter 6Once I get off the phone, I feel a shade better. I call Leonard next and within seconds, he's in my office, wearing another suit.This guy.. . . it's a Saturday, yet he acts like he's got a business meeting to attend. Suits me just fine, actually."Bring me the accounts book, Leonard." I need to get it over and done with and head over to the mines."Can I get you anything in the meantime? Some drinks? Food? Women?"I shake my head. "Just bring me the accounts book.""Right away, sir." He bows and leaves.That's another thing. The man knows what respect means.Instead of waiting for him, I leave my office and walk through Stardust. I go down memory lane as I remember how it all started five years ago. I was making millions while dealing in drugs, but buisness suddenly took a different turn when I discovered precious gems and stones on the mine I bought.In a bid to funnel the extra funds and go un
Chapter 7"School is such a bitch, I'm telling you." Clarissa pouts as she squints at her books.Ever since she stepped through the doors of Harry's cargo, she's been this way. Tense and bitch-mouthed. I'd offer to help her with her calculations but this girl is pretty much like me. Stubborn."I'd offer to help, but you'd just turn me down, so. . ." I shrug. From the corner of my eyes, I see her head turn towards me, so fast, I think she'll have a crick in it later."Would you really. . . help me?" She whimpers. I take back my words. It must be pretty bad if she needs my help. That means only one thing- something else has her upset, blocking out her lack of concentration."Yeah, sure." I shrug once again, already moving towards her.I pick up the huge binder in front of her and check out what has her so frazzled. My eyes widen as I take in the figures before me. Calculus has never looked so complicated than
Chapter 8When we get to the canteen, it's packed full with other workers. The canteen is a moderate-sized room with tables scattered around. I search for an empty table while Clarissa goes to take our order. There's no unoccupied one except at the back and it has two females I recognize, already sitting at it.One of the cashiers and the HR officer, both females. One of the things I like about Harry's cargo is it's an all-female company, there are no males working here. I make my way over to them and slide into one of the seats, sending hi's their way. They chorus their greeting in between mouthfuls of food. Not long after, Clarissa comes back with our orders. A sandwich and a soda for me, and a lame-looking burger with chips on the side and a soda for her.I lean close to her and whisper. "At least you got a burger."She rolls her eyes at me and sticks out her tongue. I'm going to cut it off one of these da
Chapter 9"Hey, slow down, kitten, what's the rush?" He turns me round to meet his gaze.Kitten? Is this man bipolar?He see's the confusion in my eyes and that damn smirk appears on his lips once again."I didn't want to call you that in the presence of your boss. Respect and all that jazz."I nod, not understanding what he means, and continue to walk, but this man wants to chat while all I want to do is give him the damn price list and stay far away from him."So. . . did you see your sister?" His question sounds innocent enough. There's no mockery to it, unlike the last time we met.I don't stop walking, I only reply. "Yes, she came home that same night.""That's good."Anger wells up inside me and I turn round, almost running smack into him. "That's good?" I stare at him as if he just sprouted a second head. "There's nothing good about my sister getting missing and popping up whenever she likes."His b
Chapter 10Anger surges through me, hot and fast. I'm back to holding the table. If not, I might lunge at him, claw his eyes out. That would probably get me sacked though, and a harassment lawsuit as well. Instead, I try to be dignified about it. "How-""Dare me?" That what you were going to say,?" The smirk has returned on his face as he backs away from me. "I dare because I can."This cannot be happening to me right now. "I'm not for-""Sale?" He lifts a brow as he comes close to me once more. "Come, now, kitten, everyone's got a price, and that includes you. Name yours. Any amount, and it's yours." He shrugs. I'm trying. I'm really trying to keep my anger at bay but it doesn't seem to be working. Curse words dance on the tip of my tongue, waiting to be unleashed, words I've heard Clarissa use many times as well as from passerby's. "You're insane." I finally choke out."He shakes his head, that damn smirk si
Chapter 11"The Asian drug syndicate?"I cock my head as I look up from the list in my hand."The Chinese drug syndicate precisely." Lobos says.He has a list in his hand, one that's similar to the one in mine, as well as the rest of the other six."Ash, I think we've already crossed off the rest. You burnt the bridge with the Mexican drug lord some years ago." Night eyes says with a grimace."Yeah!" Koldis echoes. "And we all know the Canmora - the Italian drug syndicate- is a no-go, especially after leaving Don Cleto's daughter at the alter."I grimace, remembering the past. I was a rebellious kid, well into my twenties. Actually, they were the most rebellious times of my life. I force myself to focus on what Moro is saying."Oh, yeah, and let's not also forget Europe, Argentina, Australia. . . man, Argentina, you painted that town white, and then bathed it in red." Moro shakes his head as a faraway look enters
Chapter 12They all turn wide eyes to me, including Rip, so I shrug, affecting an air of indifference. "What? It wasn't my fault she was easy.""You savage mother fucker!" It happens within the blink of an eye. Rip vaults up and tries to knock me out, but I throw the contents of my glass in his face. As he yelps, I punch him in the gut and he doubles up. I hold onto him and he mumbles in a pain-filled voice only I can hear. "You really are a motherfucker.""And you're playing along." I whisper back as I pat his back. Out aloud, I say. "Now you be a good boy and remember no pussy is worth coming in between two men."I pat his shoulder once more and watch as he hobbles off, mumbling obscenities."Well, damn, I missed out on all that fun." Capo says. He's the only one who I never had history with. I hired him a few years back but he's proved his loyalty to me time and time again.I shrug and pour some more g