Uncanny Encounter.

CHAPTER 4.

Kaiden's POV:

My meeting is rudely interrupted by the door slamming open. A woman rushes in, closing the door behind her.Her gold dress shimmers on her form, illuminating her brown skin as it caresses the curves of her body.

I hear her mutter underneath her breath. Around me, my men are frozen in shock. Some are on their feet, their hands poised over their guns, others are seated their face tense.

I remain in my seat wondering how this tiny woman was able to evade my guards and find this room.

She suddenly stiffens, no doubt hearing the shuffling of my men. Watching her turn slowly, I drag my gaze up her form. The flare of her hips, the dip of her waist.

I follow the slender curve of her neck till I find myself locked in a gaze with her.

She tears her eyes from mine and her gaze flit around the room. Sweeping over my men, lingering on their guns and poised positions.

"Can I help you?", I ask, my voice low and even. I slowly rise to my feet, pinning her with a hardened gaze.

She stares at me from across the room, her chin tilted up. My brow raises as she stammers, her mouth opening and closing.

The door slams open again, more of my men rushing in.

I watch as the mysterious woman backs up further into in the room as they corner her.

Dante grabs her and twists her arm behind her back.

"Sorry, Sir. She slipped by us. We'll get her out of here right away", he says

Anger pulses through me."How did seven grown men fail to contain one woman? ", I demand, pinning them with an icy glare.

She struggles in Dante's hold; the rest of my men avoid making eye contact as they shuffle their feet.

"She used a stolen key card. The owner had reported it missing and her friend raised alarm when she spotted her here", Dante says twisting her arm further up her back.

"Who allowed her up? Who scanned the stolen key card?", I roar, my voice piercing into the room.

One of them shuffles forward. I swiftly draw my gun, pointing it at his head. I pull the trigger.

I hear the woman scream as his body flops to the floor, blood pooling beneath him.

I move towards her, sidestepping the corpse. Dante releases her and she falls to her knees.

Crouching to her level, I pinch her chin between my fingers and press the gun to her temple.

Leaning in as I speak, my voice even and menacing, "You're not very smart are you? Only an idiot sneaks into my casino."

I pause as she trembles beneath my touch, fear stark in her eyes. I bask in it, satisfaction thrumming my blood.

Shifting my hand I wrap my fingers around her throat, feeling her pulse flutter.

"Now you're going to tell me who you are and I'll decide whether you live or not." I harden my gaze. I don't kill women...never have.

"I-I swear it was an accident, I didn't mean to barge in here. I just wanted to see what the casino looks like", she chokes out struggling to speak through my tight grip on her throat.

Pressing the gun deeper into her head, she flinches away from it.

"I don't have patience for liars, you might as well come clean. I mean, you're going to die anyway", I tell her chuckling coldly.

She trembles harder, tears leaking from her eyes and her hands reach up to loosen my hold on her throat.

I watch her, taking in her wide gaze as it goes unfocused. She's panicking, digging her nails into my hands but I barely wince at the sting of the cuts.

Sighing I release her, rising to my full height as she gasps for breathe at my feet.

"I don't have the time for this. I'll find out who you are sooner than later and when I do, I hope for your sake you weren't lying to me", I say to her.

I turn to leave, "Get her out of here", I tell Dante.

"And someone get rid of the body. It's bleeding all over my rug", I throw over my shoulder. I leave, my men falling in behind me.

Stepping into the casino, the sound of clinking glasses, and laughter envelope me. Giving a nod, my men disperse blending into the crowd.

I push open my office. Alexandros is already inside. Alex is my second in command, I've known him for years, since I was seventeen. Our families have a long history. The Karamanos and the Nikolaous formed the pillar of the Greek mafia.

He stands near my desk, his hands in his pockets. He has his jacket wrapped across my desk. I scoff internally at that.

Alex's blonde hair is ruffled like he's been running his hands through them, his icy blue eyes sear into me.

I ignore him, passing beside him I head towards my mini bar. Pouring myself a shot and tossing it down.

"I heard there was a breach", he says in his rumbling voice.

"I won't call it a breach, just the men doing a terrible job of security", I grumble out. My fists clench at the memory.

"I need you to find out who she is", I order sternly

"No one mistakenly stumbles into my casino, steals a key card and manages to make it to the diamond tier unnoticed", I tell him, moving towards the window. I shove my hands into my pocket watching the inflow of guests.

Blackbird Casino is one of my most bustling businesses. The wealthy never miss an opportunity to make more money and boast among themselves.

I make a lot of money off their pride. Underneath it all, in this same casino, I run my weapons business. The highest quality that can be found on this side on the ocean, though I've recently taken a blow to my pride.

My fists clench in my pocket as rage consumes me at the memory of Callum Jones. Shifty motherfucker stole from me.

And when I almost had him in my grasp he wound up dead.

My eyes narrow as I become deep in thought. He couldn't have stolen from me without one of my men helping him, but the more I've tried to dig up the more dead ends I encounter.

"Why'd you let her go? You could've have killed her or tortured her till she confessed", Alex asks, his voice mater of fact. I don't kill women.

I feel a smile tug at the corner of my mouth.

"Now where's the fun in that? If the little mouse can find her way into my casino, I doubt this is the last time I'll see her."

"I'm curious to see what else she'll do", keeping my gaze trained on the entrance of my property, I watch as Dante drags her through the entrance and tosses her to the floor.

The Next Day

I walk along the docks, heading towards my shipment.

"Ivan has confirmed the shipment?", I ask Alex.

"Yes, everything is accounted for", he assures

Reaching the ship, we're let in by the crew. My men lining the walls as we pass by.

I walk down the steps, my shoes clanging against the metal staircase.

The captain stands rigidly besides a container. I gesture and he opens it.

Looking down at the plethora of guns, I pick one up running my hands over it.

A Dragonuv SVD, a personal favourite of mine. I inspect it.

Running my hands over the barrel and looking through it's optical sight. I place it back, satisfied.

I repeat this a few times with the other rifles and guns.

Stepping back, I signal my men to carry them out.

"Give Ivan my regards, it's always a pleasure doing business with him", I compliment.

The captain gives me a nod in response.

I make my way out, weaving through my men as they carry out my cargo. Loading them into the trucks that are parked.

Watching as they drive away, I mentally tick this off my schedule.

Alexander stretches the tablet to me, I retrieve it and peruse it's contents.

A face stares back at me from the screen. The woman from last night.

Daisy Jones, it says.

I scan her information. Final year college student. Law degree, 23 years old.

Humming as I absorb the information about her, from her blood group to her schooling history.

Reaching the end of it, I pause as I take in a glaring detail.

Relative: Mercy Jones , Callum Jones (deceased).

"You should've killed her last night", Alexandros admonishes

"Hm, I'm starting to think that she's more useful to me alive", I muse

"What are you going to do?", he enquires

Removing my hands from my coat pockets, I fold them against my chest.

"Well, she was obviously looking for someone thing at the casino last night. Which she didn't get", I remind him

"That means she knows of Callum’s involvement with me. She may even know where he kept my money", my voice hardens as I imagine her involvement in Callum’s schemes.

I feel my anger simmering at the surface, about to boil over. My gaze narrows to a single, burning point.

"Find out where she is", I say to Alex, the calmness of my voice a sharp contrast to the fury rolling through me.

Callum Jones stole from me and his cousin is going to pay the price.

I walk towards the car, yanking the door open and slamming it shut after I slide in.

Clutching the tablet in my hand, I look at the picture of Daisy Jones as she gives the camera a soft smile.

My glare burns into it. I run my fingers over my palm remember her fluttering heartbeat as I had held her throat within my grip.

Little did she know that the fear she felt last night wouldn't compare to the one that'll consume her when I have her in the face of my fury.