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CHAPTER7
Cassidy
The air was electric, vibrations from a heavy drumbeat cascading through the night sky. The moon reflected across the heavy trafficked street, neon lights infused with flashing signs promising everything from wine and beer and hot cross buns to the world of kinky sex. You could find anything you hungered for in New York City on two blocks alone.
Money.
Companionship.
A contract killer.
All while doing your laundry.
That’s what I loved and hated about New York, the real city of sin and debauchery. That’s exactly what I’d experienced the night before.
And what I craved.
I envisioned him, the man who’d awakened my senses.
The man who ruled the city.
The man who killed because it was his job.
He was brutal.
Powerful.
Carnal.
And I found it impossible to think about anything else. The cataclysm of thoughts had driven me to near madness all day, especially after listening to my father talking about the Vincheti family as if they were the scourge of the earth. He’d laughed about planning on bringing them down, the vendetta as strong as his resolve.
That had only kept images of Valentin in my mind, sweeping through a dense forest of thick underbrush, all leading to a sharp cliff that I felt myself heading toward. My thoughts were crazy, irrational, but I wanted to see him again.
As the light breeze floated across my skin, I glanced down at the fire engine red dress clinging to every curve, my long legs highlighted not only by the single slit on the right side but the stilettos one of my girlfriends had allowed me to borrow.
We’d been forced to park three blocks away, but the walk had allowed me to drink in the atmosphere, the delicious then raunchy fragrance of food and trash, gasoline and fresh brewed coffee. I’d homed in on the sounds, so many sirens, people arguing and singing. From every corner I was able to hear a would-be American Idol, trying to sell whatever wares to make a buck or two. I thought about the years of growing up in such a lively, crime-ridden location.
And realized why I’d left.
I noticed several men standing like soldiers in dark corners, nonchalant in their actions but definitely there for protection. The lack of activity held my attention. What were they waiting for?
“Ugh. There’s a line,” Trinity snarled as we rounded a corner.
“There’s always a line. This place is the spot to dance the night away,” Sara purred, the lilt of her voice the same as always. The two women had been my best friends during high school and college. Then life had taken over for all three of us. While it was nice to reconnect, being dragged out to an unknown club hadn’t been on my agenda.
“I can’t believe you convinced me to go to a club,” I hissed under my breath, Sara’s firm grip on my arm irritating the hell out of me. I wasn’t a party girl any longer. I had far too much to lose for a simple night out on the town. While I adored my two best girlfriends, my hackles remained raised. That was a side effect of the business I was in, but it had kept me alive more than once.
“Oh, come on,” Trinity snarked. “Like Sara said, this is the hottest club in New York.”
I glanced at the long line of beautiful people waiting to get in and shivered. “We’re never going to get in. It’s almost midnight.” I glanced across the street, able to detect at least two dark vehicles with one or more occupants. It was possible it had nothing to do with the club, other businesses in the area open, but my instinct said otherwise. If I had a brain, I’d refuse to go into the club, but I couldn’t stand living my life under some cloud because I’d delved into the minds of monsters.
Including Valentin.
When would his name cease to cross my mind?
As I shifted my gaze toward the club entrance once again, I noticed a man standing alone near the streetlight. He made no bones about the fact he was staring at me. While as well dressed as anyone in the crowd, he was entirely different. Wearing a suit and a dark shirt, everything about him screamed of the same kind of danger I’d felt around Valentin.
“We need to party,” Sara chimed in, pulling my attention away from the stranger.
