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“Be ready when I call, you will be accompanying me to meet Royal Murdoch, I’ll also be bringing on a new security team whilst he is in town and until the cartel is fully settled into their new territory in New York. You will have a guard with you at all times, he should be here soon.”
* * *
I spend the day in my room on my laptop researching anything and everything I can about the Memento Mori and what it means, there is a trending hashtag across social media that shows a college in Utah where a lot of heirs of various gangs go as well as many other kids of politicians and famous pop stars.
No one knows who the cards belong to or if they do, the only people can confirm who it is have disappeared. It’s no secret that over the last three years at least a dozen kids have gone missing from UNLV never to be heard from again, no bodies were ever found, only a card. A King of Clubs, Queen of Hearts, Jack of Spades or an Ace of Diamonds. From what I can see online, there has only ever been one card found at each scene.
I google the names of the Murdoch heirs, no images of Chanel, Havoc, Chaos or Royal show up online. None of them have any social media profiles, they are invisible to the world and have been all their lives. So, the question that is burning a hole in my mind now is, why would they give that up? Coming here they have to know that cameras will be wherever Chance is. Something isn’t right, Chance can’t see it because all he is worried about his fucking ego and having Royal here will inflate it further because he views his cousin as a prize and proof of his victory, a victory he would never have won if it wasn’t for the help of Emilio.
My door is thrown open forcing me to lift my gaze from the computer, Margaret stands there with a scornful look on her wrinkled face. “Mr Bennett is waiting for you downstairs.” Nodding, I close the lid of my laptop and place it on the side of my bed. I see her beady eyes looking at it, she is welcome to try to take a look but that laptop has a biometric lock and won’t unlock unless it’s my eye in the camera. I brush past her and don’t miss the growl that tumbles from her lips, I roll my lips over my teeth to keep my smile at bay, she just showed me her cards without meaning to.
Just like she said, Chance stands in the foyer in a fresh suit with his hair done and a vicious smile on his face. Something about the look in his eyes has me feeling uneasy, I stop a foot away from him and give him my best smile. His eyes drink in the sight of me, I’m wearing a long Maxi style dress that ties behind my neck and gives you a glimpse of the top of my breasts. The hungry look in his eyes tells me I made the right choice with this outfit, he clears his throat and tears his gaze from my tits to offer me his arm. I link mine through his without hesitation, the front door is opened for us but the moment we step out onto the marble stairs I freeze at the sight of the man that stands beside the waiting limo with the door open.
He wears a three piece suit, his hands clasped in front of him waiting. He’s tall, really freaking tall and wears a serious look on his face, his jaw is sharp and his face is clear of facial hair. His black hair is slicked back, his eyes are hidden behind a pair of sunglasses, I have no idea why the fact I can’t see his eyes annoys me but it does. As we approach his head shifts slightly and I feel the heat of his gaze on me, suddenly I feel very exposed and the need to duck my head overwhelms me.
Chance pulls us to a stop in front of the man, I peek up at him through my lashes. It’s nearly dusk and the fact he still wears glasses is peculiar. “I don’t give second chances, don’t fuck this up.” Chance snaps at him before ushering me into the limo, he slips in beside me as the door is closed. We wait in awkward silence for the driver to take us to our unknown destination, the ride is tense and I fight the urge not pick my nails. I can feel it in the pit of my stomach, something is wrong but that feeling has a strange sense of excitement zapping through me.
Chance spends the whole ride on the phone, I don’t mind because it gives me time to check my own. I make sure that he can’t see the screen as I unlock it to find three unread messages waiting for me.
Eve
We’re in.
Eve
The city has shadows lurking in it, be vigilant.
Eve
Be alert, the family remains but the heirs are gone, report back.
Shit, everything is sent in code in case there was ever a chance of me being compromised. I have no issues giving a daily report on Chance and his dealings but I don’t relish the idea of hurting this family, they haven’t done anything wrong.
Me
Enroute to meet the prince, the sun is really hot here. I think someone will get burnt quicker than we thought. Catch up when we get home.
I hit send and slip my phone back into my small clutch, Chance peaks over at me and I act like I don’t see him spying on me out of the corner of his eye. I know he doesn't trust me and that is something I will earn over time. All I need is to stroke his ego in the right places and make him feel like a man without using my body. Men like him love it when women think they are the strongest and most handsome thing they have ever seen. Truth is, there is nothing attractive about Chance, if anything the man repulses me and makes my skin crawl.
The driver brings the car to a stop in front of the Biltmore Hotel which sits directly beside the Biltmore Golf Course. This area is very upper class, only people who have their noses in the air and think their shit doesn’t stink live around here. I go to reach for the door handle but Chance snaps his arm out and grabs my wrist stopping me, I cut my gaze to him and frown.
“You don’t open your own door, you are not in Columbia anymore.” His tone is on the verge of mocking and it pisses me off. “You will act like the fiancee of the governor and never forget that, do not embarrass me.” His eyes darken as he glares down his nose at me, even when the door on his side is opened he doesn’t release me. “This is your only warning, Erika.” His grip tightens for a split second before he releases it with a shove, I grit my teeth and take some deep breaths through my nose to try calm my anger.
I follow after him as he exits the car, the man from earlier stands beside the door but doesn’t offer me a hand or even spare me a second glance as I follow after Chance, once we are inside the Hotel, a woman leads us through the swanky restaurant, I almost roll my eyes when she takes us down a narrow corridor toward a hidden room. I peek over my shoulder to see the man following us but this time, his glasses are nowhere in sight.
My mouth dries at the sight of his pale blue eyes, they are so pale they almost look white. When his gaze cuts to me I trip over my dress, before I can fall and make a fool of myself he darts his arm out to grip mine and keep me from falling. I stand frozen with his hand still on me staring up at him, a wave of electrical current surges between us.
I open my mouth to speak but quickly snap it shut and yank my arm free of his hold and race to catch up with Chance and the woman, he shoots me a glare before he steps inside the room. Following him I look around and frown, there are no windows and only one door.
“Your guest will be arriving shortly, sir.” The woman says.
“Bring us a round of drinks.” He bites out as he heads to the table in the center of the room, four chairs surround the circular table, the lighting in here is dim. Chance motions for me to sit in the seat next to him. The position we are in gives us an opportunity to not have our backs to the door, my eyes take on a mind of their own and seek out the man as he comes to stand behind us, a moment later the door opens again to reveal four more men who station themselves in each of the corners of the room. The woman reenters with a tray of drinks, she places a glass of whiskey in front of Chance and two in the middle, I almost laugh when she leaves without offering me one.
I get it, women are lower than men in this world, we are here to be fucked and create the next generation and that’s it. I mean godforbid that a woman can actually have a brain and skillset worth a fucking damn, right?
Before my anger can continue to rise the door opens again but this time, it isn’t the woman, it’s a man dressed in a suit that fits him like a glove. He’s taller than Chance and has broader shoulders, reminds me of a football player. His brown hair is a scruffy mess and his green eyes shine with mischief. I expect him to look nervous at the amount of guards in the room but he doesn't, he seems… at ease. He looks to the man behind us and smirks before dropping into one of the seats across from us. He doesn’t ask as he reaches out and claims one of the glasses of whiskey, he drinks the contents in one gulp before going for the next one. I study him silently, if this is Bishop Murdoch’s son, the heir to the biggest mafia family in the US then I am unimpressed.
He reeks of entitlement, I can see it in his eyes that nothing in this world can make him focus or settle down, he wants to be free and party his life away rather than take on any responsibility.
