Page 56
Story: Extraction
I wanted to know more about what he’d referred to with Bruno’s uncle and Ben’s chip, but something told me now wasn’t the time to push. My brain spun with all the possibilities. I tapped my finger on the bar and took a moment to let him sweat it out.
“You better not screw me on this, or I’m out, Sully. I’ll be gone tomorrow, and I’ll take Dan with me.” I knew I had to threaten, or he’d never believe me. “Gather up the shit on his mother, and so help me God, if it’s not juicy, I’ll write a story you’ll both regret.”
He swallowed back his pride and looked me straight in the eye. “Understood.”
“And whatever it was you started to tell me about, I want that story too. This isn’t a one-sided business relationship.”
“I understand that too.”
I rolled my eyes and turned away. Then I spotted Rafael Cruz at a table with another man I didn’t know. Time to play.
I tugged my dress back so my bare thigh showed through. It was at his eye level and could hardly be missed. I carefully tilted my wine glass and let a little drip onto the front of my breasts.
“Oh, my goodness,” I said out loud and acted as if the cold liquid was a shock. “May I have one of those?” I pointed to his napkin as I leaned over to give him a better view, and he didn’t disappoint.
“Allow me.” He got quickly to his feet, took the napkin from me, and boldly dabbed my chest. Yup, he definitely lived up to his reputation. I’d done my research, and it had just been confirmed by Sully.
“Such a gentleman.” I internally rolled my eyes. “Thank you.” I smiled and made sure my eyes sparkled with interest while my stomach rolled a little in disgust. I should get an Oscar for that performance.
“Tell me your name.” He stood above me, and it took everything for me not to step back. “Someone as sexy as you must have an equally sexy name.”
“Nicole Winter.” I made sure the name came out in a slow crisp tone. “I’m an American press correspondent.” His jaw locked in place, so I hurried to smooth things out. “I’ve been working in Mexico for the past decade and have found I enjoy many,” I paused dramatically, “opportunities on this side of the border. It’s how I became good friends with our host. Sully and I often share the same view on things. It has proven to be mutually beneficial, if you understand my meaning.”
“You work with Sully?”
“You could say that, off the record, of course.” I grinned playfully, and it seemed to catch his attention.
“Maybe you and I could work on something together.”
“Oh. Did you have something specific in mind?” I felt my heart race as I stood in front of a man who was a high-ranking soldier for the Canos family, yet he was here in the middle of his supposed enemy’s party still with a heartbeat. The fact he hadn’t been slaughtered for entertainment the moment he walked in confirmed he held all the power.
“I’m sure someone as powerful as you,” I ran a finger along the buttons of his dress shirt, “knows everything that happens in Mexico.”
“You are correct.” The corners of his mouth drew up like a sleazy alley cat about to pounce. “I know everything. I’m a very big deal here, and not to be underestimated. Soon everyone will see that.” The tip of his finger toyed with my sparkly earring.
“Well, you have my undivided attention.”
The band started to play, so he had to lean in and whisper the details. A cold feeling crept over me as he spoke, and I wondered how much the guys could hear.
“What do you think?” He leaned back and gave me a cocky look.
“I do love a little danger,” I purred. “But I have to ask, what if no one bites?”
“Then the prize becomes fish food, but I will have my cash in hand either way.”
It all felt very mafia to me, but I wasn’t about to point that out. The Cartel and the mafia did things very differently, and I found over the years the Cartel don’t like to be compared to anyone but themselves. So, I decided to play Rafael’s game and see what I could find out.
“That’s very impressive,” I drawled and nodded at him.
“Yes?” He ran a finger along the collar of my dress, and his eyes danced with excitement. “Maybe we should go somewhere and discuss this further.”
“There you are.” Paul slid his warm hands along my hips then leaned down and tilted my chin to look up at him. I was barely able to contain my shock as he pressed his lips to mine for an intimate kiss. He pulled away with a hungry look then turned to look Rafael square in the eye.
“You found me.” My voice hitched a little as I struggled not to betray what he’d just done to my insides. And it apparently kick-started my libido as well. “Hun,” I tried out the nickname and wasn’t sure how it sounded, “this is Rafael Cruz.”
“Nice to meet you.” Paul pulled me in front of him and dropped a kiss on the bare part of my shoulder. “I see you’ve met my Nicole.”
“I have,” Rafael said, his annoyance clear. He was used to having the upper hand when it came to women, and I knew he wouldn’t appreciate Paul’s interference. I was worried it would ruin the offer Rafael had made. We needed this.
“You better not screw me on this, or I’m out, Sully. I’ll be gone tomorrow, and I’ll take Dan with me.” I knew I had to threaten, or he’d never believe me. “Gather up the shit on his mother, and so help me God, if it’s not juicy, I’ll write a story you’ll both regret.”
He swallowed back his pride and looked me straight in the eye. “Understood.”
“And whatever it was you started to tell me about, I want that story too. This isn’t a one-sided business relationship.”
“I understand that too.”
I rolled my eyes and turned away. Then I spotted Rafael Cruz at a table with another man I didn’t know. Time to play.
I tugged my dress back so my bare thigh showed through. It was at his eye level and could hardly be missed. I carefully tilted my wine glass and let a little drip onto the front of my breasts.
“Oh, my goodness,” I said out loud and acted as if the cold liquid was a shock. “May I have one of those?” I pointed to his napkin as I leaned over to give him a better view, and he didn’t disappoint.
“Allow me.” He got quickly to his feet, took the napkin from me, and boldly dabbed my chest. Yup, he definitely lived up to his reputation. I’d done my research, and it had just been confirmed by Sully.
“Such a gentleman.” I internally rolled my eyes. “Thank you.” I smiled and made sure my eyes sparkled with interest while my stomach rolled a little in disgust. I should get an Oscar for that performance.
“Tell me your name.” He stood above me, and it took everything for me not to step back. “Someone as sexy as you must have an equally sexy name.”
“Nicole Winter.” I made sure the name came out in a slow crisp tone. “I’m an American press correspondent.” His jaw locked in place, so I hurried to smooth things out. “I’ve been working in Mexico for the past decade and have found I enjoy many,” I paused dramatically, “opportunities on this side of the border. It’s how I became good friends with our host. Sully and I often share the same view on things. It has proven to be mutually beneficial, if you understand my meaning.”
“You work with Sully?”
“You could say that, off the record, of course.” I grinned playfully, and it seemed to catch his attention.
“Maybe you and I could work on something together.”
“Oh. Did you have something specific in mind?” I felt my heart race as I stood in front of a man who was a high-ranking soldier for the Canos family, yet he was here in the middle of his supposed enemy’s party still with a heartbeat. The fact he hadn’t been slaughtered for entertainment the moment he walked in confirmed he held all the power.
“I’m sure someone as powerful as you,” I ran a finger along the buttons of his dress shirt, “knows everything that happens in Mexico.”
“You are correct.” The corners of his mouth drew up like a sleazy alley cat about to pounce. “I know everything. I’m a very big deal here, and not to be underestimated. Soon everyone will see that.” The tip of his finger toyed with my sparkly earring.
“Well, you have my undivided attention.”
The band started to play, so he had to lean in and whisper the details. A cold feeling crept over me as he spoke, and I wondered how much the guys could hear.
“What do you think?” He leaned back and gave me a cocky look.
“I do love a little danger,” I purred. “But I have to ask, what if no one bites?”
“Then the prize becomes fish food, but I will have my cash in hand either way.”
It all felt very mafia to me, but I wasn’t about to point that out. The Cartel and the mafia did things very differently, and I found over the years the Cartel don’t like to be compared to anyone but themselves. So, I decided to play Rafael’s game and see what I could find out.
“That’s very impressive,” I drawled and nodded at him.
“Yes?” He ran a finger along the collar of my dress, and his eyes danced with excitement. “Maybe we should go somewhere and discuss this further.”
“There you are.” Paul slid his warm hands along my hips then leaned down and tilted my chin to look up at him. I was barely able to contain my shock as he pressed his lips to mine for an intimate kiss. He pulled away with a hungry look then turned to look Rafael square in the eye.
“You found me.” My voice hitched a little as I struggled not to betray what he’d just done to my insides. And it apparently kick-started my libido as well. “Hun,” I tried out the nickname and wasn’t sure how it sounded, “this is Rafael Cruz.”
“Nice to meet you.” Paul pulled me in front of him and dropped a kiss on the bare part of my shoulder. “I see you’ve met my Nicole.”
“I have,” Rafael said, his annoyance clear. He was used to having the upper hand when it came to women, and I knew he wouldn’t appreciate Paul’s interference. I was worried it would ruin the offer Rafael had made. We needed this.
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