Page 21 of A Midnight Romance

River

I can still taste Lux on my tongue for the rest of the flight. It’s fucking intoxicating.

We sit on opposite sides of the plane, with her typing away on her laptop while Sebastian and I pour over the details of our plans for the rest of the flight. Leaning in the chair, I relive how her body felt molding around my fingers. Lux and I exchange subtle smiles here and there.

The night team has been on Nolen’s trail the entire day, until he left in an unfamiliar car after his grandma’s funeral service. To ensure he’s covered, we stationed the crew outside his hotel in anticipation of his return.

As we approach our descent into the private airport, my phone vibrates on the table.

“What’s up, Christian?” I answer. Sebastian’s eyes flick up at hearing Christian’s name.

“Are you guys in Portland yet?” he asks.

Lux turns her head in my direction, resting her chin on her palm.

“We’re about to land.”

“I made a few calls to my contacts in the area, and one of my informants who manages the Slippery Kitty strip club said she has eyes on him at her place. ”

“Yeah, that’s what my guys are reporting as well, but they haven’t gone in yet.” I recall the report I received from Hayden not long ago, as some of the guys followed him to the club.

“He’s in one of the VIP lounges and has been dropping big money on the ladies. He even bragged about working on a side hustle with a few friends that’s been chasing in big time.”

“Of course he’d out himself.”

“Apparently, after he got a few drinks in him he alluded to his weekend activities.”

“Men like him always need to brag.” I glance at Lux and Sebastian. “We’ll head over there now.”

“Sounds good.” A few rustling papers in the background echo through the call. He must be working late, as usual. “Keep me updated.”

“Talk soon.” I end the call and toss my phone into my open bag on the floor.

Sebastian clasps his hands together on the table while his leg bounces in place. “Anything new?”

“Nolen’s in one of the VIP lounges at the Slippery Kitten.”

“A little pregame before the real fun begins,” he exclaims.

“Is that a strip club?” Lux drops her arm, her palm facing up with assumption.

“Yes. Nolen’s there right now.”

“Look up the club’s location, we’re heading there as soon as we land.”

“This will be torture. You’re taking me to a strip club, I won’t be able to have any fun,” he says begrudgingly, burying his head in his laptop.

“You’ll be fine.” I stand and walk over to Lux. She’s sitting with her legs crossed underneath her. The perfect position for me to scoop her up and whisk her away into the private room where I’ll throw her on the bed and give her endless hours of pleasure .

“Sebastian and I will go to the club, while you stay with Hayden.”

“Why can’t I go with you?” she asks.

“Because I’m not going to let you get hurt, and in a situation like that there are a lot of unknowns.”

“Will you have to act like customers who are enjoying themselves? You know, to blend in?” Lux pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, avoiding eye contact with me.

Is she jealous?

I lean in, bringing my lips to her ear. “I’m not interested. Especially since I can still taste you on my lips.”

She inhales sharply.

“Oh.”

I pull my focus away from Lux and turn back to my cousin. “The Slippery Kitten is a little under four miles away from our hotel.” I grab the pack of electronics on the floor that Sebastian brought with us. “This is how we’ll communicate with you,” I tell Lux.

“This little piece goes right in here.” I push away a few strands of hair to gain access to her ear.

Once the listening device is in place, she pulls back slowly, her eyes lingering on mine for a beat, and I fight the urge to kiss her.

I’ve been wanting to…I wonder if she’d mind.

But if she were to let me, I know there’s not enough time for me to simply kiss her and be done because I know I won’t be able to stop myself.

“Thank you,” she says.

“Got mine in, but thanks for offering,” Sebastian says sarcastically.

I roll my eyes, ignoring him. “We’ll go in and secure Nolen, then call for you.”

“Where will Hayden and I be?” She clips the small radio pack onto the back of her waistband .

I bend over to retrieve the last few items I’ll need, then add them to my bag. “You’ll be in the van with Hayden outside the club.”

Sebastian kneels to the floor, adding the things he needs to his bag as he says, “There are four guys setting up a perimeter around the motel as we speak.”

Lux nods, but nervously picks at her nails.

I grab her hands in mine, hoping to provide some comfort. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

She nods with a small smile.

As the three of us deplane, Hayden zips down the tarmac, pulling up in a black SUV. After a quick greeting, we’re on our way to the Slippery Kitten. Lux is silent on the ride over while Hayden, Sebastian, and I discuss the plan for the night one last time.

Twenty minutes later, a large flickering neon sign of a black cat comes into view.

“Let’s get this party started!” Sebastian jumps out before Hayden has the chance to stop the vehicle completely.

I turn to Lux. “We shouldn’t be that long.”

“Be careful.”

I look down at our intertwined fingers, but I can’t recall when we began holding hands.

“Don’t worry, Lux.” A confident grin grows on my face. “I’m the only monster out here.”

Lux takes in a shaky breath, and I wink at her before letting go of her hands.

“Don’t let her out of your sight, Hayden,” I warn.

Sebastian and I are dressed casually in black hoodies and jeans as we exit the vehicle. Rain immediately drizzles on our backs while we casually walk into the strip club .

“Are you sure we don’t have a little time to enjoy ourselves?” Sebastian says.

The drumming of the bass vibrates through the floor, while the clacking of plastic heels in the air drowns out everything but the music.

“Focus.” I pull him over to the side and say, “They’re only naked women.”

“Naked women that look good enough to eat,” he points out as I make eye contact with a blonde stripper walking toward us from the end of a long dark hallway.

She walks up to us. “Here for a good time?”

“We are,” Sebastian answers for the both of us.

Then she steps closer to me and brings her arms around my neck. “Christian didn’t say he was sending a couple of guys who look like you two,” she purrs into my ear.

I smile, although I’d like to push her away.

The woman reaches up, pulling down the shoulder of my hoodie and bringing her lips to my collarbone. “I dropped him off in VIP room four, all liquored up. My manager turned off the cameras, but you’ll only have nine minutes to get in and out. Give me a moment and I’ll bring him out.”

“You got it,” I say to her.

“Head down the VIP hallway and make a sharp left by the bathrooms. That’s where you’ll find the back door.” Then she gives us both a wink before turning toward the back and gesturing for us to follow.

“Did you get that, Hayden?” I ask into my earpiece.

“Copy that, River,” he answers.

“I have eyes on the room.” I remove the syringe from my bag, already prepped with sedation .

Sebastian and I continue with her instructions until we reach the back door. He has one hand on the doorknob, the other holding a handgun at his side, as he presses his back against the wood to open the door.

When we see the area is clear, Sebastian puts away his gun and we walk outside. “So we wait?”

“She said she’ll be right out,” I say, scanning the narrow walkway lined with brick walls from the buildings. There’s no one around who except the rats scurrying from one dumpster to the other.

The back door swings open, prompting the two of us to back up and take defensive stances in case it isn’t Nolen. But it is.

With one arm hooked around our informant, Nolen stumbles into the dark night. “You’re going home with me, baby,” he slurs.

“I would love to, but I think my friends here want to spend some time with you instead,” she says, then dips her head and slips back from underneath his arm in one swift motion.

Sebastian and I stand in front of him.

“Hi, Nolen.” I smile.

“What the fuck?” Unstable on his feet, he sways back and forth, his eyes trying to focus on us.

“Always looking to get your dick wet, aren’t you, Nolen?” I say before lunging forward, wrapping an arm around his back, and pricking him with the sedation. “Don’t fight it. You’re only going to take a little nap.”

Nolen’s pupils dilate with fear as Sebastian’s arms clench his legs to keep them in place until his body gives in to the chemical leading him to stop flailing.

“Who knows, when you wake you might see that one cabin girl who got away,” Sebastian taunts .

My eyes shoot over to Sebastian’s at the mention of Lux, not sure how I feel about him bringing her up or what happened to her that weekend, but maybe it means her presence is starting to grow on him.

“Fuck. I wish that worked as quickly as it does in the movies.” Sebastian chuckles.

Hayden pulls up then, with the window down to hurry us up. “Get your asses in here.”

Sebastian and I glance at each other over Nolen’s body, exchanging looks, both of us waiting for the other to be on labor duty. It’ll be me—I’m bigger.

“Obviously, I’m the muscle in this operation,” I say.

Crossing his arms over his chest, his features tighten. “And who’s always on clean-up and disposal duty?”

I roll my eyes. “Please. You simply supervise.”

“Fuck you,” he spits.

“Are you guys done yet?” Lux’s sweet voice in my ear is wonderful. “We only have two minutes left.”

I bend to lift Nolen’s limp body, then throw him over my shoulder.

Sebastian takes one last sweep of the alley as I toss Nolen into the back of the SUV. Then I slide into the back seat next to Sebastian and we head for the motel.