Page 13 of Kidnapped By the Boss

“I like that, Teddy,” I replied sweetly. “So… Is that woman you were talking to my competition?”

He laughed. “No, no. Well, for starters, compared to you she’s no contest, but no, she’s just kinda the big cheese around here, I guess you could say?”

“Oh really?” I said. “I’m new here. Who is she?”

“I could tell by your accent,” Teddy said. “It’s really sexy.”

“Thank you,” I replied flirtatiously. “I’m from Russia.”

“Oh, nice. I’ve always wanted to go.” He was leaning in closer, really getting flirty now—exactly what I wanted. “That woman is Shaina. She’s one of the bosses of The Wreckers crew.”

My eyes widened. “Oh, who are they? The Wreckers?”

“They’re this new, really powerful gang that’s been running Long Island lately. Everyone is trying to get in with them, because if you’re not on their good side, you’re on their bad side,” Teddy explained.

“Really?” I said. “How would someone like me get in with them? Like I said, I’m new here, and I’m sort of… Hiding from some people. I’d love a group like that to help keep me safe. I have a lot to offer.”

He gave me an up and down look. “I’ll say.” Then he sighed. “It’s tough, though. They spread out all around the city to recruit, and this is Shaina’s spot. She’s the easiest to work because you get a bit of booze in her and she getsrealfriendly. I hear that Henry likes to hang out down at Riverhead, and Tanner’s a moving target.”

I’d never heard the name Tanner before, but process of elimination told me this might be The Wreckers’ third underboss, “Joker.”

“What about the boss?” I asked. “Where would I find them?”

“The King?” Teddy started to laugh. “No one gets to meet The King. Only people who get to meet The King are people The King wants to meet.”

Leaning even closer to Teddy, I said, “They don’t have a base or anywhere they’re known to hang out?”

“Not that anyone out here knows,” he replied. “Maybe Shaina, Henry, or Tanner know, but I hear The King isverystrict with his location.”

“Ahh. So the only way to the boss is through his men, huh?”

He nodded. “That’s about it.”

Regardless of how annoying that was, it was still useful information. If we needed to capture one of these underbosses and beat a location out of them, we could do that. Or we could simply get rid of them to lower the number of people this supposed King had at his disposal.

“So tell me, Teddy, I’ve gotta head to my second job soon, but is it too forward of me to ask for your number? I’d very much like to call you when I’m off. Maybe we could find somewhere a bit… quieter to talk?”

His face illuminated in an instant. “Oh yeah. Definitely.” I slipped a card and pen out of my purse and slid it over to him. He quickly scribbled down a number and I took it and stashed it away. “I look forward to hearing from you, Marilyn.”

I winked at him. “You certainly will.” I flagged the bartender down so I could pay my tab and then stood up from the bar, gave Teddy a nice kiss on the cheek just to leave him with a lingering sense of positivity—something I wouldnotshare with my husband—and then I made my way out.

Outside the double doors, the bodyguard directed me to a different door that other people were exiting through. It spat people leaving this super exclusive speakeasy out into a different, adjacent bar, and then I could exit through there. It was an intelligent way to keep people from going in and out of the drug store cover, other than actual customers.

Impressive.

There were dozens of rideshares and taxis hanging around The Marketplace hoping for customers, so I flagged one down and got myself a ride back home. I had the information I needed and I didn’t want to push my luck, so I figured heading home with what I had was a good decision. I sent the house staff a text to let them know I was on my way so that they could prepare someone to meet me at the gates, and then sat back to enjoy a quiet ride home.

At least until a car pulled right into the middle of the road, cutting the car I was in off, and stopping.

“What the hell?” the driver said. Someone got out of the passenger’s seat of the car, and started walking towards us. “Don’t worry ma’am. I’ve got pepper spray. Stay there. I’ll call the police.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said, unlocking my door and starting to get out.

She looked back at me. “Wha—No. You shouldn’t get…” Her voice died as I pulled out my gun. “Oh.”

“Wait here. You’ll be paid extra not to leave or call the cops.”

“Y-yes ma’am.”