It was two weeks before they finally found Michaels body. Apparently no one knew about his hidden room in his apartment. It wasn't until his maid smelled something rotten and maintenance finally found him. I acted like a grieving girlfriend when the club announced his death. I had been his last girl, his favorite girl. I had to put on a good show.
In the next couple of weeks his friend Mark Turner who I had shared a few lap dances with became my regular. He wasn't really a bad guy he just happened to be a financial adviser that worked for the Santinos.
He wasn't that bad looking either, though he was a bit older than me in his early 30's. He was well maintained with short light brown hair. He stood at about 6 ft. Slender but well built. He was a marathon runner so he was constantly training which explained why he didn't drink a lot while at the club but when he did have a few to many he freely shared information about the Santinos.
Rylee: Why don't you have a girlfriend?
He chuckled.
Mark: You really don't know the Santinos do you?
I shrugged.
Rylee: I'm Canadian! All I ever hear about the Santinos is the gossip around this place.
Mark: Well as an employee it's better not to get involved. You never know when they'll use that person against you.
Rylee: They've done that to you?
Mark: No. but I've seen it.
He reached out his hand for me to join him on his lap. With eyes full of lust, his bulge became apparent.
Mark: I've had my eye on you since the first night I saw you. I'd kill to take you out of this place and somewhere safe. But truth is. You're safer here. As long as you're one of "their girls" you're protected. But if ever they caught us out side this place in a relationship they'll target you. Find out everything there is to know about you so they can use you against me.
I smiled feeling a little sorry for him. He really did seem like a decent guy. But I was quitting after tonight and after all these years even though I have no idea what Dante's going to think of me when he finds out I'm alive. I can't deny what I feel in my heart. I still loved him.
It was time for the next phase and target.
Anthony Romano. He was a big guy. Like kingpin from dare devil big. Kind of looked and acted like him too with his bald head and expensive taste. He owned a suite on the top floor of the Grand Hotel, ironically at the tip of Hell's Kitchen. He spent a lot of his free time in the hotel lounge. It was very old fashion like out of the 40's. A solo female singer a few nights a week, a jazz band the other days, occupied by mostly business men. On occasion the Santinos would have a meeting there. But mostly it was just Anthony.
I started working in the bar as a server and learned very quickly what it was Anthony liked about the place and why he attended specific nights alone. Svetlana! She looked like a real life Jessica fucking rabbit, and her voice. Her voice was so beautiful it could give anyone chills. This also made things a little more difficult. I was not at all his type so other than the initial glance he gave me knowing I was new, that was all the attention he ever gave me. We got lucky with the first three and their timely accidents. The rest would have to be more planned out. Once we hit one we would have to hit them all pretty quickly, accept for my uncle. He would be last. I wanted him to know I was coming. To be scared for his life. Once Mr. Santino is gone Roy would have nothing and nobody left.
I worked the same nights Anthony most frequented the lounge which was always the nights Svetlana worked. Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday evening, allowing me keep close tabs. I also still had my 9-5 at Banes financial which brings us up to date. I had a important meeting with the CEO to go over the final evidence of my uncles extortion and also meet with a potential investor looking to buy the company. It struck me odd that anyone would want to buy this place. Even with us cutting my uncle out of the picture Santinos had a hand in everything that belongs to my father.
I stood there watching the red elevator numbers slowly climb. Eager to get to my meeting with the CEO. When the numbers finally stopped at 7 and dinged as the doors open, I found my self frozen. Those all to familiar golden eyes staring back at me. Even through my dark red hair, fake glasses and brown contact lenses, it felt like he was looking right through me. His still, ever so adorably handsome dimpled smile faltered to a blank stair. He knew.
We both just stood there staring as if we were the only two people there. To my relief the doors began to shut, and I was able to let out the breath I had been holding. But my relief was short lived when big long fingers pierced through the slit of the doors at the last second. Before they could open back all the way I did what I do best. I disappeared.
Like a ghost I slipped into the stairwell and vanished. What the hell was I doing. He couldn't have known. I was on a mission and just allowed emotions to fuck me over. I should have just got on the damn elevator and acted casual. But no. I stood there like a god damn deer caught in headlights blowing my cover.
All my training. None of it could have prepared me for this. I had to go through with it though. There was no turning back. I took a deep breath taking another elevator up and made my way down the hall to the main office. It was obvious he was the investor but that was even more confusing. He was a Santino he could just take it. He wouldn't have to buy it.
I opened the door to the receptionist area. Tammy the 40 year single mom with a killer yoga body and shoulder length platinum blond hair, sat on the edge of her desk flirting with a guard I didn't recognize. He wasn't one of Santino's men? What was going on. I cleared my throat as I approached the desk. The guard looked me up and down trying to be intimidating. Tammy jumped up acting like she had just been caught steeling.
Tammy: They're waiting for you inside Emma.
Rylee: Thank you Tammy.
I offered her a smile and a wink. The guard who was surprisingly not Italian, but American with slick brown hair and green eyes average build standing at a height of 5"11, stood in front of me. I looked at him with a raised brow.
He smiled and nodded as he opened the door for me.
Rylee: Thanks.
I went into my full office Emma mode. Walking in with complete confidence barely noticing the man that stood from the leather seat before Sams desk. Looking like something that just walked out of a magazine as the sexiest man alive in his fine black Armani suit. Sam stood with his big smile, now he on the other hand looked like the news guy from Spider man with his short military peppered hair and mustache. But he never yelled. He was way to much of a softy. Well with me and most of the women anyway.
Sam: Aw there you are. Emma Landry I'd like to introduce you to "Dante Santino".
He stepped around the chair towering over me at 6'3", holding out a hand and a half smile. I meet his hand shake with a firm grip but the contact causes thousands of tiny little shocks to shoot through my body. It takes everything I have to suppress the obvious arousal. The instant connection of two people who were meant to be.
Sam: Emma, Mr. Santino is.....
Dante: Dante! Mr. Santino is my father. Please just call me Dante.
Dante interrupts Sam.
Sam: Forgive me. Dante is the possible investor we spoke about.
Rylee: Right. It's a pleasure to meet you.
I say as I pull my hand and eyes away breaking the spell bound hold he had on me.
Dante: Pleasure's mine.
He pulls out the chair for me sit and takes the one next to it never taking his eyes off of me. Aside from my different hair and eye color, I allow a little hint of my Scandinavian accent to come through, purposely throwing him off more. Sam gives the run down of the business strong points while I discus some of the charity's.
Dante: What are your top favorite charities Miss. Landry?
Rylee: Mr. William Banes most honorable charity is VPAS ( Vets protect and serve). It is a group made up of ex military that helps abused women and children. The charity helps fund their cause as well as provide jobs for Veterans who are no longer needed by their government. It gives many purpose and hope.
Dante: I am familiar with it. If you don't mind my asking why would someone like you, care for such a cause.
Rylee: Canada isn't with out its monsters Mr. Santino. We harbor many abusers, sex offenders and alike. One of the greatest things about VPAS is that it's world wide.
The smile on his face and the admiration in his eyes melts my heart.
Dante: In deed a worthy cause I'd like to donate to. Any others?
Rylee: (No cell left behind). It raises money to help provide some relief to families struggling with ungodly medical bills due to cancer.
It was hard for me to not look at him at the mentioning of cancer. But I had to keep up my act. If I looked at him and saw the sorrow in his eyes that was there a little over 11 years ago, I don't know if I would be able to resist taking him into a hug like I use to. He had no idea how much he meant to me. I had never been good with words but I did my best to always be there for him when his mother died of cancer. I busied my self with the papers in my lap like I was reading off them.
Dante: Another worthy charity. What about the ones Roy Bane has been using to extort money.
Sam: There were three discovered, which have all been depleted along with the employees who where working for him.
Dante: What of the money?
Rylee: I was able to back peddle most of it to the people who donated. The rest we recycled into our legitimate charities.
Suddenly my phone began vibrating. All eyes were on me as I pretended to glance at it before shutting it off. It was actually my alarm to take my birth control pill but it was a perfect excuse to get out of there quickly.
Sam: Do you need to get that?
Emma: My apologies Sam I completely forgot about a doctors appointment I had but I can cancel.
Sam: No apologies Emma, and no you don't need to cancel. I can handle things from here.
Emma: Thank you Sam.
I stood handing Sam my reports. Dante stands immediately a little too close. When he reaches out his hand I catch glimpse of something I hadn't noticed before on his right pinky. A black band.
Dante: It was a pleasure to meet you Miss. Landry, I look forward to working with you.
His sexy gruff voice pulls my attention back to meet his Golden eyes as he flashes that knowing dimply smile.
Rylee: Like wise.
I shake his hand and quickly retreat unable to escape my overheated skin from his presence.
I don't bother waiting for the elevator, instead I run down the stairs while calling to make and actual doctors appointment. I need my cover to be with out a hitch and I hated lying to Sam. I knew Sam and his wife. Sometime I wondered if he knew who I was. My thoughts wonder back to the image of the black ring on Dante's pinky. After all these years he was wearing the ring I gave him.
When I got to the streets, I caught a tail. Same suit as Dante's Guard from upstairs but this guy was shorter, American, Irish I would say with his light red hair. Even though he had glasses on he looked a little like Ed Sheeran. Dante obviously has his suspicions but he didn't need to know everything just yet, so I shook the tail just before my doctors office which wasn't far from work. I was actually due for a follow up and tests since I had quit The Lions Den I wanted make sure I was still clean and get a refill of my birth control.
Doc had told me that the location of where the bullet had gone through, even though it wasn't life threatening there was a chance that the internal scar tissue could create complications for pregnancy. Not that I was planning on having kids anytime soon, and it was only a possibility that it would cause problemIs but it's better safe than sorry. I couldn't imagine bring up a kid right now and attending parents day at school. Oh hey I'm Liam's mom, I'm an assassin.
I giggled to my self as I wait on the cold paper covered table in the exam room.