Alessio
She pulls up to the parking lot after I directed her there. It took us maybe seven hours to get here from the gas station. She didn't answer me once when I tried to speak to her. I was expecting it. Honestly the look in her eye as I put that cigarette between her lips made me both scared and aroused. I was surprised she didn't blow her cover there. If I were a fed and a shifty man with an accent pushed a cigarette in my mouth. I'd kill him but I would probably not be called a good girl after. I was proud I came up with that jab.
She finds an empty lot and parks there. Her movements are smooth and controlled, it tells me that she's good with cars. Maybe she grew up with a mechanic?
"Do you know if they take animals here?" She asks looking back at her rabid dog.
They will.
"I am not sure, bring her in with us Caramella." She flashes me a quick glare before unlocking her seatbelt.
"What does that mean anyway?" She grumbles as she gets out of the car and I follow her shortly after. Her steps are quick as she moves toward the glowing lights of Red Rose Casino and Hotel, the letters shining a deep red. I am pretty proud of that design.
I pull the door open for her and stay back as she walks in.
"I need to visit the toilet, stay here." She muttered something like, "What else would I do" but I am not sure.
I fish my phone out of my pocket, finding the name of the American wing of Red Rose. The hotels are the legal part of our family business, they also come in handy for business deals.
"Ciao, I need to speak to the receptionist of your hotel in Charlotte, pronto." There's a silence as the woman on the phone forwards me to the receptionist and I can hear the phone ring by the entrance. The voice of the receptionist is a bit shaky as she ask what she can help me with. I guess someone told her who I was.
"I'm going to walk out of this toilet in a little while. I'm going to ask for two rooms, you're going to tell me there's only one available. No matter how much I or the woman with me complains there's only going to be one room. Understand?"
"Yes. Anything more sir?" I smile, this was too easy.
"The only room available is only going to have one bed. And you're also going to allow the dog in." There's a short silence before se says,
"Of course sir." Her voice cracks a little at the end and I smile.
"That's it, Grazie." I push the button to end the call and flush the toilet. I count to ten before exiting the room. My eyes search for her as the reception appears before me again. She sitting on a couch, her dog sitting beside her. They both sit so still, they could be statues.
"Are you coming?" She rises, the dog just a few steps behind her as she starts to walk for the desk. The girl behind it is pretty in that American blond girl way. Her blue eyes widen as she sees me and only good self control seems to hold a blush back.
"What can I help you with?" She asks and her eyes flicker between mine and Naitee's. Not sure who to look at.
"Two single rooms please." Naitee says. The receptionist unsure gaze flicker to me again and I nod. Just enough so that she sees and Naitee won't think anything of it.
"I'm sorry miss, we only have one room that's not occupied." Naitee does not look impressed.
"Really?" She sound irritated and it's time I step up.
"Do you allow animals here?" She nods and looks at me again.
"The room available is a suite, the cost is 1000 dollars a night." I hear Naitee gasp beside me.
"We will take it." I pull out my wallet, taking my casino card and put it on the desk. It clinks when it comes in contact with the dark wood and I hear Naitee mutter something beside me.
"Can you have a extra bed sent up?" I shake my head as subtly as I can and luck seems to be on my side because the receptionist looks at me as she answers.
"I'll see if we have something." She puts a key and a manual on the desk. "The elevator is over there. Your suit is on floor 10 right down the hall to the right, it's room number 127" She holds my card against a scanner and it lights up green after a few seconds. I grab my card back and push it into my wallet.
We start to walk against the elevator when she stops suddenly.
"Shit I forgot my bag, can you take Sai up to the room while I go and get it?" I give her dog a look. She's staring at me her big black eyes. Looking like she's waiting to bite my head of. Does she even have a soul? Satana.
"Is it safe?" I look up at Naitee again, she's smiling. Oh she's going to pay for this. I imagine the ways I could punish her with vivid imaged of her body under mine.
"You'll be fine." She whistles a quick tone and points at me. Then she turns on her heels and starts to walk away. Only looking back for a dog. I almost feel a little disappointed.
I take my chance and turn to the receptionist.
"Send no extra bed to that room." The receptionist nods with a glint in her eye.
I walk cautiously toward the elevator. I can hear the dog walking behind me, I don't look back. If I could kill this dog I wouldn't be scared but shooting her dog in the head would probably make me loose any chance to— what is it called? Right. Fuck with her head.
Naitee
I walk toward the car. I shouldn't have left Sai with him. I could've dumped him here, why did I leave my dog with him. My steps are fast as I walk for my car. I left my bag there intentionally, hoping the excuse wouldn't be too obvious. I don't even dare to put my phone to my ear before I'm at the car. I punch in the number for agent Ross. My heart didn't beat for the seconds that he didn't answer.
"Kate, I almost thought you dead. What the hell are you doing" His voice is angry but calm as always.
"Listen Ross I don't have much time. It wasn't really my choice from the beginning but I need you to be ready for me when I come to New York." The line is silent for a few seconds.
"Are you okay right now?" I grab my bag.
"Yeah, he doesn't know who I am. I told him my name was Kate, I'm using standard undercover protocol and I need you to set up somewhere to dump him. I think something bigger is going on here Ross" He sighs.
"I'll set it up somewhere, try to get back in contact in the next 12 hours and don't get in over your head, if you're right these are some deep waters."
"Yeah, I have stopped for the night. At some hotel, can you check for any connections it might have with the mob. It's called Rose Casino and Hotel."
"I'll check-" I notice what the clock is.
"Shit I have to go Ross, I've been gone for to long" I slam the car door, knowing it won't close properly if I don't.
"Take care" I huff
"I'll try" I end the call. Taking a deep breath I start walking back to the hotel. I wondered why there wasn't any other people in the lobby. Maybe it's because it's a Wednesday evening or maybe it's because it looks way to expensive for a town like Charlotte. It doesn't really matter.
I pull the door open and it hits me that I don't have a card. I walk up to the desk again.
"Excuse me miss?" The girl looks up and as she recognizes me a look of knowing passes over her eyes. I don't show my confusion.
"Do you need a key?" I nod and she picks up another sleek metal key from behind the desk.
"Thanks" I say as I pick it up and walk towards the elevator dreading the fact that we're sharing the same room. Once was enough even though there will be two beds this time. I won't lie to myself. He's attractive, especially when he's just woken up. Only the thought of what kind of man he is keeps me from checking him out or glancing at him one to many times.
I don't like men like him, I arrest them or kill them. That's the deal I made all those years ago. I don't let myself continue down that road of memories. Instead I push the button for the tenth floor. The doors slide together and it starts to move upwards. I wonder how many floor this building has. It is easily one of the tallest buildings in the city. Maybe 20 floors above ground and two below. I'm not really sure how they design hotels, my dad only ever designed offices and bridges. Not that he ever talked about his works. I used to roll up the papers and look at his designs. Wondering how all that had came out of his head.
I shake my head, cleaning it of thoughts. I'm Kate Bass right now and I need to focus on not dying by the bloody hands of a man. I'm sure he has at least one weapon on him. I have anyways, a small knife in my boot. Not great in fist fights but deadly when not anticipated.
I wish I had my gun but I don't want to risk it. Not when were so close for another night.
I step out of the elevator and my heart stops for a second as I think the man that's leaning against the wall is Luce. But it's just some man. He barely seems to notice me as I move past him carefully. Not able to help the instinct to grip my bag a little tighter. I never trusted men and I don't plan on starting.
I walk until I am standing outside the last door to the right. I push the key in and it turns smoothly. I open the door kicking it closed behind me as I step in. A radio is on somewhere in the room and I take it in before I take another step. Two wide windows facing towards the road. No good entrance there. I sweep my gaze over the room, two doors. One for the bedroom and one for the bathroom. The small main room has several chairs, a couch and a small table. The carpet is red and looks expensive. I take a few more steps, dropping my bag in one of the chairs and falling down in another. It's almost embarrassing how tired you get from doing absolutely nothing all day.
I hear the shower turning on in the bathroom. Now he's just giving me chances. I take a quick look around before I rise. He has no bag but I still check everywhere. Under a pillow, in the small wardrobe, my heart almost stops in my chest when I see the black gun. Shit. Every bone in my body is screaming at me to get rid of that gun but I can't, I can't blow my cover for a gun. Is he really this bad at hiding things. The gun was in the back of the wardrobe in a box probably meant for medication.
I close the box, making sure it's in the exact place it was before. I'm really starting to wonder what I've gotten myself into. I walk back to the chair. My eyes are heavy but I don't dare to close them. It would be weird to sleep now anyways, I haven't even had dinner yet. I'm not sure I even want too. I let my elbows rest on my knees leaning my face on my hands. I hear the shower turn off but I don't look up. He doesn't have a gun right now and even though he probably can fight, I can too.
The door opens and I can hear him walking. That's until the steps stop right before me. I look up at him and immediately wish I didn't. I slap my hands over my eyes.
"What happened to your clothes?!" My voice is high in a way it shouldn't be. He chuckles. He's standing before me, dressed in only a white towel. He's still dripping too.
"Do you not know how to use a towel?" He laughs again and it's deep and thick. I inch my hands from my eyes to look up at his smirking face.
"I do." He answers, his teeth unnaturally white.
"Then where's your clothes?" He tilts his head and his dark hair moves across his forehead.
"I don't have any." I can feel my eyes almost popping out of my head.
"You don't— have any?!" My voice sounds obnoxious.
"Yes." He smiles, like he just succeeded in his life mission.
"Why don't you go buy some then, in like the hotel gift shop?" He shakes his head.
"I don't buy from a- hotel gift shop." I get up looking him in the eyes.
"Well you should because in the USA it's illegal to flash people." He laughs as I pass him and I hold my middle finger up. I grab my bag from the chair and open the bedroom door and freeze in my steps. The room is red and gold. Everything is red and gold.
"Pretty isn't it." I take a deep breath.
"Sure." I slam the door behind me, needing the distance. The bed is huge, covered with silk comforters and the bed's posters are lined with gold details. This room probably costs more than my entire apartment in Atlanta. It strikes me again how weird it is that a hotel like this is a town like Charlotte. Is it possible that— no it can't be. I can't help but hope that Ross will call back with some information, any. Because right now I'm blindsided.
I drop the bag beside the bed. Pulling out my sleeping shorts, I shrug out of my pants. The clock is only 5 pm but I'll ask for room service if I'm hungry. The bed is comfortable in that way only a bed that you're only going to sleep one time in feels and relax back against it. It was like I could feel sleep creep up on me.
"Are you going to make me sleep on the extra bed?" His voice is amused and I fly up.
"Of course not, I'm just— taking a nap." I say even though I'm definitely going to make him sleep in the extra bed. He just smiles that annoyingly perfect smile.
"Well then I'm also going to take a nap". I fall back, closing my eyes, not letting the groan leave my lips.
"Go do that." I'm starting to relax again when I feel the bed dip beside me. I almost fall off the bed in my haste to get up.
"What the hell are you doing?" My voice is annoyingly high again, I really have to get control of that.
"I'm taking a nap." He says looking smug.
"Can't you take the couch or something?" He opens one eye to look at me.
"Do I look like I'm small enough for the couch?" He didn't look like he was small anywhere.
"Well then I'll sleep on the couch" He graces me with both eyes this time.
"You're not sleeping on the couch Caramella." I glare at him.
"Then you do it" I'm not sharing a bed, again." I throw back.
"None of us should sleep on that little couch" he points with his finger.
"Just lay down, I promise I won't touch. Nessuna parte importante almeno." Italian, he spoke Italian. I shake my head, not believing what I'm doing as I lay down. I may be able to get more information on him.
"What did you say? In Italian I mean?" He grins.
"That I'm tired." I don't know how to explain it, but I just know that's not what he said. I wish I would've been able to take Italian instead of Spanish in high school.
"So what brought you to the states?" I stare up at the dark ceiling, refusing to look at him but feeling his eyes on me as he answers.
"Family enterprise, we have a few separate chains here in America. Not very big but we are expanding." He really has no idea that I know what he is or maybe he's just dumb. Because if he knew that I knew who he was wouldn't have told me major business plans. Not when they probably could connect him to organized crime.
"Why are you driving all the way to New York?" I considered how to answer his question.
"It's my job, it has required me to move around quite a lot, so now I'm driving to New York for a job offer." some truth, some lies. Just the way that Ross taught me. I look over at him, and his dark eyes are set on me. I can't believe that this man, lying 2 feet away from me, is a hardened criminal. He just looks like a man, an unusually attractive man of course but just a man. I'm not sure that I want him to prove me wrong.
"So you're— married to your job too?" I look back up at the ceiling, is he asking me if I'm single?
"You could say that I guess." We lay in silence for a while. I feel myself getting more sleepy, I want to sleep but I can't let myself yet.
"What about family?" His question is like cold water splashed across my face and it takes me a few seconds to think of a response as I try to remember Kate Bass's backstory.
"My mom lives in England now and my dad lives in Florida. They separated a few years back." I breath in through my teeth, if it had only been that easy.
"Any siblings?" He really wonders much
"No, you?" It's his time to pause.
"Yes, a younger sister and brother." I look over at him again. He's staring at the ceiling like it holds secrets.
"It must be nice, having siblings I mean." He nods, still not looking at me. I move to leave the bed.
"I'll take the couch" He grabs my wrist and I stiffen.
"It's alright, I'll leave, I'll wake you when they bring the other bed." I look at him for a few seconds, considering what to do.
"Fine." I say trying to not sound-- disappointed? He climbs out of the bed and I realize that he's wearing pants. Only pants. For a few seconds my traitorous body wanted me to beg him to stay. I want to slap myself. I know what he is and what world he's from. I've had enough of that for a lifetime. That's why I stay quiet when he leaves. Watching his built back move with every step.
I fall asleep with too many thoughts and too little information.