Chapter 45
Forty ve minutes later
SAMUEL RUIZ’S HEADQUARTERS
1-16 РЫ
Isle when I see the old man’s silhouette,
“You haven’t changed, neither has thus place.”
Walls ravaged by time, a dingy floor surely crawling with cockroaches and insects. Holes in the walls probably housing rats, a celling about to collapse, and a single half broken bulb lighting the windowless room,
I walk toward hins. His new henchman watches me without comment
When I reach them, Sam gives me a big smile and hugs me. Thug him back.
“It doesn’t make me any younger seeing you grow up!”
Sam is a man in his forties. Tall and slightly chubby, with light brown eyes, blond hair streaked with gray, and wrinkles marking the passage of time.
Behind that ordinary appearance hides one of the biggest cocaine suppliers in the country and a wanted criminal across several.continents.
Samuel Ruiz, aka Sam to close ones.
I was here last month.
“Sorry for thinking my girl doesn’t visit me enough.”
I have no familial ties to Sam. He’s been one of my father’s associates for a long time. He’s always been kind and caring toward me.
He never had children–didn’t want to impose his life on a kid. But he would’ve made a great father. Way better than mine.
Sam’s the kind of guy who gives gifts, tells stories, and defends you if someone mocks you for being small and skinny.
“Thad tons of missions.
“Your father’s overdoing it. He should give you a vacation.”
I don’t respond.
He looks away he knows well the relationship I have with my father. He’s witnessed plenty of psychological and physical abuse,
“Thaven’t even introduced my new right–hand man! This is Alexei Alexei, meet Inara.”
He’s been silent this whole time. I size him up like he did when I arrived.
A pale man
in clearly from Eastern Europe.
Crystal blue eyes, very fine features, light brown hair bordering on blond,
He stands out with two thin but visible scars a few centimeters from his eyes.
Tall,
, with a strong build noticeable beneath his black clothes
He offers his hand and I shake it. He smiles.
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Chapter 45
Troute trying to crush my hand,”
He chuckles
“I presume you’re from an Eastern country?”
“Slovakia”
Ined
“So, what brings you here? I doubt you came to befriend my henchman,” Samasks.
Five hundred grams of cocaine.”
He opens his eyes wide in shock while I just shrug.
“Boss’s orders. Non–negotiable.”
“Alexel, go fetch her order. Hide it in a bag of flour.”
I shake my
head.
“It look suspicious if I walk out of here holding a bag of flour in this outfit.””
“What do you suggest?”
“A way to avoid getting the cops on our backs.
“I’m listening.”
“Your guy good with mechanics?”
“Of course
I turn to Alexei
“I parked my car in the inner garage. No one will see you there.”
“What do you want me to do?”
ne gets suspicious”
Take apart my dashboard to hide the drugs, but don’t do a pro job–make it look just as dirty as before so no one
Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I’m immune to getting stopped. There’s no such thing as zero risk. I won’t go down for five hundred grams of cocaine–that would be ridiculous.
“You really are my gal
I chuckle, then he orders Alexel to do as I say I’m alone with Sam,
“You seem off”
“I’m overloaded, that’s all.”
“Don’t forget: if you start losing focus, you raise your chances of ending up six feet under.”
$08:22 Wed, 20 Aug0
– Chapter 45
I’m about to respond when I see his jaw clench as he looks behind me, I turn around,
Aman is pointing a gun at Sam.
In his fifties, gray hair, very tall, ostreinely thin–skin and bones, bloodshot eyes.
Wearing filthy clothes that stink Pupils dilated, sweating excessively even though it’s not hat, His legs and hands are trembling violently.
Ajunkie.
Sam raises his hands. I do the same. It’s too risky to reach for the guns fucked behind my jeans…
Alexis too far to help. We’re on our own
“if you’d given me my coke, I wouldn’t be like this…” the stranger screams.
I turn to Sam and whisper
“Do you know this guy?”
“He’s a bum. He gets high on anything he can find. He’s assaulted a dozen girls just because they ignored him.”
Even better.
He gets closer and points his gun at Sam’s forehead.
“You kept this pretty little girl from me. I’d love to rape her like the others, you see?”
I want to throw up.
“It’s not too late to lower your weapon and walk away before anyone gets hurt!”
He looks at me, then lowers his gun from Sam’s head and approaches me aggressively, spitting at my feet
“Bitches keep their mouths shut when no one asked them to speak.”
He slaps me hard across the face with his gun and I hit the floor violently.
“Fuck! Inara, are you okay?” Sam asks, worried.
“Relax, it’s nothing”
I wipe the blood from my lip with sleeve.
my
Leave her out of this! She’s not involved! You’re out of control when you use, and you can’t even pay me?”
“I’m out of control? Sad to die for saying such bullshit
Ispot a rotting, deformed dead rat at his feet
An idea flashes through my mind
Just as he’s about to pull the trigger on Sam, I take a lighter from my pocket, spark it, and throw it on the dead rat. It instantly catches fine.
The man stares at the burning rat, shocked.
I take advantage of the few seconds of distraction to kick his right leg. He stumbles and lands near me
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abhis
gun and hit him square in the head with it. He goes limp.
Chapter 45
Thit him again to make sure he’s completely out
Teatch my breath as i get up.
All this adrenaline really isn’t good for
Sam takes off his jacket and throws it on the dead rat to keep the fire from spreading
“I thought I was going to die, Sam mutters.
“I never thought I’d be happy to see a dead rat in this dump.”
He smiles.
“Your lip and cheek okay?”
“I’ll have a little mark, but that’s nothing new. Don’t worry”
I’m going to brag to all my friends that I have a girl who’s as beautiful as she is strong and smart!”
I give him a small smile, then turn my tired gaze toward the junkie.
A few hours later…
9:37 p.m.
I return to my room after taking the cocaine out of the dashboard to place it on my father’s desk.
Maria has packed my suitcases
A gray box sitting on my bed catches my attention, I notice a note written on a small white card, tucked under the black ribbon that keeps the box closed.
What is this? I grab the note to read it.
“I hope you like this gift and that it helps you mellow out, even if you only drink apple juice.
Hopefully, Italy will make you more pleasant, doll.”
I read it several times, even though I knew from the very first sentence it was from Alexander. The formal tone is just a game for him. He remembered only drink apple juice, Italy is our next destination.
And the word
rd “doll” – it’s like he signed it himself: Alexander Graves
I stare at the bar for a few seconds and finally decide to open it
It’s a very short red satin robe with black lace.
It’s stunning. My old satin robe looks pathetic next to
It must have cost a fortune. He has good taste.
I pick it up to touch it gently. I recognize Alexander’s scent.
Of course he did it on purpose.
A wide smile spreads across my faces it’s the first time a man has ever given such a gi
I feel ridiculous, giddy like a schoolgirl, but I’m flattered that he gave me something.
Chapter 45
Even though I suspect he probably does the same for all his flings.
I’m still admiring the robe when Marla walks into my room.
She looks at me oddly.
I give her an awkward smile as I hide the note under a pillow.
“I didn’t know you were back.”
“Just a few minutes ago.”
Shev
walks over and looks at the robe.
I try to hide my unease.
“That robe is beautiful. Is it new?”
“To replace the one that’s torn.”
“It’s gorgeous, very good choice!”
You’re telling me, Maria.
“Thanks.
“You even got a gift box for it?”
“No, it came by mail and the store had it wrapped.”
She nods.
“I’ll leave you to rest.”
As soon as she leaves, I grab the robe and bring it to my nose to inhale again the Intoxicating scent it camies.
A scent that blends temptation, desire, and most of all… the forbidden.
E
