Concealment (The Cassano Series Book 1) (8 page)

Adrian

Fuck
. Like I imagined, Victoria’s mouth is drugging. She fights me for only a millisecond before she’s opening it completely, succumbing to the pressure I refuse to let up on.

A horn honks loudly as a vehicle passes by, but neither of us flinches. We’re absent from the world, immersed in each other.

With every slick stroke of our tongues we’re removing our disguises and falling farther into reality. It’s the here and now, and I want to keep her imprisoned in it for as long as she’ll let me.

Her hands slide underneath the back of my t-shirt as my fingers leave her hair and glide down the sides of her neck.

Instead of stiffening, her body becomes flaccid, a sensual sound purring right into my hungry mouth.

Her surrender has me groaning, craving more. Trailing my wet mouth down her chin and neck, I lay her back onto the car.

My tongue creeps along her chest as I unbutton the top of her pale yellow shirt.

“What are you doing? We’re outside.”

“I’m exploring more of this captivating body.”

“Not out here.”

“Then let me inside,” I say muffled against her skin. My tongue lurks its way down between her tits, the scent of roses drugging me further.

“Adrian, I can’t.”

“Then go back to the hotel with me.”

Her hands move to my shoulders.

“Why would we go there?”

I freeze, wishing to avoid this conversation. I want more than anything to fuck her right here on my car, but I know that isn’t happening on this busy street.

“I live there.”             

She pushes on my shoulders, forcing me to lift up, so I growl lightly as I move.

“You think I’m going to see you when you live where I work?”

“No one would know. Well, maybe a couple of people, if they had to escort you up, but they wouldn’t tell anyone.”

She’s gazing at me with a painful expression. Victoria is already struggling to see me outside of the place, so I imagine as a cop, the last thing she wants to do is have sex with me in the hotel she’s investigating.

Maybe I’m an idiot for thinking no one would ever tell her what goes on there, but I don’t believe any of my customers would breathe a word about it since they’re involved, and I know the people behind the scene wouldn’t.

It’s not impossible, but it would be difficult for her to discover that the games in the lounges are being played illegally.

Pursuing Victoria is careless, but I want her. People assume I have everything I could ever dream of, but that’s not my reality. This moment right here is, and it’s about damn time I get the things I want.

My fingers skim down her temple and cheek until I’m cupping it. “This is going to happen. We both desire it, so stop fighting me.”

My lips barely press to hers, and I hold them there. I do have self-control when I care to, so I let her go.

“Kruse will bring you up to my penthouse tomorrow night after your shift. If you leave the hotel instead, then I’ll show up here. Take your pick.”

Reluctantly removing my body from hers, I stroll around to the driver’s side. She shakes her head before stepping away from my car.

“You’re presumptuous.”

“I found something I want. That’s a rarity. Goodnight, Victoria, and thank you for another enlightening day.”

Victoria

“Coffee, ASAP,” I say.

“Good morning.” Reggie frowns at me once I shut the car door.

“Sorry, good morning.”

“You’re dressed differently for work,” he adds after looking me up and down.

The black heels I’m holding get tossed to the floorboard. There is a pair of knee-high stockings shoved in one of them.

“I have a lunch date, remember?”

“Oh, yeah, the spa day.” Rolling his eyes, he pulls onto the road. He’s right about my attire today. I’m in the nicest pair of jeans I own and a purple blouse, which hugs my waist.

It has short sleeves that puff a little at my shoulders. There is a tiny button on each of them. Definitely a more feminine outfit for my day job.

It’s actually kind of nice not to look like one of the guys. “It’s not a spa day,” I say with a shrug, “and it’s only for an hour. I think you can live without me that long.”

“Speaking of whether or not someone can live without seeing you, you better call Cicely. I ran into her at Stopper’s, and she said she’s barely heard from you in the last week.”

Shit, Cicely. She’s my best friend besides Reggie. Since I’ve been working two jobs, I haven’t called her once. I’ve barely even replied to her texts.

“I’ll give her a call today.”

“Better not let her hear about your new girlfriend. She’ll get jealous.” He chuckles.

“Tara’s not my girlfriend. I’m beginning to think it’s pointless to see her or work at Submission.”

“What makes you think that?”

“It’s a feeling I have.”

I sense his eyes on me, but I won’t dare look. He reads me about as well as I read him, and he would lose his ever-loving-mind if he knew what was happening between Adrian and me.

“I’d be thrilled to see you leave there.”

“I think I should give it longer. I’m just saying my gut isn’t guiding me toward anything yet.”

I didn’t say “anyone” since that would be a big fat lie. Once inside the station, I see a few of the guys take a second glance at me.

Every one of them who is single has asked me out, and every one of them have been told no.

My loose waves are even down today, and I have makeup on, which seldom happens, but at Submission, I have to look the part.

Tara would order a makeover and shopping spree next if I turned up in front of her the way I typically present myself.

“Bishop wants to see you, Victoria,” Tucker says when I reach my desk.

I glare at him. “Why? Did you tell him about my extra-curricular activities?” I’m still pissed Reggie told him what I’m doing.

I glance at Reg next and scowl, but he’s already burying his head in his computer, knowing better than to look my direction.

“No, I didn’t tell him, and I’m not going to, so stop being pissed at me for simply knowing.”

Tucker glares back, his blue eyes narrowed, and I guess he does have a point. Reggie is the one who blabbed.

“You’re right.” I set my bag on the desk, and as I head toward the sergeant’s office, I ruffle Tucker’s perfectly placed blonde hair with my hand. “I’ll remove you from my shitlist.”

Ducking his head, he brings his hand up at the same time to swat at me. “Hey, now, watch the hair.”

I snicker. The guy spends more time on his two inch strands in one day than I do in a week.

He’s another guy who wants in my pants, and it’s not happening. Tucker is attractive, but he’s spoiled and a whiner. He claims he gets his immense amount of disposable funds from his parents.

I don’t have much respect for him since he flaunts it like he’s earned it, using it to pick up women on the weekends. He also drives a different sports car every year.

The only plus is he’s always paying our bar tab. Of course, it’s so he can appear cool. OK, the fact that he’s a whiner is the primary reason I won’t go out with him. That is not an attractive attribute.

“Good morning, Sarge,” I say as I tap on the doorframe to his office. He takes a glimpse at me before his eyes fall right back onto the morning paper.

“Victoria, come in and close the door.” I do as he orders and take a chair in front of his desk. “I need you and Reggie to interview some witnesses to an assault on a stripper.”

My boss, Bishop, is still staring at the newspaper. With his head held over, I see the grey woven in his dark hair, giving it more of a salt-n-pepper appearance. I don’t respond, so he finally looks up.

“I’m guessing this is tied into narcotics? And why are you telling me this in private?”

“Do you honestly need to ask me that?”

I roll my eyes. “No, sir.”

“I mean it, Victoria. No bulldozing the witnesses. No one is ever going to tell us shit if you’re threatening to haul them off to jail.

“I had grounds—”

“Stop,” he interjects, holding his hand up in front of him.

“Don’t even try to justify your past behavior. You pull that damn gun on an innocent person again, and probation will not be an option on the table. Understood?”

Sighing, I stand. “Yes, sir.”

“Good, now bring Reggie in here, so I can fill you two in on this case.”

As I lean out of his office to call for Reg, I hear Sarge mumble something about my eager hands and behavior.

I do have eager hands, and I like the sound of “eager behavior” over “offhand” or “impulsive.”

Right on, Sarge. I’m using that word from now on. It sounds more justifiable, like I’m trying to be helpful. Eager.

“Reg, get your ass in here!” I turn back and take my seat again. Bishop blows out a breath of aggravation, so I grin at him. He loves me whether he wants to admit it or not.

I get shit done. My reckless behavior solves cases–I mean eager behavior.

The boss man seldom sleeps, so he’s a grump most of the time. He once confided in me that he suffers from severe insomnia.

His eyes also chronically water, so the outer corners of his grey pools have a touch of white crust to them.

Once, when I recommended he see a doctor for both conditions, he threatened to make Flatulence Frank my partner. Frank can clear a crime scene in seconds. He’s another cop who needs to see a doctor.

“Morning, Sarge,” Reggie says.

“Morning.” After my partner takes the seat next to me, Bishop drags his hands down his face and picks up his cup of coffee. He takes a sip, and I’m sensing he’s stalling.

“OK, what do you not want us knowing but have no choice than to tell us?” I ask.

“Alright, uh, it’s about Commissioner Sanders. There is suspicion that his son, Noah, is dealing.”

My eyes widen. “Shaw Sanders? As in the Commissioner who oversees our county police force?”

“Noah is supposedly more arrogant than Shaw. He’s a senior in college, and from what I’ve heard over the years, he’s a bad seed.

“His father has bailed him out of every ounce of trouble he’s
almost
been in. Meaning, he makes it disappear before you would even hear about it.”

“Wow, so, what are we looking for?” Reg asks.

“The guy is not playing around with petty crime anymore. He’s moved up the ladder, supposedly second in ranking to John Ferrera.”

I fall back into my chair and grip the arm rests. “John Ferrera who took over for Anthony Gomez when he went to prison?”

“Exactly.”

“This is major,” Reggie says.

“I need you to interview a couple of dancers at the Executive Club on Industrial Rd. Noah has a weakness for strippers.

“Word is he’s into some twisted shit and gets rough when women don’t cooperate. He finds the ones hard up for cash or drugs and pays them to do whatever he wishes. Check it out this afternoon.”

He hands me a slip of paper with names handwritten on it and slides a photo across the desk.

“This is Noah. A guy beat up one of the dancers at Executive after she went home with him, and I have a suspicion it could be Sanders.

“I need you to get a description. If it matches, then we might be able to find out if he’s dealing there.”

I take in a heavy breath. I don’t scare easily, but this has the hair standing up on my arms.

A major drug dealer, Anthony Gomez, was taken down about four years ago. He’s serving a lengthy prison sentence.

John Ferrera moved up, taking over for him. I was still a cop, just not in the narcotics division, so I wasn’t in on the bust.

John has built their dealing business back up to where it was if not more extensive. How did the son of a Commissioner end up in the middle of that mess?

“Do you believe Shaw knows about his son’s involvement?” I ask.

“I would like to think our Commissioner has no knowledge of this. Find out if Noah put his hands on this woman or gave her drugs.”

Bishop knows more, but he’s not going to spill it.

***

“I’m so excited you came,” Tara says, emphasizing her words with a high pitch squeal. She grabs my hand and squeezes it before opening the glass door to the salon.

Her blonde hair is down today and curly like mine. Crystal blue eyes have a genuine sparkle to them, announcing that she’s a happy, young woman.

I imagine she still has high hopes about her future. When did I lose that enthusiasm for life? I think it happened after a few lukewarm, failed relationships and the loss of my father.

I’m realizing after my time with Adrian that I’ve only been existing when not solving crimes.

“Do you want color or French tips?” Tara asks.

“Uh, I don’t know.”

“Then let’s put a sensual color on you. Soften you up a bit. The men will definitely notice.”

She grabs a pink with a touch of shimmer. It matches the ribbon on the skirts of our uniform. I immediately picture my nails raking down Adrian’s bare back while he’s on top of me.

As if it’s going to clear the steamy image, I blink fast several times. “Sure, that’s a sexy color.”

Sitting side-by-side, we each take a chair in front of a nail tech. I have no clue what to do, so the tech prompts me on how to rest my hands across a small cushion for comfort and how to put them in the dryer once she’s finished.

“Tell me this is not your first time getting a manicure,” Tara demands.

“Sorry, I’m a manicure virgin.”

“Shit, girl, you’re missing out. Don’t you ever want to be pampered?”

“I guess if you don’t know what you’re missing, you don’t long for it.”

“I wouldn’t go that far. I don’t know what Simon has to offer, but it doesn’t stop me from longing for him. I can imagine though. He and Zev are hotties. All the Cassano men are.”

“You’ve met Xavier, too?”

“Yeah, he oversees the Royal lounge. I had the opportunity of filling in a couple of times when servers called in sick.

“He happened to be there and introduced himself. He and Simon are the rougher of the four. They take zero shit from anyone.”

“I sensed that when I met Simon.”

“Rumor is they don’t have girlfriends, but they won’t date employees. I saw them hanging out at Hard Rock one night, and they had women with them.”

“Hmm …”

“Simon oversees Shannon in Elite, but he mostly runs Club D/s.”

The nail tech tells me she’s finished, so I pay her and sit quietly, waiting for Tara.

“Want to go shopping next?” she asks with even more enthusiasm.

“Oh, sorry, but I have some important errands to run before work.”

“OK, another day then.” After her tech is finished, she admires her nails and pays.

Once we’re on the sidewalk, she gives me a tight hug. “Until we meet again tonight, sexy lady.”

“Sure, I can’t wait to see how my nails match my nighty.” I giggle, and what the hell is happening to me?

Reggie had let me borrow his vehicle to meet Tara, so I drive back to the station to pick him up.

I admire my nails … several times actually and almost rear end what looks like a brand new Lexus. Damn, I’m turning into my sister, Nicole.

She’s overly feminine, and I’m certain she knows her way around a nail salon. Maybe I should go with her sometime. I imagine it would make her happy.