COBALT (Capitol Corruption) Page 2

  Gina held on to her glass and turned to look back out the patio window. “So, what happens now? Am I to be treated like a prisoner here in your shiny casino?”

  “You’re not a prisoner. I brought you here to protect you.”

  “I’m indebted to you then. And that means there is only one way I can repay you for your protection.”

  I knew where Gina was going with that. I stepped closer and turned her around. We were only inches apart and that lavender scent drove me fucking crazy. “I have all the money I can handle. You don’t have to repay me. Your brother Dane is a long-time business partner of mine, and one of only a few loyal friends I have.”

  “I don’t mean money, Nolan. I have many talents and services I can provide to very rich men like you.”

  My first impulse was to pull Gina’s soft curvy body against mine and shove my tongue through those pretty lips. I wanted to taste her, mixed with the flavor of that Japanese whiskey.

  I smiled as I imagined Gina on her knees at my feet, looking up with those dark brown eyes as she sucked on my dick. “If you’re offering up that pussy as collateral, I may just take you up on that offer someday.”

  A shade of pink suddenly flushed her cheeks and she turned back to the window. “Just say when.” Her voice soft and a bit sad.

  I went back to the bar, leaving my empty glass on it. “You need to eat. What do you like?”

  She stood still her back turned to me. “I’ll trust your taste in what is good to eat here.”

  “Filet mignon, nice and thick. It’ll be delivered here within the hour.” I walked to the door, “Make yourself comfortable and rest well, Gina. I’ll call you in the morning.”

  I headed to my office and called Brody. He was in Special Ops as a U.S. Army Ranger, then a Merc and was employed as my personal bodyguard.

  He answered on the first ring “Yeah Boss-man.”

  “Brody, I’ll need you for an easy job. I have a guest that will be under my protection for... I don’t know how long yet. Her name is Gina Neri and she’s staying here at the MGM in the Capital Suite. I’ll need a second pair of eyes to watch over her.”

  “I’m a call or text away Nolan and I can be where you need me in thirty minutes tops.”

  “Good. You’ll get a nice fat bonus in your next paycheck Brody.”

  I climbed back into my car and drove to my mansion in Mount Vernon, a four million-dollar two-acre waterfront estate on the Potomac River. It was over the top, expensive, and suited just for my taste. If my father, Tyler Reynolds, had it his way, I’d have a wife living in it with me. But I was in no rush to walk down an alter and kiss a bride. No. I worked hard and played harder. A wife was just a status symbol and a promise to create a male heir to the Reynolds family line. And the woman I took as a wife would only see the marriage as winning a lottery ticket for life. No thanks. I’ll pass.

  I looked over at my suit jacket that Gina covered herself with laying in the passenger seat. I reached over, brought it to my nose and inhaled deeply as I stopped at a traffic light. I could still smell the lavender scent that was all Gina. What was wrong with me? She was Dane’s sister, and he trusted me to protect her, which I did the moment I walked into his office earlier that day. Getting her in my bed would just make things complicated. And I detested complicated relationships.

  CHAPTER 3

  GINA

  “Shut up you little bitch!”

  He struck me across the face with the back of his hand. The blow almost knocked me out cold.

  My head swam as his big hands grabbed at my thighs, up my dress, and yanked my panties down. His hand clamped down over my mouth, muffling my scream.

  No one heard my screams as I was being raped in the Emperor Suite of Caesar’s Casino on a dark and chilly autumn night. Nicholas – or Nick Caruso - was a middle-aged man who was connected along the same lines of sleezy businesses as my brother Dane. After he was through hurting and violating my body, he left the room. And it was his son – Jimmy’s turn to take from me and destroy my dignity and my heart.

  I woke up, opening my eyes in a cold sweat. My phone vibrated across the nightstand next to the bed. Dane’s name displayed and I answered, still groggy. “Hello, Dane.”

  “Good morning Gina. I know it’s early, but I wanted to hear your voice. Did Nolan get you settled in there at the MGM last night?”

  I sat up, and yawned, “Yes he did. He had dinner brought up to me last night too.”

  “That’s good. You will be safe there. Remember – I trust Nolan with all I have and with my own life, so whatever he tells you to do, or not do, listen to him, please.”

  “Yes, Dane.”

  “I’ve sent some of my men to your condo this morning. I’m going to need more info on your friend, Rebecca. Whoever she was involved with is obviously interested in you for some reason, and we need to find out what that reason is.”

  “Please find her Dane. She’s pregnant.” Silence on his end. “Dane?”

  “I’m here Gina. I promised you that I will find her, remember? Now think. Did Rebecca tell you anything about this man?”

  I squeezed my eyes shut, and my throat hurt as I pictured Becca. She was smiling and had that glow about her when she found out she was pregnant. “Becca had many clients. This man was married, like most of them are. I’m sure of it. All she told me was that I didn’t know who he was and she wanted to keep it that way because he was a very rich man. I have no doubt that his reputation would be ruined if it got out that she was in a relationship with him.

  I heard Dane exhale. “Ok sister. I’ll send some local law enforcement over to check out her place, see if we can find any clues.”

  I hung up with Dane, climbed out of bed and started my morning routine with yoga poses. I was disciplined with a healthy diet, only eating non-processed foods and staying away from meat. When Nolan ordered the filet mignon to my room the night before, I wrinkled my nose at it, but ate it all the while brewing on the fact that he acted as if he owned me, and angry at myself for enjoying the flavor of it.

  I was dressed in only a tank top and panties as I began my poses – planks, pigeon poses, downward-facing dog. I inhaled and exhaled, feeling refreshed and strong. I closed my eyes as I did my child’s pose, my hands and knees underneath my shoulders, then I pushed my ass back onto my heels and reached forward with my hands to stretch my back and shoulders, as my forehead touched the floor.

  I sat up to the sound of my hotel door opening and the tapping of men’s shoes on the hardwood floor and gasped as Nolan stood in the doorway of the bedroom.

  He leaned against the door frame and folded his arms in front of him. “Don’t you look very bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning.”

  I wore no make-up, my hair looked like a bird’s nest and I hadn’t even brushed my teeth yet. I was totally mortified that Nolan has seen me like this. I stood and huffed, “Go to Hell!” I seethed as I ran into the bathroom and shut the door.

  I could hear him laughing and he sounded as if he was standing right outside the bathroom door. I clenched my jaw and dug my nails into the palms of my hands, feeling the pain, knowing they would leave half-moon shapes.

  “What if I was naked!? Or I was on the toilet? You have no right to just come into my room without even fucking knocking first!” I railed at him through the door.

  “Okay, I’ll knock next time. Get over it.”

  He sounded annoyed as I took my time, making him wait. I brushed my teeth and combed my fingers through my long brown hair and finished off with pinching my cheekbones like Scarlett O’Hara had done in Gone with the Wind. I pulled on the white MGM hotel robe that hung on the door and pulled it on, then stormed past him to the living room.

  On the bar sat a tray with a pot of coffee and a plate with croissants and fresh fruit.

  I turned around as Nolan approached me, his hands in the pockets of his dress slacks, and that smug smirk on his face. “I had a hunch you liked coffee in the morning, along with something to
eat for breakfast.”

  I walked around the bar and poured myself a cup, “Yes, I do like coffee. Thank you.” Nolan confused me and rattled me. One moment he was arrogant and smug, then he would do something nice and thoughtful the next. Considering me before himself.

  Nolan pulled out one of the barstools and sat down, planting his elbows on the bar. His grey suit fit his broad shoulders perfectly, and I knew he must have had them tailored. He had this confident vibe to him like he didn’t give a fuck how anyone perceived him to be because he knew who he was.

  “Did you enjoy the filet mignon last night?” he asked.

  I sipped on the coffee and walked over to the patio window as I did the night before. “I don’t eat red meat, but yes I enjoyed it actually.”

  Now that it was daylight, I could see the interstate and the little cars driving back and forth on the bridge over the Potomac River. The giant ferris wheel on the harbor was not lit up with the blue lights and it seemed abandoned as a cloud of fog surrounded it so early in the morning.

  “I’ve got some business to take care of today in my office and then I’m headed into Georgetown to meet with a few friends of mine. You are not to leave the suite, so if you need anything, you can call the front desk. Everyone that works at the MGM knows that you’re my guest here in the Capital Suite.

  I dropped the patio curtain and turned to look at him, “So I am a prisoner here.”

  He swiveled around on the barstool and climbed off, running a hand through his wavy brown hair, “If you feel that way, then yes. You’re under my protection and I call the shots here, Gina. If you challenge me and leave this room unprotected, then you’ll face the consequences.”

  “What are the consequences?”

  With quick powerful strides, he moved toward me, lifting my chin. There was nowhere else I could look but into his blue eyes that burned with a primal fierceness. “Don’t test me Gina, or I’ll toss you over my knee and give you a good hard spanking!” Then his mouth curved up into a smug grin, “But then maybe you would actually like that, huh?”

  My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Then I was fuming with anger. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been spanked, you arrogant asshole!” I barked.

  He laughed and walked to the door, “I don’t doubt it.”

  When the door closed behind him, I clenched the coffee cup and screamed with rage!

  CHAPTER 4

  NOLAN

  As I drove into Georgetown, I had a smile on my face with the image of how Gina looked, her dark pretty eyes filled with frustration and rage. I liked the way I affected her, pushing her buttons and getting her, all riled up. Then I pictured her lying beneath me, struggling, with that same fiery look in her eyes, and her supple thighs wrapped me as I fucked her without mercy.

  I parked in front of the mansion in Georgetown where Push and Nadia lived. Mack, Nadia’s loyal driver, the big black man with kind eyes stood out front. I climbed out of my car, walking up the steps and, and shook his hand, “Hey Mack, how was Maui?”

  He shook my hand, his much bigger than mine, “It was amazing, Mr. Reynolds. I had a good time.”

  I entered the mansion and made my way through the black double doors into the parlor. The place brought back memories of when I played poker throughout the night with Push and the other powerful men in politics and shady businesses from up and down the East Coast. The mansion used to belong to Gabe Russo, a treacherous old man who everyone thought was Nadia’s father. Push and I went way back as business partners since Nadia was just a teenager. Push fell in love with Nadia when she was so young. It was beyond his control. And for years he coveted her until she was almost killed by Lucas Peterson who took Nadia unwillingly as his bride, raping her and impregnating her. Lucas riddled Gabe with bullets and killed him in the office. Lucas left Nadia to his men to rape and kill her. Push killed those men and saved Nadia’s life, but she miscarried. Push helped Nadia find her parents, Felix and Launa Barinov, who she believed were both dead. They reunited and Nadia took the Barinov name. Then he handed Lucas Peterson over to Nadia as a gift. She looked into Lucas’ eyes and watched him die as Push strangled him with thick garrote wire.

  I couldn’t blame Push for falling in love with Nadia – she was stunningly beautiful with platinum blond hair, and crystal blue eyes, with an innocent demeanor. But her eyes turned to stone-cold from all the traumatic experiences she endured in her young life.

  I greeted the newlyweds once I entered the parlor, Nadia gave me a warm hug. Push stood behind her with a relaxed smile, which was rare for him since he was mostly unexpressive, and hid his emotions, like a player with a good poker face. Getting married in Maui made them both look happy. We celebrated with a bottle of champagne and a toast to their future together as one of the most powerful couples in the Metropolitan DC area. They had all their power in their pockets from law enforcement, politics, gambling and real estate to other illegal businesses like drugs, and even the porn industry.

  Push offered me a nice fat Cuban cigar when I sat down on a leather couch. “How are things with Dane in AC?” he asked, as he sat beside Nadia across from me.

  I lit the cigar, tasting the sweet tobacco. “Dane is good. He sends his love and best wishes to you both. I brought his sister, Gina back here to Maryland with me. She’s mixed up in something and her life may be in danger. Her apartment was ransacked yesterday and her friend, Rebecca, is missing. I promised Dane I’d protect her until we find Rebecca.

  Push’s brows lifted, “I didn’t even know Dane had a sister.”

  “I didn’t either. She’s a high-end escort, along with her friend, Rebecca. And we know that’s a dangerous business to be in, especially when their clients are some of the same powerful men that we rub shoulders with.” The more I told Push and Nadia about Gina, the more irritated I became, picturing her with some of the sleezy corrupt men I worked with.

  I leaned my head back, blowing out a puff of smoke from the cigar.

  “She’s beautiful isn’t she,” Nadia asked.

  “Yes. She’s drop-dead gorgeous, with a bratty attitude.”

  “The perfect match!” Nadia said excitedly.

  I chuckled “No woman is a perfect match for me, sweetheart.”

  “That just may be the best way to protect Gina.” Push said. “Marry her, and help her find her friend. Dane is one of our loyal business partners, and one of the few men we not only trust but consider a friend. We are the three Kings – Maryland, DC, and Atlantic City. We own it, we rule it. And Gina will become untouchable. I’m betting that Dane will want this union too.”

  Push was right, even though I had a hard time admitting it myself. Dane’s parents were dead and Gina was the only family he had, other than their distant family of uncles and cousins. I knew Dane didn’t like that his only sister worked as an escort either. I knew it had to be hard sometimes for Dane to earn the respect of men in our corrupt world when they paid to have sex with his sister.

  I breathed out exasperated, “Well Gina will not say yes even if I proposed. I’d probably have to drag her down the aisle kicking and screaming.”

  “Why do you say that?” Nadia asked.

  “I rub her the wrong way, pretty much like sandpaper.”

  “I know Gina is not able to resist those blue eyes of yours, Nolan. And she knows Dane entrusts you to protect her. She is most likely worried about her friend Rebecca and very afraid. I know exactly how she feels.” Nadia did know how it felt to be afraid for her own life not too long ago.

  My phone buzzed inside my suit jacket. I pulled it out to see Dane’s name glow on the screen and answered.

  “Nolan, is Gina with you?” Dane asked hurriedly.

  I suddenly felt the hair on the back of my neck rise. “She’s at the MGM. I’m in Georgetown with Push and Nadia. What’s wrong?”

  “Rebecca’s apartment was ransacked too. Blood was found and there was evidence of a struggle. Someone took her. Gina is in danger.”

  I sto
od from the couch, “Did you tell her?”

  “No, not yet.”

  I bit down on the cigar. “I’m headed back to the MGM, be there in twenty-five minutes tops with my guy Brody. I’ll tell her.”

  I drove way above the speed limit around the Capital Beltway and called Brody on the Bluetooth telling him to meet me at the MGM. A nauseous feeling began to swirl in the pit of my stomach as I remembered the look of fear in Gina’s eyes finding her apartment ransacked. I liked the look of desire in those pretty eyes of hers, rather than the look of fear.

  CHAPTER 5

  GINA

  I had sex with plenty of men, of different ages and races, with tons of money. I was never the same after father and son Caruso raped me in that room at Caesar’s five years ago. I wasn’t a virgin, but they still took from me my innocence – and I was left tainted by the brutality that men inflict. I knew Dane was not a good man, he was a criminal just like the rest of the men that he associated with. But I was so naïve to believe that those men would never hurt me the way they did because I was Dane’s sister and I was untouchable. But I learned quickly that I could be a dangerous liability. The only reason they raped me was to take over the Neri empire and provoke Dane to do something reckless. That’s why Dane never knew about the rape because if he did, he would have killed the Carusos that very day. And a bloody war would have ensued in Atlantic City between Caruso’s men and my brother’s men.

  Those were the reasons I went into the escort business because no good man would want a woman who was not even whole anymore. There were times I felt that I deserved it because I was so stupid and trustworthy. It was just sex with these men who were my clients. There was no intimacy, and I felt nothing when I fucked them. It was just business. I knew how to put on a good act, fake an orgasm, and fuck like a porn star. And they loved it, always coming back with more money.