Cloud Riders(116)

She giggled and wiggled out of his grip, giving him a show that would make up for him staying at home with her too. That is, of course, if he had let her finish. He snatched her half-naked body up in his arms and carried her to the bed. ‘My girl, yum! Come here so I can have some dessert before dinner,’ he chuckled before kissing her into submission.

Later—much later—they met the others downstairs. Jason, Ethan and Conor had a look in their eyes spelling a night of pure hell-raising. The sweetie twins cabbed it to the strip club and their three mischievous team members left just after them.

As for us—well Kayden and Woody never do anything in halves . The longest limousine Cassie had ever seen pulled up for them. She stepped into something close to a nightclub on wheels, excited to get to the restaurant where they would be eating one thousand feet above the city and as the restaurant revolved, they had promised her a spectacular view.

The restaurant was known for its selection of freshly caught, delicious seafood and the meal lived up to her every expectation. Overindulged in explode-in-your-mouth sensations, Cassie declined dessert when handed the menu although when Kayden’s dessert came out it looked so delicious that she weakened and let him feed her a spoonful. As he pulled the spoon away he kissed her mouth, sending her into a delightful spin. ‘I didn’t know desserts could be so dreamy to eat,’ she grinned as he let her go.

When they left, she turned to take in just one more look out the glass walls. The restaurant was entertaining and as promised, the view, stunning. ‘I just want to lock it in my memory to have always.’

Kayden slid his hand in hers and walked her out. ‘It pales compared to you, my beauty,’ he said sweetly.

Relaxed after seeing the Cross at night in the comfort and safety of the limo, they went back to the hotel to have a drink in the Martini Club. The room was unusual for a drinking lounge. With the waft of the rich leather and mahogany furniture mixed with the books that lined the shelving, reminded her of her father’s library. Somehow, it was so comforting to feel a part of him with her tonight.

Kayden had only had a few sips of a Martini when they received a distressing call from Jason. The boys were in a situation and needed help. He never explained, just gave the address and hung up.

Arriving at the destination, they found only a big old green door. Standing against the door was a huge obese man who had a sumo wrestler look about him. After getting permission for them to go inside, they entered, going up the darkened stairs. Coming to another door, it opened into a games room. It was full of cigar smoke mixed with the odour of expensive leather. The lounges flanked a large round table that had huge comfortable leather chairs pushed up against it. Here a dark-haired man sat, his expression unreadable. Jason was in a chair over by the far corner, held by the shoulders by two oversized goons. One had scars and a patch on his eye, the other had so many piercings on his face and ears that Cassie was surprised he could even hold his head up straight.

Goddamn, they look bad arses .

Conor and Ethan both had men standing over them with weapons drawn. It looked like Jason had tried to stick up for the boys and was being subdued and kept away from them under tighter security.

It was obvious without asking that the guys had been playing cards and had become over-confident and lost, not having enough cash to cover their debt.

Woody crankily asked what they owed.

‘Ten G,’ the man sitting at the end of the table said with an accent. Maybe South African, Cassie thought as she eyed him, coming to the conclusion that he looked like a mean sucker and not one to be stuffed around. His eyes alone held a tone of impatience, showing them that even having to bother with this situation was an insult. He looked about two seconds from giving the order to take the lot of them down and with this firepower someone was bound to be shot or worse. His men looked very trigger happy, especially the one with the eye patch.

One of the armed men finished counting the money Woody and Kayden emptied from their wallets. ‘Still five G short, Mono,’ he said to the man at the end of the table.

The man they now knew as Mono sat eyeing Cassie with a steady gaze as if he was trying to work out if she was someone he knew. He looked a mean mother and yet he was from a world she knew so well. With his jewelled watch and gold chains, down to the expensive suit and brand of shoes that her stepfather used to wear, everything about him screamed money and worst of all, arrogance. He had dark hair, an olive complexion and eyes so black with annoyance that they were just glistening pits within sockets.

Kayden stepped closer to him and the guard beside him pointed guns at him. ‘Look, man, we have the money. We can double it if you wait until the bank opens in the morning. Let’s just calm down and I’m sure we can come to an arrangement. What do you say?’ Kayden knew his boys were in trouble and was trying to defuse the situation.