Blackmail (10 page)

Avery leaned forward and reached for him. She squealed when he pulled her naked body down onto his. Grabbing the back of her head, he claimed her lips and while she was being thoroughly kissed, he flipped her onto her back. He supported himself on his elbows and gazed down, a predatory glint in his eyes.

“Now it's my turn.”.

Gabe teased and tormented her body. No part of her was left untouched. He kissed, nipped and laved as he worked his way down to her pussy. Pushing her legs wide apart, he lifted her feet over his shoulders and dived in. His tongue slid in and out setting a relentless rhythm. Avery clawed at his back as she squirmed. Arousal juices poured from her pussy and ran into the crack of her ass.

“Gabe, fuck me.”

He stopped and gazed up at her.

She peered back. Eyes pleading for release.

“No.”

That one word said it all, he was making her crazy. He located her clit with his teeth, slipped two fingers inside and the arousal escalated.

Her head pounded, her eyesight blurred, she was flying, heading for space. She pulled at his hair, lifted her hips and exploded, screaming his name. Her body writhed as wave after wave of release crashed over her. When it seemed she could take no more and every effort to push his mouth and fingers away failed, she began climbing again.

His fingers were saturated and a quiet sloshing sound could be heard as he continued to probe her innermost depths. He was well aware she wanted to rest but, his cock was harder than iron, needing release and, this time it would be deep inside her. He would show her no mercy just as she had shown him none.

Avery couldn't sleep. She had made love with Gabe until the early hours of the morning but this rapture still wasn't enough to remove the feelings of dread that enveloped her.

She had made herself coffee and stepped onto the balcony to savor the cool early morning breeze and the first glimpse of sunrise.

Gabe admired Avery's silhouette as she paced. He was aware she was worried about her return to the club but no matter how much he’d tried to dissuade her, she still insisted on going through with it. He grabbed a coffee and joined her to discuss his plan.

Avery started at the touch of his hand on her shoulder. “Good morning.”

“Couldn't sleep?” He placed his coffee on the table and sat. He indicated for her to join him and she slipped onto his lap.

His arms surrounded her with warmth, they kissed passionately and his cock hardened, pressed against her backside.

“Surely you don't want more?” She snuggled her face against his bare chest.

He growled. “How am I supposed to discuss anything serious with you when you turn me on the way you do?”

She lifted her head and gave him an innocent, coy look. “Sorry.”

“I bet you are.”

She placed her lips over his, threaded her hands through his hair, held his head close, teased and nipped. When he moaned, her tongue pushed inside. Twisting and tangling with his in the ever so ancient dance of love.

He ended the kiss and held her away. “We need to talk.” He was serious. He was scared to death something might happen to her and that would be unbearable. He was no longer losing his heart, he had well and truly lost it to this beautiful, amazing woman.

Avery understood, avoiding the subject of her return to the club wasn't going to make it go away. She moved to a chair opposite. “Okay, talk.”

“I'd like you to give Vince a call sometime today and plead with him to let you return to the club. Accept his terms, within reason of course, but don't agree to go in tonight. I'll need time to set up the police protection squad.

She nodded. “He'll make it as hard as possible for me. I was a bitch to him before I left. He's not the sort to ever forget.”

“I know. If he demands anything you can't do, pull the plug.”

“I understand. There's no way I'll whore for him. I want you to catch Marty and I'll do almost anything to help you make it happen but, I won't let anyone fuck me.”

“I would kill anyone who tried. You will strip and get out of there. You tell that asshole you are doing nothing more.”

“Where will the other police be?”

“In the crowd, near the back so they can watch the doors and you.”
Why do I hate the thought of my colleagues watching the girl I love, strip? Whoa, back up. Love?
Gabe searched his feelings, his heart told him the truth. Somehow, he had fallen deeply in love with this wonderful girl in a matter of a few days. How, why? It didn’t matter. As much as he tried to convince himself it wasn't possible in such a short time, he had to face facts. For the first time in his life, he
was
in love.

“Gabe?”

He shook his head and took a gulp of his now lukewarm coffee. “Sorry, away with the faeries. As I said, the other men will be near the back, I'll be down the front. When you are finished, I'll slip out and wait at the side door. I'm driving out there today to get a look at where I can park the car. I need somewhere it won't be seen but somewhere I can see you come and go.”

“There's a vacant block near the club and some heavily treed bush next to it. Would that give you the cover? I can see them if I leave by the side door.”

Sadness crossed Gabe's face. Avery reached for his hand. “What's wrong?”

“That sounds like where Tegan was found.”

“I'm so sorry. I promise you, I'll do everything I can to help you get the bastard.”

“I know you will, sweetheart. Did you leave and go in by the side door when you worked there before?”

“Pretty often. I didn't go on until after nine and if there was a big crowd it was easier to use that door and walk around to the front on the outside.”

“It won't arouse suspicions then.”

“I don't think so.”

“I have to go into the station this morning and allocate two officers to the job. We'll take a drive out to the club and I'll explain what they'll be doing. When I get back here, you can call Vince.”

“Okay.”

Gabe rose, gathered the empty coffee mugs and padded off to the kitchen.

Avery remained on the balcony watching another spectacular sunrise. She still couldn't shake the feeling of dread. Something terrible was going to happen.

****

Gabe, Constables Ryan Flint and Matt Jones, sat quietly in the unmarked police vehicle scrutinizing the club and its surroundings. Gabe sipped at his coffee while Ryan took pictures on his cell phone.

“Where will you have the car, sir?” Matt asked.

“I think I'll use the cover of those trees. From there I can watch Avery until she enters the club and after she finishes, I can see her as she leaves. I think it's the most concealed area that is close by.”

“Where do you want us to park?” Ryan asked.

“Park out front like any other patron. You two clear on what you're to do?” Gabe asked.

“Yes, sir,” the officers answered in unison.

“Any threat to Avery's safety and you move in immediately.”

“Yes, sir.” They again answered in unison.

“I'll give you a call as soon as Avery has spoken with the owner of the club. In the meantime, I'll drop you back at the station and I want you to get everything you can on the club, Vince Catalino and Martin Reynolds. I don't want any nasty surprises. Talk to Detectives Bryce Williams and Elizabeth Connors. They will have some information which will save you time.”

The young men nodded.

Gabe started the vehicle and pulled onto the road.

After dropping the officers back at the station, he drove home. Avery would make the call they both dreaded.

****

Avery sat on the balcony, her feet crossed and resting on the railing. She was having an animated conversation with his mom. When she laughed at something his mother said, he smiled. He loved hearing her happy. When this was over he vowed, she would never be sad again.

“Ladies,” he strode onto the balcony and placed a kiss on his mother's cheek before kissing Avery's lips.

Ruby raised her eyebrows. She had never witnessed such outwardly amorous feelings from her son to a woman.
They make a nice couple.
She smiled to herself. “Am I to get used to the pleasure of your company during the day now?”

“As long as Avery is here.” Gabe grinned.

Ruby glanced at Avery. “I will have to ensure you stay for quite a while. I could get used to seeing my son on a regular basis.”

The young couple laughed.

“Sorry to interrupt mom but, Avery has an important call to make and I don't want any background noise from the ocean to be heard.”

“I understand.”

Gabe led Avery inside and handed her the pre-paid phone he had procured for her. Her hand trembled as she accepted it.

“Are you sure you can do this?”

“Yes, I am. I’m just a bit nervous about Vince's response.”

“I'll be right here.” He kissed her lips lightly.

She punched in the number of the club. Vince answered.

“Hello?”

“Vince?”

“Yeah.”

“It's Avery.”

“Well, well, bitch. I knew I'd hear from you, that you would eventually come crawling back, but I didn't realize it would be this soon. I hear you lost your apartment, couldn’t pay your bills.” His laugh was tinged with malice.

“I need a job. I have no money, no car, nothing. Please, can I come back?”

“What are you prepared to do if I let you come back?”

Avery shuddered at the insinuation in his voice. “I'll only do what I did before. I'm not working in the private rooms.”

“Hmmm, not sure I want you back then. My clients would like a bit of your pussy and I like to keep my clients happy.”

“Forget it then,” she snapped.

Vince obviously thought she was about to hang up so his tone became almost conciliatory. “Hang on, I can reconsider. I'll give you a job but I want your routine to last one and a half hours instead of one hour.”

She cringed. “Okay,” she reluctantly agreed.

“Can you start at nine tonight?”

“No. I have to organize a few things.” Lingerie being one of them. She hadn't bothered to take hers when she quit.

“I kept your outfit.”

Avery pictured the gloating sneer Vince would have on his face.

“Good. I'll see you tomorrow night then.”

“Tonight.”

“No.”

“Be on time.”

The call was disconnected and Avery moved into Gabe's waiting arms.

“Vince gave in too easily. It scares me.”

“I promise you’ll be okay.” He kissed her lips gently but a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach bothered him.

****

Vince stomped through the club and found Marty cozying up to the bar. A Vodka on the rocks being caressed in his hands. “Bit early for drinking don't you think?”

“Never too early or too late.” Marty swiveled on the stool and faced his boss.

“You need to back it off. You're drinking the profits.”

“What's got you in such a lousy mood?”

“I had a call from that Avery bitch. She wants to come back here.”

“The tail you have on her told you she was on the bones of her ass. What did you tell her? Is she gonna work the back rooms?”

“No, she wouldn't do it. I got the feeling she wouldn't come back if I insisted. I told her she had to up the set by half an hour. I'm worried about her, she knows too much. If the tail is right and she's been to the cops, we got no idea what she's told them. Is she a plant or what?”

“Boss, I'd bet my cock on her being a plant.”

“Yeah.”

“How do you want to handle it?”

“I don't know yet. After she dances tomorrow we'll have a little talk to the bitch.”

“What if that cop from where she's staying turns up?”

“We'll have to make sure he can't interfere.”

Marty smirked. He would put two of the club goons on the cop and once he was out of the way, he would avail himself of the slut’s cunt.”

Vince noted the glint in Marty's eyes. The man had been his right hand man for almost fifteen years and he still didn't trust him. He was convinced he knew something about Tegan's death even though he swore black and blue he'd had nothing to do with it.

“I'll put Gerry and Ward on the cop if he turns up.”

“Tell them, they are
not
to fucking do anything without my permission,” Vince warned.

“Yeah, whatever.”

“I mean it Marty. If they do anything without my say so, you'll be the one to pay the consequences.”

“I hear ya, already.”

Vince stomped away. Marty was going to have to go. He was getting out of hand.

A loose cannon like him poses a threat to me and the club.