The Perfect Stroke (42 page)

“Boss!” the banging on the door stops us both.

“Fucking hell,” I mumble letting go of her mouth.  “Go away!” I yell. Ana’s lips spread into a smile.

“Boss! It’s urgent. Bruno called!” 

I stiffen, regretfully pulling Ana away from me. She whimpers, but goes.

“What’s going on?” I yell again. The music in the room stops and I look down to see Ana push the button, shutting the speakers off along the back of the wall. She obviously knows the layout of the place. She’s also too fucking good at lap dancing. Why does that feel like something I should make note of?

“The police raided The Stable,” Joe says.

Motherfucker.  I look over at Ana and watch as she buttons up the shirt she had on before. All excitement has left her eyes. Something else is there now and I have no idea what.

“This isn’t finished,” I warn her.

“You better go. You might want to change, though,” she whispers, her face flushed and avoiding my eyes. I look down at my crotch and see a small wet circle reminding me that she made me come in my pants like a fucking kid.

“I’ll have a driver waiting for you out front, Ana. He’ll take you back to my place, pet, and we’ll finish this,” I tell her, my voice harsh because the last thing I want to do is leave her.

“You better go see to business,” she says with a weak smile, though she’s still not looking at me.

I grab the side of her neck and pull her to me, giving her a kiss.

“Soon, Ana. Soon,” I tell her before growling my frustration out and leaving.

“You’re late,” Paul’s voice says in my ear.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. It’s been a rough day, I’m frustrated as hell and the last thing I need is Paul bitching at me. “Have you heard anything from Allen?”

“Nothing, Ana. I’m sorry.”

“Fuck.”

“How did your meeting with Roman go?”

My meeting. I don’t have to have a mirror to know I’m blushing. I can feel the heat in my face. “I think I passed the test.”

“Good, keep your head down and stay out of his line of sight.”

Yeah, too late for that, Paul.

“Yes, daddy. Can we let it go now? We knew this was going to happen. It’ll be fine. I just need you to keep looking for Allen.”

“Ana, you need to prepare yourself for the—”

“Not now, Paul. I know you mean well, but right now I need to believe that Allen is alive. Until something shows me otherwise, I’m keeping with that.”

“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll let you know if we find anything. You checking in the same time tomorrow?”

“Yeah. I’ll talk to you then.”

“Stay safe,” Paul says and I mumble an, “Always,” as I click off my cheap burn phone.  I open the drawer in my bedroom and bury it under my bras and panties, then collapse on the bed, holding my head in my hands.

I fucked up so bad today. If Paul knew what had really gone down, he’d still be ripping me a new one. How did things get so out of control? I was just going to tease him and make him loosen that tight noose of control he keeps.
Shake him up
.

I never meant to get carried away in it too.

I barely escaped going to his home tonight. That would have been a disaster. Well, it would have definitely worked out the frustration that has filled my body, but it would have been a disaster in the long run. I snuck out the back and stayed far away from the main entrance. I saw Roman’s limo there waiting by the club. I wonder what his reaction will be when he realizes I’m not showing up. I was tempted, but today showed me that I’m completely out of control where Roman is concerned, and I can’t afford that.

I know I only bought myself a small reprieve, but it was needed. I have to figure out what I’m going to do here. To give into my body’s demands could ruin everything. Trouble is, I think I’m against the wall now and there’s no other choice. None I’m willing to make right now.
None I can make.

It’s been a fucked up evening, leaving Ana like I did and seeing what a fucking mess the police left of my club.  I’m used to mild annoyances from the police with my lesser properties, but The Stable is one of the premier spots. It’s nothing to have VIP clients ranging from the hottest musicians and actors to political figures. Had this raid been on the weekend, it might have cost me plenty. As it was, I had the staff put a closed sign on the door and play it off like a fucking water leak. I paid my connections plenty to keep the story out of the press.

The cops didn’t find anything. I don’t think they’re stupid enough to think they would, which begs the question as to what they were doing. Could Ana’s questions about her brother have fallen upon the ears of a sympathetic detective trying to impress her and get in her pants? I’m going to have to quiet her down. Short of sticking my dick in her mouth, which seems like the best solution, I’m at a loss as to how.

I step out of my car, already loosening up my tie. My plan is to drink some scotch and then get lost in Ana’s body. In fact, about the only bright spot of this day is Ana. Knowing she was here waiting for me kept me from going off at the club tonight.

Disappointment hits me when Ana isn’t on the sofa when I enter my home. Then again, it’s two in the morning. She probably gave up on me and went to bed. Which works out fine, since that’s exactly where I want her. Ana and I have unfinished business, and I definitely want to finish it.

“You’re home late, Mr. Anthes. Can I heat you up some dinner?” the maid Mayra asks me almost as soon as I step through the front door.

“No thanks, Mayra. I grabbed something at the club. Did you show Ana to my room?”

“Ana?”

“Didn’t my driver drop off someone earlier?”

“No, sir. It’s been quiet all evening.”

Son of a bitch.

“Never mind, then. I must have been mistaken about the night. I’m going to crash. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight sir. Try to get some rest.”

I stomp into my bedroom, pissed the fuck off. I pick up the cordless phone on my nightstand and call my driver.

“I thought I told you to pick up Ana.”

“Yes sir, you did. I’m still waiting at the club. She hasn’t come out.”

“The club closed two hours ago. There’s no way she’s still inside. Next time I give an order, I don’t care if you have to go inside—you better make sure my orders are carried out. Do we understand each other?”

“Yes s—”

I hang up before he can finish his sentence, immediately dialing another number.

“Boss? Is something wrong?”

“I need Ana’s address and phone number,” I demand. “
Now
.”

“Give me a second,” Joe says, sounding put-out. “Boss, she’s a good kid. She’s not like your usual women.”

“Just get me the number, Joe.” I’m not about to get into this with him. What happens with Ana is not his business. He relays the information I need and I hang up without comment, immediately dialing the number he gave me.

“Hello?” she answers, sounding surprisingly awake for the hour.

“You’re not here, pet.”

“Roman,” she says, her voice a whispery sigh.

“Why aren’t you here, Ana?”

“Roman, what happened, I… I don’t think we should… It was a mistake.”

“The hell it was. I’m going to send a car over.”

“Roman, don’t. It’s late. I haven’t been sleeping well and I’m dead on my feet. All I want to do is crawl in my bed and sleep.”

“You can do that in my bed.”

“We both know if I give in to that, we wouldn’t be sleeping.”

“We would eventually.”

“Roman, I don’t fit into your world.”

“You’re in my world, pet. You work in my club.”

There’s silence on the phone. Then she whispers one word so quiet I strain to hear it. “Temporarily.”

“Ana, I don’t think you understand that I’m not giving you a choice in this.”

“Roman, listen to me. I know it’s hard to grasp, but I’m saying no to you.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“I noticed,” she sighs. “My life is complicated right now. I have enough on my plate. I can’t get mixed up in whatever trouble you have going on.”

“Trouble?” I question, my body going tight.

“Police don’t raid just anyone, Roman. I have a brother in trouble. He’s all the anxiety I can handle right now. He’s missing and I just—”

“My business is my business, Ana. Whatever happens between us, my professional life is not your concern. It does not touch you.”

“You can’t promise that, but it doesn’t matter. I told you, I have to concentrate on finding Allen and I just don’t have time in my life for a relationship.”

“Again, pet, I don’t do relationships
and
I’m not asking.”

“Gee, Roman. You don’t date, you don’t do relationships … What exactly
do
you do?”

“I’ll show you. Be ready. My car will be there in fifteen.”

“I can’t, Roman. At least not tonight. I just got back in after looking for my brother and I’m just too tired to move. I’m going to nap and then head out in the morning.”

Frustration runs through me at her words. Do I tell Ana and demand she gives in to me? Do I finish off her brother and say nothing? There are two clear paths and yet I don’t take either, mainly because I want Ana, but the first choice smacks of desperation and that’s not who I am. Ana will be mine. What happened between us tonight did nothing but chisel that in stone.

“I’m sending my car over. You can sleep here and sleep in.”

“Roman, I can’t. My—”

“I will help you find your brother, Ana. Now get enough stuff together for a couple of days and I’ll have my driver pick you up in twenty minutes.”

“You’ll help me find Allen?” she asks, her voice full of disbelief.

She could join the crowd. The minute I said the words, I wanted them back. It’s too late and what’s done is done. I have no fucking idea what I’m doing other than getting Ana in my bed. That seems to be the only important thing right now.

“I don’t know the particulars,” I tell her, lying, “but tomorrow we’ll talk and I’ll help you. I’m sure my contacts are better than yours.”

“Roman,” she whispers, her voice breaking.

“Twenty minutes, Ana.”

“I’ll be ready.”

“Good. See you soon,” I tell her before clicking the phone off and calling my driver and giving him Ana’s address. I go to the bar and poor myself a drink while undoing my cufflinks and putting them down. I take off the tie completely and unbutton my shirt, leaving it on. I collapse in the chair facing the bed, drink in hand.