Chapter 7
"How the heck did something like that happen !" Klaus raged, hitting his desk with his hands as he stared down at Kol and Marcel.
"There has to be a leak." Marcel ground out his expression grave.
"Yes, that's been made abundantly apparent. What I want to know is where it came from, or who. Kol take care of it. Marcel finds a way to make up for the missing delivery. Elijah is already working on freeing the guys who got arrested, those that aren't dead anyway."
"Don't worry brother, I'll take care of it." Kol smirked, though it wasn't mischievous like usual, a dangerous glint entered his eyes as he left.
Marcel nodded, keeping his silence and leaving the office, it was not a good idea to be near Klaus when he was in this kind of mood. He was nearly pitying the ones responsible for the debacle of the previous night. Nearly.
He passed Elijah on his way out.
"How are things ?" Klaus asked without preamble his elder brother.
"They probably won't be able to avoid prison, but even if the police can make them talk somehow it's their words against us and it will not hold in court." The lawyer in the family replied.
"If any of them actually consider talking, they'll get a one way ticket to hell courtesy of a bullet to the brain long before it reach court." Klaus bit out darkly.
"We'll need that alliance more than ever now." Elijah reminded his volatile brother. "I have gotten us an invitation to the Crawford hotel banquet. Briggs will be there. It's our best chance to arrange a meeting without gathering too much attention."
"I'll go." Klaus wasn't looking forward to it in the mood he was but with some luck the matter of last night would be settled and over by then.
"Briggs will expect a gift." Elijah said, distaste coloring his words.
"Ah, yes. That kind of 'gift' wasn't it. As expected of a rich pig entrepreneur. Your little lover should know the type, would you consider lending her for the night, after all seeing her profession she's already used to it."
"Leave Katerina out of this Niklaus." Elijah glared at him.
"Just a suggestion." Klaus shrugged unconcerned.
"I hear Briggs preference is for blonde."
"I'll see to it." Klaus poured himself a bourbon and downed the drink.
-O-
The Mystic was busy that night, and Caroline had been refilling drinks left and right.
"Well, I remember you." A man sat down at the bar before her and she looked up at him, recognizing him imediately too.
"Enzo... Right ?"
"I'm flattered you remember. Enzo St John, at your service." He did a semi-bow jokingly.
"What can I get you Enzo St-John ?"
"Irish Scotch. To begin with." He winked at her.
Caroline didn't really answer as she prepared the drink, she wasn't ignoring him, but she had the impression he was a flirt, especially from what she heard from Bonnie. She'd gotten quite used to drunken patrons, or sober, flirting with her in that past month, but she had to admit Enzo seemed in a higher league. And had a charming accent. Still, she knew he wasn't serious and so choose to let it go, he didn't seem the type to get offended if a girl didn't flirt back.
"Here you go." She put his drink before him.
"Thanks Darling."
Melodic music began to fill the air as Gloria stood on the stage and began singing. Both Enzo and Caroline turned that way with the rest of the room. Caroline listened with a smile on her face and a bit of a wistful expression.
"Like music then ?" He saw her expression.
"Yes." She simply answered.
Once the song was finished the room broke into applause.
"So what's a man got to do to convince a pretty girl like you to have a drink with him."
"I'm working." She raised an eyebrow.
"You're a barmaid, Gloria won't say anything about one drink, and I'm paying."
Caroline knew he was right.
"One drink, that's all, or I'll tell Bonnie." She looked him in the eyes.
"Might be worth it if it makes her jealous." He smiled roguishly.
Putting two small glasses on the counter, she filled them with alcohol. They both took one and Caroline knocked hers back at the same time as him. The drink left a burning path down her throat.
God, she was glad she had gotten used to drinking alcohol since coming to Chicago. It's not like she'd never drank before, she wasn't that sheltered, but she wasn't used to the burn of it. Gloria had given her one drink on her first day and said, if she worked with alcohol, she should be able to hold her liquor. Matt had made an amused expression when she'd coughed after drinking it. Still, she'd come a long way, and was able to share one drink with a patron if he asked nicely. Not that she did indulge in drinking though, she remembered Gloria's warning well about sneaking drinks. Besides, getting drunk was a bad idea for a lone girl in these parts, it was akin to be defenceless in a wolves den.
"I still don't know your name." Enzo brought her out of her thoughts.
"Caroline."
"Well, Caroline, I think we'll get along well." He raised his scotch glass to her before taking a sip.
-O-
Heels echoed on the pavement as Rebekah Mikaelson made her way through the street.
Turning at the street corner, she was suddenly pulled into a side street, she prepared herself to fight when a hand covered her mouth, and began to kick outward when her back met the brick wall of the alley and finally she saw her assailant. She immediately stopped struggling and he took back his hand, putting it above her head on the wall.
"Marcel." She breathed. And then she glared up at him. "Are you insane ? I could have hurt you !"
He smiled down charmingly at her.
"My girl being a badass is kind of a turn on." Marcel leaned toward her. Rebekah cheeks flushed pink and she tried to continue to glare, but she looked pleased. Her eyes trailed down to his lips. He didn't waste more time in capturing hers, pressing her against the wall as a moan escaped her.
A long moment later they finally separated.
"I should go." Whispered Marcel against her lips. "Don't forget what I told you about being careful." He let go of her and took a step back before walking out of the side street.
Rebekah took a moment to calm her heartbeat and neaten her clothes, before stepping out of the alley also, head held high.
-O-
In a dingy warehouse Kol was waiting.
Several men arrived pulling in another who was struggling in vain. They dropped him at Kol feet.
"I'd say welcome, but that'd imply you were a guest instead of a trespasser." Kol smiled.
"What do you want ? I'd didn't do anything, wha' people can't pass through a street anymore ?"
"See, but the problem is, it was our street, and you're one of Salvatore men. And my brother's been pretty annoyed lately with all of you rats scurrying around where you shouldn't. Well, good for me, I say, it means I get to play with new toys. Don't worry, I'll make sure not to break you too quickly, after all you're in the inner circle of old Salvatore or so I heard, Gino the Ear wasn't it, and I have plenty of questions to ask to pass the time. Now let's begin." A manic gleam entered Kol eyes, as his smile widened.
The other man had become white as a sheet and widened his eyes when Kol fingered a wooden bat. Suddenly the Mikaelson swung and caught the man in the middle, he bent clutching at his stomach in pain and coughing. Kol grabbed his hair and pulled his head back violently. The man cried out in pain.
"So what do you know about the police raid on our merchandise the other day ? Better talk quickly before I find you boring and call Klaus to see if it unknot your tongue."
Fear and dread entered the man's expression.
I will be raising the rating soon, just to warn you.
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