Chapter 25

Jason and Davis were by the end of the bar, the club was packed but they had a good view from this spot, of the back exit and the roped-off VIP area. Ruiz had arrived about 30 minutes ago and him and his guys had been downing shots ever since.

Ray, Clay and Sonny were in a truck outside keeping an eye on the front entrance and Brock and Trent were also outside on the other side of the building watching the back exit.

Jason heard Rays voice in his ear piece "Errrrmm Boss, we have some company we weren't expecting…. Mandy is here"

"What? Where?" Jason says

"Coming in the front entrance now, Green dress."

"Fuck." Jason says under his breath.

Davis just gives him a look and keeps quiet.

Sure enough a few minutes later Mandy walks in, she was hard to miss walking confidently, the crowds naturally parted for her, men taking an appreciative glance, women sensing someone who was used to people getting out of her way. As she moved closer he took-in what she was wearing, a kaftan style dress in emerald green print, long and floating but with a high split up one leg and a plunging neckline.

"Wow" it was Jason's thought but Davis voice who said it.

Jason's mind was flashing back to another time in Mexico, that same colour on her, him and her undercover in a club like this. Then they were both blending in, tonight she definitely didn't blend.

"That colour always looked good on her" says Davis giving Jason a side-glance.

Mandy was making her way towards the VIP area, and they weren't the only ones who had noticed her. Ruiz was rising from his seat arms in the air in a greeting. They couldn't hear what was said from their position but it was clear from their greeting that they already knew each other. Mandy put on her best charming smile, one that anyone else might assume was genuine but one Jason had seen before used on many an unsuspecting person. Only a select few people got to see what Mandy's real smile looked like.

Ruiz pulled her in to kiss her on both cheeks and embraced her in a hug, his hand snaking down her back to give her ass a subtle squeeze that Jason didn't miss. Jason clenched his hands. Mandy just smiled and seemed to make a joke of moving his hand away, Ruiz was throwing his head back laughing at whatever she had said, he moved to put his hand around her shoulders guiding her to the VIP area. His chief of security also greeted Mandy in a friendly but less familiar way than his boss.

He seemed to be introducing her to a couple of the people at his table and was clapping his hands together at the waitress, moments later bottles of champagne and glasses arrived, he was pouring a glass for Mandy gesturing for her to sit. She sat next to Ruiz, looking cool and composed. They remained seated at the same table as the others but the two of them were slightly to the side, deep in a private conversation.

"Mandy's in close with this guy" Lisa says, both to Jason and for the benefit of the guys outside "We need to know what she knows"

Jason was nodding rubbing his face. He wasn't sure if Mandy had spotted them or not, knowing her she probably sensed they were there even if she wasn't letting on. As if reading his mind Mandy stood up from her seat and excused herself, she walked past them and looked straight at Davis as she did.

"I'm going to visit the ladies room" Davis said understanding.

She waited a few beats before following behind Mandy.

They were not the only ladies in the ladies room, they took their turns waiting for cubicles to become free. Davis was already at the hand basins when Mandy came out to join her and another two ladies who were chatting away reapplying their make-up, Davis made a show of reapplying her lipstick and Mandy complimented her on her dress, like two strangers making small talk. "What shade of lipstick is that, it look amazing with the green" Davis says.

"Let me check, I have it in here somewhere" Mandy says as she pulls items out of her purse, she purposefully pulls out the cardboard wallet that holds her hotel card key turning it so Davis can see the room number.

"I hear there's some good places to dance around here, any you'll be trying out later? I'm going to try and convince my boyfriend" Davis asks

"There's a really great place right across the street, same owner, a friend of mine. But no dancing for me tonight, busy business day tomorrow so I'll be heading back to my hotel for an early night." Mandy replied

"Oh here it is, Just Bitten it's called. Try it if you like" Mandy says and checks no one is paying attention before dropping it into Davis' purse, "Have a great night of dancing…your boyfriend's hot" she says mischievously as she picks up her own purse, smiles at Davis and leaves the bathroom.

Davis grins and stands in front of the mirror a little longer before also leaving.

"And?" Jason says impatiently when she gets back to him.

"We didn't really have any privacy in there but I have her hotel room number, she mentioned she's got an early business meeting so she won't be staying long, early night. And I'm pretty sure she's passed me some information I'll check it out back at base…Oh and apparently my boyfriend is hot" she laughs and grins at Jason.

Jason's face doesn't know whether to smile or be mad and Davis laughs again at his confusion.

They stay until Mandy leaves the club with her two bodyguards and Jason tells Ray and Clay to follow them and keep an eye outside the hotel and for Sonny to head back with him and Davis.

Jason and Davis leave to return to base and tell Brock and Trent to wait here and follow Ruiz, keep eyes on where he is tonight.

"We thinking of dropping in to see Mandy?" Davis asks

"If we can definitely get her on her own without any of Ruiz gang then yes I think we take advantage of knowing where she is right now. Ray, let me know when her bodyguards leave, and Trent keep eyes on Ruiz."