A/N: So I had intended to finish Nexus before I started posting this. But the next chapter of that is alluding me and I wanted to post something today. Figured the first chapter of this fic was a good way to go! You can expect the rest starting in 3 weeks once Nexus is wrapped up!
Anyhow, I am very excited to share this story, but feel it's only fair that you know what you're getting into. So consider yourselves warned that this story features Elliot as a mob boss and an overall bad dude. This story will be dark, twisted and smutty (and definitely not fluffy) and is very AU.
Elliot Stabler glances around the table of assembled men. He thrums his fingers against the glossy table top and considers the gathered crowd. He hasn't spoken for several long minutes now and he can feel the tension escalating. He allows it to grow.
As head of the five families, it's easy enough to hold the room in thrall. His word is always final, his judgement never questioned without fear of the consequences. In a moment like this he allows himself to revel in the power of it.
He has his fingers in a little bit of everything. Drugs, money laundering, gun smuggling. None of it is off limits. Not if he can make a buck without too much unnecessary risk. There were a few items that felt not worthy of his time; human trafficking was so gauche and he had enough problems dealing with the unpredictability of his various clientele to add a human factor on the business end. Beyond that though, he didn't pretend to place too much value on human life and when necessary, dispatching of problem elements was never much of a concern. A fact that his comrades know all too well. A fact they live in fear of.
"Gentleman, I hope this means I can count on all of you. I certainly don't want to have to force anyone's hand…"
The threat hangs in the silence and Elliot watches Vinnie, head of the Genovese family shift uncomfortably, his gaze averted. He's long learned that picking off the weakest link is the shortest path to what he wants.
"Vinnie, let's take a walk." Elliot rises from the table and the others follow, shaking his hand first and wishing him well as he puts an arm around Vinnie's shoulders and practically drags the man from the room.
"I'm in agreement, Elliot. You got no problems from me." Vinnie stutters.
"That's good, Vinnie. I know you'll keep the other's in line."
It's that simple. His words carry so much weight that he barely has to bother to make any real threats. He squeezes Vinnie's shoulder a little too hard and watches the man wince. Elliot throws him a smile and then swaggers away, knowing Vinnie will truly ensure that his plans come to a successful end.
As he passes the bar of the No Name, enroute to the exit, Elliot glances over, his eyes landing on a dark haired beauty, a woman he hasn't seen before. She's leaning against the bar, the curve of her ass arched out, her head swiveled in his direction. She's wearing a tight, red, strappy dress, the brevity of the hemline showing off long, lean legs, accentuated further by sky-high heels. For all the temptation of her figure, it's her eyes that cause his feet to slow. A chocolatey brown, warm and inviting, that are taking him in with interest. He smiles at her and she blushes, her eyes dropping away quickly as she turns back to face the bar. He watches the bartender placing drinks on a tray and she lifts it and quickly sways away. He makes a mental note to find out more when he returns for the next meeting.
Kathy's asleep in her bedroom when he arrives home, as per usual. She's a good mother, but the Catholic girl in her had learned to abhor him when she fully understood who he was and their marriage had become a sham over the years. She couldn't fathom the notion of divorcing him, so she turned a blind eye to his business and trysts and he kept her stocked with designer labels and they otherwise tried to stay out of each other's way.
He couldn't say he minded any of it. He had loved her at one time, but nowadays a good fuck was about all he needed aside from his work and there was always enough of both available. His mind wanders back to the waitress at the No Name and he thinks she could be a nice addition to his rotation. Lithe and young enough to be easily taken by his money and not expect too much. Someone to warm his bed, even if she couldn't warm his heart.
The next week's meeting goes better than expected and Elliot had been right about Vinnie and his capacity to come through. They're selling a new concoction they call Onyx, already a hit on the streets, already guaranteed to make him another truckload of money.
As he's leaving he spots the brunette waitress again. Her black skirt has a high slit. A silvery top leaves her midriff bare. Her thick hair falls past her chin and he watches her pass a hand through the strands, arching her neck as she does. Elliot signals for his bodyguards to leave him some space and he saunters over to where she's standing at the bar, filling napkin holders.
She seems to sense his presence and turns towards him, her lips lifting into a soft smile as she takes him in.
"Can I help you, Mr. Stabler?" Her voice holds no trepidation, nothing to indicate that her knowledge of him makes her uncomfortable. All the better.
"I'm glad you know who I am." He cocks an eyebrow, leans against the bar next to her.
She smirks, "It's a little hard to miss you in this place."
She's right, of course. The No Name is known for its business dealings and he's the biggest business there is.
He grins back at her, "And who are you?"
"Olivia Benson," her eyes hold him with a sense of daring.
"Beautiful name for a beautiful woman."
She gives him a look like maybe she's a bit unimpressed with his approach and he laughs, "Hear that all the time, huh?"
"And here I thought you'd do better," she gives him an assessing look before she sashays away, leaving the bar and heading to a back room. And he doesn't hesitate to follow. He finds himself in their wine room, bottles lining all four walls, a table and some chairs in the center of the room.
"I can definitely do better," he assures her as he walks into the room behind her.
"I don't think you're supposed to be back here, Mr. Stabler." She doesn't turn back to him, focusing her attention on the bottles of wine in the rack as she checks them against the inventory. She's bending slightly forward and he takes a moment to appreciate the full curve of her ass.
"I find that people pretty much let me do what I want. And you should call me Elliot."
She pauses her work then, turns slowly back to face him. "And how many people get to call you Elliot?"
He closes some of the distance between them. "Oh, very few. You should be flattered. Of course if you feel so inclined to call me Mr. Stabler in my bed, I wouldn't mind that at all. Sir is also acceptable."
She laughs softly, "So presumptuous." But then she takes a few tentative steps towards him, placing the clipboard onto the table and bumping her hip against the ledge.
"Like I said, people are pretty happy to let me do what I want." He moves to stand in front of her, ghosts his fingers across the back of her hand where it rests against her thigh.
"I'm not most people."
"I can already tell." There's a promising silence between them and he shifts slightly forward, allows his thumb to brush against her hand again.
"Well, I need to finish my work. It's almost the end of my shift."
"Isn't that lucky. I'll take you home," his voice is husky as he leans into her ear. He skims a finger up her inner thigh, wedges it beneath the hem of her short dress. He looks down at her curving mouth and he's about to lean down and kiss her when he hears her speak.
"No."
Just like that. He can't even recall someone using that word with him in months, aside from his kids.
"No?" He laughs, his fingers stilling on her skin.
"Mmm, you do know what that word means?" She's smiling, flirtatious and tempting.
"I have heard it before. I just don't hear it from beautiful women."
She ducks her head and then slips away from his touch. She creates enough distance so his hand is off of her skin but stays close enough that he knows the rejection isn't meant to cut.
"Well, consider this a first," she looks at him from beneath her lashes and he sees the challenge.
"You're going to make me work for it, huh?"
She steps forward, ghosts her fingers against his chest. "I'm worth the wait." And then she slips away, out the door and back into the bar.
He doesn't wait until the next meeting and returns to the No Name two nights later. He has the hostess seat him in her section and it's only as she approaches the table that she sees him, pausing a few paces away and giving him a knowing smile.
She closes the distance, "Mr. Stabler. Back so soon?"
He allows his eyes to rove over the shimmery silver of her skin tight dress before he smiles up at her. "I believe I told you to call me Elliot."
Her lips quirk, "You may have…Now, what can I get you?"
He leans forward, grins. "A bottle of wine. And your company."
She shifts slightly, "I don't think my boss would be too happy. I'm still new and I need my job." She cocks an eyebrow at him and he nods.
"I'm sure he'd make an exception for me."
She bites her lip, fighting a smile. "You really are cocky."
He gives her a suggestive look and she laughs softly. "Well, you seem to know who I am. Wouldn't you say I'm right to be?"
She glances away then back to him, but doesn't quite answer.
He leans back in his seat and looks at her thoughtfully. "Since you're such a diligent worker, I won't try to distract you. When are you off? We'll go to dinner."
"You're so sure I'll say yes that you don't ask?" She smirks at him and he laughs.
"You're too curious to say no." He challenges and she inclines her head as she responds, "Touché."
She fiddles with her pen as she considers. "And why do you want to go out with me?"
"I like a challenge." She smiles, rolling her eyes gently at his response. "And I like your smile," he adds. Her gaze falls back to him and he sees the blush rising in her cheeks. She purses her lips as she appraises him.
"Fine. I'm off tomorrow."
He rises, runs his fingers down her arm. "Good answer. I'll pick you up at 7."
He's moving past her and she turns, "You don't know where I live."
He turns back to her, grins cockily, "Sure I do."
She shakes her head and he adjusts his jacket and strolls out, feeling her eyes on his back.