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Usual disclaimed, Its Janets, not mine
Chapter 15
I was standing in the bedroom towelling myself dry when I got a whiff of something tasty. I threw on a robe and wandered through to the lounge. Sitting on the kitchen counter was a pizza box and a can of diet coke. A small note was attached to the box saying 'Enjoy' signed by Hal. What was it with this place? Doesn't anybody respect each other's privacy? I managed a couple of slices but I was becoming nervous about this evening. I put the rest in the fridge and popped the can of soda. What I needed was something stronger!
I took myself back to the bedroom to get changed. I pulled out the halter neck top and couldn't help looking again at the beautiful corset Lester had bought me. He had also purchased the thong, suspender belt and thigh highs that matched. He obviously liked to accessorise! It seemed a shame that something so beautiful would be kept hidden, as I wasn't sure I would have the nerve to give Lester a private show of his new investments.
But wait a minute, he didn't actually specify a private modelling session. I got the shoes out of their box and held them up to the corset. They were almost a perfect match. If I was back home there was no way I would be considering what I had just decided to do. But tonight I wasn't being Carla Macrae, tonight I was being someone else entirely.
Before I could talk myself out of it I put on the thong, suspender belt and thigh highs, trying carefully not to tear them. I pulled the satin skirt on then, with great difficulty, managed to get the corset on. Although it laced up the back I had to fasten it using the hook and eye fastening at the front, or I would never have managed it on my own. As it was it took about ten minutes and two false starts to make sure all the fastenings met up in the right place. I went through to the bathroom to see how I looked. Because the skirt was high waisted with a slight 'V' shape to the waistline I pulled it up over the bottom of the corset. My breasts were pushed up high but didn't overflow the corset too much so I wasn't overly Dolly Parton. It was more sophisticated rather than slutty. The shoes, hair and make up would make it slutty though!
I added lots of mousse to my hair and dried it with my head upside down to give it lots of volume then ran some wax through the ends of my layers to give me that 'just out of bed' look. I did the smoky eye thing again but added an extra layer of eyeliner and mascara. I finished my face off with some sheer lipgloss with just a hint of a shimmer to emphasise my eyes. I could have added a deep colour to my lips but that would have screamed whore more than just plain slut! I slipped my new shoes on and finished the whole ensemble off with some Ravishing perfume. I wished again for a full length mirror but then I would maybe have seen sense and stuck to the original outfit had I seen the whole effect.
I wandered back through to the lounge area to grab a seat and a quick shot of Jack Daniels with the coke that was left. I had found a miniature bottle courtesy of my flight over in my make up bag. It wasn't much but it was enough to calm my nerves some. I crossed my legs and looked down at the split in the skirt showing the lacy top of the thigh highs and my pale, bare thigh . I would have to remember not to do that in the car on the way there or I would end up distracting the wrong men completely. I wondered what Lester would say about me modelling my new outfit to the whole of Rangeman and got a delicious shiver thinking about it. I finished the rest of the JD straight out the bottle and tried to focus on Belivanis rather than Lester!
It was nearly 9pm so I grabbed my file and a small black clutch bag with my phone and lip gloss and as an after thought a small black wrap I had luckily packed to cover my dignity, at least until we were at the club and I was ready to unleash my assets!
I stepped out the elevator onto the fourth floor and tried to hide my embarrassment as eight sets of eyes locked on to me. I held my head high and walked over to the group that were obviously discussing tactics or whatever it was they needed to discuss for tonight. They were all congregated around the front cubicle in various different outfits. Some where in the usual Rangeman outfits but others were dressed for a night on the town. Ranger was sitting behind the desk with Lester and Bobby taking up the two seats at the other side of the desk. Tank and Hal were standing with Binkie and Brett who I had only met briefly. There was one other man who I didn't recognise. He was very similar in build and stance as Hal, but his distinguishing feature was a flaming skull tattoo on his forehead! I wasn't sure I wanted to be introduced to him.
Lester moved out his seat and indicated for me to sit down. I shook my head though and stayed upright. There was no way I was going to let this lot see down my cleavage or up my skirt. Lester shrugged his shoulder and sat down turning back to Ranger. Everyone seemed in a very serious mood.
"Carla, glad you could join us" Ranger said swiftly checking me out. "I think you know everyone here apart from Cal who arrived back with Bobby last night, and you are now well acquainted with Bobby after your earlier . . . accident" he said with a slight smirk on his lips. Everyone else wasn't quite so discreet and there was laughter and chuckles all round.
"Nice to meet you Carla" Cal said trying to reach me and offer me his huge paw. I just gave him a small wave and tried to hide behind Hal who was standing beside me. That got more chuckles. I rolled my eyes and it was then that I noticed one of the monitors with my image on it. Someone had put my little 'accident' on a loop and it was playing over and over for everyone to see. I stood open mouthed in shock and turned to look at the men to see who the culprit was. Everyone looked back at me the picture of innocence.
"Right let's go" Ranger announced before I could kill anybody. "Cal, Hal, Binkie and Brett are in one car, Carla you are with Tank, Bobby, Lester and myself" Ranger stood and everyone else followed to the elevator. "Carla have you read your file?" he asked.
"Twice" I lied. Well I had almost read it once. But I had scrutinised the photos so I would know Belivanis on sight.
"Good" Ranger said. "Shit, Les can you get Carla's tracking device, I've left it on my desk". Wow who would have thought Ranger could be forgetful! Lester headed back to Ranger's office and the rest of them entered the elevator. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to wait for Lester or go with the others but there wasn't much space left in the elevator so I decided to wait. I realised that only Ranger, Bobby, Tank and Lester weren't dressed in the usual SWAT gear so assumed they would be in the club with me. The rest would be positioned at all the exits from the club and be ready to follow if, or when I leave with Belivanis.
Lester came back holding the necklace that Steph had been wearing last night.
"Is that the tracking device?" I asked dubiously. I was expecting something to be hidden in my underwear. I was relieved though as I had been wondering how I was going to get fitted out with a tracker.
"This is it" Lester replied. "The tracker is in the crystal. The chain is reinforced so shouldn't be at risk of breaking while you are dancing".
I reached out to take it from him but instead he walked right up to me and started pushing me towards the elevator. Once he had pressed the button to call it he put his arms around me and fastened the necklace for me. He was so close and smelled so good. Once fastened he used his fingers to straighten the chain out and then he moved my wrap aside and dropped the crystal down my front. It settled just above my cleavage. The elevator doors opened and again he pushed me through the doors. Once the doors shut he moved me over against the side.
"You might think you're clever wearing that tonight, but I still want a private viewing later" he breathed in my ear.
"You never said anything about it being a private show you wanted Santos" I whispered back looking up to meet his eyes. He looked so good dressed in black jeans and a dark grey tight fitting t shirt. I was trying to work out what designer logo was on his chest when he suddenly pulled back from me.
"You've been drinking again" he said angrily.
"Hardly" I said "Just a miniature from the plane."
"If Ranger finds out you've been drinking he'll put a stop to this. This is serious Carla, Belivanis is a nasty piece of work and he has the hots for you. You need to be completely aware of what is going on if he takes you somewhere". Lester shook his head at me and hit the hold button of the elevator. "Are you scared about tonight or something?" he asked in a more gentler tone.
"No I am not fucking scared" I shouted back at him. "I just wanted a wee drink. What's the big deal?"
"You just seem to need a drink a lot" he replied flatly.
"Oh please, you've only known me two minutes and you've decided I've got a drink problem" I shouted again. "So now I've told you something about my past you think I'm some kind of head case. Thank you very much" I stepped round him to hit the hold button again and we moved down the final floor. Lester dug into his pocket and handed me a packet of breath mints.
"You hoping to pull tonight?" I asked taking one. If this was Lester's reaction to me having a drink I didn't really want to see Ranger's.
"I had hopes" he said taking the packet back.
"Good luck with that then" I said storming out the elevator as the doors opened.
Ranger, Tank and Bobby were standing beside an SUV so I walked over to them and without saying a word opened the front passenger door and climbed in. The goons could sit in the back!
Half an hour later we were sitting in relative silence across the street from the club. Ranger had been hoping to get a definite sighting of Belivanis before we went in but his contact in the club had called to say he hadn't arrived yet. We were sitting watching the line of people going in and waiting for Sasha to arrive, who was being picked up by Ram. I was sitting pretending to read the file so I wouldn't have to speak to anybody. I was still angry at Lester for implying I had a drink problem. Okay so I did like a drink but only if I'm going out somewhere. I wouldn't just sit drinking on my own. I didn't like beer so spirits were my only option.
I realised Ranger was asking me a question. "Sorry, what was that" I asked looking up at him.
"I said do you have any questions about tonight? You've been sitting reading that file intently since we left" he said.
I thought for a minute. There was something that had been bothering me. "How quickly will you be able to follow me if you are still in the club after we leave?" I asked.
"Hal and the others go straight to their vehicle once they get the word from me that you are on you're way out. Ram will be sitting in this vehicle ready to pick us up once we leave. We will be right behind you and in contact at all times with Hal. Don't worry we won't lose you." he said soothingly
I took a deep breath and let out a big sigh. It was frustrating just sitting here when I could at least be dancing and pretending to have a good time. A black Porsche had pulled in across from us and I could see Ram and Sasha through the windows.
"You nervous?" Ranger asked.
"Restless, I could be in there dancing with Sasha instead of sitting here twiddling my thumbs" I answered.
"Watch you don't knock yourself out on the dancefloor Rocky" Bobby chuckled from the back seat.
"Oh ha ha funny one" I sniped back. "I'll have you know I am a very good dancer" I added.
"So I've heard" Bobby replied. I turned in my seat so I could get a better look at the back seat. "Sasha told me" me grinned.
"She's a fantastic dancer too" I said. She really was too. Sasha was tall but graceful.
"Hal said you were on that treadmill for ages this afternoon. You could maybe teach Steph a thing or two" Bobby said. That got a laugh from all the men in the car.
"If she ever comes to Edinburgh she could join my class" I said.
"You go to dance classes?" Bobby asked.
"I teach a dance class" I said looking at the surprise registering on Lester's face. Ha obviously that little snippet of information hadn't made it to my file.
"What do you teach?" Lester asked. It was the first time he had spoken since getting in the car.
"A little bit of everything" I said. "I took some classes a while back and really enjoyed them. I picked everything up quite quickly so they asked if I would be interested in volunteering to teach some kids. They all come from difficult backgrounds so it is a bit of escapism for them. Hip hop is the flavour of the month just now" I said sadly. I was missing some of the kids. I had become a surrogate aunt to some of them. I hoped they wouldn't think too badly of me for abandoning them.
"So you kick ass in more ways than one then" Bobby chuckled to himself.
"Okay so I need some more kick boxing classes, get over it already" I shouted back at him but smiled all the same. Bobby's enthusiasm for everything was infectious.
"You're a busy lady, with all your classes. Anything else you got up your sleeve? Tank asked. I thought he had fallen asleep.
"Not unless they got a pole somewhere in the club" I said absently.
"What would you do with a pole?" Lester asked sitting forward. I turned to see all men looking at me. Even Ranger looked curious.
"I'm taking pole dancing lessons" I answered. They all fell silent digesting this information. God only knows what images were flashing through their minds.
"As a form of fitness" I added in case they were getting the wrong idea.
A few moments passed before Bobby broke the silence "Hey Ranger, you think we could get a pole installed in the gym?" he asked.
"What do you think Carla?" Ranger asked me grinning in the dark. "You think you could teach my men how to pole dance?"
"You would have to get it reinforced but I'm sure we could have Bobby sliding up and down that pole in no time" I replied.
Just then Ranger's cell phone rang. He said a few words then hung up. "Sasha is getting bored she wants to get in the club" he said. "She has some friends in there so it would be good for the girls to be part of a bigger crowd. We go in now".
We all got out the car and I finally plucked up the courage to remove my wrap. I felt chilly but I think it was more due to nerves that the cold. I grabbed my bag and quickly walked over to Sasha who was out the car and raring to go. I didn't want to see anyone's reaction to my outfit but I did catch Ram's wide eyed expression as he got out the car. Sasha grabbed me and gave me a huge hug.
"You look amazing girl" she said linking my arm. "Lets go meet my friends". It was decided tonight that we wait in line with the rest of the queue. Being a Sunday night it wasn't as busy as it had been last night. Ranger and Tank were going in the back way but Bobby and Lester were somewhere in the queue behind us. Sasha had passes so we wouldn't have to pay at the door.
Sasha looked stunning again. Tonight she was wearing black wet look leggings with a tightfitting red halter neck top. Again she had 4 inch heels on so was half a head taller than me in my heels. She kept hold of my arm and we chatted amicably until we were in the club.
Once in she headed to a table just next to the dance floor where four other stunning beauties sat. I felt like the ugly duckling again. She introduced me to everyone and then went off to get us drinks. The girls at the table were all drinking pitchers of cocktails but I just asked for a coke. I wasn't going to disappoint anyone else tonight. I looked around to get my bearings. Lester and Bobby were standing leaning against the railings at the other side of the dancefloor. They had already attracted some female company. I felt a stab of jealousy and glared at Lester. He just raised his beer to me and grinned. So it was okay for him to drink then!
I spied Tank standing at the bar talking to one of the bar staff. The bar man looked suspiciously like a Merry Man. That wouldn't surprise me though. They were maybe making sure I couldn't get any alcohol even if I wanted some.
I looked around but couldn't see any sign of Ranger. I knew he would be around somewhere though, taking everything in.
Sasha came back with the drinks but before I could take a sip she grabbed my arm and pulled me on the dancefloor. She had told me earlier that it was an English DJ on tonight so I was hoping for more songs I would recognise. We moved into the middle of the dancefloor and I looked up to see Ranger standing arms resting on the railings of the viewing platform above. He was slowly drinking a bottle of beer and he gave me a almost unperceivable nod of his head. I turned my back on him to find Bobby and Lester dancing with a couple of big boobed blonds. I looked at Sasha but she didn't seem to bother. She just shrugged her shoulders at me and laughed.
We danced to a few more songs before sitting down for a drink. Sasha sat and talked while I looked around looking for my target. There was no sign of him so far. Lester was back standing with Bobby at the table they had but still had a blonde hanging off him. I was feeling incredibly jealous again. And a big bit pissed off.
"Why don't you go ask Lester to dance?" Sasha asked. "Get rid of that blonde bimbo for him" she added.
"He looks perfectly happy to me" I commented.
"Well he keeps looking over at you so I don't think he's that interested" Sasha said to me. "Why don't you go ask Bobby to dance then? He seems to have lost his blonde limpet".
"You wouldn't mind?" I asked her.
"Hey honey, I know my Bobby only has eyes for me, knock yourself out" she said smiling at me before turning back to her friends.
I got up and moved around the dancefloor to stand just a few feet away from Bobby, Lester and Barbie. Bobby saw me approaching and gave me a wink. I smiled back but stopped and looked over the dancefloor again to see if Belivanis was around. The club wasn't as jam packed as before so I got a good look from here at most of the dancefloor and the bar behind. I was looking at all the faces standing at the other side of the room when someone grabbed my attention.
A tall, dark haired man was standing leaning on the railings at the other side, just beside the steps leading down to the dancefloor. He was wearing dark jeans, t shirt and a black leather jacket. He must have been about 6ft and looked lean and muscular, although not to Rangeman standard, but he was still fit. He looked mean but there was also something intriguing about him. He was watching everyone in the club just as intently as I was, and I could see that he was looking in Lester and Bobby's direction with a curious look on his face.
I turned to my left to where Bobby and Lester were to see Lester looking right at me, a dark expression on his face. He must have seen me looking at the guy who was watching them and he didn't seem happy. Perfect! I walked the few steps to the opening leading down to the dancefloor when Lester stepped out to intercept me, leaving his blonde standing, mouth hanging open.
"Where you going Sweetness?" he said in my ear.
"I'm going to dance" I replied standing on tip toes to shout in his ear.
"On your own?" Lester asked.
"No I was going to ask someone to join me" I said.
"Anyone in mind?" he asked slinging an arm loosely around my shoulders.
"I have seen someone, yes" I said trying to disengage his arm.
"Hope it's not that Italian Stallion over there?" he said harshly
"What's it to you?" I asked looking up at him.
"Stay away from him, he's bad news" he said trying to get his arm around my shoulders again.
"Fuck you Santos" I said spinning away from him and walking determinedly across the floor.
I was half way across the floor when strong arms grabbed me around the waist and pulled me back. I was brought back hard against a hard, muscular body.
"We can fuck later babe" Lester said in my ear. "But right now you need to stay away from that guy".
I looked around to see if anyone saw this little exchange but no one seemed to notice. To the outsider it would appear as if we were a couple dancing. The 'Italian Stallion' certainly hadn't noticed. He was still scanning faces across the room. Just then the song changed and the pace slowed down. Jay Z and Rihanna's 'Run This Town' came on and Lester started moving me to the music. The heat from his body was intoxicating and I was no longer concentrating on anything but his arms wrapped around my body and his hot breath on my neck.
We were slowly swaying to the music and I could feel him getting hard behind me, the pressure digging into my back. Although that could maybe have been his gun! I shimmied down his groin slightly and he left out a slight groan into my hair. Nope not his gun then!
He spun me round quickly to face him and I put my arms around his neck steady myself. He moved his hands slowly down to rest on my hips and took control of the dance. He was a great dancer. I couldn't take my eyes of his and I had completely forgotten my reason for being here. Everything else was a blur. His eyes were dark and one of his hands was slowly caressing my back. He moved so his right leg went between mine and the pressure on my groin made me release a groan of my own. Suddenly he moved away from me as Bobby appeared behind him.
"Boss wants to see you" he shouted over the music to Lester.
Lester gave me one last look then disappeared up the steps off the dance floor. I finished dancing to the rest of the song with Bobby, although in a much less friendly way than with Lester, before Bobby was whisked away by another blonde. I turned to find Tank towering above me.
"Ranger wants a word Carla, he's up there" he indicated a movement of his head.
I went off to find the stairs that led up to the viewing platform and passed Lester on his way down. He gave me a small wink but didn't say anything, but he didn't look unhappy so Ranger couldn't have been that pissed with him.
I found Ranger sitting on a tall stool overlooking the floor below. He didn't look happy.
"Any sign of Belivanis yet?" He asked.
"You know there isn't" I replied.
"Lester says you have taken a shine to someone down there. You should listen to him and stay away" he warned.
"I haven't taken a shine to anyone" I said. "I was just looking for someone to dance with to pass the time".
"Stay away from that guy then" Ranger said indicating the Italian Stallion below. "I won't ask you again Carla, you speak to him and this whole things ruined".
"What's the deal with him anyway?" I asked.
"He's a cop, if he get's wind of this there will be police everywhere and our task tonight will be a failure. He's onto Belivanis too, but it looks like he's working alone on this one. He doesn't need to know what we are up to" he finished looking intently at me.
I looked back at him and down to the cop guy downstairs. Something clicked somewhere in my head then. "That guy's Joe Morelli isn't it?" I asked.
"You've heard of him?" Ranger asked surprised.
"Well yeah his names on the police reports you gave me" Ranger nodded, understanding in his eyes "and he's Steph's boyfriend" I added watching his reaction. He looked like he had just eaten something bad.
"Just stay out his way. Ask Bobby or Tank if you need someone to dance with" he said.
"Not Lester?" I asked innocently.
"Maybe not Lester, you seem to be distracting him too much" he replied.
"It's all an act you know" I said moving closer to him.
"What?" he said, looking a bit taken aback.
"This" I said moving my hands up his thighs, then parting them to move myself in between them. I moved into him and whispered in he ear "This whole slut thing I'm supposed to be doing to attract the bad guy. This is what I'm supposed to be doing." I looked at him and for a very brief second his eyes darkened and Ranger looked turned on. But only for the briefest second.
"What the fuck are you doing Carla" he asked as I pulled back from him.
"I'm doing exactly what you asked me to do Ranger. And if I can get that kind of reaction from you, then I can get Belivanis out of here for you. But just leave me to it".
"Okay Carla" Ranger said after looking at me for a long moment "you can do whatever you want, with whoever you want" he added looking in Lester's direction. "But stay away from Morelli" he finished.
I smiled sweetly and moved away from him. I went down the stairs and winked at Lester as I passed. I walked right around the side of the dancefloor and over to the bar, passing Morelli as I went. He was still oblivious to me. I could see why Steph had problems with her men now. Morelli was even more gorgeous up close. But I was going to be a good girl and stay away from him. I wasn't interested now that I knew he was taken. If I was honest with myself I was only really interested in him to make Lester jealous.
I walked up to the bar and ordered a JD and coke. I would have just the one, to steady my nerves. The bar man looked a bit unsure and went over to speak to his colleague, the one who had been talking to Tank earlier. The other man nodded and came over to me.
"Just a coke for you Precious" he said with a smile. He was tanned, blond and big and I knew instantly that he worked for Rangeman.
"Which one are you then?" I asked
"Zero, nice to meet you Carla" he said handing me my glass of coke. "This one's on the house" he grinned.
I smiled a thanks and turned back to scan the room for Belivanis. There was still so sign of him. I was standing only a few feet behind Morelli and looking up at Ranger I could see he wasn't impressed. Tank was standing not far from me and he was shooting me warning looks as well. I looked for Lester and Bobby. Bobby was standing chatting to Sasha and her friends, and Lester was dancing with the blonde. I tried to get my jealousy under control. After all we hardly knew each other, we had just been flirting back and forth. Although I did find him easy to talk to and had told him stuff I hadn't spoken to anyone else about. Finally the green eyed monster won and I went storming towards the dancefloor. I put my glass down on a table beside the steps and as I moved forward I banged into someone. I turned to apologise and realised I had just collided with Joe Morelli.
I turned away from him and headed for Sasha who was getting up to dance to the song that had just come on, 'Sexy Chick' by David Guetta and Akon. She grabbed my hands and spun me round. I now had Joe Morelli's full attention, as well as Tank and Bobby's too. I looked up and Ranger was glaring down at me. He obviously thought I had bumped into the cop on purpose. I spun around again to look for Lester. He was no longer dancing and had moved over to where Bobby was standing at the table we were occupying. I had all these gorgeous men watching me but instead of feeling shy or embarrassed, I felt invigorated.
The chorus kicked in and I was dancing with Sasha and her friends with arms in the air. It was such a sexy song to dance to and our hips were swaying to the music. I became aware that someone was moving to the music behind me and felt a hand rest on my hips. I looked at Sasha but she raised her eyebrows and turned away from me. I turned around to face my fellow dancer and came face to face with a pair of bright green eyes, and the wicked smile of Andreas Belivanis.