Hopefully this makes up for the sorta suckish last chapter!

This City Is On Fire

Friday afternoon I spend most of my time with Mike and Sam, while Fi and Emma get together at her place. I can't be sure but I have a feeling my conversation with Sam had made it back to Mike and Fi and that's why everyone is split up. I don't really mind though because it's easier to focus when she's not right next to me and I don't have to worry about the questioning looks from Mike and the constant need to tell him we're alright.

Tonight is the big party at one of Gomez's houses where we're supposed to pitch him our plan, hoping he buys it and agrees to show us where his stash is and how he's supposed to get it out. Emma is working on how the police will find out because with a shipment this big and the price on Gomez's head we can't go with our normal bystander call in.

If things go right she should be able to pull off Mike acting as a PI Emma and David had been using recently who just got some information. If we're lucky things should go smoothly but after being in this game for a while, none of us are holding our breath.

"Alright," Mike announces, clapping his hands together eagerly, "we've got three hours until we need to get you two in. You got the story down?"

Cracking my knuckles and leaning against the breakfast bar I roll my eyes. "Yeah, I got it. You do know you're not the only spy in the room right?"

He narrows his eyes but doesn't comment, handing me some sunglasses and looking at me with a guarded look. When I take them I can tell they're a little heavier than they should be. They're no doubt a mic or something. He confirms my thoughts almost instantly.

"Sam was able to get a bug in one of the ear pierces. Put em' on or hook them to your shirt, either way make sure they stay with you the whole time."

"Got it, we ready to go now?" Sam and mike gather their things and we all head out to the charger, ready to head over to Fi's and pick up Emma.

The ride seems so much shorter than it is and when we pull up to Fi's house she's already outside with Emma who's dressed in blue jean shorts and a loose deep purple tank top, the straps of her bathing suit visible. She looks like a younger version of Fi, who leant her some of her clothes and obviously had a hell of a time playing designer. Sometimes I forget she was the only woman on the team before Emma came along.

Fi is also letting us use her car tonight; because we have to make it look like our business is successful otherwise Gomez will probably turn us away at the door. There isn't any conversation between Emma and I as everyone stands on Fi's front lawn and it earns us a confused look from her and a knowing one from Sam.

And then there's Mike who doesn't look like he even has a clue, he's just leaning against the smooth body of the charger with his arms crossed. Deciding we don't want to waste time Emma and I split up and head to Fi's car while the other three pile into the charger and fall in behind us, keeping a safe distance.

Gomez's house is a fair distance away, just a little past south beach on a private piece of land overlooking the ocean and obviously guarded by the best security his money could buy. No doubt the one he favors most.

There's already a massive crowd of people, filing through the door at an alarming rate. There are girls who look barely old enough to drink dressed in skimpy clothes and bikini's hanging off of men who range from the business type to the average party animal. All of them taking advantage of the free alcohol.

"You ready?" I ask Emma, noticing she still hasn't spoken. She nods and loops her arm through mine, her sandals slapping the ground as we ascend up the stone steps. I have the sunglasses Mike gave me resting in the pocket of my light blue shirt and a cell phone in the pocket of my khaki shorts. A precaution Sam said may come in handy if there's a situation or we need to make a quick getaway.

One of the men from the club is standing in the doorway, not turning anyone away but obviously keeping an eye on the people entering his boss's house. He's got a stony expression, eyes flicking from face to face with little interest. When he sees us however there's a look of recognition and he moves from his spot against the wall and approaches us, waving towards the glass door on the other side of the room.

"Come with me, the boss has been waiting for you." Emma and I share a look, while it's good that Gomez had remembered our meeting the urgency in the man's voice worried me. Things were either about to go deep down south or in the exact direction we want it to go in.

We're lead outside where there's a large pool, the entire backyard itself meeting with the beach about forty feet from the door. Palm trees serve as much of the décor, a few light fixtures near the house and a bar on the opposite side. It's a pretty nice place.

There's a private setup of chairs away from everyone else and we can see Gomez with a few other men and a young woman on his lap, kissing his neck as he whispers in her ear. When he sees us though he perks up and whispers in her ear again and she stands up, hurrying away and joining a group of girls at the pools side.

Emma tightens her grip on my arm as Gomez smiles at her and she sends a seductive one back in his direction. he stands up to greet us, shaking my hand and pulling Emma into his arms and kissing her cheek. She leans into it but I can see the discomfort and desperation in her eyes, it makes my stomach twist a little tighter.

"I see the two of you were serious about that offer," he says, sitting down and offering us a drink. Emma obediently sips hers as she replaces the other young woman who had previously been on his lap. I can tell right now that she's the main reason we got this meeting. He probably doesn't even give a damn about our fake drugs; he just wanted to see her again because even when I try to speak he has his eyes on her, watching her every movement.

She sends him smiles and giggles whenever he whispers in her ear and as stupid as it sounds I can't shake the feeling of jealousy that runs through my veins. This guy is a murderer, and I know she has absolutely no interest in him but seeing his hands on her and the way his eyes roam her body makes me sick.

"So," he says, taking a sip of the amber liquid in his glass, "this proposition of yours, what does it entail exactly?"

Giving a knowing smile I lean forward, sitting on the edge of my chair. "We have a shipment of coke we need to get out but we haven't been able to take it out of our storage because of that cop getting killed last week. Too many boys in blue to risk it." He nods as if he understands perfectly, the cigar between his lips bobbing.

"Yes, the police have been causing quite a disturbance around my shipping yard lately. And how did you hear about me? I don't exactly give out these kinds of details to just anyone." Emma's eyes widen in slight panic, because if we don't answer right this could be the end.

Things on the streets or more complex than they seem and just because you hear it from the homeless man on the corner or the gangster running the hood downtown doesn't mean that's who it started with. Clearing my throat I laugh loudly and he looks at me, obviously confused. If I was going to play this I had to do it well.

"Oh man, you really think you're that big of a secret? You are the biggest bad wolf in this city; you haven't been a secret for a long time." Throwing back the rest of my drink I suppress a tremor as the scotch burns my throat.

"But don't worry," Emma speaks out, "We don't go running our mouths to the first person willing to pay up. We have respect for those who work hard like ourselves. We want your help because you're the best and together if you're willing we could make one hell of a profit." She bats her eyelashes at him and I can almost swear that he just about melts.

For a moment Gomez just looks at her but then his face breaks out in a huge grin and he wraps his arm around her waist, laughing and sending me a pleased look.

"I'll say this for you Andre; you definitely know how to pick them. Where did you find this girl anyways?"

"Oh you know, I just got lucky one day," I laugh, shifting uncomfortably when his lips graze her earlobe and he whispers something I once again can't hear. I can tell he's done talking business for now so I settle in and prepare for a few hours of alcohol and watching Emma keep Gomez company.

…

It's close to ten thirty when we finally settle back in and Gomez reeks of smoke and bourbon, a tight grip on Emma who looks all but comfortable as she squirms beneath his hands. They come over and sit down on the couch, laughing as if they've known each other for years.

"Andre, Jade here told me a little more about your ideas and I have to say you've piqued my interests. After the focus on my men and I, I had to lower my next shipment. But I think with the addition of yours and the use of my trucks we could make a very rewarding profit. Split evenly of course." The last words are spoken harshly like a threat, as if he's expecting me to deny the conditions.

Smiling like a maniac who's downed too many of the concoctions from the bar I roughly shake his hand and agree, desperate to get out of here because I'm almost as uncomfortable as Emma is.

"It sounds perfect. But I need to set a date on when I'll be able to come by and check out your trucks." This wipes the smile right of his face and he leans forward so our faces our inches apart, lowering his voice.

"No one said anything about taking you to my dock. The police have never caught me because I don't disclose information as sacred as this. Why do you think none of my enemies have been able to steal my shipments?" leaning in as well I put on a serious face, quirking an eyebrow.

"Come on man, you don't really think I'm stupid enough to trust you with my shipment without finding out exactly where it's going and who's handling it do you? Do I really look like an idiot to you?" my voice has raised a couple notches and a few people near us have begun watching. Obviously not wanting to cause a scene he straightens up and begrudgingly nods, holding out his hand. I take it and give it a rough shake.

"Alright, you can come by Sunday when the workers have gone home. There will be a man, Jeremy, who works for me there. He keeps the other dock workers from discovering my merchandise. I'll call ahead and he'll be expecting you."

"Sounds-"

"Ah, wait." He demands, "Jeremy is not like the other workers. There's a reason he works under me and he will not hesitate to shoot you if you try anything. Do you hear me?" he looks deathly serious, so much so I actually have to admit that it was intimidating.

"You got it. As soon as I get a good look around I'll call you and we can work out a shipping date." Looking more satisfied than before he agrees, excusing himself after telling us goodnight and pecking Emma on the cheek.

Grabbing her arm I begin walking back to the door, trying to organize my thoughts over the booming of the stereo. It's dark out now and the only light comes from the fixtures and some flashing ones although I can't tell where those are coming from.

We've just about cleared the perimeter of the pool when I feel someone bump into my side. I lose my grip on Emma's hand and feel myself being propelled forward. Instinctively I break the fall with my hands, feeling the concrete ground scrape them. I hear a clatter and a splash and when I look over I see my sunglasses right as they tumble into the water.

"Dammit!" I curse, smacking the ground before Emma helps me stand back up and I scramble to my feet, pulling her closer. We're both wearing expressions of dread as we watch them slowly sink to the bottom, taking everything we had just gathered with us.

Mike is going to kill me.