The limo pulled up to the manor. Erik stepped out first. Dryce followed and smiled for all the cameras the paparazzi pointed in his direction. Austin and Erik walked behind him, watching everything around them, as they made their way up the steps. Tom was at the top greeting everyone as they came in.

Dryce extended his hand and gave Tom a very proper like hand shake and congratulated him. Turning and posing for the cameras some more, Dryce muttered in Tom’s ear, “Looks like there’s no more fucking around for us, huh?”

“Oh, not you too? I’ve been getting shit all damn day from my father,” Tom said, while smiling and waving.

While Dryce stepped to the side and greeted Tom’s father and mother, Tom shook Austin’s hand. “Mr. Ngo, I would like to introduce you to my new security,” indicating the men standing next to him. “Maybe, if it’s not too much trouble, you can give them some pointers about how to handle things?”

“It would be my pleasure, Prince Tompika,” Austin said, as formal as ever.

Tom looked over at Erik, “Tank. Nice to you see you again.”

Erik nodded, “Your Highness.”

Inside the ballroom, Austin broke off to go survey the rooms and scout the crowds, but not before nudging Erik with the nonverbal cue to watch Dryce.

Dryce made his way to the bar area. “Scotch, on the rocks,” he ordered from the penguin behind the bar.

“Hey kiddo, not too many of those tonight,” Erik said softly.

“I know, Tank. This is just to get me to relax a bit.” He looked at Erik. “I’m trying to ease my way into this world.”

Austin’s voice came across Erik’s earpiece, “I don’t know if Yally’s going be here tonight. It’s pretty locked down from what I can tell.”

Erik queued the mic twice indicating that he heard and understood. It was just up to Erik and Austin tonight.

A female voice came over the radio. Both Austin and Erik pushed on their earpieces to hear better. “Is this how you always talk about me?” Yally chimed in.

“Yally? You’re here? Where are you?” Austin was surprised.

“Of course I’m here,” she replied.

“Where?” Austin repeated.

“I’m nowhere. I work better alone. But don’t worry, I have eyes on my Prince… our… our Prince,” Yally stuttered.

Moving his eyes only, Erik glanced around the room. Unable to find her, he grinned and slightly shook his head.

“Prince Dryce.” A young lady walked up and stood next to him.

“Hey.” Dryce turned and recognized that it was Tom’s sister, but didn’t remember her name. “How are you? It’s been so long.”

“Yes, yes it has. Isn’t this wonderful? I’m so happy for my Tompika,” she said with a drunken smile.

“I’m very happy and very proud of him,” Dryce smiled back at her.

“Would you honor me with a dance?” she asked.

“Of course, it would be my pleasure.” Dryce took her hand and escorted her to the middle of the ballroom.

Erik followed to the edge of the dance floor and waited for him.

Yally watched from her position, eyes squinted, her face contorted with irritation. Annoyed by a feeling she couldn’t describe, she watched as Dryce walked across the dance floor, turned and embraced Tom’s sister to dance.

What the fuck is that I’m feeling? He’s just another client… a client that floats across the dance floor. He’s an out right beautiful client, Yally thought to herself. Her eyes started to glass over with the imagery of Dryce hold her. Having his hands wrapped around her. She could see Dryce holding the small of her back, pulling her in tight to him.

Shaking her head to get rid of the images, she looked off to the side. You’ve killed more powerful men than him! Ro, what the fuck are you doing? Yally wondered. Damn him, what power does he have over me?

Yally started to look back at Dryce when she noticed a man staring in his direction. He not-so-discreetly pulled a syringe out of his jacket pocket; but no one else seemed to be paying as close attention to the man the way she was. When he pulled the cap off the needle behind his back, she could see that it was filled with a dark blue liquid. He started slowly making his way toward Dryce on the dance floor. She seemed to be the only one who saw this. Her brain registered what was happening, but she stood there; frozen.

The possibility that the guy was really going after the girl Dryce was dancing with paused her actions. Her hesitation made it too late to doing anything stealthily; her expertise. She was supposed to be the master at eliminating the problem before it became a problem. She had to act. She had to do something quick, the man was less than four feet away from Dryce.

“Darling, there you are!” Yally yelled as she ran up to him in her high heels.

Before the man was able to pull his arm from his back, she grabbed his wrist. His hand hid the syringe against his suit jacket. Yally squared up to him, jamming the syringe in the man’s ass and squeezed the plunger down. The man was about to cry out but, using her other hand, Yally cupped the back of his head and covered his mouth with hers.

Quickly, the serum started to take effect. His legs turned to jello. Yally removed the syringe from his hand and stuffed it in the back of his pants and quickly danced their way towards Erik.

Erik called Austin over the radio, “Boss, I’ve found Yally. She’s, Umm… I’m going to need you over here immediately.”

Yally leaned the man against Erik’s enormous chest. “We need to do something with him,” she hinted quietly.

Erik wrapped his massive arm around him and held him up on his feet. Looking around to see if anyone took notice, Erik said, “I got ‘em.”

Dryce noticed and had stopped dancing. He watched as Austin and Erik escorted the limp body away. Dryce watched Yally disappear back in the crowd of people standing around, keeping her in sight for as long as he could.

Wow! I thought she was beautiful before, he thought dancing with Tom’s sister again. That dress looks amazing on her. No, she looks amazing in that dress. Her eyes, her hair. Her strength. She’s so strong. Look what she just did. She’s magnificent. She’s The One. I need her. I have to have her.