Chapter Four
Jess
I see Snake when he gets my text. Jesus, his face. It’s so terrifying that I want to run out of here as fast as I can, and give up on everything. He curls his nose, his eyes turning dark and cold, murderous, even. I knew the men I’d be dealing with on this mission would be intimidating, but Snake is formidable. He’s an attractive package, hard, toned muscle wrapped in an elegant suit, dark, almost black, hair that’s impeccably swept back. His face is cleanly shaven, and he smells so good, but his hands were big and rough on my bare thigh. Confidence oozes off of him. I can imagine him having no qualms about putting a bullet in someone’s head, just like he had no qualms about fucking me in the alley.
Beautiful and dangerous. And he’s looking for me.
I watch him from the wall I’m leaning against, daring him to find me, hoping he will. I can’t let my fear detract me. I need to remember why I came here, why I’ve searched this city high and low for mob hangouts, and more specifically, a Mariano man. I touch my lower belly, conjuring the burning rage that’s brought me this far.
Snake spots me quickly, then makes a beeline over. My heart thumps with his precise, determined footsteps. He walks up on me, stopping no more than an inch in front of where I’m pinned against the wall. He bends down slowly, emphasizing how much taller he is than me. His eyes lock on mine when he grabs my wrist, and pulls me forcefully.
“Come with me.”
The gentle smoothness of his voice is gone. He’s now cold, calculating, professional. The high heels shuffle beneath me as I keep up with him. I steady my beating heart with deep breaths. I shouldn’t have texted him now. That was stupid and rash. I should’ve waited for a better time, like, when I wasn’t in the same building as him. But I couldn’t wait. In the back of my mind, I know I texted him because I wanted to see him again. I didn’t want this night to be over. But I’m not willing to admit that right now. I can salvage this. I just need him to listen.
We’re back in the alley. Snake pushes me against the wall. He grabs both of my wrists in one hand, and pins them over my head.
“What the fuck is this?” Snake holds his phone close to my face, so close, my eyes can’t focus. But I know what it is.
“A business opportunity.” My voice is weak, pinched. I clear my throat to remedy this.
Snake laughs, a deep, curt sounds that makes me shiver. “Business? I don’t talk business with someone I don’t know.” He puts away the phone, then leans in so close to me, I can almost feel the tip of his nose against mine. “Who the fuck are you?”
I know what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to intimidate me. This is what men like him do. They want to scare us away so we don’t meddle in their business. It’s what Jake did.
“I’m Jess Hunt. I’m the Digital Marketing Coordinator at ShopSuite Enterprises. Have you heard of ShopSuite?”
Snake smirks. “Is that a joke? Everyone has. Let me ask you something. Where’s your friend? You lied, didn’t you. You came here looking for me.”
“I came here looking for a business partner.”
Snake tightens his grip on my wrists. I stay cool, not reacting.
“Are you cop?” he asks.
“No.”
“Did the Lombardi’s send you? Huh? Tell me?”
He’s right in my face, yelling at me. I don’t feel so much threatened as thoroughly pissed off, and I can’t quell my reaction this time. I jerk my knee as hard as I can, and get him in the stomach. Snake doubles over, releasing my wrists. In a self defense class I took a lifetime ago, our instructor told us that one move won’t be enough against someone that’s bigger than you, so I give him a quick jab right in the lip.
Snake obviously wasn’t expecting that. I’m sure this asshole is always used to getting his way, and people not fighting back. He wipes the blood off of his lips, confused for a moment. I get away from the wall, positioning myself so I could run out of the alley if I have to. Snake looks at the blood on his hand, then at me. His mouth twitches in a small smile. I pause. He seems impressed.
“If we could just talk like civilized human beings,” I start. “Like you said, we’re all here for a specific action. I’m here for the same reason you are. Money. Did you even look at what I sent you?”
Snake stands up, straightens his tie, and dusts off the arms of his suit. “Credit card numbers. Are you trying to incriminate me?”
Snake licks the wound on his lip. He folds his hands in front of him. His posture is nonthreatening, which somehow makes me fear him more.
“How are you making money these days? Fixing fights? I have access to the financials of millions of people. What I sent you is just the tip of the iceberg. We could skim a little from those cards, a dollar here, there. Small charges no one would notice, but it would add up for us.”
He’s quiet for a moment, staring me down. I have to focus to keep myself from cowering away.
“What’s in it for you?” he asks.
“A cut. Money laundering. Protection.”
Snake nods, pulling his phone from his pocket. He holds it up, showing me as he deletes the texts I sent him. He walks up to me, then bends down to my eye line.
“Get the fuck out of here. I never want to see you around here again. Understood?”
I stay quiet, not confirming this. He laughs sarcastically, then hits me with his shoulder as he passes me by.
“Keep my number though,” he calls back. “If you ever need your brains fucked out, let me know.”