Bloody hell!
Devereaux did a double take as he saw Mackenzie coming towards his table.
The dress she wore was short, showing off her fabulous legs to perfection. The neckline was low, affording a tantalising glimpse of the creamy flesh of the top of her breasts. It hugged her delectable body as though it had been sprayed on, and he was certain he wasn’t the only male in the room tracking her movement and wanting to be the one to peel the fabric away from her body.
He certainly hadn’t expected to see her at the après party being held at the club owned by the Scampinelli family.
Comprehension dawned and his heart soared. They’d been parted a month. He’d promised her he’d visit her after a month to see how she felt. Did this mean …? Her being here tonight couldn’t mean anything else.
His gaze connected with hers and his spirits soared when he saw the answer to his question.
Mackenzie’s gaze fastened on him and didn’t waver as she smiled.
‘Now she, my friend, is a siren!’ Vito Scampinelli said as he gave Dev a nudge with his elbow. ‘She’s also headed straight this way and is making eyes at you. So, no hard feelings that Lois has transferred her affections to me, right?’
He could hardly drag his eyes away from Mackenzie to look at Vito as he responded. ‘No hard feelings.’
No hard feelings at Lois being draped around Vito, because things were going exactly according to plan.
Lois had been sending out signals to Vito all week that she was interested in him and was prepared to dump the Prince of Santaliana in order to be in Vito’s bed. Dev wasn’t sure whether Vito was truly attracted to Lois or whether he was simply hell-bent on poaching a woman from Devereaux because he believed Dev was seriously involved with her.
Vito thought Lois was going to become his lover tonight. He was in for the shock of his life. Before Vito could leave the club with her, Lois was going to wangle her way back to Vito’s office for some cocaine and then the sting would go down.
Vito laughed. ‘You know, man, this night just got a whole lot better. Lois, you’re a looker, but two are always better than one.’ He said to Dev, ‘I think I’d like this one too. There’ll be another one along for you shortly.’
Devereaux did his best not to flinch at Vito’s proclamation. The guy epitomised the words sexist pig and always managed to incite Dev to thoughts of extreme violence.
No bloody way was Vito ever laying a hand on Mackenzie!
Lois was seated to Dev’s left. Dev leant over and whispered urgently, ‘Get her out of here!’
Lois stood immediately, but it was too late. Mackenzie had arrived at their table. ‘Congratulations, Devereaux, on your win today. I decided to come in and join the celebration. I hope you don’t mind?’ Before he could reply, she extended her hand to Vito. ‘I’m Mackenzie.’
‘A pleasure,’ Vito said whilst looking Mackenzie up and down.
Dev wanted to gouge the bastard’s eyes out as they lingered on her breasts.
‘I’m Vito. Won’t you join us?’ He shifted on the seat of the booth and patted the spot next to him.
‘I’d love to.’
Thankfully, she ignored the space next to him and came and sat next to Devereaux, but Dev still felt tension clamp tight on every vertebrae. If he didn’t get Mackenzie out of here—if Vito really decided he wanted her—things could turn nasty and get out of control very quickly.
‘Mackenzie, I need to use the bathroom,’ Lois said. ‘Come with me?’
Relief blew through Dev like a cool wind on a scorching day as Mackenzie got up to join her.
‘Come straight back, ladies,’ Vito said, ‘I have plans for you both.’
Dev wanted to knock the sleazy smile right off his face, but that wasn’t part of his MI5 brief. He hoped he knew why Mackenzie was here, but she needed to listen to Lois to stay out of the way until the sting was over.
‘Sex on a stick,’ Vito said appreciatively as he licked his lips. ‘I’m definitely celebrating your win in style tonight, my friend.’
A hot, red mist blurred Dev’s vision. That’s what you think, you bastard.
Scampinellis eyes had already taken more liberties than they should have. How was he going to keep Vito away from Mackenzie without damaging his supposed friendship with the Mafia Don’s son?
‘One thing I want to discuss with you is where to source some more of the white powder for a private party following the race in Madrid. I promised you all the after-race parties will be out of this world,’ he told Scampinelli. ‘You’ve played host to me several times now. I’m looking forward to repaying the favour.’
‘As long as there’s plenty of women, white stuff and booze, I’ll be happy, Dev.’
Every time Vito addressed him like a friend, a knot in Dev’s stomach pulled tighter.
‘I hope those women aren’t long,’ Vito complained, sitting forward to try to get a better view in the direction of the ladies’ bathroom.
‘You know women.’ Dev shrugged before lowering his voice to a confidential level. ‘About the white stuff—’ he partially covered his mouth with his hand, ‘—I only want the best. You served a good calibre of it at your last party.’ He’d pretended to have snorted it in private and to have been impressed. ‘Can you put me in touch with the supplier?’
‘That can be arranged.’ Vito frowned. ‘Lois, where’s your friend?’
Lois pulled a face. ‘Being excruciatingly sick in the bathroom, I’m afraid. Turns out she’s been to another party, and she’s totally tanked. I left her in there. Couldn’t stand the smell of her vomit.’
Vito’s mouth thinned and turned down at the corners in revulsion.
‘Baby.’ Lois pouted as she caressed Vito with her hands and draped her arms around him. ‘I went to the bathroom to …’ She gave a delicate sniff to indicate that she’d wanted cocaine. ‘When I looked in my handbag, I was all out.’ Her fingers moved over his chest in a light swirling pattern. ‘Do you think you could set me up with some?’
Vito smiled. ‘Sure, sugar. Dev and I were just talking about what you want. I think we should adjourn to my manager’s office. He’ll have exactly what we need.’ Vito stood. ‘Dev, are you coming?’
‘No!’ Lois said sharply. ‘I don’t want him there.’ She sent a saucy smile to Vito. ‘When I use, I have other needs too.’ Running one fingernail in a line down the centre of his chest, she said quietly, ‘I think you’ll be able to fill those needs quite adequately on your own.’
Vito’s laugh was lewd. ‘You bet I can.’
Even though he knew it was all fabricated, Dev was disgusted at the thought.
‘Sorry, Dev. Looks like it’s going to be a private party,’ Vito said with a wink as one hand cupped one of Lois’s breasts. ‘Another time.’
No. There wouldn’t be another time.
Lois wore a bracelet that was fitted with a special transmitter. When Vito opened the safe where the cocaine was kept, she would activate the device. The club was full of undercover agents who all wore earpieces. The second the device was activated they’d swarm in and catch Vito red-handed.
They weren’t just going to charge him with possession of cocaine. Dev knew enormous satisfaction because MI5 had caught an incriminating conversation on a bug he’d planted. It revealed that the safe at this nightclub held one of the main record books of the Scampinelli family which documented their drug trade. If all went according to plan, the entire Scampinelli drug empire would tumble down tonight.
Dev watched as Lois and Vito made their way into the office. It wouldn’t be long and the sting would go down. Dev needed to get to Mackenzie. Lois had obviously warned her to stay in the ladies’ bathroom. It was the safest place for her, but he wasn’t sure how much Lois had told her, and he didn’t want Mackenzie worrying unnecessarily if she heard gunfire.
Hopefully, there’d be no gunfire.
It was a vain hope. Less than two minutes later, as Dev worked his way through the crowd and towards the bathrooms, all hell broke loose. Local police stormed the club, the undercover agents ran towards the manager’s office and Vito’s goons fought back.
As the first shots rang out, women screamed. Tables and chairs were knocked over. Glasses smashed. There was a hell of a lot of shouting as people hit the deck.
Dev saw the bathroom door open.
A woman poked her head out then ducked back. It wasn’t Mackenzie.
He was almost there. With every step he took, he willed Mackenzie to stay inside and stay safe. He’d almost reached the door when he was caught in the crossfire. A sharp, burning pain seared through him and his body was knocked sideways as the bullet hit.
Shit!
Putting a hand to his wound, he instinctively pressed against the pain to staunch the blood flow. At the same time he dropped to the ground, knocked a table on its side and took cover behind it.
A woman screamed.
‘Help me! She’s bleeding!’ a man cried out. ‘She’s been hit!’
A few more rounds of gunfire, then the bullets stopped.
What a giant balls-up! How the hell did innocent bystanders become victims of an MI5 operation?
‘Prince Devereaux! The shooting’s over. Are you alright?’ One of his bodyguards was at his side.
‘I’ve taken a bullet, but I don’t think it’s too bad.’ He had other things to think about. ‘Find Mackenzie Roberts. She’s in the ladies’ bathroom. Make sure she’s safe!’
‘You! See to Miss Roberts!’ the guy ordered another bodyguard. ‘Get a paramedic!’ he told another. ‘I need to see your wound, Your Highness.’
‘No. There must be other casualties. I’m okay.’
‘The police officers are tending to the other injured and the paramedics are on their way.’
Dev took his hand away and the bodyguard pulled away his coat and lifted his shirt up. ‘You’re going to need surgery. Stay with me and we’ll get you outside to an ambulance.’
‘Dev!’
He tried to move to see Mackenzie, who’d come to his side, and pain speared through him. ‘I’m okay, sweetheart.’
Her beautiful brown eyes were awash with fear. ‘You’ve been shot!’
Oh, God. This must be terrible for her. First Grayson, now him …
‘I’ll be alright, I promise,’ he managed. ‘I love you, Mackenzie.’
Lois was at Dev’s other side. ‘Don’t you dare die on me, Devereaux!’ She sent a scathing look to Mackenzie. ‘Honest to God, Mackenzie Roberts, you bring me nothing but bad luck.’
‘Shut up, Lois,’ Mackenzie shot back.
‘I have to go,’ Lois said. ‘I’m supposed to have been arrested too, but I just needed to make sure you two were okay.’
‘We’re fine, Lois,’ Dev said. ‘Good job!’
Lois nodded to him and moved off with a police officer.
‘The paramedics are on their way, Prince Devereaux,’ one of the burly bodyguards told him.
People were being herded out of the club at the same time more police and paramedics started filing in.
‘Scampinellis been arrested, Your Highness,’ an MI5 agent told him quietly. ‘Our operatives all through Europe and Asia are now closing in on the rest of the main players thanks to the evidence we’ve accumulated through your efforts. Our boss sends his thanks.’
Satisfaction and relief made Dev smile even though he began to feel sick and light-headed. He reached out to Mackenzie and caught her hand. ‘Stay with me.’
Tears spilt over her eyelids and tracked down her cheeks. ‘Absolutely.’