Page 32 of Sweet Revenge
“I promise you, all you have to do is have a drink with him. We’ll handle the rest.”
Cassandra swallowed hard, still thinking about it. We heard footsteps on the side of the door leading from the club, so we ducked out the back, barely making it out before the sound of an older gentleman laughing hit our ears.
“Cassandra,” I began, locking eyes with her again. “I know this is scary. It sounds too easy, but I promise you, work with us, and you will never have to worry about Alex La Rosa again. What do you say?”
“Just a drink?” She reached up and scratched her head, making her messy bun go crazy. “That sounds simple. He won’t know I’m up to anything?”
Daemon stepped over, shaking his head. “Nope. Trust me, Cassandra. I know exactly what you’re doing. Your bosses might think that Alex La Rosa is some bad motherfucker, but I’m a hundred times worse.” He flashed her his most charming smile, and I both wanted to jump his bones and run away from him.
Cassandra looked at Daemon and simply said, “I believe you.”
CHAPTER20
DAEMON
“This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all.” Elisa took a long sip through her straw, ignoring the annoying slurping sound it made when an ice cube got in the way instead of the dwindling pink liquid she was after. “This is going to be a horrible fuck-up. My father is going to find out. Alex is going to kill you, and my father’s going to blow seltzer and hot sauce up my nose until I die.”
Chuckling under my breath, I said, “You sure are the positive, confident woman I’m used to tonight.”
She narrowed her eyes as she gazed at me over the nearly empty glass. “I used to be an optimist, and then life kicked me in the balls a few hundred times, and I began to realize I fuck things up. It’s what I do. Every time I think I’ve got a well-put-together plan, something fucks it up. Like going to law school to get away from my father. Or moving in with you to get away from my father.”
“Well, that wasn’t exactly your plan,” I reminded her, getting her eyes to slit even more. “Relax, Elisa. I know what I’m doing. I’ve done shit like this a million times.”
“But you usually have an entire backup crew with you. Tonight, it’s just you and me, which is essentially just you, because I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing!” She slurped up more of her drink before I pulled the glass away from her.
“I think you’ve had enough alcohol for the night, considering we have work to do, and I’m not worried, Elisa. You have done a great job so far. I’m sure you’ll be able to handle whatever happens next.”
She raised an eyebrow but said nothing more. We both grew quiet, waiting for Cassandra and Alex to come up the stairs. I had to stick to the shadows, like most of the men downstairs, so that he didn’t see me. I’d styled my hair differently and worn something a bit less flashy for me, so I hoped I’d blend in a little, but if Alex looked right at me, he’d recognize me.
Then all bets were off.
As for Elisa, well, he’d definitely recognize his own sister, so she had her hair piled on top of her head, and I’d given her careful instructions to stay in the shadows so he wouldn’t see her. In my mind, that was the most likely way this would go wrong, when our cover was blown.
“If he sees us and calls my father, all of Boston is going to descend upon us.” She shook her head, leaning back further into the dark booth.
“It’ll be fine. If it’s not fine, I’ll make it fine.” My reassuring gaze seemed to settle her a bit, but it was obvious she was about to explode.
I heard Alex before I saw him. Cassandra’s voice sounded strained, even though she was giggling. “Stop that, Alex,” she said playfully. “You’re not supposed to grab my ass like that. You know that.”
“I know I can’t wait to see your naked pussy.” The two of them came up the stairs, Alex wobbly and obviously already drunk. He grabbed Cassandra’s butt with both hands, and she swatted him away, still laughing, though it was obviously forced. She was likely telling herself she just had to do this one more time and then all her problems would be over. Not only would Alex be gone, but I’d make sure she never had to work here again as a thank-you for helping us out.
“Have a seat,” she told Alex, pressing him into the booth we’d designated earlier when she’d walked us up here after she’d agreed to the plan. The booth was far enough away from us that there’d be no reason for Alex to notice us, and she seated him so that his back was to us. We were still close enough to be able to see and hear everything, though.
“Where are you going, gorgeous?” he slurred. He seemed happy that Cassandra was finally warming up to him. Her laughing, playful nature must’ve made him feel comfortable, which was a good thing. We needed to fool him into trusting her.
“To get us drinks.” Cassandra swatted at him again, her eyes wide. “Silly boy.” I could only imagine the names she wanted to call him.
“Well, come right back, beautiful. I can’t wait to suck those perfect tits.” He reached for her left breast and almost fell out of the booth as she skirted out of reach. Alex laughed and pulled himself back up, glancing around to see if anyone saw him almost fall on his face. I averted my gaze.
“He’s got his phone out,” Elisa said. For a moment, I thought she was going to freak out that he’d seen us and was calling her dad, but instead, she added, “Now’s your chance.”
“Right.” I slid out of the booth and headed to the bar where Cassandra was waiting her turn to order. Alex wasn’t paying any attention, and we’d already paid off the bartender not to linger, so this should work.
“All right. What the fuck am I doing?” Cassandra’s voice was tense.
“Relax, it’ll be fine.” This soothing tone I had to keep using with the ladies was getting old. The bartender handed over the two drinks, and I pulled a small clear plastic baggy from the inside of my jacket. “You’re just going to pretend to drink, remember? I’m putting this in both of the glasses in case he pulls the old switch-a-roo.”
She sighed and nodded, clearly exhausted by her efforts so far.