Page 51 of Cat and Mouse

I stare at him. The urge to put a bullet between his eyes creeps up, but I bite it down. Not here, not tonight. There's too much at stake, and I still need answers. Marco's just a pawn in this fucked up game, anyway. I'll deal with him later.

The real reason I'm here is to find out who else he's working with. That's what this whole charity bullshit was supposed to be about. But Elizabeth... she threw me off my game. Distracted me in ways I didn't expect.

I should've known better.

I scan the room one more time. The place reeks of money. Tuxedos and evening gowns swirl around like a bad movie cliché, and yet here I am, playing a part in it. All these people, thinking they're untouchable. They have no idea how fragile their lives really are. One wrong move, one wrong look, and everything they have disappears. Just like that.

I've got nothing left to do here. I find my guys near the back, finishing their drinks, and motion for them to follow me.

"We're done," I say, and they nod without question.

We step out into the cool night air. It's a relief after the suffocating atmosphere inside. Too many fake smiles and handshakes. Too much temptation.

I slide into the backseat of my car and lean back, rubbing my temples. Fuck. I can't stop thinking about her. Elizabeth. The way she moaned for me, the way her body shook under my touch. It's driving me insane. I told myself I'd use her and move on, but she's gotten under my skin, in my head.

I wasn't expecting her to be this... addictive.

The driver glances at me in the rearview mirror, waiting for instructions.

"Home," I mutter.

He nods and pulls away from the curb, navigating through the dark streets of the city. I stare out the window, watching the blurred lights pass by. My mind drifts back to her, to the feel of her skin, the way her lips parted when she begged for more.

"Fuck," I mutter under my breath. I can't wait to see her again. But this... this is getting dangerous.

I never get attached. Ever. It's bad for business and worse for survival. But Elizabeth... there's something about her. Something I can't shake. And I don't fucking like it.

The drive home is short, but the thoughts in my head make it feel longer. I replay every second of the night with her. How she tasted, how she responded. The sound of her voice when she said my name.

I need to fuck her again. Soon.

When we pull up to my place, I step out without a word and head straight inside. My place is quiet, too quiet, the kind of silence that reminds you just how alone you are. It's been that way since my father died.

Since the Mexicans put a bullet in his head.

I shake off the memories and pour myself a drink, staring at the amber liquid before taking a long sip. The burn of the alcohol does nothing to dull the fire that's been burning inside me all night.

She did well. She earned that information, even if she doesn't realize it yet.

I laugh to myself. Fucking cop, thinking she's got the upper hand. She doesn't even know the half of it. Not yet, at least.

But she'll find out soon enough.

I sit down on the leather couch, taking another sip of my drink. Marco's playing a dangerous game, aligning himself with people who have no problem spilling blood. But that's the game we're all in, isn't it? Power. Control. It's all about who can keep their hands clean while everyone else does the dirty work.

The thought of my father flashes through my mind again. I grit my teeth, swallowing the anger down. No. I won't think about that right now. I can't. Not if I want to stay in control.

I grab my phone, scrolling through messages, contacts, the usual. But my mind keeps wandering back to Elizabeth. That fucking woman.

I down the rest of my drink in one go and stand up, pacing the room. My thoughts are spiraling, and I hate it. I hate not being in control of this. Of her. She's making me weak, and I can't afford that right now. Not when I'm so close to getting what I want.

But I'll have her again.

I walk over to the window, looking out at the city. The lights, the people, the chaos. It's my world. And she's just a small part of it, even if she doesn't know it yet.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts. It's a message from one of my guys.

"Got some info on Marco. You want it now?"

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