Page 51 of Emerald

I rush downstairs to the main bar area and head over to where Manuel is sitting.

“Manuel, long time no see,” I say, greeting him warmly. I know all the cartel men, making it my mission to know them when I arrived. I understand how this town works, if you want to operate your business in peace, you need to be accommodating to these men. “What brings you to my bar?”

Manuel laughs as he shakes my hand. “I’m meeting someone,” he says, grinning widely.

Fuck.

So, he is here to meet Ellie. How the hell did she get a date with him in such a short time? My eyes run over him again and I notice he’s dressed down a little more casually than the normal suit he wears.

He then leans forward a little and whispers, “A beautiful woman.”

I raise my brows in fake surprise. I’m sure his wife doesn’t know about this, but to be fair, from what I’ve heard she’s living in Europe now that their two sons are grown. Not that I should be surprised, the cartel men do whatever the hell they want and who they want. It amazes me the number of women who fawn over these men, hoping to get some scraps for a better life. What they don’t know is many get sucked in by the money and the men, and once the cartel has their claws sunk into you, they will sell you to the highest bidder and traffic you to whomever and wherever they want. You are nothing more than a transaction to these men.

Then Manuel slides over a wad of notes to me. A thousand American dollars.

Shit.

“My lips are sealed.” I grin, pretending to zip them as I pocket the cash.

“Knew I could trust you, Nash. Send over your best bottle of champagne and whatever food you think will impress the woman.”

I nod as I walk away from his table and back toward the bar. I leave my back toward Manuel as I talk to Jose, my second in charge.

“What’s he doing in here?” Jose asks.

“Apparently, on a date.” A slew of Spanish curse words falls from Jose’s lips. “I know, here, this might help.” I slide the American bills over to him.

Jose shakes his head. “My life is worth more than that.”

“I know. Fuck,” I swear, running my hand over my head. “We can’t kick him out. He also wants a bottle of champagne and something nice to eat.”

“Let’s hope they don’t stay long,” Jose mumbles as he takes the cash and heads to the fridge to grab the bottle of champagne.

Movement to my right catches my attention as I’m on high alert and everything in me stills.

What in the fuck.

Ellie looks like a fucking wet dream as she strolls in as if the sandy path is a Parisian catwalk, her blonde hair bouncing in time with her robust tits, that at any moment seem to want to escape the confines of her dress. She’s wearing a bright red micro mini that is like a second skin as it clings to every curve of her body.

Fuck me. She looks like sin.

The hem of her dress is borderline indecent, and my eyes track her long legs that disappear beneath the fabric. What the hell does she think she is doing dressing like this? I don’t like that she is looking like that for him.Not that I’m jealous or anything.Those blue eyes clock me, and an arrogant smirk falls across her lips, she knows she looks good. And she does as she makes my dick twitch to life. What the fuck? Does my dick have no sense of self-preservation? The entire bar falls silent, watching her walk in as if they, too, are mesmerized by what they see. This gets Manuel’s attention, and he looks up from his phone, his mouth falls open, and his tongue is practically falling out of his mouth as his eyes bulge, and I know the man has probably got half a bar under the table. Any living male would seeing her.

I watch in slow motion as Ellie greets Manuel in perfect Spanish and flawlessly starts flirting with the man who is probably old enough to be her father. Manuel isn’t an ugly guy, I guess. He’s fit, looks after himself, and is a little vain, some would say, but he is also ruthless. That pretty boy face hides the monster that lurks beneath him easily, but I guess he doesn’t know the monster that is luring him into her web as we speak.

“Who the hell is that?” Jose asks as he hands me the bottle of champagne.

“My new house guest and pain in the ass.”

“She was the favor from Brooks?” I nod. Jose whistles. “What the hell is she doing on a date with Manuel?”

“Fuck knows.”

“She is going to get herself or you killed.” Jose chuckles.

“Thanks,” I answer sarcastically.

“You’re fucked. I’ll shed a tear at your funeral.” Jose smirks before turning away.

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