Page 52 of Emerald

I am so fucked.

18

ELENA

“You look like a dream,”Manuel Gomez says, greeting me warmly in Spanish as he kisses my cheeks. The man isn’t ugly which will make my job easier, nothing worse than trying to seduce a man that looks like a pig. The man is dressed casually but still looks like he stepped off the pages of a magazine. His dark hair is peppered with some grays, and he has piercing brown eyes set against tanned skin. Tattoos sneaking out from his white linen shirt show off his impressive physique. He looks how porn thinks cartel members look, hot and dangerous. From the research I’ve done on him, he is married to his high school sweetheart, Mariana, and he has twin boys called Luis and Eloy, who turned eighteen last month and have both now been initiated into the cartel. I did think they would make an easier mark, but they have no real power to get me to where I need to be to find Pearl. Manuel regularly cheats on his wife, and I’m sure she knows about it but turns a blind eye thanks to the luxurious lifestyle her husband affords her. Now that the kids have grown, she has been spending a lot of time in Europe celebrating her empty nest, or so her socials state. I don’t think there is any love lost between the two of them.

“You look so much hotter than your photos.”I giggle back, letting my hand slide over his chest as he greets me. Manuel likes his women young and from overseas. He is regularly on dating apps, that’s how I was able to find him. From what I found out, he recruits women from these dating sites into the cartel as sex slaves. He lulls the unsuspecting women with his charm and good looks, and when he hooks them, he pounces and signs them up for a lifetime of pain. I need to play my part as the unsuspecting Carmen from Spain, who is traveling overseas for the first time to celebrate graduating from university.

“So many muscles.”I giggle again, running my hand over his arms and squeezing them. I notice his chest puff out with the compliment, I could tell he was vain from the shirtless photos and gym photos online with his sons.“You must work out.”

“I do,”he says, slightly flexing for me. I bite my bottom lip and look at him through my eyelashes as his eyes land on where my teeth sink into my red lips. I lean forward a little, showing off my impressive cleavage and watch as his eyes move from my lips to where I want them.“Please, sit,”he says, moving toward my chair and pulling it out for me. I take my seat, and he does the same sitting opposite me.“Thought we might start with champagne and food before deciding on where the night will take us.”

“You’re so worldly. I’ve never had champagne before,”I confess to him.

“I’ll happily show you new things,”he says, giving me a seductive wink. If I could stab this man in his eyeball right now I would, but alas, I need him to get me into the Dominguez compound.

“I’ll happily let you,”I purr back just as a looming presence greets me to my right.

“Your champagne,” Nash says, placing the champagne stand beside our table.

“Oh, hi, Nashie. I didn’t realize you were working tonight. I thought you had a hot date, too,” I say to him. Manuel turns and looks between Nash and me, the hackles on his neck are up, suspicion swirling behind those dark brown eyes. “Nashie here has graciously let me crash at his home for my holiday. My older sister’s boyfriend is best friends with him. He’s like a big brother to me,” I explain to Manuel who doesn’t look happy but relaxes when I explain.

“Yeah, I owed him a favor,” he says with a shrug as he pops open the champagne.

“Are you working all night?” I ask him.

“Yeah, my date canceled. Saturdays are normally busy, so I thought I would help instead. Please, forget I’m here.”

I giggle. “Okay, but um …” I bite my lip and those blue eyes flare ever so slightly, “what time will you be home?” I look over at Manuel and smile at him, hoping he will get the hint.

“I’ll be here till after closing,” he answers.

“Okay, great,” I say with a wide smile.

“Can I get anything else for you?” he asks as he pours us each a glass.

“No, we’re fine, just the food,” Manuel says, dismissing Nash, who gives me one last look of concern before disappearing.

“I didn’t know you knew him?”Manuel asks, those eyes narrowing on me. Did I play that wrong? I don’t want him suspicious of me already.

I lean forward giving him a good look at my cleavage.“I didn’t know you knew him either,”I say.

“Everyone knows Nash Madden around here,”Manuel explains.

“Oh. I didn’t know he had a reputation. I thought he was a grumpy old man.”I giggle.

“If you think Nash is old, then you must think I’m ancient,”Manuel says.

I reach out and touch his arm reassuring him.“Oh no, you’re distinguished. Plus, Nash is a brute, I like men who have more civility around them,”I say, taking a sip of my champagne before bursting out in giggles.“Oh, the bubbles, they went up my nose.”This has Manuel chuckling, the suspicion leaving his eyes.

“Yes, the bubbles can tingle.”

“I like tingles.”My voice drops low as I take another sip, hoping he understands the innuendo. The raised brows and arrogant smirk he gives me over his glass of champagne tell me that he does.

“Willyou excuse me while I go to the bathroom?”

Manuel nods, and I place my napkin on the table and head to the bathrooms. As soon as I push through the door to the females, someone is right behind me.

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