Page 17 of Forbidden Empire
Palm trees swayed in the warm evening breeze, their elongated shadows stretching across the bustling concrete sidewalks, grasping at the vibrant chaos of street performers and hawkers below.
I allowed myself a small, satisfied smirk, savoring the thought that I’d survived another day in the heart of the beast. I was hiding in plain sight, a shadow among the multitude of sunburnt tourists clutching cameras and ice cream cones.
It was a risky move, but I had kept ahead of the men chasing me. I considered escaping the city, yet I knew Aidon and Zeno’s relentless followers wouldn’t give up, no matter where I fled. Rhea’s keen senses and fierce determination probably had her closing in too.
The information I’d spirited away was a ticking time bomb, capable of dismantling their entire operation, and they were aware of the threat I posed.
At least in this city, I navigated its labyrinthine streets with the ease of a seasoned local. I knew how to walk with purpose, to draw attention, when necessary, but more important was how to blend into the crowd, becoming invisible amidst the endless waves of people who never seemed to tire of the neon-lit allure of this place.
But I wasn't naive. I knew the cloak of anonymity wouldn’t shield me forever. I would have to confront Aidon and Zeno, face the repercussions of my daring theft, and pay for the chaos I’d unleashed. Sooner or later, my streak of luck would come crashing to a halt.
This was Vegas, after all. In this town, the constants seemed to be the ache of longing, the shadow of despair, and the insatiable hunger for more. Luck was just a mirage in the desert heat. But true to the spirit of a seasoned Las Vegan, I wassavoring the streak of good fortune while it lasted, relishing my freedom like a rare delicacy.
The neon signs of Vegas flickered their empty promises across the Strip.
Here today, dark tomorrow.
I tossed back my drink, savoring the burn. Seven days in that Green Valley rental had left me twitching behind identical beige curtains, counting stucco ceilings that mirrored the ones next door, and the next, and the next.
Tonight, sequins bit into my skin as I adjusted the straps of a dress that did the bare minimum to cover what it needed to. My calves ached from six-inch stilettos, and sweat gathered beneath the blonde wig tickling my shoulders. I'd chosen the Ida Hotel’s rooftop for this.
Bodies pressed against bodies, music drowning thought. I caught my reflection in a stranger's sunglasses. I was just another party girl, black frames obscuring half my face, invisible in plain sight.
I savored the sweetness of my third Bellini, bubbles tickling my nose. My thoughts drifted to Aidon, who was probably seething now, frustration boiling over in waves of anger. I pictured him storming around his sleek Underworld office, face flushed, fists clenched. A sly smile crept onto my lips, feeling a wicked delight. Aidon’s magnetic intensity made him a force to be reckoned with. It drove me mad.
My fingers touched the tiny sequined purse slung across my body, brushing against the cool, metallic surface of the USB drive inside. It was my constant companion, and I kept checking it throughout the day. Each time I felt its reassuring weight, a wave of relief and anxiety swept over me.
It contained payout ledgers, shell routes, customs bribes, and detailed information on all aspects of the Shadow Syndicate’soperations. It was the organization run by Rhea Konstantinou, who was one of Zeno and Aidon’s most unpredictable enemies.
A sharp, remorseful pang struck my heart as I snapped the purse shut. I had orchestrated an elaborate heist to snatch that box from Zeno, betraying Aidon, my lover, in the process. I vanished with it, spiriting away its hidden treasures. Yet, the power it granted me was irresistible, a temptation I couldn’t ignore.
But I wasn’t the only one who valued its contents. I knew they wouldn't hesitate to do anything to get it back. Staying in Vegas was a risk I couldn’t take much longer. I needed to come up with a plan, a way out, even though I didn't know where I was heading. Every second here brought me closer to danger.
My phone buzzed insistently against my hip, a reminder of the world outside my thoughts. I opened my purse again, fishing out the device to answer the call.
“Hey.”
“Esme, it’s me.”
“I know, Selene. You called me from an encrypted phone number.”
Selene was my secret weapon, a digital phantom who could slip through firewalls, a ghost through walls. Her fingers danced over keyboards like a musician's, composing symphonies of code.
She had been my eyes and ears on Aidon and Zeno, tracking their every digital move, sending me a steady stream of intel about their whereabouts and schemes.
“Right. Listen, we have a problem. I don’t know how, but Aidon’s getting close to finding you. You need to get out of that city as soon as possible, Esme."
“Oh, yeah?” I replied, letting her words swirl around my mind like smoke. I closed my eyes, feeling the pulse of my instincts.
Today, the city felt like a fortress of anonymity. The risk was palpable, a tingling in my veins, yet Selene’s warning barely registered as more than a whisper in the wind. Instead of fear, a rebellious thrill surged through me.
There was something intoxicating about living in Aidon’s shadow, slipping past his notice for so long.
As for Zeno, he was a different story.
My half-brother’s rage was a storm that might have swept others away, but I had weathered it before. He wanted the information I held like a gambler clutching a winning hand, but I doubted he’d resort to violence.
I wanted to savor this daring game, stretch the tension like a rubber band, knowing the longer I stayed hidden, the sweeter Aidon’s defeat would taste when he realized how close I’d been all along.
