Page 39 of Tease Me (Dark Odyssey 1)

I want to say that Tommy wouldn’t do a thing like that but my best friend had already disrespected me by associating with people who would kill me if they could.

I can’t say because he was my friend he wouldn’t do whatever this shit is to me. What I do know is he must have had a good reason. A fucking good reason.

Gabe presses his lips together and shuffles in his chair. “Nick, I didn’t want to be the one to say this, but fuck, I’m just going to say it. I think Tommy was dealing. I think maybe he was some kind of dealer. Billy said he overheard the guy say Tommy could hook them up.”

Dealing…

I’d thought of that, but the fact that Chrysanthemum was also mentioned makes me think otherwise. “I don’t know Gabe. Those drugs are hard to come by. I think …” My damn voice trails off.

I was going to say that I’d know about it if Tommy was dealing. The truth is I doubt it. Everything that’s happened and is happening makes me doubt I’d know anything.

I’ve been scanning through possibilities and ending up with shit.

Maybe he was dealing but it doesn’t explain everything else. It doesn’t give any answer to why he was gunned down.

That’s what I want to know. The answer and a name. I want to know who did it. Who put the hit on him and who fired the bullet.

Gabe rests a hand on my shoulder and sighs. “Hey, something will come up. just got to keep looking. We’ll see what we find on the computer. Then maybe we’ll know what to do next.”

I nod, definitely agreeing.

“We’ll grab Salvatore in the morning,” I answer. Salvatore is more technically minded than any of us. It was the fact that he couldn’t get into Tommy’s computer that made us suspicious of what could be on there.

I’m about to elaborate but there’s a sudden movement to my left.

The talk of Tommy took my mind off her.

Mia… Angel Doll.

She approaches us with that coyness I’ve seen her exhibit every time. I thought it was shyness, now I know she’s a lawyer I know it’s not that she’s shy. She’s wary of me and afraid. That’s what it is.

Tonight the coyness is masked by how she looks.

That blond hair has been done up and cascades down her shoulders in long graceful waves.

She’s got that smoky eye makeup that makes her eyes piercing, stunning and breathtaking. Her skin is flawless with a shimmer to it.

I’m already taken with her face and her hair, but the rest of her robs my mind of thought.

She’s wearing a gold negligee that clings to her body, caressing her the way I want to. Everything but the cups of the built-in bra and the lining that covers her mound is see-through.

Good. Mimi knew what I meant when I said take care of her.

I gave specific instructions because I don’t want anybody looking at all the parts of this woman I want for myself. I don’t want any other man touching her, or looking at her. End of story.

In her hands is a little gold masquerade mask. She would have been wearing it on her travel up to me from downstairs.

It hides your identity. Take the mask off when you want to reveal it.

I stand and move to her.

Gabe clears his throat in a very exaggerated manner.

“No intro, brother?” he says with a sinful smile as he looks over my doll.

“No…” I simply reply. He’s such a fucking prick. He’s seen the contract and all the paperwork. He knows her name but thinks he can pull rank in seniority, by making me introduce her, because he’s two years older than me.

He laughs. “No?”

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