Page 19 of Vengeance

“This better not be an impromptu secret, forced wedding.”

“Are you wearing a white dress and veil?” is all he asks.

I decide to take that as answer. But I can never be sure with Viper about things like this. Nor would I ever put it past him. Him and other people’s personal boundaries don’t typically mix. Even mine. Maybe especially mine.

He gives me a pair of sunglasses, hooks his arm in mine, and walks me out the suite and down the elevator. We don’t go through the main lobby and instead go through a discreet exit to where our ride is waiting for us.

The place where we’re going turns out to be at an event venue in a neutral business district that none of the competing crime lords and mafias have bothered trying to take over yet. A wise place for a weapons dealer to have a party if his aim is to sell weapons to whoever has the money for them and stay out of the middle of conflict. But also, a potentially dangerous place for us specifically because it’s neutral. Because neutral doesn’t always mean no one is going to shoot you if they see you and want to. It just means the establishment isn’t going to do anything to help or stop either side.

We’re stopped in a well-lit foyer to sign NDAs before we go inside, pretty much telling me the kind of debauchery I’m likely to run into here. So I’m not surprised when we’re let through the double doors into a large transformed room with hanging platforms of naked men and women dancing sensually, an unending colorful wall of alcohol, all kinds of drugs being passed around, a corner where a group of guests have decided to have an orgy while a crowd watches in a corner near the back, and no telling what else.

While I’ve been to a lot of parties with people with money and time to blow, the vibe is familiar, and a glance at the elevated platform in the center where the host of the party is, sucking it all up, confirms it.

“Hudson is our dealer?” I ask. Then, “He’s still dealing?”

“To a select number of clients he likes.”

“I’m guessing he still likes you?”

Viper huffs in answer before gesturing me forward.

As we walk past throngs of people on the way to the center of the room, I spot Alik Vorobev and his wife, Nadia. While Alik doesn’t notice me, his vibrantly red-haired and green-eyed wife does. She clearly recognizes me, even with my dark hair and shades when most people haven’t. But she only discreetly nods at me before turning her attention back to whatever story it is someone in their little group is telling.

Interesting.

One of Hudson’s men come to meet us before we’re even halfway to the center raised platform. He moves people out the way and makes a direct path for us to get to Hudson who has already made room for us to sit.

“You made it,” Hudson says.

As he lets me brace on his arm so I can discreetly ease myself down onto the soft cushions in a way that I can easily get up later, Viper glowers at the man and says, “First things first.”

Quicker than anyone can see, Viper’s hand goes from hanging casually at his side to holding his gun and pointing it in Hudson’s direction. And while everyone, even his security is registering that, he’s pulled the trigger and shot precisely into the cushion between Hudson’s spread legs. Hudson’s security gets ready to spring into action…

Until Hudson laughs loudly and says, “This is why I always liked you kid.”

His security eyes Hudson in guarded confusion, awaiting his cue on what to do.

“You need better security,” Viper says as he takes a seat next to me, unbothered by all the men surrounding us with hands on their guns.

Either he’s confident that Hudson’s men won’t shoot or he’s had his men infiltrate this party long before we got here. Likely the latter.

He continues, “If I’d really wanted to kill you, you would have been dead by now.”

“It’s not in your interests to kill me, kid,” Hudson says as he waves for a round of drinks.

I obligatorily take it, but naturally refrain from drinking it. Just put the glass to my mouth and tip it until the alcohol is touching me lips.

“Lucky for you,” Viper replies. “Now. I’m here at your party. Let’s talk business.”

“Not so fast,” Hudson says. “Who’s the pretty little lady on—Well, fuck me. You actually went and found her for me. Adrian. What a wonderful gift.”

“She’snotfor you.”

Hudson ignores Viper and says, “Little Dele… Well, not so little anymore. You grew up as gorgeous as I knew you would. Still trying to keep up with this guy? Or is he trying to keep up with you now?”

I give him a polite smile as I put my glass down next to the heavy metal abstract art centerpiece on the table near me. Same old Hudson.

Viper brought me to one his lavish birthday parties a decade ago. When I was just seventeen and starting to understand the power my sexuality had over men and women. I went through an all but naked stage, wearing the tightest, no room for imagination dresses I could get my hands on when I was allowed to go on assignments in places like this. Wyan hadn’t liked it. And while Phae had understood the attention from men and women was thrilling and new, even she’d cautioned me.

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