The Scene Read online

  "This over your bikini will be perfect. You needed something fab but casual so we'll be able to quickly walk across the street for lunch while we're having a beach day."

  "I still can't get over this whole 'beach fabulous' thing. Where I come from, a beach trip is an all-day thing and you bring a cooler full of beer and stuff to grill over the fire."

  "Yeah, yeah. Where you come from makes crappy coffee too, so let's forget it even exists, okay?"

  Now it's my turn to throw the t-shirt. As I do, my phone buzzes. It’s a text from Xavier. It sends a shock of lust through my body that reminds me I’m still sore from our epic sex last night.

  Hi gorgeous. Up for another skinny-dipping trip soon?

  "Why are you blushing, Nikki? Is that from your man?" Hailey makes kissing noises and dances away before I can throw anything else.

  I text back: Tonight?

  He responds quickly. Of course you'd pick the one night I have plans. Damn. Tomorrow?

  My response is one word. Definitely.

  When I finish, Hailey's at the register buying a cute dress and a pair of shorts. I grab my ‘fab casual’ beach outfit and a couple cute t-shirts and weave through the tables to pay. I wonder if Xavier will like me in these clothes.

  While the cashier rings up my items, Hailey slips an arm around me. "I want to check out this shop that's two blocks over. You want to run your errand and meet me there or do you want me to come with?"

  "I can meet you there."

  "You sure?"

  "Yeah. I have to do this solo. And I'm pretty sure Ava's going to be pissed off enough that I'm there."

  “Okay. I’m texting you the address.” Hailey gives me a final squeeze. “Good luck.”

  “Thanks.” I know I’ll need it.

  #

  As I walk in the door of the tattoo parlor, I'm struck by how it looks like it could be any tattoo parlor in any city in the country. Images of Chinese lettering and superhero drawings line the wall next to me, along with a vast array of gleaming jewelry for piercings. On the other side of me is an assortment of animal tattoos, featuring a wide selection of wolf portraits. It's only once I step into the main area of the store that I see probably a thousand other images, some familiar and some not at all.

  "Let me guess. It's your twenty-first birthday so you want to celebrate with something fun?" The guy at the counter can't be more than nineteen. Judging by the amount of ink on him, a good chunk of his paycheck goes back to the business.

  "Good guess, but no. I actually wanted to speak to Ava if she's around?" I try to keep my voice casual, as if I didn’t just come here because I’m desperate to get some answers.

  He scans me from head to toe and apparently decides I'm not a threat, because he yells Ava's name toward the back of the room. It doesn't take long for her to walk out. The look on her face tells me she wishes she would have stayed in the back, but she visibly sighs and walks over.

  I only met her at Eli's funeral, but I'm struck by how much healthier she looks. She's put on probably ten pounds that soften the hard edges of her looks. The dark circles and vacant expression are gone too. Even though she's pissed at me, I can tell that she's doing well.

  "Give us a minute, Mike." Her tone is authoritative, and I remember that she mentioned a promotion the last time I spoke to her.

  She waits until the kid slinks off into the back before she speaks. "What the hell are you doing here, Nikki?"

  I feel myself flush at her harsh tone. "I’m sorry to show up like this, but you wouldn't take my calls, and I need to talk to you."

  "Not taking your calls generally means that a person has no desire to talk."

  I look her in the eye and stand my ground. I’m doing this for Eli, and I won’t be intimidated. "Look, I know I'm probably the last person you want to see, but I really need your help, Ava. Please. If you cared about my brother at all—"

  Her fierce expression cuts me off. "Of course I cared about him. I loved Eli." She kicks one of the legs of the chair she's leaning on. "But he's gone. Nothing is going to bring him back, Nikki. This quest of yours is just keeping you from moving on."

  She's right, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to give up yet. "Look, Ava. I know it has to be painful for you to talk about him. But I don't have anyone else I can ask who was with him at the end. I need to know what happened, if he got mixed up in drugs like the police said. If there's even a chance that this wasn't an accident—" my voice cracks with emotion.

  "Okay, Jesus. Stop." She holds up her hands as if she's about to push me away. "I'll answer your questions. But first you need to know that I honestly have no idea what he was doing at the end. He dumped me like a month before he died."

  My mouth falls open. "He what? Why didn't you say anything before?" Eli never told me they broke up. It shouldn’t hurt so much that he kept it from me, but it does.

  Ava sighs. "Because it didn't matter. I loved him and wanted to pay my respects. There was no reason to tell you and your family that he was an asshole to me at the end."

  "What happened?"

  "No clue. Out of nowhere, he tells me he's moving out. He can't be with me anymore. Says it's because he cares about me too much and doesn't want me to get hurt. Whatever." She kicks the chair again then comes around to sit down in it. She looks defeated. "He packed his stuff, slept on the couch, and was gone in the morning."

  I give her a minute. When she's ready to talk again, she looks up. I can tell the attitude is back before she opens her mouth.

  "But that's not what you want to know, so let's get it over with. Ask your questions."

  I take a deep breath and steel myself. "Was Eli selling drugs?"

  Ava looks at the wall, her shoes, her nails—anywhere but me. I can tell she’s uncomfortable discussing this, but I have to know the answer, even if it isn’t what I want to hear. "I don't think he was selling them, but I know he was doing something. Courier, distributing…something."

  A lump forms in my throat, but I push on. "Why do you say that?"

  "He was flashing cash around all the time." She makes an ugly face. "Had this mysterious new job, working late all the time, fancy new car…what else could it be? Eli couldn't have gotten any regular job paying like that."

  I pull out my phone and bring up the picture of Eduardo. "Did you ever see him with this guy?"

  She doesn't hesitate when I show her the picture. "Yeah, all the time. They were always working. Someone would pick up and drop off Eli sometimes. This guy was in the car most of those times."

  "Did you ever meet him?"

  "Once. He and some other guys dropped off a package. Eli kept it next to him the entire night and morning. He wouldn't tell me anything about it and got pissed when I kept bugging him." She runs a hand through her hair and takes a deep breath. "When I got home from work the next day he wasn't there. The package was gone. I asked him about it that night when he came home, and he told me to never ask him about it again. So I didn't."

  "It's not that I don't believe you. I do. It's just…I can't imagine Eli being involved in drugs. I mean, getting caught with a joint, sure, but trafficking? No way. This doesn’t add up."

  "I would have said the same thing before. But the Eli I fell in love with and the Eli who hung out with dudes like that guy?" She gestured toward the phone. "Those were two completely different people. Our Eli died way before that car crash."

  #

  All the evidence seems to point in one direction. Eli was involved in drug trafficking. My brain can't wrap around it, but I can't deny the overwhelming amount of information proving it. The medical examiner, all the shady people at the club he worked at, Eduardo, what Ava said about his behavior… And yet I still can’t believe Eli was really involved in this kind of stuff. Drug trafficking isn't pulling stupid pranks at the school or stumbling drunk down the sidewalk. It's hardcore criminal activity.

  Maybe I didn't know my brother at all.

  I walk into the store Hailey wanted to check out, my fee
lings at an all-time low. I just want to go home. But Hailey's chatting with some woman, so my escape is on pause.

  Then I see who she's talking to, and I'm so very grateful that Hailey is a big talker. It's Kayla, the woman I met at Club Ultra.

  Kayla spots me before I can say anything. "I was hoping I'd run into you, Nikki! How's it going?"

  "Um…it's good. What are you doing here?"

  "Same as you. Needed some retail therapy." She looks over at Hailey. "I can't believe I didn't know you two were friends!”

  “How do you guys know each other?” I ask.

  Kayla smiles. “Hailey and I met at this restaurant I used to go to a lot, where she used to hostess. You’re not there anymore, right?

  Hailey nods.

  Kayla continues, “It's such a shame I missed seeing you at the club the other night."

  "Yeah, well weren’t there very long. We should plan a shopping day some time. You know that open-air center they just opened up last month? I've been dying to go." Hailey turns to me. "You in, Nikki?"

  "Definitely."

  "Oh, so Nikki,” Kayla says, her voice teasing. “You made quite the impression on Eduardo the other night at the club, by the way. He was asking if any of us knew you."

  Finally, a bit of good news. "Well, we did figure out the other night that I'm the perfect woman for him." I shoot Hailey a glance, hoping she'll stay quiet. "He should have been tearing Miami apart looking for me." I laugh, and the others join in.

  "What did I tell you?" Kayla grins. "I knew the guys would notice you before long if you hung around. You'll get an invite to V.I.P. next time you're there, for sure."

  "Don't leave me behind when you're living the glamorous life, Nikki." Hailey's playing along, and I love her for it. "I don't want to spend Friday nights alone with Ben and Jerry."

  "Speaking of the glamorous life, you guys should totally come to the marina later. It's going to be a killer party tonight." She pulls out her phone. "Give me your numbers and I'll text you both the details. It starts pretty early so we can get a little sun and be out on the water at sunset."

  "The marina?" Hailey asks.

  "Yeah, Eduardo throws the best parties on his yacht. He'll be thrilled to see you again, Nikki, and maybe we'll get Hailey out of her anti-partying shell."

  I'm in. Finally. Now I just have to get Eduardo alone so I can figure out how to ask him questions about my brother.

  Chapter Nine

  Kayla said it was beach fab casual, so Hailey insists I wear my new outfit over my turquoise bikini. I have to admit, I like the idea of partying without getting so dressed up. A little light makeup, some gloss, and sea salt spray to make my hair wavy, and I'm ready to go. Hailey's wearing her new shorts too, with a Bohemian style tunic that has embroidery on the neck.

  We meet Kayla and her friends Myka and Sasha at the main entrance so they can walk with us to the jetty. I'm happy to see that all three of them have on something similar to what Hailey and I are wearing. I'd be pretty lost without Hailey to tell me what's what in this town.

  "Anything we should know before we get onboard?" Hailey asks.

  "Not really," Sasha responds. "It's pretty laid back. The guys are cool. They won't pressure you to pair up or anything. It's never been an issue. I think they just like to throw parties and look at pretty girls."

  "So, we aren't going to be expected to like…service them?" I'd come fully prepared to make out with Eduardo if I needed to, but I didn't want to sleep with him. And I definitely didn't want Hailey to feel pressured to hook up.

  Kayla laughs. "Not at all. We're a little like a mix of kid sisters and groupies. If there's someone you want to hook up with, you can, but it's not expected. We're really just there for the company and the eye candy."

  As we walk up to the boarding ramp, my phone vibrates in my pocket.

  Can't wait to see you tomorrow, sexy. You going out tonight?

  I respond with a lie. I hate to be dishonest, but Xavier doesn't need to know anything about my extracurricular activity.

  Nope. It's Netflix and pizza for me. I'm saving my energy for someone special.

  Tease. His response makes me laugh. Hailey gives me a curious look but nods when a big smile crosses my face.

  #

  We walk up the ramp to board the yacht, and I have to admit I'm blown away. It looks like something out of a music video. The yacht is huge. There are uniformed servers carrying trays of appetizers and manning small bars set up on deck. Eduardo even hired a D.J. for the night, and the bass from the latest club hits is already vibrating in my chest.

  Someone makes an announcement that we'll be leaving for sea in five minutes, and the girls and I move to the front of the ship so we can look at the view. I'm happy to see so many other women and men mingling on the deck. Despite the few women catching some afternoon sun on a section of the deck, it reminds me more of a young professional’s mixer than a bunch of drug dealers partying it up. It definitely isn't what I expected.

  While the others go to grab drinks, I set out to find Eduardo. I move through the crowd making pleasant but brief conversation. I have work to do and can't be distracted.

  I recognize a man from the club going inside the ship, so I follow him. Eduardo and his V.I.P. guys are holding court in the corner of a large living room. Some boxing match is on the big screen T.V., and half a dozen champagne buckets dot the room.

  "Where did you come from?" The voice comes from behind me and is thick with a Latin accent. I could listen to him read me the phone book.

  I turn to find a man of about forty years old, well-dressed and carrying himself with an elegance that only comes from money. He might be about twenty years older than me, but he is one gorgeous man.

  My voice remains light, flirtatious. "I just wandered in off the street. You should really be better about checking who gets on your ship."

  "Honey, if they all looked like you, I'd let everyone board. But then again, it's not my ship." He grins and holds out a hand. "I'm Marco."

  "Nicole." As soon as my name is out of my mouth, I wonder if I should have used a fake one. But now it’s too late. I need to get better at this detective work.

  "It's nice to meet you, Nicole. I have to talk to someone over there, but I am going to find you later. I need to know at least a little bit about all the women on the boat."

  "And why's that?"

  "Because you never know who the future Mrs. Marco might be, honey."

  I can't help but laugh at that, but I'm grateful when he walks away. That leaves me to focus on Eduardo, who has just taken a call on his cell. He excuses himself and walks out into the stairwell.

  Channeling my best surveillance skills, I follow so I can corner him as soon as he is done with his call. He moves further into the stairwell and I have to lean against the door so that I can hear him. I kneel down to look like I’m just fixing my heel, while I eavesdrop. He's reassuring someone, but then my blood freezes.

  "You're worrying for nothing. Eli knew what would happen."

  He's silent while the other person speaks. I can't hear anything but mumbling on that side of the conversation since I'm not very close. My thoughts are moving a mile a minute. Can he be talking about my brother?

  "It was a clean job. Whoever's asking questions doesn't know shit, boss. I promise."

  Boss. El Jefe?

  "Don't worry. We did it clean."

  What the fuck!

  His comments send me reeling. It's true. Eli was murdered. And El Jefe was behind it.

  Learning the truth doesn't make me feel any better. In fact, it makes me nauseous. I've got to get out of here. I’m not safe.

  I move back through the boat and upstairs as fast as I can without drawing attention to myself. I have an overwhelming need to get off the ship, but that's not happening. All around me, I can feel people tensing up. It’s not just the men checking their phones or darting eyes all over the place. Even the women are taking extra care touching up their hair and makeup
. That’s when I realize: they’re all waiting for the Boss to arrive. And they’re afraid.

  Deep breaths in and out begin to calm me a little. I ask one of the servers if they have ginger ale, and she goes to get me one.

  My mind is spinning out of control with the news. El Jefe killed my brother. My brother was murdered. My brother, the drug trafficker. It's like getting stuck with a bad movie while you're in the dentist's chair for a root canal. Too late to do anything about it now.

  Murdered. Poor Eli. No matter what he was into, he didn't deserve that. And by someone in the same organization. Someone who was on this same boat. My stomach reels, but not from the motion of the boat. I don't know any of these people. Not even Kayla. Who else besides Eduardo was in on it? Who else knew my brother would be killed? And what will they do to me if they find out who I am? Or how hard I’m searching for answers? But then I flash back on Eduardo’s conversation: they already know someone’s digging in Eli’s past.

  My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a speedboat approaching. I wish I could ask for the boat to take me back to shore, but that would look hugely suspicious.

  I notice Eduardo walk toward the area where the speedboat pulls up. He helps a man on board, but I can't see the person's face. He's dressed casually in a button down with the sleeves rolled up, exposing tan, clearly defined forearms.

  "Hey, boss. You didn't have to come all the way out here."

  Boss.

  This is it.

  El Jefe. Finally I'll see the face of the man who had my brother killed.

  But nothing can prepare me for what I see when Eduardo and the man move into the light.

  It's Xavier.

  TO BE CONTINUED…

  What happens next? Nikki and Xavier’s sizzling story continues in THE SCENE: BOOK TWO. Available 7/22/15

  Order now!