Black Dahlia (11 page)

Finally, Jazmine’s set ended and she came bounding down the stairs off the stage, and pressed a quick kiss to Mercedes’ cheek, wishing her luck on her performance. Just as quickly as she came down the stairs, Jazmine was gone, strutting down the hallway towards the locker room. Raul saw the woman who was tasked with collecting the performer’s discarded costumes, gathering pieces of Jazmine’s costume in her arms, before she hurried down the hallway as well. The owner of the club, Mistress Coco, made her way to the stage, cheering the crowd to applaud one last time for Jazmine and beginning her introduction for Mercedes.

Coco’s voice reverberated through the club. “Ladies hold on to your wigs, and fellas hold on to you jockstraps!”

Raul smiled and turned to Mercedes. “She’s one of a kind,” he said to her referring to Mistress Coco.

Mercedes lips spread into a big smile. “And doesn’t take shit from anyone.”

“Just remember I’ll be right here a few feet away and I have my men strategically placed around the club. You just worry about performing your little heart out,” he said reminding her of the safety precautions they’d taken.

Mercedes nodded, “I can do that.” She started up the stairs and Mistress Coco’s introduction wound down, and the lights went low. Raul heard Etta James’ voice wash over the crowd as she sang the opening chords to
Something’s Got A Hold On Me.
Raul admitted to himself he could relate to the words of the song. While he wasn’t ready to say it was love he had feelings for Mercedes; feelings he’d never had for another woman were taking hold. Refocusing on the task at hand, he chose to ignore the questions in his head and carefully watch the crowd and onlookers for any sudden movements, possible weapons, or even the flicker of a camera or video light. He saw his men in the front and back of the audience and they were on high alert. He nodded with one when they made eye contact. He breathed a little easier knowing his men were on the job. After scanning the audience for a few moments he returned his attention back to the stage and his stomach muscles instantly tightened. Mercedes was now down to her heels, tights, and costume bra, with very little else, as she laid on her back on the stage floor, feet planted, knees bent, and thrusting her hips and swiveling them in the air. What he wouldn’t give to have her in that exact position, fully naked in his bed. He intended to make that happen sooner rather than later.

But before he could let his fantasy fully form in his mind, a quick movement out of the corner of his eye drew his attention. He saw his man, Lorenzo who was closest to the stage, jump up in pursuit of a white male who had been sitting in the audience. The man looked as if he was headed for the stage. Raul didn’t think twice before he was on stage, rushing to Mercedes, pulling her up and off the stage. Mercedes, shocked at his abrupt appearance, almost looked as if she was going to pull away, but she swiftly realized it was Raul and let him lead her off stage. Without even looking back, Raul ushered Mercedes off the stage, down the stairs, and down the hall to the private changing room he’d requested for her. He knew his men had grabbed whoever it was that rushed the stage. His primary concern was getting Mercedes out of harm’s way and away from onlookers.

“What the hell was that?” Mercedes blurted out as they burst into the changing room, Raul shutting the door behind them. He hurriedly checked the room to make sure no one was hiding inside, before turning to answer her question.

“Someone rushed the stage. Could just be an overanxious fan, but could be our guy. I’m going to find out.” Just as Raul finished his statement, there were two light taps and then two heavy taps on the door. That was his team’s signal. He opened the door, to find himself face-to-face with Lorenzo.

“You got him?” Raul asked.

“Yeah, boss. Johnny’s holding him. He doesn’t have anything on him,” Lorenzo answered.

“Wait here. No one comes in or out of this room,” Raul instructed. Mercedes looked too shocked to speak. He wanted to envelop her in his arms and assure her it was okay, but he had work to do. The sooner he spoke to this man the sooner he could get her out of here.

“Sure thing, boss,” Lorenzo complied as Raul stepped outside the door, closing it behind him. Lorenzo stood on guard outside the door, while Raul went in search of Johnny. He met Mistress Coco in the hallway.

“They took him to my office. Down the hall to the right. And if that’s the bastard who’s trying to scare my Black Dahlia just let me have five minutes alone with him!” she told Raul tersely.

Even though the woman was a mere five-foot-three and in her sixties, Raul didn’t doubt that she could easily put a hurting on someone.

“Will do, ma’am, but you have to promise to leave something for me to handle when you’re done,” Raul said meaning every word.

“I make no such promises,” Mistress Coco said before turning and heading in the opposite direction. Despite the possible danger, Raul smiled at the older woman’s gumption. Raul made it to Mistress Coco’s office and opened the door to see Johnny peering over the audience member who rushed the stage. The man was no taller than 5’6 or 5’7, medium build, and in his mid-to-late twenties. With Johnny peering over him like he wanted to haul him outside behind the dumpsters, the man seemed to slink down in his seat.

“Name,” Raul said assertively. The man barely made eye contact with Raul.

“You heard him. What’s your fucking name?!” Johnny demanded, harshly.

“Michael,” he said in a low, but even voice.

“Michael, why did you rush the stage like that?” Raul asked, stepping closer.

Michael shrugged his response. “I don’t know.”

Raul was working with a short fuse. Johnny sensing Raul’s temper rise, stepped back as Raul hauled the man out of his chair and shoved him into the nearest wall.

“I’m sure you have no clue who the fuck you’re playing with right now, but I’m telling you right fucking now, I’m not the one to be toyed with. As of right now, the only thing keeping me from slamming my fist into your face is you have information I need. You’ve got until I count to three to spill it, or I’m wiping this fucking office floor with your face.” And with that, Raul let the man go and stepped back. When the man remained silent it was as if he thought Raul was bluffing, until he started counting.

“One.”

Raul removed his black blazer, unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and neatly rolled up his sleeves. The man looked nervously between Johnny and Raul, but still remained quiet.

“Two.”

Raul pulled his Glock 19 from its back holster, checked the chamber, and handed it to Johnny while giving Michael a deadly stare. Michael swallowed at the smile that spread across Johnny’s face.

“Thr--”

“Okay, okay. I was paid to do it,” Michael blurted out before Raul could finish his countdown.

“By who?” Raul asked not missing a beat.

“I don’t know.”

When he saw Raul take a threatening step forward, he insisted, “No seriously, I don’t know!” he yelled, “All I know is I got a message from an online dating website I created a profile on. The person asks me to come to this show tonight, and wait for Black Dahlia to perform. They tell me to just rush the stage to scare her a little bit. That’s it. I was never going to hurt her.”

Raul heard enough. He pushed Michael into the wall, “You call running up on stage and scaring someone you don’t know,
not hurting them
? How much did they pay you?”

“200 bucks. I’m sorry I didn’t know it was that big a deal,” Michael stated nervously.

“How did you get paid?” Raul asked not wanting to hear more of his excuses.

“The money was dropped off in my mail box by the time I got home from work today.”

Raul knew Mercedes’ stalker was behind the incident. They were smart to not use any money-transferring technology. Whoever was doing this was local, and Raul had a growing suspicion they had some sort of connection to the Black Kitty. First, they filmed Mercedes here and then they chose this location again to have someone scare her. Raul asked Michael more questions, and then sent Johnny to follow the man home and retrieve his online profile information and the remaining bills of the money that Michael hadn’t spent yet. When Michael balked at this plan, Raul reminded him of his promise from earlier, along with a threat of filing charges against him for stalking and harassment. Michael made the wise choice to oblige Raul and Johnny.

Raul then left to return to Mercedes’ changing room. As he walked down the hall he was passed by one of the Black Kitty’s employees, but he didn’t know her name.

“Who was that?” Raul asked Lorenzo.

“Name’s Roxxy. She’s what they call a Stage Kitten. She brings all the discarded costumes to the girls,” Lorenzo said lifting up Mercedes’ costume in his hands.

“I’ll take these in to her. I’m going to have her get dressed and then head out. Wait by the back exit for us,” Raul instructed, as he knocked on the door.

“Mercedes, it’s me,” he called through the door.

When she opened the door, Raul felt his heart tug at the look of worry and strain. He didn’t like seeing that look on her beautiful face, but he needed to be honest with her. Raul told her everything Michael told him, before leaving the room to allow her to get dressed. Fifteen minutes later, Raul, placed his hand at the small of Mercedes’ back as they walked down the hall and out the back exit. Lorenzo held the door, as they walked into the warm night air. Raul, ever vigilant, scanned the parking lot and the vehicles, making sure there was no one hiding out or around. He opened the door for Mercedes and once she was in, he closed her door and hurried to the driver’s side to head home.

Within thirty minutes they were pulling up to his gated community. He was let in the gate by the guard, and drove the few blocks to his house. Once he pulled up and turned off the ignition, he looked over at Mercedes, who’d remained silent the whole ride.

“Hey,” he said turning her head to face him.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You know that, right?”

A faint smile appeared across Mercedes face and she nodded. “I know. I trust you.” Raul’s heart swelled with emotion at hearing those words. Opening the car door, he got out and then rounded the car to open Mercedes’ door.

“Why don’t you go up and shower,” Raul told her as they entered the house. She seemed to hesitate, but just as he closed the door and punched in the alarm code, Mercedes turned and cupped his face with her hands. She pulled his head down for a kiss. Raul was stunned for all of two seconds before he pulled her in closer by the waist and deepened the kiss. He lost track of time as they kissed and felt each other up with their hands. Raul broke away from the kiss and peppered kisses along Mercedes jaw and neck. He nipped lightly at the skin on her neck. She moaned and he increased the pressure of his nips little by little. He could feel her begin to tremble in his arms. He pulled away completely.

“You should go up and shower,” he said firmly. Mercedes gave him a confused look, but simply nodded and headed up the stairs. Raul rubbed his hand through his hair as he watched her ascend the steps. It wasn’t that he didn’t want her. He wanted her more than he wanted his next breath, but he didn’t want her acting out of some need to thank him or some misplaced hero worship. He wanted-needed her to want him for him. Raul headed up the stairs to his own room, and took a short shower. He let the steam of the warm water penetrate his skin and help sweat away the muscle tension he’d been carrying since that idiot rushed the stage. He quickly washed himself, and turned off the water. Stepping out of the shower he towel dried off, and placed it around his waist. He sat down on his bed, and pulled out his iPad to write a few emails, but heard a light tap on his door. He knew it was Mercedes.

“Just a sec,” he yelled through the door before throwing on a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt.

“You okay?” he asked opening the door. Mercedes nodded.

“Did you need something?” he asked cautiously.

“Yes. You,” she stated pointedly.

Raul’s dick jumped at her words and the glint in her eyes. He looked down the length of her body and saw she wore a purple silk negligee. He would bet his entire life’s savings she wasn’t wearing anything underneath when he saw her nipples pressing against the fabric. He stepped back just enough to let her in and closed the door, pressing her back against it.

He wanted her to be absolutely sure because he couldn’t hold out much longer. “Are you sure this is what you want?” He watched as a confused look came over Mercedes’ face. “I just don’t want you feeling like you owe me this or you reacting out of the heightened adrenaline because of what happened at the club tonight.”

Realization came over Mercedes’ face and she smiled. She reached up on her tiptoes and pulled his head down for a quick kiss on the lips. “If you recall, this is just a continuation of what happened earlier tonight at dinner,
before
we left for the club. I don’t want to think about a stalker or anything else tonight. I just want you,” she said nearly whispering the last part as she kissed along his jawline.

Her whispered admission and the feel of her lips and hands on him caused Raul to lose control on the tiny grip of restraint he held. He pressed his lips firmly on hers, biting at her lips, demanding they part for him. When they did, he showed her no mercy. He placed an all-out assault on all her senses. He kissed her lips and then moved down to her neck, sucking and biting, as his hands wound their way under her negligee. Just as he assumed, she wore nothing underneath and as his fingers grazed over her warm mound, he felt Mercedes’ heavy intake of breath. Raul wasted no time, he bent down, wrapping his hands around her thighs, picking her up. She obliged, indulged him and wrapped her legs around his waist. He easily strode to his bed, and placed her on his grey colored, Frette sheets.