The Lawyer and the Tramp (Chicago Syndicate Book 7), page 1
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 44
CHAPTER 45
EPILOGUE
The Lawyer and the Tramp
Chicago Syndicate, Volume 7
Soraya Naomi
Published by Soraya Naomi, 2017.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
THE LAWYER AND THE TRAMP
First edition. October 3, 2017.
Copyright © 2017 Soraya Naomi.
ISBN: 978-1386945192
Written by Soraya Naomi.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 44
CHAPTER 45
EPILOGUE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE NOVEL
Sign up for Soraya Naomi's Mailing List
“Side by side with your loved one, you'll find enchantment here. The night will weave its magic spell, when the one you love is near.” ~ Bella Notte (meaning “Beautiful Night”), a song for the animated motion picture Lady and the Tramp (Walt Disney Productions).
CHAPTER 1
Eva
“You have got to be kidding me,” I mutter as I stop short in the doorway of the private room when I see a guy seated on the edge of the king-size bed with a scantily clad brunette kneeling before him.
Isn’t this room assigned to me for the night? One of us has made a mistake, and now these two have ruined my plans.
Unfortunately, they don’t hear me and as she unzips his slacks, his hands remain planted beside his hips on the satin sheets while he looks down at her, his cheekbones high and stark, somehow making his stare seem particularly potent. Despite my annoyance, I notice his hard thigh muscles straining when she slides a palm up his leg.
Then I recognize him as the man who caught me over a week ago skulking through the hallway of Club 7, the dance club that’s one floor above this one, and ushered me back down here to the underground sex club. Even though we only exchanged a few words, I haven’t forgotten him.
“Aren’t you one of the girls from downstairs?” an imposing man demands in a deep, powerful voice that skitters over my flesh when I run into him at the back entrance. He’s wearing an expensive charcoal tailored suit, and because he must be more than six feet tall, I tilt my head up.
“Um, yeah, I forgot my purse,” I answer, intimidated by his narrowing gaze and somewhat flustered by how sinfully attractive he is.
Due to the cold Chicago wind, I wasn’t in the mood to walk to the other side of the huge high-rise where the entry for the underground sex club is located, so I used the back entrance of Club 7.
“You aren’t allowed up here and you know it.” He rudely grips my arm and tugs me down the hall.
As we pass a couple, they frown at us before he shunts me into an elevator at the end, ordering in a strict tone, “If you’re caught using this entrance again, you’ll be fired.”
“Okay. Sorry—”
He holds up his palm, deeming the conversation finished, and the door swooshes closed.
“Ass,” I grumble, although I’m glad he didn’t kick me out.
“Ahem,” I cough to get their attention and his gaze whips up to me.
His eyes are clear, just a shade darker than whiskey, and his face isn’t gentle or safe but is handsome nonetheless. Framed by broad shoulders, his chiseled features are impossible to ignore, and his thick brown hair that’s messy on top curls over his ears.
Instead of looking shocked, he lifts both brows as if he’s waiting for me to apologize.
When the brunette sees he’s not focused on her anymore, she glances over her shoulder and bounds upward.
“This is supposed to be my room for the night,” I announce as she mumbles something to him, to which he nods, and then nervously brushes past me without saying a word, causing me to wonder why she’s being skittish.
“The room is for you to entertain yourself?” the man asks in a bored tone, so I crane my neck and find that my customer for the evening, who was trailing me, has bolted.
Upset because now I won’t earn the money I desperately need, I point my finger at him and blurt out, “This is your fault.”
Ignoring my comment, the guy buttons up his slacks before I can get a peek of his manhood, and after he tucks his white dress shirt neatly inside the waistband and buckles his brown suede belt, he rises to his full height, fastening a platinum cufflink in place with a smooth flick of his fingers. “Don’t look so shocked; you’re in a sex club.” Then he grabs his suit jacket from the bed as he approaches me.
Provoked by his condescending manner, I counter, “I know where I am, and I’m annoyed, not shocked, but your girl obviously was.”
He stops mid-step, a few feet away from me, and a devilish grin curves his lips. “Maybe she was shocked by you, not by me.”
“I’m not sure it’s a compliment if she wasn’t shocked by you.” I glance at his groin as he peers at my breasts.
“Is it not?” he retorts, becoming amused. “And why is this my fault, by the way?” He gestures at his dick. “I didn’t even get to start...that’s your fault.”
“Then I guess you should run along after her.”
“Maybe I’m not interested in her anymore.” Again, he takes a step toward me.
The statement intrigues and tantalizes me – much to my dismay. His masculine cologne that smells of authority cloaks the air, and I’m unable to turn from his steady gaze. Although his expression doesn’t betray even a flicker of emotion, the way he studies me heats my limbs.
Maybe I could make some money off him tonight?
“Meaning you’re interested in me?” I close the distance between us slowly.
His grin widens. “Don’t play coy with me.” Once more, he glimpses at the swell of my breasts, taunting, “You’ve already noticed what attracts me to you.”
We’ve been inching closer until our chests almost touch, and his breath fans my cheek as I look up.
“I have?” I swallow heavily, feeling short since I only reach his chin.
“Of course.” He bends his head until his lips graze the shell of my ear, whispering, “It’s your tits.” With a victorious smile, he walks around me as I realize that he’s just toying with me, and I groan at his arrogance.
When he crosses the threshold, the manager, Tez, spots him as he’s passing the room and halts.
“Carmine, I didn’t know you were down here. Can I help you with anything?” he says, seemingly taken aback, before he frowns at me.
So his name is Carmine.
“I was just going,” Carmine responds dismissively, and at last, an emotion flashes across his face when he scowls at no one in particular and strides out.
Tez assesses me from head to toe before instructing, “Eva, you can pack your things right now and leave.”
“What? Why?” I ask, thunderstruck.
“The rules are that you’re not allowed to associate with any employees from other companies housed in this building, and that includes Club 7 m embers.”
“But I didn’t even know who he was and nothing happened between us. He was here before I came in. I think he was just in the wrong room or something,” I defend because I need the cash this job provides to pay my past-due bills.
He appears remorseful for a second and explains, “It doesn’t really matter what happened. I’m sorry, but it’s a strict, zero tolerance non-fraternization policy, Eva.”
Who the hell is this Carmine? More importantly, I wasn’t entertaining him – the brunette was. I’m being unfairly punished for their liaison. And now I’ll need to find a new way to make some money ASAP.
Before I can discuss the matter any further, Tez walks away and as I turn to go, I notice a silver watch on the rumpled sheets that Carmine must have left behind. Snatching it off the bed, I stash it in my dress pocket, and since I’ve been fired anyway, I go in search of Carmine upstairs at Club 7.
CHAPTER 2
Carmine
I careen through the partying people in the spacious club as the bass pumps in my ears, crossing the center of the black and white tiled dance floor before going up the staircase to the balconied second floor. Irritated and unsatisfied, I rake a hand through my hair and order a water at the bar. While waiting for my drink, I recall that I know the girl from downstairs from when I caught her at the back entrance a week ago.
Shifting toward the balcony railing, I watch the people below dancing as purple laser lights flash around them. The volume of the music lowers when the countdown to ring in the new year begins.
To my absolute astonishment, the girl – who happens to be the first female who’s ever had the nerve to chastise me – comes marching up the stairs I just came from and stands in front of me in a strapless dress that flares at her hips. The lights brighten for a few seconds, and I only now note her exotic features. I’ve fucked women from all over the world, but I have no idea if she’s Hispanic, Indian, or maybe a mixed race? She has a smooth, heart-shaped face and layered, wavy jet-black hair that cascades over one bare shoulder, the long strands flowing over her perky breast.
“Ten, nine, eight...” everyone yells.
I let out a sigh, truly not in the mood for this. “Did you come to ruin the rest of my night as well?”
Her round, greyish eyes thin before she blinks and blinks. Thank god, she’s stunned silent.
“You’re not supposed to be up here, are you...” I start to ask.
“Three, two, one. Happy New Year!” the crowd shouts.
The music turns up again as I say, “Happy New Year,” and casually lean back with one elbow on the railing, still waiting for her to speak.
Her brows furrow and she hisses, “What?”
Insolently, I wave a hand around. “It’s midnight, so Happy New Year. Your social skills need some fine-tuning.”
I’m cut off with a finger pointed at my chest, and I can’t help but smirk, which deepens her scowl.
“My social skills are just fine, Carmine. I can’t believe I actually came up here to give you something back, but because you’re such an ass, I’m keeping it – I want you to know the consequences of your spoiled behavior.”
I freeze and open my mouth but close it. Then I open it again and give my head a little shake. “What...What the hell are you talking about?” I stammer, appalled at her audacity. In the line of work I’m in, I’m not used to being spoken to in such a patronizing way. And I despise the fact that she knows my name. This woman has definitely one-upped me.
“I’ve been fired,” she tells me, and I straighten in shock before attempting to mask it, a play of emotions ranging from guilt to irritation to salacious curiosity chasing each other inside me.
“That wasn’t my intention. I’ll talk to the manager,” I suggest.
“What good will that do? Who do you think you are?” She throws her hands in the air, immensely frustrated, which, in turn, aggravates me.
I try not to groan, because this is getting tedious. “Look, girl, I offered you my help, so tone it down...” I warn her.
But instead of making her cave, it sets her off, and she dumbfounds me with her vehemence. “You have no idea what you’ve done, boy. When you went downstairs, did you know that we could get fired if we were caught with you?! The damage has been done now; there’s nothing you can do.” With that, she struts away while my gaze wanders for a moment to the sway of her curvaceous hips.
On some level, her words bother me, but since remorse is an emotion I rarely experience, I let the boy comment slide. In truth, I’m not aware of any non-fraternization rule, and it figures that when I finally let the brunette who’s been after me for a while seduce me, it leads to an altercation with a different woman. Struggling to not let her bait me, I follow her, snaking down the stairs to the first floor, but she’s pushing through the throng with agile speed. Right before she reaches the door, she turns and lifts her hand, letting a silver watch dangle from her fingers, and I stop dead in my tracks. Immediately, I feel for my watch around my wrist as our eyes lock from across the room. The smile she gives me is slow and crooked and mischievous. And infuriates me to no end.
She fucking stole my watch!
Then she opens the door and dashes out, and this night, which started out boring, has now become something else entirely. Determined, I zigzag around the people blocking my path and go out the same way she did, exiting the building at the end of the hallway and searching left and right down the street but not getting a single glimpse of her.
“Dammit!” She’s remarkably fast; she has to be a runner.
Returning inside, I catch sight of the manager on my way to the elevator, so I call out, “Tez?”
He looks back before turning and meeting me halfway.
“Did you fire the girl with long black hair, Tez?”
“Yes, she’s not allowed to associate with the men from upstairs.”
“I don’t think she even knew who I was, and I had no idea you’d fire the women downstairs for socializing with me. I thought Adriano just didn’t prefer it.”
“Your brother doesn’t want them getting involved with you; it could cause unwanted difficulties. This is one regulation Adriano won’t budge on,” he explains.
“What’s her name?”
“Eva Conley.”
“And how old is she?”
“She’s twenty.”
“I want all the information you have on her.”
“That’s not much. You know we don’t keep files for the sex club business. Henry checked to make sure she’d never had any run-ins with the cops, and since her record was clean, I was allowed to hire her. You need anything else? I have to get back downstairs.”
“No, that’s all. You can go,” I finish before retracing my steps through the club and up to the corner of the second floor where the boss’s office is located.
Meanwhile, I text one of my captains to get Eva Conley’s address from Tez, go to her house to pick her up, and call me when he has her.
Once I’m inside the spacious black and white furnished office, I go into the adjoining security room where footage of the entire club is displayed on a large screen. Luckily, seated behind the computer is just the man I need, our IT guy, who’s the best hacker in town.
“Henry, aren’t you here with my sister?” I ask since he’s dating her.
“Yeah, Mary’s in the club with the rest of the family, but I had to do something for Adriano. He’s on his way up with the other men; we have a problem at the docks.” He quickly finishes typing on the keyboard and stands up after flinging his black rimmed glasses onto the desk. “Your brother and sister were looking for you. Happy New Year, man.”
“Happy New Year. Before Adriano gets here, I need you to find some additional information about someone you already investigated for Tez.”
“Who?”
“Eva Conley. She worked in the sex club.”
His brows hit his hairline, yet he doesn’t probe. Instead, he explains, “So I would have done a check to make sure she doesn’t have a record. If I’m going to look into her personal life, I need to know more about her because Eva Conley is probably a very common name.”
“That’s all I have; Tez can tell you anything else he knows about her,” I reply, and he nods just as we hear voices on the other side of the door, and we move back into the office as Adriano, Luca, and Logan are walking in.
My older brother, Adriano, claims his seat behind his polished glass desk which is situated in front of the arched windows covered by black floor-to-ceiling curtains that are drawn shut. The only light comes from the giant chrome standing floor lamps located in opposite corners of the room and the brightness of the immaculate white walls.
