CHAPTER 35

"Well, did you find him?" I asked her.She nodded.

"Yes. He had no records at all but I was very determined.

I kept visiting that alley, till one day, I saw him driving out of a store and he was in a Porsche.

I followed him, till I got to his workplace.

That's when I got to know he was Seamus and afterwards, he made me his P.A..." she leaned on the bannister,

"... Boss is a great man. If you did ask any and everyone of us in the gang the same question, why are we loyal to boss? You will find out that, if not for him, we were nothing before he stepped into our lives and he gave us a new one without thinking otherwise."

It's not unbelievable for me because I believed her. Katie once spoke of his good deeds. If Jake is this good, why is he acting this way to me?.

She sniffled, wiping off the tears with her handkerchief."Let me go get something for us to drink. I am famished." She said.

I nodded in approval."You stay here, while I go get it. Please don't go anywhere, Boss will kill me." She said, giving me puppy eyes.I chuckled

"Trust me."She smiled, quickly leaving the veranda.

I turned around to stare at the busy streets.First, it was Katie, I thought she was just trying to get me to believe that he is some good guy, but after listening to Anna side story, I was pleased to know, he wasn't entirely bad after all.

But... why was he treating me differently?.Katie is very free and playful around him, each time she taunts him, he doesn't bat an eye or threatens to do this or that to her.

Anna, though he is a bit stern with her, they shared some kind of mutual understanding and she seems to be very fond of him. He also tells her everything, so there is no doubts, they are more of best friends than boss and P.A.

"Rachel?"

A deep voice called from behind me.I quickly turned around to see who it was.

A tall guy, dressed in an expensive black tuxedo approached me. I couldn't remember his face, but something about him seems oddly familiar."Rachel Blake? Oh my God! It is you. It's been a long while, Remember me?" He asked, placing his index finger on his chest.

Okay?He is definitely handsome, smells like money and is richly dressed. Judging from his height and the way the white shirt inside hugged his torso, he has a lean muscular build.

His hair was beautifully made in the slick back style and his ginger coloured hair glistened under the lights. Who is he though, because I can't remember.

"No. Do I know you?"He grinned seductively at me."It's me, Reece. Reece Norman, your former fiancé."I opened my eyes wide in disbelief. Shit! This is not good!!

🍀RACHEL🍀

"It's me, Reece. Reece Norman, your former fiancé." He was standing in front of me.

Reece Norman, son of Chris Norman, a successful drug baron who was a friend of my father.

His father was a Mafian, heading a group of gangsters known as The Shadow Claws.

They were as powerful as The Pacers and both gangs were long time rivals.His father, Chris Norman died in Italy 3yrs ago. He overdosed on cocaine and Crystal meth, which led to his cardiac arrest and inevitable death.

Before that, I was engaged to Reece, to seal a deal between my father and Reece's father. The marriage was going to take place during spring, and it was to unite the two families as one.

But after the death of Chris, my father rebuked the engagement and called off the wedding. I was only 18 at that time.

Looking at him now, he has changed a lot. He looks more matured and drop dead gorgeous.

I noticed the tattoo on the side of his neck as the some the buttons on his shirt was left undone at the top.

But what is he doing here?.It was reported that my father won't be attending, so he sent delegates.

It's not a good sign at all.

"Ha! Reece?! It's so good to see you."He chuckled.

"I know right, it's been like 3yrs or so, you look good and all grown up now. Your dress..."

his eyes ravaged my body like someone who was aiming at a prey,"... is quite the eye candy. Never knew you would turn out to be this scrumptious and fleshy.

I like what I am seeing too."

He said, flashing me a dazzling smile.I became flustered."Oh Reece, don't flatter me. I was always like this, it's just that I was not the type that liked flaunting my body. Besides, what are you doing here?"

"Business as usual, your father entrusted the grand opening to me. He is not all that young, you know. You're looking at the new manager of the casino." He said, with a wide smile on his face.I thought as much.

"That's good! Wow!!... well, I should get going. I need to get some drinks." I said."In that case, come have a drink with me.

There is a VIP section at the other end, no one can see us in there. It's been a long time, Rachel, and we've got some catching up to do."

"Maybe some other time, Reece. I..." he grabbed me by the arm."C'mon Rachi, it's just drinks. Don't you wanna know what I have been up to all these time?"

He asked, giving me a sweet smile.

At this point, with him holding my arm and he knows I am here, if I actually decline, he will keep pestering me and Reece, doesn't easily give up.

I sighed,"Alright."He became excited to my astonishment."Come this way. It's not far from this place." He said, leading me out of the veranda.

We went past a group of people gambling around the roulette table, with the dealer behind it. Some people were playing the black jack and judging from their looks, they were all big shots.

It's like they separate this section of the casino from the rest with heavy security at the entrance and some of them moving about the place.

We got to a door, and Reece ushered me in. When I entered, the scent of tobacco hits my nostrils accompanied by a wave of chilled air.

The room was dimly lit and when I looked properly, the atmosphere here was on another level.My eyes adjusted to the dimness in no time and I was able to see people smoking and sniffing cocaine that was neatly laid in front of them in one spot.

Some where busy having sex with harlots in another corner, another was receiving blowjob from a guy as he sat in front of a table, flanked by his sides were two seminude ladies, kissing and touching him.

I felt like puking, this place was too sodomized that I became uncomfortable watching them do this hideous things without any display of shame.

Reece took me to another section that was covered with curtains. He moved the curtains for me to move in and when I did, no one was in here.He took me to empty couch, we sat on it and I wasn't sure I was going to stay that long in here, all alone with him.

A lady brought in a bottle of whiskey and red wine to with tumblers on a tray. She placed them on the table in front of us.

He opened the whiskey, pouring out little into his tumbler."Whiskey or red wine?" He asked.

"Red wine." I replied.He opened the wine, pouring a little into the other empty tumbler.

He offered it to me, I took it, taking a sip from it. The wine was sweet but the strong taste of alcohol could be felt"So tell me, Rachi. Why are you in Bronx? You should be in Manhattan with old man collins."I placed the tumbler on the table,"I am scouting for something important."

"Scouting?..." he scoffed,

"... what's that?""It's personal, Reece. You look good by the way. Life's been good to you."

I said, immediately changing the topic. I need to get out of here.

He smirked, placing the tumbler on his lips."Yeah... it's been pretty good to me."

He sipped his whiskey, slowly. I looked away, staring at my cup. "We should have been married by now, if not for the death of my father, we would have been a great couple."

I picked up my tumbler, sipping the wine slowly again.

I don't like discussing about this sort of thing, but I couldn't help it."Reece, we could have made a great couple but, it would have been an infertile marriage. I wasn't ready for it at that time, but come to think of it, you weren't interested as well."

He glanced at me."That was in the past, not now, you attract me." He flirted.I better leave before something bad happens."More wine?" He asked.

"No. I have to leave now. I have people waiting for me."

"Rachel, we are trying to get back the times we've lost. I want us to talk about a lot of things.

There's no harm in sharing a drink with me." He said, opening the wine bottle and then pouring more wine for me.

I stared at the exit door, thinking, I hope nothing bad happens. I was feeling nervous and scared at the same time.

Well... I am with Reece. I glanced at him, watching him cover the wine bottle with the lid. He is not entirely harmless, he is the type that likes enjoying life to the brim and, he got the connections.

He could put up a feat with Jake if he interferes, after all, Reece's father was as mean as my father and they spared no single soul.

This is actually an advantage.

I picked up the tumbler, gulping the wine in it.

Reece can help me, he can offer me protection which means, I have to cling to him.

"More wine?"

He asked again.I smiled,

"Yes please, More wine."He poured me some more and I began to feel dizzy at first, my heart beat slowly increased tempo and I became short of breath.

I wobbled, the tumbler fell off my hand, crashing on the floor.