Page 178 of Powerhouse: Boxed Set
It meant nothing to me that night.
My chauffeur pulled up at the rear of the Constantine compound and opened the back door for me. My right-hand man, Trenton Alto, answered on the first ring as I dropped into the leather.
“I want one of Rex’s girls. Now.” I breathed in Elaine’s scent on my fingers, imagining I was still with her. “Blonde. Blue eyes. Young.”
He cleared his throat. “Where do you want her?”
The sweep of Bishop’s Landing was outside the windows when I gave my answer. I’d had enough of it. I needed the hub of the city. “Manhattan.”
“Sure thing. I’ll have her over within the hour.”
I ended the call and leaned back in the seat, thinking of Elaine’s mouth on mine. Her hot little moans. I would fuck some nameless, faceless woman and pretend she was Elaine.
Without missing a beat, the chauffeur changed the route.
It was the third of my properties, positioned right at the heart of New York. At least the blonde would get a nice skyline view while I played with her.
I pulled my mask off and dumped it out the window long before the car pulled up outside the main entrance. I took a deep breath of city air before I reached the doors and stepped inside. I loved the city. I loved the buzz; I loved the life; I loved the thrill. Sure, I’d traveled the globe plenty through my thirty-five years on this planet, but nowhere had ever captured me like this place.
The team at reception tipped their heads as I walked on by. I held up a hand and paced through to the elevator.
I reached level thirty-two in a flash after giving a nod to the overhead camera as I passed level thirty-one. My security team is on constant high alert. Anyone trying to get to my suite would never make it without being stopped and shot. My drug dealer and erstwhile pimp Rex Halloway would be plenty safe with the whore I ordered in his grip, but very few people could say the same. No one had access. Family only.
I was standing at my main suite windows, surveying the city lights, when the buzz of my door sounded. Rex arrived well within the hour. Excellent service. So it should be, since I was paying a fortune for this. He gave me a nod and gestured at the girl for my approval.
She was small. Pretty.
And scared.
Something was wrong. She kept her eyes on the floor as Rex prodded her inside.
“She’s a real sweet one. New to the business, if you know what I mean.”
The girl didn’t know what to do. She was wearing a slip of lace, white and sweet, and trembling like the apartment was freezing. “Leave us alone.”
Rex left.
There’s fun to be had in directing some pain and punishment. But this one—she looked like she’d already had enough. She’d be no substitute for Elaine. Elaine had wanted me, kissed me like she’d needed me. There was no hope of even an initiation from Rex’s girl.
Change of plans.
“What’s your name?” I asked her, and her voice was a delicate quiver when she answered.
“Natalie, sir.”
“Come sit down.”
I strode back through to the main living room, then turned back. She stood by the door, uncertainty in her eyes.
“Sithere.”
She came across the room, her steps light and dainty. She looked relieved to sit, but it was short-lived. Her eyes latched onto a throw blanket that hung over the back of the sofa. I picked it up and dropped it over her lap.
Confusion.
Natalie looked from the blanket to me. “This isn’t what Rex said would happen.”
“How old are you?” I asked, and her eyes stayed fixed on mine.
