GRIPPED (Romance Mystery & Suspense Box Set) Read online

  Daryl was already busy mixing the drinks, but he gave Romy and Angela a cursory look before casting his gaze up at the managerial officer, looming over the rest of the club.

  “Nah man, I got nothin’ on me right now. Check with the boss,” he said, jerking his chin up towards the office.

  Angela felt a chill go through her, but excitement was coiled in her belly and she knew that there were no rules. Just for that one, beautiful, wonderful night, she wanted to let herself go.

  Completely ignoring the fact that every time she was with Romy, she let herself go.

  Her mouth moved along his jaw, kissing at his flesh and licking him teasingly. Her hand worked over his chest, feeling out his muscles, as she ground her body against him in time to the music.

  Romy seemed to forget what he was doing to kiss her back, his own greedy hands roaming across her body, feeling her up for all his friends to see. They were already drunk on their victory, and they’d barely had time to finish up the heist itself.

  “Here you two, drink up before you fornicate all over the bar,” Daryl said, part annoyed, part amused.

  Romy took up his mojito, and before much could even be said about it, he’d downed the whole thing and let loose a cry of excitement.

  “Damn baby, we did it,” he said, eyes alight at her.

  She was just as excited. More so, maybe. Perhaps she should have been more hesitant in the little bit of surprise to his voice, the fact that there was likely some doubt if they could pull it off.

  Instead, all she felt was high on life, on him, on his hands and mouth as she took her own drink and downed it just as quick, the minty burn going down her throat.

  “Fuck,” she hissed, taking a step back so that she could better look him down, drinking in his gorgeous visage. His tall, leanly muscled form dressed in a tight black shirt, buttoned up — or more aptly buttoned down — to show some of his gorgeous, smooth chest, those pecs of his so wonderfully visible. A pair of dark pants to match his look, with a maroon blazer slung over one shoulder.

  “What a rush,” she purred.

  “You know, if you’re just going to down them why even bother ordering a mixed drink?” Daryl interjected on their fun time, topping off their glasses again.

  Romy was all grins as he took up the topped off drink and drank it at a more relaxed pace, his eyes bright and twinkling as they roamed over Angela shamelessly.

  “You wanna come with me to see the boss? I wanna get somethin’ real special for this evening,” he said in his charming accent, thicker with all that rum in him..

  Her lips moved back to his neck again, moving along his flesh so lovingly.

  “Whatever you want,” she murmured as she took her drink, holding it in her hands at the chastisement. What she wanted was to drag Romy back to his place and fuck him long and hard, but Angela never minded a little anticipation.

  Together they climbed the stairs up to the manager’s office, only to be greeted by a burly guard that watched over the office door in place of a secretary.

  “Hey Frank, can I see the boss man about somethin’? Was lookin’ to get a little something for the evening’s celebration.” Romy said to the man, smiling.

  “Can’t do that,” Frank said simply, a large man that appeared as if he might be related to Daryl below. “The boss man’s busy right now,” he said, eyes trailing to Angela casually, unable to resist her allure. “You can appreciate his predicament, I’m sure,” he added on pointedly.

  “Aw shit,” Romy muttered, downing the rest of his drink.

  Angela frowned, but secretly she was a little pleased. Just the faintest bit, running beneath her disappointment. She wanted that celebratory gift, but was grateful that it was denied her. She had no self-control, that much was evident. Especially with how lewdly she fondled Romy’s chest in front of Frank.

  Her teeth nibbled Romy’s ear, tugging the lobe away before letting it elastic band back into place. “We can still celebrate.”

  They fondled each other a moment as Romy shut his eyes, enjoying the feel of her teeth as he stroked her hips and waist.

  “Yeah baby, you’re right,” he said, ready to turn around and leave.

  Though the door opened then, and out came a rather flushed looking Svetlana. She looked surprised to find herself facing the pair of them, and tucked her face down as she adjusted her short skirt.

  “Oh hey, Svetlana,” Romy said, unaware of the awkwardness of the scene.

  Angela gave the other woman a knowing, almost fiendish smile before she could stop herself, the rush of the job and the alcohol giving up some of her control.

  “Hey,” Angela said with a wave, nudging Romy a little bit in the ribcage.

  Svetlana gave a quick, embarrassed look to Angela that was part pleading for her silence and part need to flee. Her blue eyes were wide as she chewed down on her lower lip before she forced a smile at Romy.

  “Oh, hey you two!” she finally managed with a nod of her head.

  Romy was drunk on their successful heist more than the alcohol, but both contributed. He smiled at Svetlana, not paying particular heed to the way the lovely young woman’s cheeks were so flushed, nor even how her hair and makeup were just a little bit out of sorts until Angela nudged him in the shoulders and he took stock again.

  “Hey Svetlana,” he said, fighting a grin. “It okay to go see the boss man now?” he asked, squeezing Angela’s side even tighter, giving her round ass cheek a pinch.

  Svetlana looked to Frank, as if he held the answer, before smiling to the couple in a strained manner. It wasn’t at all like her usual, chipper self, but then, after what she’d just done with her married boss, that wasn’t too surprising.

  “Give him a moment,” Svetlana finally sighed as she took another step in those high heels, back towards the club floor. “Have a good night, you two,” she said with a wave before quickly taking her leave.

  Angela bit Romy’s ear a bit harder, giggling in it with a purr as she ground against him, heedless of all else around them.

  Despite Romy’s insistence on getting them what they were after, they had no trouble passing a few moments outside the office door. Paying Frank little to no heed, Romy grasped a hold of Angela and pressed her against the railing, kissing her deeply and with such passion. He let his tongue delve deep into her mouth as he felt up her sides, her ass, every little place upon her body heedless of the lewdness.

  It took Frank a few loud clears of his throat to garner their attention.

  “He’ll see ya now,” he remarked, pushing open the door to let them pass.

  Inside was Javier, looking good behind his desk. Angela had to give it to Svetlana, her time with the man had obviously relaxed him, made him look less stiff and imposing. Instead he appeared calmer, cool.

  “What can I do for you, Romy?” he asked, reclining back in his seat as he cast a look to the security monitors.

  “Was hoping you could hook us up with some of the good stuff, boss. We’re celebrating tonight,” he declared brazenly.

  To which Javier arched a brow critically.

  “The good stuff’s very expensive, brother,” he said, as if he didn’t think Romy was aware of what he was getting into. Though when Romy pulled a roll of bills from his pants pocket and placed it before him… well, Javier still didn’t change his expression. Svetlana did wonders, but she wasn’t a miracle worker.

  Instead he reached to a safe built into his desk it seemed, opened it up and produced several small packets which he tossed onto the opposing side of the desk.

  “Don’t overdo it,” he cautioned, “I don’t like to see our own lose themselves in this stuff.”

  Angela watched with a sense of quiet, growing dread. As if she could feel herself sinking into the quicksand, but that it felt... good, like being at a spa. She knew she was going under, but she couldn’t deny herself the pleasure.

  She clung to him a bit closer, that pit of excitement and fear working their way through her body as she li
cked her lips. Though her eyes went from the drugs to the money, widening at just how much Romy had tossed the man.

  She leaned in to whisper to him, “It’s too much, c’mon.”

  Romy simply gave her ass a shameless pat and kissed her on the neck.

  “Don’t worry babe,” he said to her so full of confidence. He scooped up the packets and stuffed them into his blazer pockets before slinging it back over his shoulder.

  “Thanks boss. We’ll leave you be to your business, just wanted to get this celebration right,” he said as he began to lead Angela out of the room.

  “Keep up the good work though,” Javier announced. “Some more work like that and you’ll be indispensable around here,” he said, in what must’ve been the most conciliatory terms that man ever gave before others.

  “Oh, you don’t need to worry about that, boss,” Romy said with a grin back to Javier before he and Angela made their way out and down the stairs.

  Angela was practically tripping up on him as they walked, so eager to be near him.

  “What is that stuff anyway?” she whispered, though a whisper in a club like the Tropicala was more like a low shout. She eased it, though, with a kiss beneath his earlobe.

  Romy gave a big, smug grin to her as he led her down the stairs towards the V.I.P. area again. Though when he opened his lips to speak, instead Angela’s attention was drawn to the dance floor, then his along with it.

  There some commotion was going on near the door as a large man made his way through the crowd.

  “What’s going on there?” Romy asked, though Angela’s keen eyes made sense of it first. Though, how could she forget the man who’d broken her heart and left her to wallow in a life of crime all on her own?

  Jamal Khalil. Tall, dark and handsome, and only more so since she’d last seen him. A neatly groomed beard upon his broad jaw, a tight shirt upon his broad, well-built frame. He looked more muscular and in shape than the last time she’d seen him those years ago. Before she’d gotten herself into jail.

  “Jamal,” Romy muttered aloud, much to Angela’s surprise.

  Oh, fuck no, she cursed inwardly, and those double mojitos couldn’t even numb her anger and rage as it bubbled forth. She stood up straighter, her eyes fiery as she refused to run even though all she wanted to do was hide from him and his charms.

  “You know him?” she hissed at Romy, her heart pounding in her chest and her stomach twisting into a million little knots. How dare he walk back into her life?

  Romy looked to her with excitement in his eyes.

  “Do I know Jamal? We’ve all heard of him!” he said with a loud exclamation, drawing the attention of Daryl over by the bar.

  “Jamal’s back?” the giant brute of a man said, coming over to lean upon the railing and staring off almost dreamily. “Damn… how time flies, huh? Felt like he’d never get out,” Daryl said, shaking his head in mild disbelief.

  A little sense of smugness came over her, that little bit of superiority. He was in prison too? Good. Serves him right.

  But still, that didn’t mean she was prepared to see him and be confronted with all that anger and pain once more. Not that night. Not after making so much cash and finding her way towards freedom.

  “I should go,” Angela said to Romy, all her willpower and determination quickly fading from her.

  Romy squeezed her hip and grinned, tugging her towards the stairway heading onto the dance floor.

  “Come on, I’ll introduce you to him, he’s a great guy I hear,” Romy said.

  “The best,” Daryl interjected, the giant of a man sounding almost like a boy with a crush. “He did four whole years in jail just to protect us, never flipped on us even though he was on the outs with the chief at the time.”

  Four years? Angela thought. But that would’ve meant he went to jail almost immediately after breaking up with her.

  Her nose crinkled as she shook her head, but she was already too tipsy to fight hard against that guidance.

  “It’s fine,” she protested. She didn’t want to have to get into a thing about it. About him.

  Romy was drunk on more than rum, however; he was high on their recent success, that macho feeling that put him on top of the world. He pulled Angela along with him down onto the dance floor and before she could object any further they met the oncoming Jamal and the people around him who were fawning over the beautiful man.

  “Jamal!” Romy exclaimed to the man, “Congratulations on getting out, my man!” He said reaching out to bump fists with him, though Jamal’s attention was already turned towards her. And it was intense. “I’ve heard so much about you from the gang! Even my bro Javier wishes I were more like you I think. Hey, I want you to meet someone very special… my babe, Angel.”

  Jamal stood before her, in the flesh, the first time she’d seen him in four years. And he only looked better. His long, sleek black hair draped around his shoulders, his black and purple shirt rolled up past his elbows, and undone at the collar to show some of his smooth, dark chest. He was an Adonis. More so than ever.

  “Angel,” Jamal repeated, staring at her with awe in his voice and gaze. As if he hadn’t ditched her so callously.

  She tried so desperately to puff up her chest, to act as though she were better than him. To let that anger at him dumping her make her strong, but instead her hands trembled and she had to glance away. She tried to smile, to make it look coy, but tears glittered in her eyes before she blinked them away.

  He was the reason she’d gone to jail. When he’d dumped her, that was when she’d gotten reckless. That was when she started making mistakes, first little, then huge. She’d started using drugs seriously, and gone through such hell to heal her broken heart, to forget he’d existed.

  It wasn’t fair of him to come back, hotter than ever.

  “Nice to meet you,” she said, forcing her eyes back to his, her smile tight.

  Somehow, that handsome devil had the nerve to look aggrieved by her greeting, but only momentarily before he forced a smile back to his broad, handsome face.

  “Now that you’re back, you need to get involved in the gang again, we could all use your help around here,” Romy stated, genuinely excited for the man’s return, though Angela suspected his already excited state had something to do with that.

  “Well, we’ll see once I talk things over with Javier,” Jamal said with a casual shrug of his broad shoulders. “Hopefully he won’t have an issue with that.”

  “Well I’ll speak for you on your behalf, man. Daryl says you did a lot for him,” Romy said with such certainty.

  “Thanks,” Jamal said with a slow nod. “I’ll keep that in mind. You two gonna be around?” he asked, looking between them both. “Maybe we could have a drink together afterwards, or… are you two on your way out?” he asked, brow raised.

  That was exactly what she wanted to do. Have a drink with her ex and her current lover, chatting about drug deals and prison.

  Angela smiled broadly as she looked to Romy.

  “We were just about to head out and celebrate in private,” she said, every word a purr and intended to stab at Jamal’s heart.

  Though Romy’s knowledge of him did give her a bit of a pause. How long had Romy been involved in the underbelly of society? She’d guessed he was only nineteen, maybe twenty at the outside — which, according to certain standards — made him way too young for her to date. Not that she cared.

  Jamal gave a slow nod, though apparently had a hard time keeping his eyes from her.

  “You two have fun,” he said to them. “If you’ll excuse me,” he placed a hand on Romy’s shoulder and went around him up towards the V.I.P. area, and much further acclaim.

  Romy looked down to her and squeezed her tight with a grin.

  “Damn, good times all around lately, babe,” he said so fondly, both his arms coiling about her.

  But Angela couldn’t get over how hurt she was that Jamal didn’t seem the least bit injured by her. At least not to he
r liking. She glanced after him as he walked away, though she wished she hadn’t, and then quickly moved back into Romy’s side, giving a nod.

  “Yea,” she murmured, frowning a little. “I’m... not feeling so hot. I’m going to go to the ladies room.”

  Romy looked down at her with a sympathetic frown. He rubbed a hand up along her cheek and gave her a kiss on the lips.

  “You go take care of yourself babe,” he said affectionately.

  She stilled against him before moving away, through the crowds and towards the ladies room. There were two girls inside, talking in a language she didn’t know. They stopped only to look her up and down as she pushed into the largest stall, locking it behind her.

  Their chatter picked up again as Angela’s face fell to her hands.

  She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t let herself cry over him again. For four years, he’d left her to stew and writhe in her angst and sorrow. She’d gone to jail, gotten out, got a job, tried to get her life back on track.

  It was only fitting that he’d return to her life just as it was spiralling back out of control.

  She held back her sobbing, but her heart still raced and her stomach heaved as she struggled to get control over herself. He wasn’t worth it. He’d broken her heart, shattered her mind, and he should not have any more control over her.

  So why did she feel so horrible?

  It was a long time before she moved, long after the two women left the bathroom. But she couldn’t leave the safety and security of the stall.

  It was like the kick in the ass she needed to stop letting her life get out of control. To stop herself from following the same path once more. Slowly her sorrow dissipated and her resolve grew and by the time she finally forced herself up and out to the sink, splashing some cold water on her face, she felt hard.

  She’d take her money. Go home.

  And that’d be the end of it. Simple as that.

  She pushed herself out into the crowd, the music still thumping through her skull and vibrating her insides as she looked about for Romy.

  She found him after a bit of searching up in the V.I.P. area, nursing yet another drink as he spoke with some others. She worried it would be Jamal, but as she got up there, instead she found him nowhere in sight, just his usual friends chatting.