Velvet Chains

|Valentina I walked right into the casino like it was mine. Well, technically I didn't — own it, I mean — but Lord Khalifa wouldn't dare to treat me anything less than royalty. Not to bluff, stating facts. I peeled off my coat, tossing it at a random nervous looking kid who probably had no idea what to do with his hands until I gave them some purpose. "Make sure you don't crease it,"I mumbled, not giving him a glance. "It's worth more than your annual wage." I could literally hear him nod continuously before disappearing. Good boy. I liked how quickly everyone learnt how much I hated hesitation or being disobeyed. It disgusted me. I kept walking, glancing down at my watch. 15 minutes. That was all I had to spend here with Khalifa. No stupid convos or beating around the bush. I had lots of relevant things to do and under very little time too. I wouldn't even be here if Khalifa didn't have an issue with seeing my guys instead of me. Turns out only my presence gives him the assurance he seemed to desperately seek. The place reeked of smoke, tricks, and cheap cologne. Around the round tables were seated men who thought they had power as they drowned in whiskey and traded away with games. I, however, wished I was here for that. Playing, I mean. But nope. Things were too twisted for that. I came to make sure I was on the safe end of this game the Vaughns were playing. Khalifa's guards were posted at the top of the stairs and they moved the moment they saw me. "Lady Val...."they bowed their heads in respect and I rolled eyes, not being in the mood for courtesy. "Move aside." They didn't hesitate as they stepped aside for me to walk through. I headed for his office straight and just walked in without walking. He hated it when I intruded like that, but did I care? Hmm, let's see..... Nope. I didn't give any f***s about which of my actions pissed him off or not. "Valentina De Rossi!!"he grinned, saying my name like it was some fine wine being tasted. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" He gestured to the chair across him and I sat. He tried offering me a drink, but I ignored it. "I don't do drinking, Khalifa. You know that,"I said in a dead tone. That was a lie. I did drink. Just not any drink coming from someone I know could kill me the moment I turned my back or even did as much as blink with him around. "Right. Pardon me, La Rosa,"he spoke, showcasing his fake gold teeth. "I suppose you know why I'm here?" "Ah, right. Rumours been flying around, Rossi. Says the Vaughns are after you. Stepped on their toes, aye?"he said. I frowned. Stepped on their toes? Those bastards messed with what was mine and thought I'd stay mute about it. Not that I blame them for having the audacity though, one of mine betrayed me and so they probably thought me a joke. But errors were meant to be corrected and that was what I did. Not my fault they were sore losers. "Rumors are half-truths told by cowards, Khalifa,"I leaned forward. "But yes, I did step on their toes. Hard." And it felt good doing it. What, payback's a b***h. "And now they've pronounced war between you, your supporters and them. You're not even supposed to be here,"he moved uncomfortably. You see.... The Vaughns weren't exactly people you'd want to cross. But then, I'm no joke either. War between us spelt war for everyone. Because they couldn't not pick sides. They had to. Nobody wanted to be their enemy, but how bout me? Heh, I'm the sorest of all losers. If I lost because I lost one supporter, it wouldn't be a funny game anymore. "But I am. And you're going to help me, aren't you?"I gave one of those fake smiles I offered to remind them they wouldn't want to cross me. Not that I was forcing anybody though. It was his choice at the end of the day. He went quiet for a second or two. I gave him time. If that was what he needed to know the right decision to make, then so be it. He took a deep breath before locking eyes with me again. "What're the stakes here?"he asked and I nodded. Wise decision. "I need your people, Khalifa." I wasn't even saying it like I was making a request. I was telling him. I knew he'd do it. "What?" "I need eyes in the Vaughns. Ears too. I need whispers that don't trace it's way back to me. I need me access to the kind of filth only your people can and will crawl through." Nah, my people could do it too. But that was the thing. I had to make him think he had something I didn't so he'd agree to help me. If the Vaughns found out, which they surely will, they'd kill the spies off immediately. And I wasn't exactly in the place to loose men. I cherished my people. Khalifa didn't exactly do that with his. "What's in it for me?"he asked, a doubtful look on his face. There it was. My turn to use my master card. I gave a small, controlled smile, moving forward to pour him a glass. His eyes followed my actions. "You'll owe me absolutely nothing. I'll hand you La Rosa,"I spoke, trying to keep a hint of pain in my voice. Make them think it's precious to you, and they'd grab it instantly. His eyebrow ticked twice. "Your club?"he asked. "The territory itself. The building hardly means anything, no? You want the location. Everyone does. But I think I trust you more than anybody and that's why I'm here instead of being elsewhere. Take it,"I nudged the half filled glass towards him. He stared at the glass as if he was trying to find the catch. Take it. C'mon, take it. "It's...."he paused. Yes? "It's profitable,"he mumbled, taking the glass and lifting it up to his lips, taking a sip. "It's replaceable, really." "It was built by your father. He built that corner,"he spoke. Ah. He was trying to figure me out. "And I'm not my father." I was loosing patience. I tilted my head. "You want the land or am I going elsewhere? You know, Trevor reached out this morning concerning the land." That struck a nerve. The rival card always comes through, ha! "You'll transfer ownership by morning? Or now?" Of course it always works. I leaned back on my chair. "Don't rush me. I'll sort it out by morning." "Okayed. My men are going to operate under my rules." "They'll be reporting to me, Khalifa,"I spoke, leaving no rooms for arguments. But of course, Khalifa was so slow brained, never knew when to just give it up. "They'll be reporting through me." "No. They'll be reporting directly to me. Either that, or...."I shrugged. "This conversation never happened. Trevor did tell me he was game whenever I changed my mind." Same me who hasn't spoken to Trevor in months. What, you needed to be fraudulent sometimes to survive. Silence reigned again. I could tell he didn't like being boxed in like this. But did I care? Nah, not even the slightest. "Fine. I'll give you four,"he spoke. "Two planted and two roaming." "Six,"I replied blankly. "Five then." "Six, Khalifa. You want La Rosa, you pay full price. Full. Price." He paused for a beat and then nodded. "Fine. Six." PurrFect. I resisted a smirk from popping. He didn't need to know he just got played. "Good." I stood up. He extended his hand and I looked down at it before looking back up with a c****d brow. "Seal it?"he asked. "I don't shake, Khalifa,"I said. "Deliver first and I'll consider it." I turned around and then walked out the door. No thank yous, no smiles, and definitely no looking back. I was confident Khalifa wouldn't dare to cross me. Why? Because I knew he was wise enough to know just how fast Queens check Kings. I didn't make it ten steps out of the casino before pulling out my phone. I had an important call to make. I dialed a number and Nathaniel picked up on the third ring, which probably meant he wasn't busy enough to pretend he wasn't waiting on me or something. "If it isn't my favorite person! Pun intended,"Nathaniel's voice rang through the phone and I was already sighing in frustration. "I'm in no mood for your silliness, Nat. Don't make me regret not burning that agency of yours to the ground 3 years ago,"I mumbled, creasing my brows as I nodded at the valet to return my keys to Diego, my driver. Nathaniel was the director of a really popular agency. They offered the services of PI's, bodyguards and whatnot. He happened to be a really inquisitive i***t which was why he decided to go wandering where he didn't belong. He ran contracts on my people. I found out. And I was supposed to make sure it never happened again by destroying the agency itself, but then.... Something told me I'd use him in the future. So I let him off after making him swear to do whatever I asked of him in the future. Now was pretty much the time to grab the opportunity. "Yes, yes, I know. I owe you, Val. What do you need?"he asked in a bored tone. As if I wasn't bored of talking to him as well. f**k, I feel nauseous. "I need you to send me someone, Nat,"I spoke bluntly and he sighed. "Send someone? Be exact, please,"he grumbled. He could whine all he wanted, his debts wasn't going to pay itself. I got into the car and Diego silently drove off. I could see the other cars following behind. Good. "I need me a bodyguard,"I elaborated. "And by bodyguard, I don't refer to one of those chickens of yours who can't handle a gun properly. I hear you have a few ex-militaries in your grasp?"I asked the obvious. "The f**k did you even....." "Language, Nathan. Yes or yes?" He grumbled something about hating the situation before speaking. "Val, I've got just 3 of them. And they're for VVIP only." It was as if he was trying to convince me or something. "Is that so? What am I then? A random person you're doing a favor?" "No, it's not like that...."he tried defending. "Good. I expect my new bodyguard to be here before midnight. Don't play with me, Nathan." "But Lady Val...." I hung up. Even I had a limit to the endless buzzing. Now, a few more things to settle and the point would be proven to the Vaughns. I don't need a whole harem of men to fight a war. Me. A single woman was enough. The sooner they came to that realization, the better for all of us