Bad Boy Obession

Chapter 1: Going Undercover-1

Chapter 1: Going Undercover

“Ease up on the make-up, Brenda,” I said, turning my face away. “That’s way too much mascara.”

Brenda gently turned my face back to hers. “Will you be still before you make me mess up?”

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” I asked. I was trying to sit really still but it was hard. I wanted to see what I looked like. I never wore much make-up. I guess I never really needed it. Guys seemed to flock to me anyway without it. I hoped it would be that way this time too.

“Of course I know what I’m doing,” Brenda snapped. “I did Kari’s make-up the last time. And she wasn’t complaining.”

I chuckled. “Ok. Ok. I’m sorry. I just don’t want to look like a tramp or something.

And I definitely don’t want this guy getting ideas and pawing all over me.”

She put the finishing touches on the mascara and stepped back to admire her handiwork. ”Damn I’m good,” she exclaimed, clapping her hands. “You look hot, mama.”

“Great,” I said with a frown. Just what I didn’t need. “Can I look now?”

Brenda turned the chair so that I was facing the mirror. I barely recognized myself. Wow. I was….hot! “Whatcha think?”

I slowly reached up and touched my cheek, careful not to ruin her hard work. “I like it,” I said softly. “But I can’t go out looking like this. I’m just trying to get the mark to notice me. That’s all.”

She grinned. “Oh he’s going to notice you alright.”

I grimaced. “I don’t need that kind of attention. I just need to get close enough to get the intel we need to bring him down. I’m not interested in attracting him.”

Brenda closed up her make-up kit. “Whatever it takes to get inside,” she said. Her gaze dropped to the manila envelope on the table in front of me and she picked it up. “Damn. He’s hot!” She whistled softly as she scanned his picture. “Dang. I almost wish I’d signed up for the job.”

I took the folder from her and scanned the picture of the mark. He was handsome, I had to admit. His inky black hair and olive skin gave away his Asian heritage. According to his bio, he was half Japanese. I stared at his picture and a shiver went through me. He seemed to be staring back at me, his dark eyes daring me to make my move. He wore a smirk on his lips that managed to be both sassy and sexy all at the same time. His look plainly dared anyone to question anything he said. There was a commanding aura about him that was obvious even in the picture.

“It’s not too late, you know,” I said, snapping the folder closed. “Feel free to tell McNamara that you want the case. I won’t argue.” I held the folder out to her.

She grinned at me and pushed it back. “Nah. You do it. Besides,” she said, flipping open the folder again. “He likes Asian women. And you my dear certainly look the part.”

I groaned inwardly. Dammit. This wasn’t the first time that I’d been assigned to a case because I ‘looked’ the part. But I’d never had an assignment like this one. Before, I’d always been able to get all the intel and my team made the move without me having to get too close. This time, I’d have to go undercover. Inside.

Brenda put a hand on my shoulder. She must have thought I was scared or something. “You’ll be fine, sweetie. You’ve done this a million times. And you never miss.”

I looked back down at the picture of my mark. “This one is different,” I said softly.

“Nah. He’s the same as all the rest.”

“He’s pretty elusive. The department has been trying for months to crack this guy. And nothing.”

“That’s why you never send a man to do a woman’s job,” she said simply. “Just don’t get attached to the mark. It never ends well.” Her eyes misted over as they always did when she thought of her dead boyfriend. “Kevin died because he was trusting his partner to be there and he was in cahoots with their mark the whole time.” Brenda shook her head.

I reached over and patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself. And this mark won’t be any different than any other mark.”

Brenda stood and began to gather up her make-up supplies. “Read his file carefully, Ariel. He’s nothing to play with. They’ve been trying to pin something on him for months now, but he just seems to float just under the radar. And yet, the drugs are still flowing. Stuff is still being sold on the black market for crazy amounts of money. And just the other day, two more of the Tokyo Terror died in a fire that mysteriously started in a house on Berg.”

I nodded, listening to her. She was right. This guy was trouble. Bad with a capital ‘B’. “He’ll go down too. Him and the rest of his gang. Just like all the rest.”

“Just be careful, please,” she said. “He’s not your typical criminal.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll get him. We have to get him.”

*****

I gave myself one last look in the mirror. It was go time. I’d read over the mark’s dossier and had familiarized myself with the things that he liked and his history. Oh, he was definitely a piece of work, and I knew that I’d have to always be on my toes with him.

“You good?”

I didn’t look at my partner, Charlie who was going to play my boyfriend. He and I had worked together before and we had a great chemistry between us. I think he read more into it than I did. He was cute but I wasn’t interested in messing around with someone I worked with. It’s real hard to work with someone when hormones get in the way. And it’s worse if the break up was ugly. McNamara was just the type of boss who’d put you and your ex together on a case, smile and say “play nice kids”. Prick.

“Yep,” I answered, snapping the tiny mirror closed. “Let’s do this.”

He nodded and we got out of the car and made our way into the club. It was an upscale joint, frequented by the wealthy business owners and international money makers. My mark’s father owned this club and several more like it in other big cities around the world. Everyone in here reeked of money. I wasn’t sure what McNamara did or said to get Charles and I in here but dammit, I was going to enjoy myself while I was here. Within reason of course.

I was a bit surprised when Charlie and I got inside with no problems. One of the perks of the job I guess. I paused for a moment, to let my eyes get accustomed to the dim lighting of the club and took a look around. This must be how the other half lives.

The interior was richly appointed with soft leather couches and armchairs along the walls. In the middle of room were sturdy tables polished to a high shine with comfy leather chairs around them. The room was lit with soft lights, and it was dim enough to be intimate but bright enough to see my mark.

And speaking of my mark, where was he? I scanned the room, looking over each face, discarding the ones that didn’t match. My gaze roamed over some of the people on my team. I didn’t linger over them so as not to call attention to them. The last thing I needed or wanted was to inadvertently blow their cover or mine and screw up the whole mission.

I felt lips brush along my ear. “You see him anywhere?” Charles’ voice whispered.

I shook my head slightly. “No. He must not be here yet. My source said that he likes to arrive around 9 or so. It’s only a bit after 8. This will give us a little time to scope the place.”

I felt him nod against my head. “Ok. Sara is in place so as soon as he comes in, we’ll start the plan.”

“Fine by me,” I answered.

Turns out, we didn’t have to wait long for the mark to show up. I watched him and his party enter the club. All of the men wore expensive suits, including the mark. They didn’t look like gangsters. They looked more like yuppie businessmen out for an evening of drinking and talking stocks. He ambled over to a table not far from where we sat. His men flanked him, sitting down at nearby tables. I couldn’t help but stare at him as he was immediately surrounded by beautiful women. They pushed and clawed at each other trying to get close to him and gain his attention.

“Damn,” I mumbled to Charles. “It’s not going to be so easy to get to him with all those salivating vultures flocking around him.”

Charles laughed at me. “You certainly have a way with words, Ari,” he said, chuckling.

I gave him the finger before turning back to look at the mark. Damn. I needed to get him to notice me.

“Follow my lead, okay?” I murmured to Charles as I stood up.

He nodded and slid my hand in his as I walked towards the table where the mark sat. I made a point to put a little extra sway in my hips as I walked. I had to fight the urge to tug at the hem of my midnight blue dress. It fell just below the swell of my hips. It was a strapless dress that exposed more cleavage than it covered. I barely had enough chest to fill it. But judging from the way the women flocking around him and his crew were dressed. I should fit right in.

As we neared him, one of the men in his group looked up, his eyes roaming over my skimpy outfit. He was cute with his black hair hanging over one eye. He smiled at me as our gazes met and held. I stared back, memorizing his features. He might be my ticket into the mark’s circle.

Charlie tugged at my hand, having seen the other man’s attention on me. “What are you doing?” he hissed loudly enough for the other man to hear.

I tossed my hair back. “What are you talking about?” I asked innocently. “Come on. Let’s get over to our table.”

The man nodded slightly as if he knew I was ‘with’ Charles but could care less. Yeah. He could be useful to me. From the corner of my eye, I saw him lean over and whisper something in the mark’s ear. The man glanced at me but the woman seated on the arm of his chair turned his attention back to her with two fingers under his chin. Damn.

“Looks like he’s got his hands full,” Charles murmured in my ear.

“Yeah. I guess I’ll have to use a more direct approach.”

“I’ll follow you.”

I watched, waiting for my chance. Damn, these women were stuck to him like bees to honey. He talked and laughed with his bodyguards and the women as if they were all equals. A small part of me admired that. Then I pushed it aside. I couldn’t allow myself to feel anything for this guy. He was the mark. He was the enemy and it was my job to bring him down.

Finally, the woman got up from her perch on the arm of his chair. I watched him trail his fingers over her backside as she walked away. There was my chance. I stood and made my way over to him. I hadn’t told Charles what I’d planned to do and I heard him stand up and fall into step behind me. I kept walking, my eyes on my goal.

The cutie looked up as I got closer. I stared at him, hoping that he wouldn’t give me away. I wanted to get the mark’s attention but not through him. Fortunately, he was distracted by another one of the suits. I strolled by the mark, brushing my thigh against his hand where it hung over the edge of the arm of the chair. His gaze was instantly on me.

“Oh my gosh,” I stammered, raising my fingertips to my lips. “I’m so sorry.”

He smiled making my heart skip a beat. “No problem,” he said. His voice was deep with a thick accent. He leaned back to look me fully in the face. “Join me?”

I pretended to think about it a moment. “I can’t. I’m sorry.” I turned to see Charles coming up behind me. “My boyfriend-” I began but broke off.

The mark nodded. “Maybe some other time.”

I smiled at him, hoping he’d smile back. He did. “Maybe.”

I walked away from him then. I could feel his eyes on me as I headed for the table we’d ‘reserved’ for the evening. I turned once more to look at him over my shoulder. He lifted his glass to me and I smiled.

“What the hell was that?”

I jumped at the angry tone behind me. “What?”

Charles grabbed my arm. “You heard me. I said, what was that all about?”