Page 21 of The Fixer

ThemomentIsteppedoutside my room, I was met with my entire team, waiting for me. Smiling with a confidence I didn’t feel, I sucked in my bottom lip before clasping my hands in front of me. Tilting my head as I leaned against the doorframe, I ignored the burning pain in my throat and other places. I felt like I’d gotten entirely too drunk and had a romp with a faceless man instead of tripping through the garden, only to end up lost like some little lamb.

“You’re going to need to work on those game faces, guys,” I muttered before straightening my shoulders as I leaned forward. “We’re damn good at what we do. The connections we have are strong, and if they back out, we’ll use the shit we have them to change their minds. This does not differ from any other client.”

“Except the fact of you wanting to make Raithe Dravyn the next President of the United States, Chevy,” Rory pointed out in a hesitant tone. “You’re certain you want us to win this?”

“I’m very certain,” I announced. “He’s a client. We treat him as if he is any other client we’ve taken on. Act like your lives depend on him winning,” I confirmed with a warning, lowering my tone. Stepping further into the hallway, I nodded. Straightening my spine and peered at each face I knew as well as my own. “Let’s show this asshole who we are, and why we’re the best, ladies and gentlemen.”

It took moments to enter the media room with my crew. Atlas, Raithe, and several other men were already within the room, waiting. Raithe’s heavy stare lingered on me a moment too long to be polite before he finally turned back to the phone he’d been staring at. On the table in front of a bevy of monitors sat a table. Without missing a beat, I walked to it and retrieved my phone.

“Get to it, ladies and gentlemen. We’re limited on time,” I uttered. Staring at the screens, I watched as the boys got started with Rory, firing everything up. Penelope slid in beside me, her lips pursed as she waited for the screens to turn on.

“You look like sex on pretty platform heels, girl,” she pointed out with a smile on her cherry-red lips.

“Thank you,” I acknowledged with a knowing grin. Crossing my arms over my breasts, I turned and took in her knife pleated skirt. Her shirt was a Queen Anne styled crimson blouse with ruffles down the middle. It was sexy enough to turn an eye, but still business enough to demand respect. “You look sexy enough to get these pricks hard and leave their boys blue, Penny.” She chuckled at my compliment. “Gentlemen, let’s fire up the engines.”

Colt’s amber stare met mine briefly before it slid to the master computer. “Ready, Chevy?” he uttered with his finger on the button. At my nod, he pushed it and documents began moving rapidly over the screen.

The perk of being me was, I’d been blessed with a photographic memory. Mix the ability to scan a photo, document, or newspaper clipping with it, and I could keep my own records inside my head. It was why I’d been able to get through school so easily at such a young age. I’d memorized each assignment, and then scanned the books until I knew each one by heart. There were also the other abilities I had, which made me one of a kind with reading people. I was basically a human lie detector test in heels.

It took over an hour of the team throwing documents in front of me before something caught my eye. Lowering my head, I rubbed my temples before scowling. “Go back five pages, Colt,” I directed, crossing my arms over my chest as I waited for him to do so. “There,” I pointed out in a scratchy tone.

“Why do you sound like you sucked a dick last night?” Rory asked bluntly, which resulted in Raithe spitting out whatever he’d been in the midst of drinking. My regard moved to him before slipping back to Rory.

“I’ve been spending my downtime deep throating bananas for in the event they ever start up a shlong sucking contest,” I offered with a straight face. “I hear there’s big money if you can deep throat enough cocks.” Turning back to the document on the screen as everyone went silent at my explanation, I pointed at a list of names. “I want you to find me dirt on those assholes, Einri. If they so much as laundered a cent, slept with a mistress, or spent time in a cathouse, I want to know about it yesterday. What do we have on Fire Core International, Ana?” Crossing my arms over my chest, I leaned back against the table, waiting.

“It’s a shell company. Money laundering, small arm dealers, and prostitution seem to be their moneymakers. It makes little sense for them to be within the likely candidates we’re checking for the upcoming elections. Does it?” she asked as she chewed her lip.

“No, it doesn’t.” I turned the possibilities over inside my head and smirked as it became clear. “Unless they intend to use the money they’ve made from their illegal dealings for the campaign trail? It wouldn’t be unheard of for criminals to sway the outcome of an election. Dig deeper into their company and find out who has ties to it. Someone here owns the company, and we’re going to need to know who that is. What do you got for me, Rory?”

“Vince Cameron was mentioned last year as a potential candidate for the republican party’s nomination,” she offered.

“Vince Cameron was killed in a carjacking four months ago and left a widow nine months pregnant behind.” Running it through my mind, I turned and peered at Colt. “You said Ross Anderson was also killed in a robbery five months ago?” I waited for his nod of confirmation. It was one thing I loved about Colt. He was a man of little words, but he was a bloody genius and the best Ranger to come out of the Army. Colt could give Einri an ass whooping any day of the week, but he was reserved and only used force or violence when the need called for it. “That’s both sides hopeful’s who’d been careless enough to mention their intentions for the presidency. Both were young and brought something new to the table. They would have had a damn close race if they’d gone head-to-head. Instead, they’re dead? What are the actual chances of that happening?”

“I’d calculated it for you, but the chances are one point up from zilch. According to their charts, both were in the prime of their lives who’d been in the military. Cameron was married two years ago, and from the articles and reports, he was fit and had been honorably discharged to run for president. Anderson was likewise discharged, and considered a tremendous catch because of his family’s money and political affiliations. For both of them to die months apart? Zilch, Chevy.” Her delicate face tightened with strain as her brain worked out the details I’d already gathered.

“Someone targeted and took them out,” I mused out loud, wincing as one suspect came to mind. “It’s a pity. I’d have enjoyed betting on that race,” I uttered softly, while fighting to control my inner turmoil at the idea of Raithe murdering whomever I offered him as candidates. “Return to scanning the files, Colt.” Hiding the trembling of my hands, I worried my foot, which was a habit I’d picked from my mother. Several hours later, I caught sight of a familiar name, and the smile which spread across my face was beaming. “I have an idea.”

“Oh shit, there goes our job security,” Rory whispered.

“I heard that,” I said with a false, withering look aimed at her. She offered me an innocent look before chuckling. “I’m thinking Volkov would know who to put his money on. He runs the gambling dens of Vegas. He’s also a huge ass pervert.”

“I was wrong. It’s our dignity about to go down the drain,” she groaned.

“Elias Volkov isn’t willing to share his knowledge. Not even with you,” Einri stated in an irritable tone as he openly glared at me. “Unless, of course, you intend to suck his cock and were merely practicing on the bananas with him in mind.”

“Don’t be jealous of the bananas, Einri. They’re much larger and more satisfying than yours ever was,” I retorted with warning heavy in my tone. “Jealousy is a sickness, and it isn’t a good look on you.” Turning my focus to the others, I smiled. “Pajama party it is, ladies. Meet back here in twenty minutes. Let’s take Elias to church, shall we?” I smirked at the idea of what we were about to do, which Raithe and his ever-growing posse would be blindsided by.

Placing our phones in the basket he’d put out, I offered him a look of annoyance before sauntering off to my chamber. Once there, I stripped out of the thin baby blue dress I’d chosen this morning, and entered the master closet where Raithe had purchased more clothing than I’d ever owned in my entire life. Picking out a few things, along with an evening gown, I returned to my room to dress quickly.

A moment of uneasiness hit me the moment I peered at my reflection in the full body length mirror. I did my hair in a waterfall braid, which left enough out to play with it during the video call we’d be doing soon. The lace of the lingerie was intricate, with rose-gold flowers embroidered into the lace. Thigh-high stockings attached to a matching garter that hugged the curve of my hips. Beneath it were half-cheek panties, since there was no way, I was walking out of here in anything less. The pushup bra was fitted perfectly to enhance my cleavage without the girls spilling out in a mishap, chaotic mess. I’d changed heels into something sexier. Platform ankle strapped heels added to the curve of my thighs, while adding an extra dash of sex appeal. Turning my head, I peered at the bruise at the base of my neck before leaning closer. A light-colored bruise surrounded two small red bumps. Glancing down at the globes of my boob, I found another set of the strange markings. Swinging my head to eye the bed, I made a mental note to tell Raithe about his insect infestation. Slipping on a robe and snatching the dress from the hanger, I returned to the media room.

The look on Raithe’s face as I strode into the room was priceless. I’d chosen the matching robe to the lingerie, which failed to conceal what I hid beneath. Pausing as the clicking of heels echoed down the hallway, I smirked, knowing my outfit would pale to the others.

Penelope entered with boy-cut panties, and only her hair to hide her ample breasts. Her dark, onyx-colored ringlets were thick enough to cover her naked breasts fully. Her eyes flashed with mirth as men leaned forward, peering at her lack of clothing. Rory entered with her strawberry hair up in a messy bun. Her crimson bralette was sheer, with only a small embroidered design to conceal her nipples. The garter she’d chosen was thin to enhance the ample curve of her full hips. Beneath it was a bikini style panty, with bows holding the sliver of material together and up. Behind her was Ana, who was wearing a necklace which held up a thin covering of silver material to conceal her double D’s, which bounced perfectly with every step she took. The skirt she wore, if it could even be considered one, which was split up each thigh to allow movement. Under it, she’d chosen to wear a jeweled thong, which made me cringe internally.

“What the hell sort of pajama party is this, and why wasn’t I invited?” Atlas asked with both his brows pushed into his hairline. “And just like that, I’m hard.”

“Hard is good,” Ana purred in a sultry tone before winking at him.

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