Page 7 of Make Me Hunt
I personally kick them outside. But none of it seems to get me any closer to Ares’s circle.
Almost another two months pass, and I’m no closer to figuring out what the hell this game even is. There’s less than two months until Halloween, and I can’t wait another fucking year to get to the bottom of this.
Just when I start to lose it, luck kicks in, and even though Silver couldn’t help me get noticed in theirexclusiveclub, she did get me in somehow—just not the way I wanted.
One of the older waitresses working there got pregnant, so Silver made sure I got her spot. I’ve been around long enough to qualify, and she doesn’t suspect I’m after information. She thinks I just want better pay and since the main rule there is to keepyour mouth shut about anything you might hear or see, there is enough money to guarantee it.
Suddenly, my life gets a lot more interesting. Down here, it’s an entirely different fucking organization. And I quickly understand that none of the people working for Ares have a decent bone in their body. Not that I ever expected otherwise.
He’s not around the first week. I figure he’s got businesses in other cities as well; the way he’s constantly in and out. I just haven’t been able to follow him that far. And though I don’t want to accept it, I kind of miss watching him every night, even from a distance.
To my disappointment, Elysium doesn’t seem to be the answer to all my questions. Most of the men go quiet when I walk over to drop off drinks. I’ve got what’s called distributive attention, so I can ask them what they want and still catch half a dozen conversations at once. And I do pick up a lot of things, just not anything related to what I’m really interested in.
The only thing that’s clear is that everyone reports to Ares. There’s a whole hierarchy in place. And even though he’s got some kind of supreme power over everyone, he still has to keep them in check. If the mafia heads ever teamed up, they’d be a real threat, so he just keeps them under his wing. More to protect himself than them. Smart—really smart.
Another week passes until he shows up at the club again. And there’s a wave of heat down my back the second I see him walk through the door. I’ve never seen him so close, never breathed him in before. Because I swear, his cologne is the most intoxicating thing I’ve ever smelled. Something expensive with something darker beneath, like he’s oozing danger through every pore. Like the damn thing is calling out to me.
Suddenly, a cocktail of sensations is gathering to puddle somewhere inside my panties. And I feel so useless in stopping it. I’ve never felt something like this before. And I hate how it strips me of any power to withstand it.
Ares is wearing black jeans and a white shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to show off a few of his tattoos, the fabric clinging to him with sinful precision. The same perfect posture. Blazing arrogance. And the same attitude—like he owns the whole fucking world, not just this town.
One of his men asks me for a whiskey for Ares.
The damn bastard can’t even order his own drinks? Wow, that’s a new level of stuck up.
I don’t comment, though, just bring him the drink and set it in front of him, my legs wobbling, like I’ve forgotten how to walk.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
He doesn’t even flinch as I place the drink in front of him, doesn’t even notice I’m around, like I’m invisible. And as much as I wished for that a few months ago, now, I need to do something to get closer to him. I even ask Silver to get me on one of the gun shipments I know they’re running into town in the next week. I’ve heard things, I know what’s going on around here—at least partially. And though I’m not supposed to talk about the rumors, I’m desperate. I need to prove myself. To be honest, I thought I’d be much further along by now with my investigation.
But Silver says no. It took her three years to get here. And that’s only because her brother has already worked for Ares for a while.
I don’t have three years. At least not without completely losing my mind.
I try a different approach. And even if it’s not exactly my style, I’d do whatever it takes at this point. So, I put on a shorter, much tighter skirt along with some fishnet tights, and start actually spending more than the usual five minutes I give myself to do my hair. I go for big, relaxed curls, full face of makeup—the complete package.
This gets me the attention of every man at Elysium. Their eyes trail over me with hunger every time I step into the room. Every man except Ares, because he doesn’t even glance my way. He just sits there, like the entire room bends to him anyway. Like my existence doesn’t even register.
Fuck.
Andthis shit repeats itself for almost a week.
four
-Brynn-
I’m getting desperate. Desperate enough to accept having a drink with Vince—one of Ares’s men. He’s a lot closer to Ares than Silver is and knows way more about his businesses.
He thinks he’ll get me to open my legs for him, while I know I’ll only get him drunk enough to talk. That’s because I spiked his drink with a little something that will soon make him feel like he drank a whole bottle instead of a glass. At least he’s not holding back, knowing I already work here, so I must be in on what’s going on.
Truth is, I wasn’t up to date with more than half of the operations that he’s talking about. Jesus, Ares keeps himself busy with all the illegal shit he has going on. I swear, if I were a cop, I’d have every last one of them locked up on the spot.
Ares really needs to learn to pick his men better because this man definitely never heard of omerta.
But no matter how much Vince spills, there’s nothing about the Halloween game.
I’m starting to think I’ve been on the wrong track this whole time, and I wasted almost a year here. But just when I’m about to give up, he drops a very important piece of information. Maybe my last shot at getting closer to Ares. Or what could always turn out to be the last day of my life. Either way.
