Code answered. “No, she does enjoy fish, and the restaurant is renowned for its fish menu. I gave Maestro all her preferences.”

“We went over the most romantic restaurants with the best menus that she might enjoy,” Keys added. “We didn’t leave anything to chance.”

“Although I almost blew it,” Maestro admitted. “I asked her out and told her what I’d like her to wear and realized after that if she wasn’t spending money on extras, she wouldn’t have a cocktail dress and shoes for the occasion. That would just give her an excuse to get out of going to dinner with me. I’m certain she’s looking for one.”

“How did you handle the problem?” Fatei asked.

“Sent her an apology and bought a dress and shoes and asked Ice to provide jewelry. The dress will look killer on her. Very feminine, silver, clingy, but good taste. She’ll look sexy in it, but I’m hoping she won’t feel on display.”

Lana’s eyebrow shot up. “You aren’t testing her right off the bat?”

“Everything is a test with a submissive, Lana,” Maestro said. “If she chooses to wear the dress and heels for me, she’s passed the test. She doesn’t dress this way as a rule. In fact, she covers up her figure. Asking her to wear the dress and heels is going to take her out of her comfort zone. If she wears them for me and doesn’t cancel, I think I have a very good chance with her. She’s a pleaser. She should want to do the things I ask because she wants to make me happy. That’s how it works.”

“It’s bullshit,” Alena protested.

“It has to be done if we want the information,” Czar said. “I don’t think any of us like it, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to do it. We’ve had to do much worse things in order to survive or to take back women and children.”

“That’s true,” Alena agreed, “but I thought the point of moving here and putting down roots was to learn to be better people. How does destroying this young woman make us better, Czar? Do we have the right to decide, before we know whether or not she’s involved, to potentially destroy her? We know she lost her family and how. We know she was shot several times. After what we put Anya through with an interrogation, and Seychelle, not accepting her the way we should have, haven’t we learned anything?”

“Babe,” Maestro said gently. “You know we need this. I’ll do my best to handle her with kid gloves.”

Alena shook her head and looked down at the table. “You have strong opinions when it comes to what a woman’s place should be. You’re like Savage when it comes to meting out punishment. Forgive me for being blunt, Maestro, but your past with women is horrific. I wouldn’t want to believe that you might take out your very justified anger on a woman who did nothing to any of us.”

There was silence again. Alena continued to stare at the gleaming oak that made up the top of the table.

“Honey, look at me.” Maestro’s voice was velvet soft, but compelling.

Reluctantly, Alena’s gaze met his. She looked miserable, and he could see the guilt in her eyes over her all-too-real fear.

“I swear to you, I’ll do my best to handle this situation right. I’m not looking to hurt anyone, especially this woman.”

Alena swallowed and nodded.

“That’s it, then,” Czar said. “If you need any help, let us know.”

“If I get in with her, we’ll need a club to go to, one we can control,” Maestro said.

“I’m working on that,” Code assured him.

Maestro stayed for a short period of time visiting with the others before he walked out. He was already packed to make the ride back to San Francisco. Keys would be going with him. They would have backup from Mechanic and Transporter. Eventually, when needed, the others would come.

Keys was already outside, leaning against the chain-link fence, regarding him with exasperation. “Cut the crap, Maestro. I’ve been on this mission with you for the last few weeks studying this woman. We both know she’s more than a mark for you. If you do this, you’re going to lose her, and you can’t afford to do that.”

“We don’t know if she’s involved or not.”

“We’ve watched her for three straight weeks helping little kids and old people nonstop. She’s generous and caring. You really think she’s involved in human trafficking? And why is she taking college classes the way she is? She’d have money if she was involved, wouldn’t she? She’s barely getting by, even writing her books,” Keys pointed out.

“Maybe. And maybe she’s smart enough to hide her money. I’m telling you, just talking to her, she’s far more intelligent than Alan Billows,” Maestro said. He rubbed his jaw with the pad of his thumb. “She’s scary smart. Soft and sweet and scary smart.”

“Listen to you. I’ve never heard you like this. Or seen you like this over a woman. You can’t blow this, Maestro. You know how it is for us. Women just don’t come along for the kinds of people we are.”

“I’m not about to get led around by my dick like Czar and Player and, hell, even Savage,” Maestro declared. “I know women can’t be trusted. I’m not going to be the mark here.”

“Is that what you think?” Keys asked. “You need to really think about this before you take it any further.”

Maestro sighed. “I did think about it. We both separately went into the coffee shop several times. She didn’t react when you went in. She nearly dropped her coffee and couldn’t stop looking every time I went in. At no time did she show interest in any other man. It’s me or it’s no one, Keys. It’s my job because she reacts to me. And as much as I don’t want to admit it, I wouldn’t want you or anyone else to seduce her. I don’t think I could take it, and that’s me being real.”

“Maestro, she told you very personal details about the night her family was murdered. Those are things she wouldn’t have told to someone else. You know that. You can’t seduce her, betray her and then think you can have the kind of relationship you need with her after it’s all over. If you want this woman, you’re going to have to come clean with Czar and Steele and tell them the truth.”

Maestro pushed off the fence. “What the fuck is the truth, Keys? That I expect a fairy tale? I think I’m getting a happy ever after? I don’t believe it for a minute. I’ll do the job, and the only way I can do it is to go all in.”

“Czar has the happy ever after,” Keys pointed out.

“I’m not Czar.” Maestro stayed silent, letting the ice in his veins make its way to his heart. He couldn’t afford to think too much about the sound of Zelie’s voice when she told him about her family being murdered. He had glaciers surrounding his heart. It had to stay that way while he worked. “Tell me what you would do, Keys. Women and children are being trafficked. No one’s looking for them. Someone has to stop these people. This is our first real lead. We don’t know whether she’s part of the pipeline or not, but we know her boss is.”

“You saw her. You heard her,” Keys persisted.

“Yeah, I did,” Maestro admitted, trying not to sound as bitter as he felt. The taste of blood was in his mouth. He felt the sharp blade of the knife as it retreated from his body. The hot lash of the whip as it tore strips of skin from his back. The burn of shame and humiliation for once again trusting a female. Betrayal tasted bitter.

THREE

With shaking hands, Azelie opened the box that had come unexpectedly. She had texted Andrii that she was sorry, she wasn’t going to be able to make their dinner date. She hadn’t told him she didn’t have the clothes to wear to an upscale restaurant—but she didn’t. She’d gone through every single item in her closet and realized even if she knew for certain she wanted to go, she couldn’t.

The worst of it was—she did want to see him again. She wanted to spend time with him. He’d texted her back asking for an address where he could have a delivery made. Thinking he was sending flowers, she gave him the address of her building. A part of her knew she shouldn’t, but she didn’t want to cut ties with him.

The box had arrived at four, an hour and a half before they would have gone on their first date. Heart beating too fast, Azelie stared at the large rectangular box for several minutes before she managed to get the courage to open what clearly wasn’t flowers.

Her breath caught in her throat when she moved the tissue paper aside to reveal a shimmering silver minidress. There were heels, stockings, garters, earrings, a necklace and a note.

It occurred to me I took too much for granted. I wasn’t thinking about anything but the chance to spend time with you. I really would like to see you tonight. Please wear this for me. I’ll come by your building at five-fifteen to pick you up. M

Silver sequins sparkled as Azelie carefully lifted the dress from the box. It was beautiful. More so than anything she’d ever worn. It was also more daring than anything she’d ever considered wearing. The dress had a plunging neckline leading to a twist in the fabric at the waist. Fully lined, with a deep V back, the fabric would cling like a second skin, showing off her body. She’d never done that before either. The label in the dress simply read, Label 287.

Her breath caught in her throat. She had often looked at the clothing from Label 287, but she had never bought anything, not even the most casual blouse, although she longed to. The fabrics were always soft, and each design looked sensual. The designer only sold limited editions of her work. If you didn’t order immediately, you might not get your choice because there was a high chance of each piece being sold out within days or sometimes even hours. She couldn’t justify spending the money when she needed it to stay in San Francisco and continue going to school.

The garters looked sexy, and the stockings were silk. The heels were shocking. Silver glitter-covered leather. She recognized the brand immediately, although she had never owned a pair and only knew about them because Janine had been saving her money for shoes from that designer. The slim band of glittered leather buckled around the ankle. The stilettos were at least four inches high, closer to five.

Then there was the jewelry. She didn’t own jewelry and had no idea what real jewelry was or how to tell the difference. That was probably a good thing because if the drop earrings were real diamonds she would have fainted. The necklace was a silver choker with sparkling diamonds she hoped weren’t real.

Nested in the bottom of the box was a barely there scrap of underwear. Just looking at it made her mouth go dry and her heart beat even faster. She desperately wanted to try the dress on, to see how she looked and felt in it.

Telling herself she didn’t have to go through with the date, she dressed carefully. She’d already taken a long bath, the way she often did on her day off from school. She was grateful she’d bathed in scented water. She had to admit, just putting on the thong, garters and silk stockings made her feel sexier than she’d ever felt.

The dress clung to her body like a second skin, emphasizing her abundant curves. She had often tried to lose weight. She worked out and ran every day, but her body had curves. She didn’t lose weight the way she wanted, and eventually she decided with her body type, she’d just cover up. The dress showed every curve. She couldn’t wear a bra with the dress, and the plunging neckline showed the high rounded curves of her breasts.

After she did her makeup with the smoky eyes Andrii had requested, Azelie stared at herself for a long time. She didn’t look slutty the way she feared she might. She looked sexy—almost beautiful. Certainly not the way she normally looked.