Enemies

Going home was not an option after taking care of the diamond-selling business. Hawthorn and Mordred wanted me to experience some of the services. I wanted to refuse, but they were stubborn and they kept on insisting that I do.

[Health: 100]

[Armor: 100]

[Wanted Level: 0]

[Reputation: Trusted Associate]

[Status: Stable]

I saw white ceiling and I felt cold after the deed. On my side was one of the girls working in the casino. Eliza was one of the new girls who had come to be part of the family. She was a card dealer and she doesn't usually serve customers like this. She was one of the legit employees. If anything Mr. Hawthorn probably mistook her for one of the working girls.

Eliza moans as she pulls the blanket up to her neck. Didn't want to move after the night. I stayed still until I heard a soft moan. Leaned on the headrest of the bed before the companion that I had for a night sat up as well.

"My hips hurt. You are a beast, Nik."

Eliza looks at me as if I was some criminal. My shoulders sagged at her eyes. She's pretty, and I like her eyes. I did plan to just pretend, but she was charming and the influence of two bottles of whisky and that she was in a celebratory mood because she got cash from the fine folks.

"Well, I can't do anything about it now."

"Sheesh, well, I'm still tired."

She moved close and held onto my arm. "You alright?"

"Other than my hips hurting. I'm fine. Then, I seemed to have underestimated you one way or another."

I admit that I was thirsty for her the moment she started to 'try and enjoy this' situation. She was a card dealer and was not one of the working girls. She just wasn't able to refuse since it was Hawthorn who said that to her. So she talked me up and in a way did try to make it so she wasn't going to be forced. Someway or another we ended up drinking too much and hit it off.

"I hope I wasn't too rough."

"It's fine," she said. "Though I might have to worry about the marks you left behind. So… are you seeing someone out?"

"No. You?"

"I wouldn't be sleeping with you if I was seeing someone. Besides, I got some money and honestly I wouldn't have taken this if you were bad looking."

It was a compliment, I think. She saw me looking like I didn't believe her and she pinched my arm.

"I wonder if you have no confidence or simply don't believe in how you look."

"Don't know about that. Besides, among the killers here, you're one of the few that hasn't done anything that awful."

I sat on the side of the bed. She leaned her chin on my shoulder. It was quite confusing to me why she was like this. I mean I did well, but there was no reason for her to act like this.

"That's nice of you to say."

"Hmm, and you aren't half bad. I don't mind dating you."

"Thank you?"

"Silly man."

She pressed her knuckles on my cheek. My boy was starting to rise again so I stood up and tried to take my clothes when Eliza stared at my boy with a hint. "Wow, guess someone is excited."

I covered half of my face before trying to take my clothes.

She sat on my clothes.

"Your clothes might be quite sweaty. Also I can't really stand with my hips hurting like hell. Move me."

"Okay."

I lifted Eliza and then placed her on the side of the bed. She was not covered up so I managed to spot all the marks that I left behind. It also made me think that I shouldn't be drinking in first-person ever again. At least when I can.

Eliza covers herself again with a blanket. I asked her if she wanted to shower first but she insisted that I go shower first since she jokingly said that I might need a round five. I almost tripped because of her words, but nonetheless I still showered and then went out fully dressed.

Eliza went inside the shower. Walking with somewhat of a limp. There was a big hand print on her butt cheeks which made me embarrassed. I waited for her to finish and she was back to wearing her dealer's outfit.

It was a shirt with a vest and red tie attached around her black collar. She wore black stockings a while ago… but it was on the side of the floor, ripped. She adjusted her lace choker and then eyed me with a tiny smile.

"Well, that was fun. You have my number, right?"

I checked my phone and saw that her number was under the same name. She took a peek at my phone and nodded her head.

"If you have time, call me okay?"

I stood up and faced her. "I will. Let's go now?"

I left the room with her. On our way to the ground floor she chatted about many things. She also mentioned that she was finally going to graduate. In a way she probably had made me drunk as shit if I wasn't to her liking. I'm glad that she was quite understanding and although we started kinda strange. In a way she found it amusing to begin with and said nothing about it. Had no car and since she had her. She insisted on taking me back home which really made me think of buying a new car. I told her that it was getting embarrassing since I usually ask girls to take me somewhere.

When we arrived at East Brooks I got out of her car and thanked her. She looked at me as if I was silly then left the area. I was about to enter my apartment when I spotted someone standing on the corner with a silly face on her.

"Hey, Nance."

"Still getting rides from girls, Nik?"

"Yeah," I said, looking away. She skirted around me and then gave this mocking smile.

"She was quite pretty. Was she your girlfriend or something?"

"Not really."

"Wow, I didn't think that you'd play around a girl's heart. I thought you was a gentleman."

"Are you passing by?"

"Could say that. Anyway, I ain't working in the bar. See, my friend told me that she has a job for me and it didn't hurt to try so I tried to apply and got in. Came here to ask you to celebrate… but it looks like you had fun."

"It was a one time thing."

"Nik, usually when it's like that. They don't take you home. You sure are a maiden."

I scratched the back of my head. "So are you going somewhere, seeing that you're on foot?"

"Like I said. I was going to celebrate and since you're one of the decent people here. I thought of inviting you. You look tired so I'm going to go and ask for my sisters instead."

"Okay."

She left and I climbed up to my apartment where I saw Mr. Zeev telling some of the folks renting four doors down about their rent. I entered my apartment before he could spot me and found myself on the couch. They didn't need me since there was still a problem with the city and the car was still not recovered, so I thought that this was a good time to sleep.

***

Eliza Dupont drove back to her apartment.

It was a luxurious apartment someone that has only such a job should have. She entered her apartment. She took her clothes and wore far more casual clothes. She sat on her couch and stared at the television. She began to think of what happen hours ago.

She was working as usual when one of the big-shots of the family she was working on asked her to 'entertain' an employee and paid her. She was going to make the employee drunk and then let him think that they did it. But she thought he was nice enough of a man and allowed herself to sleep with him.

He was rough. He had such a stamina that by the time they were done, she felt so exhausted and powerless. It was quite rare for her to be dominated and enjoy herself despite her other occupation. She didn't feel 'hurt' after a long while as she recalled what happened again. There was desire in her eyes before it was replaced by this coldness.

She walked into a part of her room. She pressed a button. Revealing racks of weapons and equipment that was neatly placed on the side. Most of them were well-maintained. She turned on the screen and there was a voice.

"Liz, you called?"

"The Solomons seem to have stayed neutral. Although from the looks of it they had quite a deal."

"How so?"

"I heard that they were transporting something. In fact, they even asked me to 'reward' one of the employees who piloted them."

"Who is it?"

"Nikolai Orlov. Have you heard that name?"

The person on the screen accessed a database. The person shook its head and then faced her again.

"Nothing much. He was pretty normal until a few weeks ago."

"Oh, how so?"

The person on the screen told Eliza.

How Nikolai Orlov was shot to the head by the Lintons. How he started working with the Sullivan Family, running successful runs while the state was actively hunting down the drug scene of the city. Then quickly rising to legitimately driving for the Courtesans of the Solomons and now being allowed to fly them around.

"He's suspicious. Before all of this he was unremarkable."

"Either he's good at hiding or was naturally talented. It isn't new, besides I have personally confirmed it. He is quite well-trained."

She examined Nikolai Orlov. He had a well-chiseled body and the way he was built and moved was quite attentive and professional. His stamina was great and there were hints of carefulness that made her careful when dealing with him. Of course, there was also the fact that it reminded her of the people who she worked with outside of Pacifica City.

"Well-trained. Hmm, indeed, he was able to capture and escape the family who went after the items in auction and fly a helicopter. It seems like he was just in time to be personally recruited to fly them. His luck is good."

The person said. Eliza picked up one of her rifles and checked the chamber.

"You seemed to have checked up on this person?"

"I slept with him."

"What?"

"I had to avoid Mr. Hawthorn's displeasure. I've barely been employed so it's quite hard to deal with it. Not to mention Mr. Hawthorn and Mr. Gail seems to like Nikolai's performance."

"That is rare. You usually make them drunk."

"Well, he isn't bad looking and in a way I enjoyed the deed."

She showed some of the marks on her neck. The person behind the screen whistled and then said lightly. "Must be quite a night."

"It's a one night fling. I did say that I wouldn't mind dating, but he had not replied."

The person behind the screen quieted. "You have taken a liking to this person."

"In a way. But don't worry it's a one night fling."

"I hope so. Don't forget that we're after the inner workings of the Solomons. Don't get distracted."

"I won't. Not that he is that interested in me," Eliza looked at her body. "I guess some just don't have good taste."

Eliza felt annoyed that she was subtly rejected. Nonetheless her mind stayed on the game all the time. She was hired to get some information on the workings of the Solomons and so far her results have been quite good.

"Then are you done?"

"I am. A shame since I found someone interesting. I hope he doesn't become suspicious of my sudden disappearance."

"I'll tell the clients that you think that the Solomons are still not a threat. You can get out now."

"Thanks," Eliza said. She turned off the screen and turned her attention to the computer. She uploaded a file labeled appropriately as the 'workings of the Solomons' and sent it on an encrypted network.