Prologue:
Family Business

It nearly killed my mother. She hated that my father was in that sort of situation in the first place, but to throw me into it too. That was unforgivable in her eyes. She tried to run away with me. It didn't work. She ended up being shot down by my father's men.

He was furious. He had wanted his wife back, not her corpse. I hated the organization from that moment on, but decided that it would be worse if I tried to get out. So I stayed where I was.

And I'm still here.

------------------

At age twenty-two, I was hardly daddy's little girl anymore. I was treated like anyone else in the organization. My father had hardened since my mother's death and I'm fairly certain that he thought it was my fault. That or I reminded him of her too much for his liking. I liked to think it was the latter.

I walked down the hallway and into his office after rapping on the door. "You wanted to see me?"

"Sit down." I did.

He didn't start talking right away; he never does. He lit a cigar first and then examined the calender for a few moments. "You know I don't approve of your working alone."

"I do."

It was true. I hadn't had a partner since I was seventeen. I felt like I worked better alone. That roughly translates into "I don't like people I don't like giving me orders." After a few fairly easy jobs I had proven that I could at least fly solo at the very least. So my father allowed me to continue. I'd only gotten better at being on my own. Just because I was good didn't mean he didn't worry about me. I was still his daughter after all. He never actually mentioned or made any indication that he didn't approve, but I could tell. Intuition, you could call it.

"I've decided to give you a partner."

I blinked. "What?"

"You heard me." He didn't like to repeat himself.

"Why now? I haven't had a partner in years," I reminded him.

"Because I couldn't find someone that was qualified enough," he answered easily.

"And now you have?" I asked quietly.

"Yes."

I licked my lips. I didn't know what to say. I didn't want a partner. I didn't like working with a partner. They tended to be troublesome.

"He is top of the line, ma cherie," he assured me.

"He?" Normally partners were of the same sex to avoid mixing work with personal pleasure. He had been especially careful about that with me.

"I think you are old enough now to handle it responsibly."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"What?"

"He will be introduced to you tomorrow."

"Do I get a file?" I requested.

"It's already on your kitchen table." Of course. My father was nothing if not thorough. Whenever I got a new assignment there would be a detailed file with more information than I would possibly need, but I always liked to know whose life I was about to ruin.

I nodded my understanding and turned to make my exit when he called to my back, "Adrianna?"

"Yes?" I questioned, but didn't turn around. I was gripping the door knob in my hand.

"I'm only doing this because I love you."

I closed my eyes. It had been a long time since he uttered those three words. It was an oddity at best. I merely nodded in return, but I refused to turn back and meet his eyes. "I know," I murmured as I walked away, "I know."

Chapter One:
Sloan

I woke up and didn't want to get out of bed. It was Saturday after all and that was my day off. The only one I ever got. So one can imagine how irritated I would be if my lights were flicked on at eight a.m. on my day off. I grumbled and pulled the covers over my head. I didn't have to deal with this. My father had special people to take care of any issues that might come up on days off.

"Get out of bed." It was a rough voice with a slight Spanish accent. I'd never heard it before. In an instant all my senses were alert, but I remained where I was except for the hand that inched its way under my pillow for the gun I kept there. I wasn't going to take any chances.

He pulled at my covers. "I said get out of bed. I do not like to repeat myself."

"And I don't like taking orders from strangers on my day off," I shot back from under the covers. "Get the hell out of here."

I heard him sigh. "Your father informed you of your new partner, yes? Well I was informed that I could find you here."

Oh great. My new partner was a morning person. Just my luck. I let that thought sink in and I relaxed my grip on the P2K. If he really was my new partner, I had nothing to worry about. But on the other hand... I flexed my fingers around the gun. Better to be safe.

"Actually my father informed me that I would be introduced to my new partner today. Not hauled out of bed by him," I corrected.

"I was told you are stubborn. I did not know you were also a smart-ass."

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see the motion. "At least let me get dressed."

"Fine. I'll be in your living room."

"Sure thing..." I heard him leave the room. I was fairly certain that he could have left without making any kind of noise if he so chose.

I attempted to push the covers off and yawned. I didn't want to be out of bed yet. Last night after I'd gotten off duty I'd gone out and hit the club scene with my friends that weren't associated with the mob or my father. I hadn't gotten home till four. And now I was getting up, four hours later, on my day off. If this guy was always going to be like this, I was going to have to bust some balls. His, specifically.

I sighed and shifted in bed, not wanting to leave the safe warmth so soon. I stared at the ceiling, silently cursing this man for coming in so early. I could hear him shuffling impatiently in my living room and decided to make him wait. It wouldn't kill him to squirm a little. And it would make me extremely happy.

I didn't, however, plan on dozing off again. I was making my way towards that pleasant place where you're almost awake, but aren't, when a terrible pounding roused me. I mumbled incoherantly and rolled over, trying to ignore the banging. It stopped after a few short seconds and I started to drift off again. It was so warm...

And then it was horribly cold. I blinked a few times, trying to figure out what exactly had happened. And then it all clicked. My clever plan of making the new guy wait was not going over very good with him. So bad in fact that he came in and pulled all the blankets off me like I was a five year old.

"Heeeeeey," I whined, taking a fist full of comforter and trying to pull it over my body again. And failing, I might add.

"I have been patient, but you are not being cooperative. Get out of bed now," he ordered. I don't like being ordered around. At all. Not even by my father. So he requests things of me. Unless I'm a pain.

"I don't take orders from nameless, faceless people," I informed him, squirming in the center of my bed; I was cold. I was only wearing a nightshirt and panties.

"Fine. My name is Sloan and if you'd open you're eyes, I wouldn't be faceless, either," he replied, still holding my covers hostage.

I reluctantly obeyed and found that the man who pronounced himself as 'Sloan' was definitely worth the peek I'd taken. He skin was tan and he had a mop of black hair that fell into equally dark eyes. I allowed my eyes to take a discreet walk down his body. It was toned. Even through his white t-shirt, I could tell.

'Oh my...'

Good-bye

I was sick of it. Every night he found an excuse to leave. Every night he found his comfort in the arms of another woman. Every night he found his pleasure from another woman. Every night I was stuck at home. Alone. Tonight would be different.

I was done dealing with this. I was done letting him take advantage of me. I was not going to be his doormat anymore. Tonight, I was going to walk the streets and live his life. Tonight we were going to switch roles. And he's going to understand exactly what he threw away.

I smiled to myself and I slinked into a tight black dress that hugged my every curve. He would see. He was not home yet- I did not expect him back until around seven and it was only five-thirty. When he got home at seven he would only stay for a few minutes. And he probably would not even notice me. I would not let him notice me yet. Not until later.

Tonight I was going to be anything but emotionless. I was going to let loose. I was going to let my hair down- literally. I was going to let my thick black curls bounce down my back and stick to my skin. I was going to drink. Just enough to gather my wits when I first see him with his whore.

Looking in the mirror one last time, I pulled my bathrobe closed around my body and sat down to wait for him. I picked up a book and glanced at the clock. One hour. Then it was showtime.

--------------------

I did not look up when he opened the door and step in. I continued reading my book. He did not look at me when he walked in. He headed straight for the bedroom.

"Audrey, do you know where my black tie is?" I heard him call.

"I'll see you later tonight," I whispered huskily and stepped away from him and headed to the bedroom. "Have fun at your... dinner."

"I-I will. I won't be that late, Aud," he assured me, lifting a hand to his lips.

"Don't worry about it. You can wake me up," I called over my shoulder just before I shut the door. In response, I heard the front door close.

I had work to do.

----------------------------

I gave myself a once over in the mirror. I had done my makeup to enhance my bright, blue eyes and it worked. They popped and were the first thing I noticed about my refelction. I let my eyes travel over the rest of me; My hair was done and falling just perfectly, seductively. My skin was whiter than I liked, but tonight it added to the appeal. The contrast of the black dress and my black hair against my milky white skin was magical.

It was perfect.

The last step was the stilettos. They were red, just like my lipstick. I slipped them on and walked effortlessly out of the house. I had experience in heels that Ian didn't and probably would never know about. Because this was the last time he was ever going to see me.

I drove to the club I knew he frequented thanks to some of his buddies that did not approve of his straying ways. I parked far away as there were few parking spaces, but that suited my purposes just fine. Ian knew what kind of car I drove and the license plate number.

I got out and shrugged out of my jacket. I wouldn't be needing it tonight. I walked to the entrance and got in line behind a woman who had draped herself all over her partner her who did not seem to pay any attention to her. It proved to be my entertainment until we reached the door and let in.

I quickly scanned the area for Ian. And it did not take me long to locate him. He was dancing with another woman. If you could even call it dancing. They were grinding. And he was panting after her. It made me smile. I was going to make him pant over me. And I was not going to satisfy him.

I submerged myself into the crowd and let myself dance against a handsome stranger. His hands were strong against my stomach as he held me to him from behind. I could almost understand why Ian would betray me for this. It was exilerating. It was not enough to break a heart.

I let my stranger buy me a drink and I savored it as I continued to watch Ian. His fun was about to end. I took my stranger by the hand and led him over to the area Ian was occupying and promptly sculpted my body to his.

Ian looked up and barely contained a gasp, I'm sure. I was plastered against my stranger and enjoying it. I let my hips sway with the music and I pressed my lips against his jaw line, leaving a red lipstick print. It made me smile. I shot a sultry look at Ian and briefly wondered if he knew it was me.

Maybe not because he shot me a smile full of mischief and gave his partner a sublte smack on the ass and told her give him a few minutes. And then he started my way. It took some persuasion for my stranger to let me go, but he gave in eventually after I promised to seek him out after this song. He handed me over to my husband. Soon to be ex-husband.

"Hey, beautiful," he whispered as his lips found the expanse of skin where my neck met my shoulders. I leaned into his caress and ran my fingers through his hair.

I pushed him into a dark corner and then slid my body along his. I could feel his arousal against my hip as I did so and decided that he'd probably had a hard-on all night. He had been dancing with his favorite fuck partner after all.

I grasped his face with one hand and forced him to look into my eyes. I licked my lips and moved my face towards his. His lips were dying to touch mine, I could tell, but I feathered them across his cheek until they met his ear. I kissed the lobe carefully before indulging in a smile. This was my time to shine.

"Oh, Ian, how naughty you have been," I told him. I felt him stiffen immediately. "You tried to double dip and you got caught."

"A-Audrey-" He could barely say my name he was so alarmed.

"What? Are you surprised, Ian, love? Did you really think I'd let you run around on me and get away with it?" I questioned him, pulling back to let him get a good look at my face.

"I... You look so different! You know you're the only one-"

"Save it. I just wanted to say good-bye, darling." I smiled again and gave his face a little pat. "I've filed for divorce and packed all my bags. Don't bother coming home tonight. Unless you want to sleep in the hall," I finished.

I nipped his lower lip and walked away, leaving a very shocked, and very disraught husband in my wake.

It was my time to shine.

Owari