As for the notification problem, I am unable to solve it at the moment since I am extremely busy so just deal with it for now 🙂
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ALAMEA

"How come you are here and not with your fiance?" I asked Ada.

She muttered, "He is busy working. What can I do?"

Apparently among the girls, I was the only one who was single. Cel was married, Ada was engaged and Lenore who was a year younger than me had a boyfriend.

Uncle Silvio was okay with Cel marrying Arnaud but he was quite possessive of Ada when she first introduced her boyfriend to him.

Honestly, in my opinion, she could do so much better. Her finance is okay-ish. Half of the time I feel like he doesn't really like her but I didn't say anything.

She somehow managed to make Uncle Silvio accept him for now.

Lenore's boyfriend on the other hand is only known to us girls. They are not very serious at the moment so she will only introduce him if they have a future together.

But still...she had a boyfriend! I am pretty sure I am going to die a virgin at this point.

It was only Armano, Kian and me who didn't have a partner and they both had no interest either.

Zayden is engaged and Zaire has a girlfriend, they both are so boring yet they managed to find their partners.

"Stay still." Lenore grabbed my chin, keeping it in place as she applied another layer of blush on my cheeks.

"Oh, by the way, I just remembered..." Ada scrolled through her phone, searching for something. "I found a perfect guy for you. Just say yes and I will set up a date."

She showed me a picture of a guy in his twenties, tall but not as tall as Armano. He was handsome but I felt nothing as I looked at his picture.

"No."

Ada frowned. "He's my colleague. He is good--"

"I am not interested."

She sighed, putting her phone away.

"Stop trying to hook her up with random men," Lenore complained. "If she isn't my sister-in-law then I will cause a riot."

She turned to the dressing table to grab a lipstick and I stared at her back in confusion. "Excuse me?"

She got busy putting a lipliner on me. "Armano cares for you and is protective of you, he is just stupid to not see it. Ever since I was a kid I have imagined you both getting married."

I stared at her in disbelief and Ada looked amused. "You are delusional. Armano and me? Have you lost your mind?"

"Hey, my brother is good, okay? You both should consider dating."

I scoffed. "He is against dating."

"You can change his mind surely."

"You are crazy" I muttered.

Even though I am thinking of asking him to take my virginity, I don't think dating him is possible.

If he agrees to take my virginity, it would only be a one-time thing. We are almost like family, it would be weird.

"Notice how she didn't exactly say no to your idea," Ada smirked.

Lenore agreed, grinning mischievously.

My cheeks warmed. "It's nothing like that!"

They both laughed at me making me scowl.

If Lenore wasn't doing my makeup, I would have kicked her out already.

They decided not to tease me anymore as she finished off my makeup. She had already straightened my hair earlier.

I stood up, taking a glance in the mirror, for a second, even I was taken aback by how I looked.

"Sexy as fuck." Ada winked at me.

"What she said," Lenore added.

I smiled sheepishly. "Thanks."

We were going on our first mission and honestly, I was nervous but confident too.

Even if our plan doesn't work, we won't be in danger so we don't have to worry about that.

We three went downstairs where Armano and Kian were waiting for me.

Armano is more of a jeans guy but on the rare occasions that he puts a suit, he manages to look hot.

His dressing style was informal, the top few buttons of his white shirt open, the black suit jacket highlighting his muscles.

He was talking to Kian who was dressed in a black shirt and pants, sleeves folded up to his elbows and his suit jacket around his forearm.

Hearing me walk down the stairs, their head turned to me. Armano's mouth parted slightly, eyes roaming over me intensely.

I came to a stop in front of them. "Let's go."

Armano was still busy gawking at me, his eyes lingering on my breasts and bare legs before lifting to my face.

Surprisingly, I didn't feel uncomfortable by his stare.

Even Kian--who could care less--flicked his eyes over me once before nodding at me in approval.

Armano's jaw clenched when he noticed Kian and he not so subtly elbowed him, stepping forward to me.

"I am pretty sure you can even seduce a gay man tonight." Armano looked proud.

I winked playfully. "Let's see."

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Kian drove us to our destination, once the car was parked safely at a distance, we three put on our masquerade masks.

Some sort of a masquerade party was held tonight at the club and Alfred Harrington will be here too.

We all got out of the car, Armano looked tensed as he stared ahead at everyone slowly making their way inside the club.

Kian walked ahead with the invitation in his hand and I was about to follow him but Armano grabbed my wrist, making me stop.

He stared at me softly as he adjusted the mask on my face even though it didn't need any adjustment.

I let my fingers caress his wrist. "I'll be okay."

"You better be or I will kill you myself."

"Looks like someone is obsessed with me." I joked.

His eyes were locked with mine and there was no amusement in them. He didn't find it funny.

"Mano..." I said softly.

Him worrying about me so much made my heart flutter.

He tugged me closer to him, our fronts pressing together and leaning down, he placed his forehead on mine, eyes closing.

My breath hitched at his closeness, his lips so close to mine.

He remained like that for a moment before pulling back. "Okay, let's go."

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We entered the club separately. The lighting inside was dim and sensual music played in the background.

It looked like any other normal club. Music, drinks, people enjoying themselves.

But as my eyes slowly adjusted to the lighting, I noticed the sexual acts going around me subtly.

On one couch, I saw a woman kneeling between the legs of a middle-aged man.

At the other, a woman sat on the lap of a man, grinding against him slowly while another woman kissed him.

It was an orgy.

My breathing deepened, uncomfortableness seeping in as I looked around, the scent of sex and sweat was prominent in the air.

I can't chicken out now. I have to do this.

Blowing out a breath, I started moving around, looking for our target.

Everyone was wearing a mask so it was difficult to search for him.

Why the hell is the lighting so low? I can't even look for his hair.

"Did anyone see him yet?" Armano's voice came in through the Bluetooth device we had in our ears.

"No", I responded.

"No," Kian added.

Walking over to the bar, I ordered myself a drink first. Maybe it will help me loosen up a bit.

Once I was finished drinking, I got moving again, ignoring how almost everyone was having sex in the open.

How can people be so comfortable in letting a random person touch them and have sex with them?

I get it that not everyone has a weird trauma like mine but still...

I didn't realise I had zoned out until I felt a presence behind me, a little too close.

I willed myself to remain calm.

"You seem new here..." A masculine voice spoke against my ear.

Putting on a soft, flirtatious smile on my face, I turned around to face the person.

Well, talk about luck.

Alfred Harrington stood right in front of me. I knew because despite the lighting and the mask he wore I could see the scar that was on his chin.

"You are right..." I admitted, lightly touching his arm. "It's my first time here, I am a little confused."

He smiled a little creepily. "You are lucky that I found you. I will be happy to show you around."

Swallowing down my nerves, I leaned closer to him, giving him dreamy eyes. "That's so sweet of you."

His eyes dropped down to my cleavage and he licked his lips making bile churn in my stomach.

"Well then." He offered me his hand. "Let's begin?"

I placed my hand in his, already hating the contact. "How about we get some drinks first." I eyed him down, biting my lips. "I am a bit thirsty."

His eyes flashed with lust and he nodded, leading me towards the bar.

Quickly, I pressed my finger to the device in my ear. "Got him."

I dropped my hand as he glanced at me and offered him a smile.

At the bar, he pulled out the stool for me and helped me get on it, still not leaving my hand.

He ordered for us both, sitting a bit too close to me.

"So, what's your name, baby girl?"

I cringed at the endearment but didn't show it, battering my eyelashes at him. "That would defeat the whole purpose of this mysterious vibe I am trying to create."

He chuckled loudly, his palm landing on my bare knee. "If you say so."

"Just kidding. I might tell you my name if you tell me yours."

Our drinks arrived and he finally released my hand and I took the opportunity to dig into my small clutch and pull out my handkerchief along with a tiny packet of drugs.

He took a sip of his drink. "I'm Alfred Harrington..."

"Harrington?" I acted surprised. "I can't believe this."

"You know me?" He seemed impressed.

"Of course, I do. The whole of Boston knows your family."

He smirked. "That's good to hear. Now, your turn."

"I'm...Daisy."

"Just Daisy?"

"Yeah, unfortunately, my family isn't famous unlike yours."

He looked smug the longer I complimented his family.

He was about to say something when I frowned, looking over his shoulder. "Is that..." I trailed off.

He took the bait, turning his head to check what I was seeing.

I instantly sprinkled that powder into his drink, it would make him get drunk faster and blurt out things.

When he looked back, I smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I thought I saw my friend back there. I was kinda shocked."

"I understand." He nodded.

"So, Harrington..." I drawled his name seductively. "...I have heard so much about your family..."

I picked up my drink and took a sip of it making him mimic my movements.

He leaned his elbow against the counter. "Oh, yeah?"

"Mhmm...I saw that family heirloom of yours, it was so magnificent."

"Yup, the heirloom. My father's obsessed with it."

"I would be too if I possessed it."

"Yeah..." He slurred slightly.

Good. The drug was working.

"Would it be weird to say that I have been kinda obsessed with it too ever since I saw the picture? I just want to know more about it."

"And what would I get in return?" His eyes once again lingered on my breasts.

I placed my palm on top of his on my knee, caressing it. "Whatever you want," I said huskily.

He drowned the drink in one go, shifting closer to me so that our legs touched. "Whatever I want, huh? Ask whatever you want to."

I resisted the urge to smirk. Men were so easy to play with.

So I started asking him random questions, watching his eyes droop slowly as his slurring got more prominent. The drug was in full swing now.

I spent a few minutes listening to him talk about its boring history.

"Wow", I exclaimed once he was done. "A thing so precious must be under so much security."

He nodded slowly, eyes half closed, he was fully leaning against the counter, ready to fall asleep at any moment.

"My father...keeps it secured..." For a moment his eyes closed but he forced them open. "...keeps it...moving..."

"Moving? Where?"

"... everywhere...so no one...knows...the location...brought here...only when he needs...it..."

Okay...

"And when will he next need it?" I had to ask the main questions before he fell asleep.

"Tuesday..."

"From where is it coming and how? Through air or road?"

"Phila--" He hiccuped. "--delphia..."

"Oh, which means of transport?"

"Road..."

Then he was out, his head falling on the counter and his eyes closed completely.

"Did you hear everything?" I asked them both.

Armano answered, "Yes. Get out of there now. We will meet you at the front."

When he wakes up, he will remember nothing and will blame it on the alcohol.

Armano and Kian were waiting for me in the car and I got in the backseat.

Armano was grinning, eyes shining with pride as he looked behind me.

Even Kian had a hint of a smile on his face.

"Even though I was a bit nervous, I am happy that I did it."

Armano's eyes remained on mine, the grin not leaving his face. "And I am fucking proud of you, my devil."