ChapterOne
Ruby
It’s 7AM on a drizzly Wednesday morning when I walk into my Black Widow bar and nightclub. The six-inch heels of my patent black Christian Louboutins clack on the hardwood floor as I make my way, briefcase in hand, Coach purse slung over my shoulder across the walkway to my office. Sylvie is mopping the gross ‘stick’ off the floor from spilt beers and God only knows what else, the acrid smell of cleaner hitting my nose as I progress further into the depths of the darkened building. The black wall makes it even dimmer, an ambience that I prefer to brighter colors.
My two Doormen, Ramsey and Benn are sitting at the bar, having a drink after wrapping up work for the night. They are having yet another discussion of who the best English football team in Manchester is.
“Hey, Boss!” Ramsey calls over, spotting me instantly. He gives me a thorough, undisguised once-over, even though he knows I’m off limits. My tight black dress skims my curves nicely, the black overcoat needed for the Manchester rain is hanging open and is expensive and well cut. I only ever wear two colors. Black for every day and red for nighttime.
Ramsey’s eyes meet mine, filled with a raw lust which he quickly squashes. He is gorgeous. Six-five and built like a brick shithouse. Short dark hair and eyes to match, not many are fool enough, even piss drunk to take him on. “You’re the decider, Boss. United or City?” he says, his tone dark and low.
Flicking my long black hair over my shoulder, I grin at him, ignoring the undertone. “There’s no choice. United all the way.”
Benn groans, closing his bright blue eyes and shaking his blond head. “Oh, lass,” he says, his Scottish accent sending a tingle down my spine. “You are so wrong.”
I laugh and protest. “I’ve got nothing against City. Pep’s got himself a cracking team, but my heart belongs to United,” I say and wave them off. “Now get gone. It’s way past closing.”
They both stand up, Benn only a tiny bit shorter than Ramsey but just as wide and they head off. I turn and stalk to my office, meeting my assistant, David on the way.
He gives me a bright smile and also gives me a once-over, but this is purely for fashion’s sake. He is as gay as I am straight, and I adore him. “You are fabulous, Ruby Bellingham,” he says and then hands me a mug of steaming black coffee. “Widow’s brew, just for you,” he sings.
“You’re a prince among men,” I practically pant and snatch it off him. It's hot and dark and my first sip slides down my throat like honey.
“Consider it a birthday gift. Commute a bitch?” he commiserates.
“You know it,” I growl, wishing I didn’t live so far out of the city. The traffic is a fucking nightmare. I narrow my eyes. “How did you know?”
He nods in agreement and then shrugs it off. “I know everything,” he replies. “Don’t forget your parents are ringing in about half an hour,” he reminds me. “Don’t be late. The time difference is an arsehole.”
“It’s only five hours to New York,” I remind him. “And it’s calling, not ringing.”
“You live in England, you say ringing,” he chides me, which is a regular occurrence. I grew up in New York and only moved here five years ago when I was twenty-one. I owe my parents everything. All four of them. Yeah, my mom has three husbands. I know Rex is my bio dad, but I love Lachlan and Alex as if they were my blood. My mom runs her own empire back in the States and lent me the money to get started out here. I paid them back within a year and now own five successful legit nightclubs and three not so lawful casinos. That’s where my real money and power come from.
“BT-dubs…you need to head downstairs,” David says.
I frown at him and stop in the middle of the corridor outside my office. “Why?”
“A game ran on. Beth can’t get them out. She needs help.”
“Fuck sake,” I growl. “They know better than this and where the fuck is Tony?” I shove my briefcase and handbag at him and rip off my coat, throwing that onto the pile loaded in his arms.
“He clocked out at five,” David says in disgust at the asshole who abandoned his post.
“Are you joking?” I snarl, beyond pissed off. “He just left Beth down there? Why didn’t you call me sooner?”
David nods glumly. “I did!” he protests. “About fifty times.”
“What?” I mutter and reach over to pull my phone out of my pocket. Dead. “Fuck! David! I forgot to charge it. Shit.”
“Didn’t want to recruit the legit squad unless it was absolutely necessary. They’re just parked, nothing too raucous.”
“Yeah, I hear you,” I murmur. Ramsey and Benn don’t know about the underground casino, and I’d like to keep it that way.
“I’ll sort this,” I growl.
“Go get ‘em, tiger,” he drawls in a fake American accent.
I grimace at him, but he pays me no mind and saunters off to dump my stuff in my office. I turn and head further down the corridor, right to the end where it seemingly stops. As a necessary precaution, I glance over my shoulder, but there is no one there. I find the button which operates the sliding door, hidden in a knot in the wood paneling and press it. I stalk through and close the door, marching down the stairs as quickly as my heels will allow me to.