Rapture & Rogue Read online

  “I’m old enough for a lot of things,” Taren replied with a cocky grin.

  “My kind of girl.” She winked as she opened all the liquor bottles. “Stick your finger in each one and give it a taste. Stop when you find something you like.”

  Taren slid up next to her. She pushed her index finger down in the bottle of Tanqueray Gin, turning it upside down to coat the appendage. Then, she slipped it into her mouth, sucking the bitter flavor and swirling her tongue around before slowly pulling it free.

  She was about to try the next bottle when Christy appeared.

  “There you are. I see you’ve met Gi,” Christy said to Taren and smiled up at the dark-haired girl next to her. “We’re headed out of here. Brandon’s out of money,” she sighed, shaking her head. “I don’t know why you keep letting him play when you know he loses every time.”

  “Maybe he should stop gambling the money his parents send him. Just a thought,” Gi said. She winked at Taren and held her hand out. “Gianna Revisi, but most people just call me Gi.”

  “Taren Rauley,” she replied, feeling the other girl’s warm hand in hers once again.

  “It was nice meeting you. I’m sure I’ll see you around.” She grinned and headed out of the kitchen.

  “Do you want us to give you a ride back to the dorm?” Christy asked.

  “Nah, I think I’ll stick around a little longer.”

  “Be careful at those tables. Gi’s dealers are better than Vegas.”

  “I will,” Taren laughed.

  ***

  A year later, Taren was sitting on the couch in her apartment, studying for an exam when the lock on the door clicked. She set her book on the coffee table as the door swung open. She stood and met the dark-haired intruder with a deep, searing kiss. She ran her hands under the thin leather jacket to caress Gi’s small breasts.

  Gi bumped the door closed and Taren shoved her back against it. She ran her hands under Taren’s short shorts, squeezing her ass cheeks. “Someone missed me,” Gi murmured against the lips that were teasing her with succulent kisses.

  “You know I did,” Taren answered, running her hand under the waistband of Gi’s loose-fitting jeans, pressing her fingers into the wetness she knew was waiting for her.

  “I was only gone an hour,” Gi panted as she wiggled out of her jacket. “You know we have three parties tonight. I had to make sure everything was set up. Besides, you need to study,” she said, grabbing Taren and pushing her back towards the couch.

  Taren squealed playfully as she landed on her back with Gi on top of her.

  “I don’t think you studied at all,” Gi chided, pinning her down.

  “Yes, I did,” Taren laughed.

  “Uh huh. You need to get your degree so I can be a housewife one day,” Gi chuckled.

  “No. I’m going to be the housewife. That’s why I hooked up with a criminal mastermind who is swindling all of the UCLA students out of their tuition money with her gambling racket,” Taren said mocking Gi’s current line of work.

  Gi rolled her eyes.

  “Besides, you’re in your senior year and you want to do the two year master’s program. I think that qualifies me as housewife,” Taren teased.

  “Either way, your beautiful, sexy, good looks aren’t going to get you anywhere with Professor Tutwiler. She’s straight as a board and probably hasn’t had her legs parted in two decades.”

  “I know. I’m meeting with my study group later to go over the mid-term review she gave us.”

  “In that case…” Gi smiled seductively and bent to suck Taren’s braless nipple through her thin tank top.

  Taren groaned, pushing her chest into Gi’s mouth.

  Gi kept her pinned with one hand as she worked her hand down Taren’s body, sliding under her panty-less shorts and through the wet folds, circling her clit like prey before pushing deep inside her. Taren writhed back and forth under Gi as her body gave way to the impending orgasm. Gi kissed her passionately until the last wave had subsided.

  “You think you’re hot shit, don’t you?” Taren panted with a smile.

  Gi grinned like a Cheshire cat.

  Taren lurched forward, dumping Gi onto the floor. She pounced before the dark-haired woman could get up.

  “Oh, I don’t think so.” Taren bit her lower lip and slid down Gi’s body, opening the button and zipper of her jeans when she reached it.

  Gi watched as Taren pulled the waistband of her pants down and buried her face between her legs, licking and sucking with excitement.

  “Mmmm,” Gi moaned as she ran her hand through the curly waves that fanned over her thigh. She rose up to meet Taren, matching her stroke for stroke until she lost control.

  Taren kissed Gi’s thighs and pushed her long hair to her back as she crawled up the body underneath her. Their lips met in a feverish kiss.

  “I love you, Gi,” Taren whispered, looking down into those deep blue eyes as she affectionately brushed the messy hair off Gi’s forehead.

  “I love you too, tesoro,” Gi smiled and kissed her softly.

  ***

  Three years later, Taren was looking forward to graduation, when she got a call from a classmate.

  “I didn’t see you at the tournament last night,” Chelsea said.

  “I was studying. These finals are going to make me crazy.” Taren hadn’t been to a tournament or poker party in the last two months. She’d heard rumors that the school was trying to crack down on the illegal gambling ring and she was too close to graduating to let anything get in her way.

  “I haven’t seen Gi in forever. I guess she’s gotten too big to hang around the tables anymore,” Chelsea laughed.

  “Yeah, something like that.”

  “Anyway, let her know the mayor’s son was there last night and my boyfriend said he saw him at the last one, too. I’m not sure if she knows that.”

  “Oh, wow. Okay. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.” Taren hung up and walked into the bathroom.

  Gi climbed out of the shower and grinned at Taren as she toweled off. “You could’ve joined me.”

  “When were you going to tell me Mayor Jackson’s son was gambling in your tournaments?”

  “He is?” Gi shrugged.

  “You know the school is investigating. Why the fuck are you expanding now?”Taren growled. “Do you want to go to prison? Do you want me to go to prison?”

  “Calm down, tesoro.” Gi said. “I have it under control. The school is no closer to me now than they were when I started.”

  “This is crazy, Gi. When I first met you, this was all for entertainment and a few bucks on the side. Now, you’re running an illegal gambling racket that has gone way off campus and gotten so big you have no idea who’s sitting at the tables anymore.”

  “I didn’t see you complaining when the money I made paid for cruises and Spring Break vacations down in Cancun and Cozumel,” Gi countered.

  “Damn it, Gi. This is serious. I can’t go to prison with you. I’m out.”

  “Out? What the fuck does that mean?”

  “I’ve spent the last four years with you, as your girlfriend and as your bookkeeper. I’m done. This power trip, criminal ring leader, or whatever the hell it is you have going on in your head that keeps encouraging you to delve deeper and deeper into this business, it’s eating away at you. All you do is eat, sleep, and breathe this operation. It’s like the only ambition you have now is being a crime boss. I don’t think you have any intention of ever stopping. I’m not going to stick around to watch it ruin you. Find someone else to do your accounting.”

  Gi said nothing as she watched Taren toss her belongings into a duffle bag.

  “I love you with all of my heart, but it’s over. You’re not dragging me down with you when this blows up. They’re coming, Gi. Everyone knows it and as smart as you are, I can’t believe you don’t see it.” Taren moved to the closet outside of the bathroom and began filling up the bag wit
h her clothes.

  “Seriously? You’re leaving me because you think I’m going to get busted? I’m very good at what I do. No one is coming near me, and for the record, I know who is at every single table and how much they win or lose. You do, too, because you’ve been keeping the books for three years. No one goes to my tables if I don’t want them there.” Gi explained. “I can’t believe you think I’d let something happen to you.”

  “Not intentionally. But you can’t stop it if it happens,” she said sadly. “Goodbye, Gianna.”

  Taren wiped the tears from her face as she placed her key on the kitchen counter and walked away without looking back. Leaving had been the hardest thing she’d ever done. Walking away from the person she knew she was meant to be with was like cutting her own wrists and watching the blood pool on the floor, but she had to get away from that lifestyle. Gi was heading down a treacherous path and no matter how many times Taren tried to change her course, Gi continued on. Taren couldn’t watch her tumble and fall. She loved her too much to see her hit the bottom.

  ***

  Taren awoke again in a fit, nearly falling off the couch as tears ran down her cheeks. “Damn you, Gi,” she whispered harshly. Her thoughts drifted back to the bar.

  Sitting across from her tonight, Gi had looked so different. Gone was the cocky kid in threadbare jeans and worn, 80s logo t-shirts who didn’t have a care in the world. The person sitting at her table was a very confident woman. Gi had grown up, trimmed her hair much shorter, and exchanged her casual wardrobe for a fitted Armani suit. She looked every bit on the outside the sexy and dangerous mobster she was on the inside.

  Chapter 4

  A week later, Taren had settled into her new position - accounting manager for Nicholson and Brass, a firm downtown. She’d taken over for a man who had retired, so she was handed his accounts. She’d decided to start with her largest: a multi-million dollar holdings company called R&R Enterprises.

  After a quick call to the company office, she had a meeting set up with the President of the company for the following morning. She hadn’t gone through the portfolio yet. She was trying to get in touch with her top clients to do a meet and greet before looking over their accounts. Still, she was shocked that the President of R&R wanted to meet her at Rapture and equally surprised when the secretary on the phone said the bar was open during the day for business meetings only. She wasn’t exactly happy about going back there, but surely Gi wouldn’t be around during the morning hours. The woman had never risen before ten a.m. the entire time they were together.

  ***

  Taren tossed her briefcase onto the dining table and headed into the bedroom to get out of her heels and skirt suit. Ken was just stepping out of the shower when she walked through the closet to the bathroom.

  “You’re home early,” she said, slightly surprised. She hadn’t seen his compact SUV parked along the curb out front.

  “Yeah. I have to fly to Dallas in the morning to oversee an acquisition,” he replied, standing near the sink with a towel tied around his waist. He put his glasses on and finger-combed his short hair while looking in the mirror. He wasn’t a large guy by any means, but he was physically fit and had a thin amount of light brown hair in the middle of his chest.

  “That sucks.” Taren pursed her lips and sighed. “I haven’t been to the gym all week. I’m too damn tired when I get out of the office.”

  “I figured you were going every morning.” Ken turned around to face her as he leaned back against the sink counter.

  “No. We’ve had early meetings all week and afternoon sessions with the tech people. They changed the entire computer system over last week, so everyone has to be trained on it this week. I was finally able to sit down at my desk today and start contacting my clients. I set up meetings for the rest of this week with my top five accounts.” She pulled the dark red blouse over her head, revealing a lacy black bra and matching panties. “Get this,” she added. “The president of my top account wants to meet me at Rapture tomorrow.”

  Ken furrowed his brow. “That bar we went to?”

  Taren nodded. “They’re open during the day for business meetings.”

  “Weird. Who is the client?”

  “R&R Enterprises. The office manager’s name is Pete Cabrera, but his secretary is the one who booked the meeting at Rapture.”

  Ken stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Why don’t get grab an early dinner since we’re both home? I need to pack and get to bed early. My flight leaves at six in the morning.”

  “Dinner sounds good.” She leaned back and smiled. “How about that Chinese place down the road?”

  “That’s fine with me.” He kissed her cheek and pulled away to go get dressed.

  ***

  The next morning, Taren kicked herself for not looking over the portfolio of her largest client. After dinner, she’d gone to bed with Ken and fell asleep after their quick lovemaking. She didn’t wake again until her alarm went off the next morning, leaving her only an hour to get ready and head to her meeting.

  She arrived a little early, so she pulled the file from her briefcase and began skimming over it. R&R Enterprises was a parent company and had been in business for three years. Upon further reading, Taren noticed the subsidiary companies were Rapture Cocktail Lounge LLC and Rogue Night Club LLC. She raised an eyebrow and flipped a few pages back to the organizational chart. At the top of the page was the last name she’d expected to see. She slammed the file closed and prepared to leave, not wanting to go through with the meeting after all.

  “Leaving so soon?” Gi asked, pulling out the chair across from Taren and sitting down with two cups of coffee in her hand. She slid one to Taren.

  Taren’s chest tightened at the sound of the familiar voice. “I had no idea you were my client,” Taren growled, shaking her head. She was pissed at herself for not reading the file and so infuriated that Gi remembered how she liked her coffee that she refused to drink it, despite how enticing it smelled.

  “Is that going to be a problem? I’m as surprised as you are.What happened to Ronald?”

  “He retired and I took over his accounts. I’ll give your portfolio to one of the senior members when I get back to the office.” Taren moved to get up.

  “So, that’s it then?”

  Taren looked at the deep blue eyes staring back at her. “What do you want from me, Gi? I’m not doing this. I’ve been trying so damn hard to forget I saw you, to forget you’re right here in the same goddamn city.”

  “And this is easy for me?” Gi spat. “You walked out on me, Taren. Not the other way around. I’m the one who should be pissed you’re here.”

  Taren tore her eyes away.

  “Maybe I should just drop Nicholson and Brass,” Gi sighed. It had taken her over a year to get comfortable with her accountant, and even then she didn’t give him full access.

  “They’ll drop you when they find out you’re laundering money for the mob!” Taren fired back.

  Gi laughed softly. “You think so highly of me.”

  “How else do you own all of this? And don’t give me some bullshit story.”

  “If there is one thing I’m good at, it’s business management. You should know that better than anyone.”

  “Yeah, illegal business!”

  “I always liked your feisty side.” Gi grinned.

  “I’m not getting involved in whatever you’re doing here, Gi. Not this time.” Taren shook her head.

  “I bet you haven’t read that file. If you had, you wouldn’t be sitting here attacking me about our past, which you were equally involved in, by the way.”

  “You and I…” Taren murmured, trailing off. “We’re not the reason I’m here,” she said, changing her tone. If her firm lost one of their largest accounts, she’d lose her job and possibly her reputation as a large portfolio accountant. As much as she hated it, she had to figure out a way to work with Gi. If the account looked
good, she’d only have to see her once a quarter anyway.

  Gi sipped her coffee as she watched the emotions play across Taren’s face. Defeated, Taren turned her hazel eyes back to her.

  “I’ll go through your portfolio this week. If I find anything, I’m out, Gi.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “So am I. If something isn’t right, I want to know about it right away.” Gi finished her coffee. “How’s Ken?” she asked sarcastically.

  “My personal life is off limits,” Tarenwarned.

  “You don’t have to say anything. Your eyes do it for you,” Gi said, reaching into the inside pocket of her dark grey jacket and removing one of her business cards. She wrote her cell phone number on the back and slid the card across the table.

  Taren watched her walk away, then shoved the card into the file folder and left the bar.

  “If you’re still walking that line, Gi, I’m going to find out,” she murmured, placing her head in her hands before sliding behind the wheel of her car.

  ***

  Later that night, Taren was sitting with the entire R&R portfolio sprawled out on the dining room table. She started with the tax records from the first year and worked her way forward, noting every change within the business from employment W2’s to supply statements.

  When Ken called later that evening to see how her day had gone, Taren brushed over the meeting with Gi. Instead, she focused on him and his trip, which kept him talking for over an hour.

  She’d finally fallen asleep after one a.m. with the file next to her pillow.

  ***

  Taren was still working on the R&R portfolio when Ken returned from his business trip on Saturday. She barely got up from the dining table to greet him.

  “Is everything okay?” Ken asked before going to unpack.

  “Of course.” She kissed his cheek. “I’m just swamped with this account. The president of the company had some issues with the previous guy, so I need to make sure I know this company inside and out.”