C7

Jason.

I swirled my drink in one hand loving the way the ice clinked against the glass and kept a watchful eye, a lot of things could go down if I wasn't careful, Antonio was always the mischievous one amongst all my cousins.

"What can I get you?"

"Get her a fruit juice" I commanded him.

"What? Why do you get a whiskey and I take a fruit juice..."

She protested but then she saw my cold gaze and quieted down.

"Pompous ass" she muttered loud enough for me to hear.

"Yes Sir" the bartender left.

The bartender's movement caught my attention, he returned from the right door instead of the left.

I've done a complete survey on the house and I knew that there was no storage or winery towards the garden area.

He passed the glass to her and turned hastily spewing a few of it's content.

Then he returned to his post, picked up a glass and began cleaning it.

I covered the rim of the glass with my hand and pressed it to the table.

"I waited to see if you had a shred of conscience but it seems like you do not, what did he offer?"

"Me?" She turned to me confused.

The bartender shook and turned to us.

"Is anything the problem Sir?"

"That depends on you. Here, take a mouthful" I passed the man Selene's juice.

"My..." I gave him a withering glare and he trailed off.

"How can I Sir, I don't have the guts..."

"Take a gulp now, the next time I say it..."

The man picked up the glass, the liquid rippled a lot at the surface because of how the man was shaking.

He brought it to his lips and took a sip.

"Continue" I growled at him.

The man swallowed a mouthful.

"Again" I commanded.

The man drank from the glass until it was finished.

"Now get back to work"

The man went to work as though nothing has happened but occasionally I could tell he was shaking.

He pulled off his tie and his suit and was breathing heavily.

"I will like to excuse myself" he bowed and asked for permission when he couldn't take it anymore.

"Stay" I commanded him again, I was going to use him as an example for this woman who was very careless.

The man turned and went back to his job.

She tapped me.

"Is he okay?"

"Watch, the fun is about to begin" I smirked and took a sip of my whiskey.

The man removed his trousers.

Her shrieking made me turn to face her.

"What?" She snarled at me covering her face in embarrassment.

"That could have been you"

She stiffened at my words.

"Is that..." She covered her mouth not liking the sound of the words.

"Yes"

"Cordero," she whispered the name slowly and in dread. "But... He knows that you will see through the plain trick, so then why would he do that?"

So she wasn't stupid or naive.

"You're fast in picking up, you'll survive"

"Answer the question"

"He wants me to respond..."

"But you won't as usual"

"You're not stupid, I'm impressed"

She managed to throw a small angry look at me.

"Stop being too blunt" she screamed at me annoyed.

I passed her my whiskey.

"Take two sips and nothing more"

Cool your temper.

She took the glass and studied it.

"Can't do it?" I drummed my fingers on the table.

She hesitated, looked at the bartender, shivered and took two sips.

My phone lit up, I looked at the screen before I put it off.

"Come" I grabbed my drink bent my head and drowned it in one gulp and made my way to a balcony she followed me.

Two couples were engaged in exchange of saliva, they would have to wait I need this place for coverage.

I walked up to them and tapped the male, the man reacted his eyes glowing with anger then it turned to fear in a second too fast.

"Leave" I pointed to the door leading to the dance floor.

"Y-yes" he pulled his unprotesting partner into the building.

"Why are we here?" She wrapped her hands around her small frame.

I took off my suit jacket and handed it to her, she wrapped herself in it.

"Stay here, If anything happens?" I asked her.

"Scream?" She questioned.

"Say it like you mean it" I frowned at her.

"Scream"

"My rules..."

"Distract him only, don't kiss him and don't let him take off my mask and if he tries to grab it forcefully, I'll scream" I answered like a student giving back his teacher what he had being taught.

"Good. Wait for me here,"

Next...

"If you fail, I'll kill you myself" I told her seriously.

"Osu" She replied weakly.

"Good that you understand, I'll get going now. Stay here"

I went to the meeting point, Warren had Benjamin on his knees.

"Where are they?"

"The file transfer were a success"

"Where was Cordero?"

"He wasn't there when we exchanged the files"

Selene.

I moved back to the balcony, a loud bang made me hurry.

Cordero had her to the wall, she looked mortified.

I grabbed Cordero by his throat.

"Slow down, I didn't do anything"

"Touching her alone is a crime you'll pay"

"Oh yeah?"

"You wouldn't want me telling a certain someone of your dark activities, would you. I mean that boy, what was his name again— Charles, Chris, imagine what would happen if I told Grandma—"

"You wouldn't" he spat angrily at me.

"Touch her again and we'll see"

Cordero looked at me then moved away.

"Keep her safe"

"Is that a threat, Cordelmo?"

My abuse of his name earned me a glare then Cordero turned and left.

I moved towards her.

"You did well. Okay?" I patted her head.

"I'm fine"

"Let's go" I grabbed her hand and began to pull her towards the exit, we needed to leave before Cordero found his files were missing, though I doubt he would find it in a week or two.

"Slow down, my legs are still shaking"

Her weak protest made me oblige.