Massive Attack (A Guy Niava Thriller Book 1) by Dana Arama (e reader for manga .txt) 📗

“Why?”

“Because the owners have changed. The attitude has changed… the status of the club has changed.”

“And you knew the former owners?”

She glared at me and then fell silent. She then put her glass down, still full, and said abruptly, “My break has ended. I have to get back to work.”

Before she managed to stand up, I put my hand on her shoulder and pinned her down. “I need to reach Zorro.” I whispered in her ear, “It is a matter of life and death of someone who is very dear to her.” That was half a lie, but it got her listening.

“How do you know someone who is dear to her?

“From Israel,” I answered quickly.

“Only those close to her know about her Israeli past.” Her body language showed she now felt at ease and when I was sure that she wouldn’t get up and leave, I released my grip. “She moved elsewhere.”

“When did this happen?” I asked, and then added, “Where did she move to?

“Immediately after she got out of prison and sold her place to this rapper.” Her face showed discontent with this change.

“I need to know where she is or how I can contact her.”

“I can’t tell you how you could contact her. When she wants to cut herself off even God couldn’t find her…”

“What did she go to prison for?”

“They blamed her for managing a brothel. Which wasn’t true!”

“Besides you, who else knows her here?”

“Donna, the main dancer. She’s the undisputed queen of the place and that’s why the rapper didn’t have her fired.”

“When can I have a word with her?”

“She goes on at midnight. In a few minutes this place is going to fill up, because regardless of their color, men like beautiful women who know how to move their bodies.” Serina took a sip of her drink and then finished it. She said, “If you manage to slip out backstage, you may find her in her private room. Look for the letter ‘D’ on the door. I will ask her to leave the door unlocked, but you will need to overcome the guard yourself. If she agrees to talk to you, her door will be unlocked.”

I thanked Serina and watched as she walked away towards the bar. She ordered a drink and then she turned towards the far left of the stage. A big built bodyguard stood there in the shadows, Serina exchanged a few words with him, then she moved the heavy curtain aside and disappeared in what looked like, from where I was sitting, a long, well-lit corridor.

I looked at my watch. Eight minutes had passed, and I quickly texted, “I need a diversion inside”

He replied promptly, “Coming now.”

The heavy curtain opened again and Serina walked out with empty glasses on her tray. I tried to read her face, to see if Donna had agreed or not, but she was not sending any messages from afar. Soon, the heavy door opened and in walked a noisy, bearded drunk and who straight to the bar.

“Tequila! I want tequilaaaa!” He rolled the word like in the famous song and put his arms around the two men sitting at the bar.

“Take your hands off, you dirty drunk!” yelled one of the guys and the other immediately jumped up from his seat.

I had my eyes on the guard standing near the corridor. He had already left his position and was now striding towards the bar. I disappeared into the dimness near the wall and moved quickly towards the opening. Without looking back, I moved the curtain aside and went in. The hallway was short and ended in stairs, which led onto the stage. On one side there was one room crowded with women, mirrors and lights. On the other side, there were two closed doors. On one of them appeared the letter ‘D’. I pushed the handle down and the door opened. She had agreed to talk to me.

“Hi Donna,” I said to the beautiful, red-haired woman before me. She sat in a transparent black gown, opposite the well-lit mirror.

“Lock the door, please.”

I locked the door and said the image in the mirror, “I understand that you know what I’m looking for.”

“The rumors are that she may be in Mexico. Cancun. Managing some sort of establishment, a strip bar maybe. A studio for acrobats on a pole. Or maybe a brothel… a rumor I find hard to believe, but I have heard that rumor too.”

“So, my destination is Mexico,” I murmured to myself.

“It doesn’t matter what she is managing, her girls are always clean and well-protected. If you don’t find her place, find out where girls go, when they are in trouble. It is most probably to her. And when you see her, tell her that Donna said that she is still clean and if she needs me, I am willing to pack my bags and go to her. Anytime, anyplace.”

I smiled at her. “I will pass on your message,” I promised Donna and then asked, “Do you happen to know the name of the establishment she is running?”

“No…” She stopped and thought, and then added hesitantly, “Before she left she said that she was going to have to fight for her life and that she wants to see the sword in front of her when she opens her eyes in the morning and every night before she closes them. Maybe she called the place ‘Sword’...” She smiled an embarrassed smile and added, “It’s just a thought... I’m sorry. I don’t really know.” She got up from her seat, “I have to get ready to go on stage and you have to get out of here. If the guard sees you leaving my room or in the corridor, he will most certainly kill you.”

“So he better not see me.” I smiled.

“Or better he sees you with me. Let me escort you out.”

She was taller than I thought, maybe because of her high heels. She unlocked the door and peeked outside. “He’s