TEN (Odessa POV)

Val has decided to drive a dark blue car with tinted windows because it's more discreet than the armour-plated limousine and will allow us to escape faster through Chinatown streets if someone attacks us by surprise. It's getting dark but some stores are still open in Mulberry, Canal and East Broadway Streets and several street vendors are selling fake luxury bags from Hermes and Luis Vuitton. Most tourists have gone already and only the adventurous ones have stayed for dinner drawn here by the delicious smell of Asian cuisine that's a trend right now, luckily this neighbour isn't as dangerous as it used to be and they'll arrive to their hotels safe and sound if they call a taxi. Ares fidgets on her seat next to me and checks her gun for the umpteenth time while I shake my head frustrated.

"I think you're overreacting, really... We have no information and that threatening note could be just a silly joke, maybe Winston trying to make fun of me given that I embarrassed him in front of the Continental customers..."

"The hotel manager has a very elegant sense of humour and a good taste, he'd never threaten you like that. Besides, I get the impression he really likes you." She mumbles while checking the magazine: I've realized that Ares always talks in a quiet tone of voice, probably because she's spent half of her live pretending to be mute. The problem is that her whispered words with a hint of an Italian accent sound sweet and sensual and send a shiver down my spine each and every time. I take a deep breath and try to focus on our conversation.

"He knows me since I was a toddler... You're right, Winston would never do something like that but... it's just that it seems impossible that someone wants to hurt me. I've never had this kind of problem before, I don't get involved in the Company business usually and I'm not a threat to anyone." Lucky snorts next to me and holsters her gun before staring at me speaking really slowly.

"You're doing it now, we all know this is fake, but not the rest of the world. You're an active member of the underworld for all intents and purposes, paying your taxes to the High Table like they all do. In fact, being the daughter of such a famous father, if you put some pressure on them I bet you could get a seat at that table. And that means they should kick the ass out of a mob boss in order to have a vacancy, that person could have a reason to want you out of the city, don't you think?"

"I haven't showed any sign of wanting to get involved in the Company politics," I answer grimacing in disgust.

"Again, they don't know that. On the other hand, you may have a false sense of security, Miss Odessa Nikoláyevna Vorontsova-Dashkova... It's true that your name protects you to some extent and having the full backing of the Russian mob is something to consider... But there're some criminals that are as powerful as the Russian and maybe they're ready for a war. You're difficult to kill, babe, but not untouchable..." I nod reluctantly and cross my arms over my chest. She's right, I remember my mother being obsessed with my safety when I was a child and my dad insisted on my martial arts training program because he wanted me to be able to defend myself if necessary but I never felt in danger, always surrounded by tall men with serious faces and armed to the teeth. I'm used to be treated with respect and even reverential fear. "Stay close to me, please."

"I will, I promise..." I whisper wearily, we've only gone over the emergency plan a gazillion times.

"Can you run with those shoes? You could've chosen a less flashy colour, you're a moving target..." she growls angrily.

"The purpose of this charade is to be seen, isn't it?" I point at my red Qipao dress with a floral pattern in white and purple matching my hair and high-heeled shoes. "Don't worry, the cuts both sides of the skirt will allow me to run away if necessary... although I don't expect problems. I'm just going to play some hands of poker at the best underground casino of the city. I'm here to see and be seen, not to do business." Val parks the car finally in a narrow and dark alley, there're a few lighted windows in the buildings around and the stores are closed with roller shutters covered with graffiti. "Have you met Mr. Jīnwū before?" I ask while Ares checks the sidewalk through the window before deciding to open the door and get out, her hand always touches the grip of her gun while I take my clutch purse and follow her. My bodyguard shakes her head and that tells me that she's mute from now on again.

"I'll wait for you here taking care of the car," Val gives me a thumb up and I smile at my friend before following Ares. She dresses really elegant, as usual: a dark grey pantsuit of Italian design, matching shirt and tie, spotless shoes and her hair slicked back with gel... so beautiful that takes my breath away, and yet she looks lethal with her furrowed brow and her 'don't try to fuck me over' attitude. The problem is that I can only think of fucking her...

"I haven't met him in person either although his reputation precedes him. He's quite young despite he has reached a prominent position in the Chinese mob because his businesses are really profitable. His gambling houses aren't sordid but fancy clubs that attract big shots thanks to the well-stocked bar full of the finest liquor and the ladies: high-class prostitutes, clean and reliable, beautiful like models and well-educated. All the big businessmen of the country have played poker in one of his gambling dens, there's no limit betting here..." Ares stares at me raising an eyebrow. "Calm down... I'm not going to bet a lot of money tonight. I'm really good at playing poker, I learnt from my dad's best friends, and I plan to win some money at first and then I'll lose it along with some more I have in my purse. It'll be enough amount of money to let them know I don't care about losing while having fun but not that high that they could think I have no control. That won't be good for my businesses."

I stop in front of a black door and check that this is the right place, the sign is pretty clear: a red bird with three legs painted on a brick. I open my clutch in order to take a gold coin and a piece of paper where I noted down the password while Ares stays by my side, paying attention to the shadows moving in the dark. I knock three times and wait, the peephole opens and a deep male voice with thick accent asks:

"What do you want?"

"Ngo lei dok shu..." I say slowly reading the paper, my Cantonese accent sucks probably but the guy seems to understand me and I hear him sliding back the lock before opening the door and letting us in. The entrance hall is small, decorated in neutral shades of colour, and the thug points at a red curtain on the other side encouraging us to keep walking. My bodyguard puts her hand on my lower back and orders me to pull the curtain pointing with her chin while she grazes the grip of her gun with her fingertips. It's pretty clear she's very tense and I try to lighten the mood. "Mr. Jīnwū has a wicked sense of humour, you know. The password means 'I'm here to read a book' but it's pronounced like the sentence 'I'm here to lose solely.' It's funny given that this is the place where people lose a fortune every night."

Ares keeps a straight face and doesn't think our host is funny, obviously. I shrug and pull the curtain... my bodyguard holds her breath standing next to me. The truth is that the room is amazing, no one would say it's so big from outside but it's the whole ground floor. The coffered ceiling is made of dark wood matching the bar counter, tables and chairs. There's a huge stage in the middle of the massive space with enough room for the jazz band and singer that perform here some nights and several businessmen are sitting around chatting with beautiful ladies drinking champagne. Most of them are Asian and wear Chinese dresses like mine, matching the decoration. There's a small golden lamp on every table that contrast with the general lighting in a reddish shade on the ceiling and walls, where some landscapes painted on silk are hanging. Fancy black lacquered screens, inlaid with mother of pearl, provide privacy to the booths where the gambling tables are.

Ares looks around shocked by the relaxed and friendly atmosphere despite tall security guards are monitoring the exits and bartenders take care that customers aren't rude with the girls. Actually, the club looks like the typical opium house from the past century or a luxury brothel in Hong Kong occupied by the British: it's pretty clear that Mr. Jīnwū doesn't care if he's selling a cliché to the ignorant Americans as long as they come here and spend money. There're several TV screens scattered around the room in front of the tables and the assassin raises her eyebrow when we walk past one: a beautiful girl with a dragon tattooed on her back writhes in ecstasy, it's all fake probably but she's a good actress. I smile amused dodging a waiter before whispering.

"There're cameras in private rooms and some customers doesn't care if someone sees them, you know, having fun with the girls. You can choose which live show you want to enjoy on the screen while sipping at a cocktail." Ares snorts and grimaces in disgust. "What's bothering you? Exhibitionism or heterosexual sex?" I ask giggling before flinching when I feel her hand rubbing my buttocks shamelessly, she doesn't care if someone sees her, obviously... "Yes, I think heterosexual sex is boring and repetitive too. This is our table... Hello, gentlemen and lady..."

I smile kindly at two middle-aged men who look like high-level bureaucrats and the woman, who's probably older than them, but she hides it well thanks to a good job of plastic surgery. Her big jewels and the amount of chips on the table in front of her show me clearly she has money and doesn't mind spending it... which is a problem for me. I know how to play poker, it's easy for me to win but losing my money later without anyone noticing I'm doing it on purpose... it's going to be difficult. I need serious fellow players although not very skilled because I don't want them to notice that I'm cheating. If this woman starts playing like a crazy irresponsible and gets rid of that fortune on the table like it's nothing, it'll be hard for me to pretend that I'm losing. I decide to start slowly and only change 3,000$ into chips that I pile up carefully in front of me. The dealer starts drawing cards...

Minutes tick by and I relax and enjoy the game. One of the guys is stupid but the other one knows what he's doing more or less, the lady plays well and even confronts me a couple of times when I up the ante although in a real game she wouldn't stand a chance against me. I lose some hands and win some others, keeping the balance, but I start to touch my hair nervously every time I bluff hoping that one of them notices my gesture and takes advantage of it later when I need to lose my money. There's a glass of vodka with ice and lemon waiting near my elbow but I've barely took two sips. Ares fidgets nervously behind my chair, distracting me for a second: I told her to sit down when we arrived but she didn't want, there're several members of the Company here tonight and she prefers to remain vigilant even if it's obvious that they're having fun and minding their own business. I know they have recognized me, my hair actually, but they're more interested in girls and the show on the stage.

I've lost about a thousand dollars after playing for one hour when I realize that my bodyguard gets tensed behind me and I turn around startled. Someone is getting closer with his eyes fixed on me: a very attractive Asian man with a lovely smile, he doesn't even look at my bodyguard when taking my hand in order to kiss it without fear.

"Miss Dashkova, it's a great pleasure for me to meet you. I'm Mr. Jīnwū, welcome to my humble club. Are you having fun?"

"Of course, someone recommended this place heartily to me but I must say that those praises weren't enough. Your gambling house is wonderful and the service is impeccable," I answer withdrawing my hand and taking my glass in order to drink a sip.

"Are you just playing poker? Can I tempt you to come with me to the next room and try our roulette? We've gathered a beautiful group of members of the Company to have a good time there, very exclusive of course..." I nod smiling since I can't find a polite way of refusing, I collect my chips apologizing to my table mates and walk with Mr. Jīnwū while Ares follows me closer, keeping an unemotional face but watching me like a hawk. I understand why she's nervous: you don't joke with the Chinese mob, they're really dangerous, but I can't picture anyone here hurting me. The owner of this gambling den just seems perplexed and probably wants to talk to me in order to find what I'm up to. This new room is smaller and the roulette stands out in the middle, surrounded by businessmen drinking champagne while putting their arms on the shoulders of beautiful girls. They all greet me happily... they've been drinking for a while, probably.

"Can I get you a drink, Miss Dashkova?" A young and extraordinarily pretty Asian girl, with her hair dyed with a flashy strawberry blonde colour and who wears a dress that does nothing to hide her stunning charms, has got closer to me and smiles kindly. In fact, she's so close that her breasts are leaned on my arm and I can't help but fix my eyes on the coral pendant hanging between them. I flinch when feeling a hard pinch on my butt covered with silk and clear my throat before answering.

"Vodka..."

"Of course." The girl winks at me before leaving and I look back over my shoulder at Ares, who's monitoring our surroundings with a straight face, acting like she's not responsible for the bruise I'm going to have on my buttock for the next days.

"Place your bets, please..." I put my chips on the 3 red, Russians like that number because it's supposed to attract good luck and ward off the evil eye. In addition to that, red is our favourite colour and in old Russian language 'red' can also mean 'beautiful.' The lady brings me my glass and I take a sip trying to stay away from her pretending to focus on what's happening with the roulette, I don't want my bodyguard to get jealous again or I'd end up covered with bruises. I smile mischievously and lean to one side getting closer to her ear...

"You're prettier..." I whisper making sure that my breath fans her skin. Ares doesn't move and keeps looking around making sure no one draws a gun near me, but her knuckles graze my thigh in a subtle caress.

"It's 3 red... congratulations, madam." I blink shocked for a second before smiling delighted while collecting my chips and the Company members cheer me; I had planned to lose some money tonight, not going back home with a thousand dollars more in my wallet. I let a 100$ chip drop on the cleavage of the girl who brought me my drink winking at her and turn around ready to leave.

"Wow, you've been really fortunate tonight, Miss Dashkova. Don't you want to stay with us a little longer? I can offer you one of our best suits if you want to move the party to a more private place." Mr. Jīnwū smiles mischievously while tilting his head pointing at the blonde girl who looks at me hopeful, she probably thinks I'd be generous with her. I'm no used to pay for things I can get for free, especially not now that I can enjoy the most delicious Italian treat, no one can compete with Ares.

"Luck always comes with me, actually..." I flash a grin at my bodyguard who's waiting patiently behind me. "But I have to go, unfortunately... a meeting tomorrow morning very early... business... you know."

"I totally understand but I hope you'll be back one day..."

"I'll be delighted, Mr. Jīnwū. Thank you very much for your kindness." I shake his hand and leave the room walking slowly, pretending that I'm in no hurry, before changing my chips into money and leaving the building. I take a deep breath when I reach the street, it smells of trash and exhaust fumes like everything in this city but it's better than the suffocating atmosphere in the club. Ares puts her hand on my back and remains tense, looking around till we're inside the car and Val turns the engine on.

"It took you longer than I thought, I was starting to worry..."

"I'm sorry, I was invited to play roulette and couldn't refuse... But I won some money I wasn't expecting so, why don't you call the girls and come over tomorrow for dinner? My treat. We'll order the best Chinese takeout and have a picnic in my living room, this way we'll stay at home and Ares will rest. Her head was about exploding tonight."

"I don't like this situation..." my bodyguard whispers angrily. "I don't have enough information about who wants to hurt you and where the attack is going to come from. I have to remain permanent on alert."

"All right..." I sigh frustrated. "Val, take the long way round to make sure no one is following us, okay? Are you happy now?" Ares nods, relaxing on her seat, despite she doesn't look happy while looking through the window.