"Perfecto. Now listen to me, you will do exactly what I tell you to do. I know you hate me well enough, but this is not the time for that. Am I clear?" Claus explained.
Mia understood the gravity of the situation. It is not what she expected, but she is not giving up. She nodded again.
Cody returned to the living room, and Claus wasted no time. "Mate, we're good. Just lead the way."
Cody stares at Mia again with a hint of caution in his eyes; Mia swallowed her fear, trying to convince Cody with her expression.
He finally replied, "Alright, you know I don't do this, especially making my problem girly. I give out information, and I get proper payment, but you're an old friend, Claus. Your problem is my problem."
"I value you, blood." Claus said, extending his hand for a shoulder hug.
"I will let you follow me and see if it's not too late to find your subject. If things go south, though, I will deny knowing anything about it." Cody added as he loaded the guns he placed on the table.
"Understood," Claus responded.
"You have enough?" Cody asked Claus. He pointed a gun in his direction.
Mia tried to hide her fear as much as possible. She didn't know Claus was armed, but now that Cody mentioned it, she became concerned.
"I am good." Claus responded.
"You good too?" He pointed the same gun at Mia.
She instinctively stepped back, triggering a frown on Cody's face. He turned to Claus immediately.
"Does she even know how to handle this meat? You know…"
"She's a vegetarian." Claus cut in immediately. "But we're good, really."
Cody scoffed. "You're on your own, man."
He brought out what appeared to be a small, encrypted device. He handed it to Claus, who examined it carefully.
"For communications," Cody explained. "Be careful, man. These people are ruthless, and they won't hesitate to eliminate anyone who poses a threat. One wrong move and you are dead."
Claus nodded.
"Like I said earlier. We move by 9 pm. Go out now and try to act normal as much as possible. You understand what I mean."
"Sure," Claus responded. He did their signature greeting, and they stepped out of the house.
Mia heaved in relief as they walked to the car. At least for the next hours, she does not have to fake anything.
"Are you scared of guns now? "Hmmn?" Cody asked. He was surprised when Mia stepped back from the gun earlier and needed to bring her up to speed with the events that are about to unfold.
"I'm married to a lawyer, not a gangster, remember?" She answered bluntly.
"Haaa! Now I'm a gangster."
No response.
"Are you alright, though?" Claus asked in a soft tone when they got to the car.
Mia looked at him and wondered how he became hotter in two years. How dare he? Now she can't even get him out of her head.
"Carino!" Claus called out when she didn't answer.
"Don't call me that." Mia protested, looking away so that he would not see her blushing.
"Why? Does it turn you on?" Claus teased.
"It's bold of you to think you could still turn me on." Mia retorted, almost under her breath.
Claus scoffed. "Then say it to my face. Look at me and tell me you won't get turned on if I want you to."
The tension in the car became palpable as Mia could not bring herself to say a word. She was already trying to hide how he makes her feel. She knows too well not to dare Claus. There is always no coming back from that.
Claus's phone buzzed with a message on the encrypted device. "Move, man. Don't draw attention to my house."
He quickly glanced at it and then turned to Mia. "It's Cody; we have to leave here now."
"Seatbelt, please." Mia said as she fastened her seatbelt.
Claus smiled. Mia has not changed after all. He remembered how she would not let him go away without using the seat belt.
**********************************
It's past 9. Cody led them to an upscale night-club in the heart of the city. The thumping music and neon lights created an electrifying atmosphere as they entered.
"Keep close to me," Claus whispered, his voice was soft and it sent shivers into Mia's body.
"Flow with the vibe," Claus continued as they followed through the crowd.
Claus guides Mia as they navigate the club jam-packed with dancing bodies and dimly lit corners. His left hand was on her waist, guiding her body from touching others.
The club was pulsating with life, but it was also a labyrinth of different atrocities. Claus tried to read the atmosphere. There were so many people who would be glad if he were dead here.
Claus's phone beeped again. This time it was a picture of a man.
"That's your target. He has what you are looking for."
Claus discreetly watched the man from a distance. He was a tall, enigmatic man with a striking presence. His icy blue eyes seemed to scan the room, and his stoic demeanour gave nothing away.
"Dance with me." Claus said to Mia. He was trying to buy himself time to study his target.
"No. Why?" Mia refused shyly.
"I wasn't asking." Claus's gaze fixated on her as he spoke. She knew immediately it was business when she saw how serious he looked. She has no choice.
Claus grabbed her hand with his free hand and drew her closer. Mia felt a rush of adrenaline. She remembered the night she met Claus.
It was a setting like this, and it all started with a dance. It was her mother's birthday and the night her world shattered. She was mourning and was drunk.
She had returned home from work earlier than usual. As she entered their living room, her heart sank at the devastating sight that greeted her.
Her mother, confined to a wheelchair, sat lifeless, and her father lay on the floor nearby, both victims of a single gunshot wound to the head.
They were all she got. She called the police and the ambulance, but she left even before the police could pacify her or promise to find who did that to her family—a promise they'd never keep. Her pain knew no bounds, and neither did the amount of alcohol she took.
At the club, she sat alone at a corner with a beer. At the table next to hers was Claus. He was alone too. He wore a T-shirt that showed off his well-set chest and biceps. Their eyes met occasionally and every time she flashed a smile at him. The last time it happened, he smiled back and the gaze lingered.
Mia got up and started to dance beside the table itself. She did not go to the dance floor which was a little further. She was dancing very close to Claus.
She started to dance so seductively that Claus couldn't take his eyes off her. He turned around to have a look whether anyone else was looking. He found out that the entire section in the club was looking at her dance only.
Claus got turned on. He was not able to control himself anymore. He couldn't do anything other than order an extra beer.
After a while, Mia got tired. "Can I sit?" Mia asked. She had left her table to go sit beside Claus.
Initially, he was going to decline. With the nature of his job, he knew too well women are commonly used as traps, but his mood was gloomy; he wouldn't mind if the night ended with him.
"Only if you will go straight to the point." He answered.
"Well, thank you." Mia said. She almost fell trying to sit close to him.
"Easy, lady."
The music in the bar was blaring, and the silence between them was sickening. Claus had to say or do something. He went up to her ears and complimented her on her dancing.
"Nice moves back there."
Mia nodded and said no more. This made Claus even more uncomfortable. He wanted to know what she was up to so badly. He was worried something he had done was about to catch up with him.
To bury his guilt and worries, Claus lit a cigarette and then took a drag. She snatched it out of his hands and lit a cigarette. She choked.
"First time?" Claus asked her. She couldn't respond, so she nodded.
"Who put you up to this?" He asked.
"I don't know. But I do know he is very callous and wicked and cruel and will rot in hell."
Claus feared that his instincts about her were right. "Does he also know that I can kill you?"
"He's a killer himself. He has no value for my life." Mia retorted.
He stood fiercely. "I have no intention to have more blood on my hands tonight. So go back to whom you answer to and tell him he's a done deal."
Mia stood to him. She's drunk and fearless. "The only people I answer to are dead. So tonight, I'm my own boss and will do whatever I want."
"What do you want?"
Mia threw her hands around his neck. He didn't pull away.
"Kiss me."
"Do you want to die?" Claus asked.
"I want to dance." She whispered.