“Excellent. It’s a fine day for Oolong tea, don’t you think?” She asks with a small smirk.
Understanding dawns and she nods, “Oolong is a perfect way to refresh one’s self. Right this way, please.
They travel through a back door, down a flight of stairs to what would seem to be a cellar door. After opening the door, the old woman steps backward, “Enjoy your tea, Ms. Eve.”
Eve holds a cloth to her mouth and steps inside, closing the door behind her. Immediately the smell is overwhelming. A scorched floral scent permeates everything followed by urine, sweat, and sex. On the wooden floor of the large room, people in varying states of dress are smoking. Two older women are passed out on the floor, one with her corset completely open, baring her breasts to the man who is fondling her and smoking. He glares at Eve as if to threaten her.
She steps past them to a hidden door and knocks out a code. The wall unlocks, and the door swings open inside, before closing behind her. Eve waits for her eyes to adjust and smiles when she hears his voice.
“Evie, my lovely Asian flower, did you miss me?”
"Of course, Jonas, but that's not why I've come." She turns to stare at the handsome young man. Dressed in the finest suit with his mustache perfectly trimmed and his lush black wavy hair, her mouth waters at the sight of him.
Jonas moves to her and holds up a small vial. "I was surprised to get your telegram, Eve. The last bottle should've lasted longer than this." He circles her, smelling her neck and pulls a pin from her hair, moaning when it falls like a gorgeous black shower around her shoulders. His hand trails down the silky path of her spine to cup the perfect curve of her pert ass.
“Jonas,” she groans and spins meeting his hot mouth with her own. Fast and furious, they pull and tug at each other’s clothing. He takes his time, relishing the way her dress pools around the ground at her feet, revealing the porcelain of her skin.
Standing behind her his hot mouth traces over her neck, sucking and nibbling driving her crazy with need. Eve’s arms reach up behind her to hold his head, revealing a small tattoo on her wrist.
“Tell me what you want, Eve,” his husky voice teases as he pushes her over the wooden table inside the room. The sound of his pants hitting the floor behind her has her body clenching in anticipation.
“You, inside of me, now, Jonas!” She begs.
"You know what I need first my love," he orders raining kisses over her spine and pinching her tiny nipples in between his fingers. Her gasp of pleasure has him laughing, and he whispers, "How much time do we have?"
"Hours, Jonas. You can drop me off at the back of the Cosmopolitan Hotel later. Please…" she groans as he grabs her black hair and rams into her. She turns her face sideways, and he snarls.
“Open,” when her red lips part and her tongue sticks out, he drops some of the straight liquid on her tongue, then flips her over to take her mouth as he uses her. Together they ride the high until they are a gasping, sweaty, heap on the bed in the corner.
“How much longer do I have to do this, Jonas?” she asks, tracing her fingers through the hair on his chest.
"I am working on it, my love. You take care of Mr. Chen, and we will own this city. How are you going to get him to come to New York?" She grins and crawls up his body to sink back down on him.
“I have my ways,” she laughs thinking all the ways she will hurt Mr. Chen before he dies. Jonah laughs and grabs her waist.
“You certainly do.”
Chapter 18
Bronnah waves down a carriage and climbs inside with assistance from the driver. “Vacante Dress shop near Central Avenue, please.”
"Yes, miss," the driver replied in an Irish accent. Bronnah hides her surprise and places her tapestry carpet bag beside her feet. Inside is her money, the paperwork she stole and one bustier. Leaving the ledger behind was not an option, so she packed it to keep it secure. She settles in for the ride and stares around her at the city. The streets are busy with vendors, people horse-drawn wagons and carriages. After being isolated for so many days, the sound of the hooves and din of people is intense. Any other time she would have loved to explore. The street vendors have wooden carts with wheels, and they are full of many things. To see that much opulence is mind-boggling for Bronnah. Thousands of people are starving in Ireland.
Focus, Bronnah. The ledger she stole said another shipment came in last night, but not which hotel the girls would be taken to. If she's not able to locate an address, she will try the railroad car. Rivers Refrigerated cars should be easy enough to find.
Going to the police is out of the question, they were "bought" according to Rose Killian. "I will help as many as I can, and this Chase Rivers can do the rest," she murmurs to herself. The carriage pulls up in front of a three-story brick building with the words, "Vacante Dress Shop," etched into the glass windows.
The driver opens the door, “Wait here, please,” Bronnah requests. Straightening her spine, she hurries inside, aware that she's no longer invisible. With her coloring and beauty, not many who pass her look away. Dressed in the green silk dress, her eyes take on an ethereal appearance. She avoids making eye contact at all costs.
Wing it,
