Yellow Ghost: La Femme Selita Prequel (13 page)

“Why should I spare him?”

“I just told you why.”

“That is not good enough.”

“I’m your daughter. I asked you too spare him and that should be more than good enough. I need him to train all my future operatives. I have grown tired of Sergio. You don’t have to kill him to prove a point. I’ve had enough of him. Its time for me to move on.”

“So you do not love him.”

It was inappropriate to laugh but I couldn’t help it. “Love, what does that feel like?”

“You think this is funny?”

“Me in love with Sergio, very amusing, yes. Father you know me better than that. Sergio was convenient. Now he is the past. I can train with Frank. He has no interest in me whatsoever.”

My Father sat there in silence. “Fine.”

Sergio will never know that I saved his ass. So basically I have to stay away from every man associated with the Dragon. Not a problem. There are over one hundred and fifty million men in the United States. I think I’ll be all right.

35 YEARS OLD

The years went by fast. Some were good. Some were bad. My time as a practicing lawyer was over in a flash. I ended up working for Father. He needed me for his legal affairs and I was happy to have something to do with my time. Father had summoned me from my vacation in Japan. I had stayed in Osaka a little over a month visiting with Tak.

After the long flight from Japan I waltzed into Father’s office. I was prepared for whatever new task he had for me. My life had become boring and stagnant. I didn’t have a lover or a play toy to occupy me. I felt this way in the past but somehow this time seemed different.

“Have a seat la femme Selita.”

Oh this must be good, if he calls me that, my alter ego. This meant it was time to wake up the Yellow Ghost. I took a seat at his desk across from him. I think I’m excited. He looked up from his computer screen. He stood so I could hug him. Then he sat back in his grand chair.

“I’m here Father.” I sat down in the leather chair in front of his desk and crossed my legs. I’m so glad he got rid of those ugly maroon chairs. They were hideous.

“How was Japan?”

“Busy and beautiful.”

“Takeo?”

“He’s very serious. He’s good. I was very impressed with the way he runs things.”

“What of his gambling?”

“Under control.” I would never snitch on Tak. He loss two million in an underground game of poker but my lips is sealed.

“How are you my flower?”

“I’m bored. I’m a lawyer with only one client.”

He chuckled. “I keep you very very busy.”

“Corporate law doesn’t thrill me the way criminal law does.”

“I have a nice exciting job for you.”

“What, killing some loser?”

“No killing. Not yet anyway. I just need you to vet him. Keep a close watch.”

“So you’re saying babysit a man.”

“Keep an eye on him. Just until I give the order to take him into our care.”

This job is bullshit. “Father you have regulated me to another simple kidnapping?”

“I want the best man for the job.”

“And I am the best man for the job?”

“You and your team are my best. You know this already. You have never failed me.”

“I’m efficient. I treat all my tasks no matter how mundane as top priority.”

“Precisely why I need you. There is a lot of money involved. I need someone I can trust.

“Somehow this feels like punishment.”

“When have I ever punished you?” He leaned into his desk to observe me carefully.

I thought about his words and I couldn’t think of a time. My father hadn’t ever punished me. Even I knew that was strange. I had done punishable offences. I was a spoiled child that had turned into a spoiled woman. This revelation made me angry. It made me want to punch something.

“So who is this special project and what is this special project?”

“There is a man named Benicio Pendelton. He is the son of a business associate that owes me an exorbitant amount of money. It is a simple ransom. You can handle this in your sleep.”

“This is a son of Conrad Pendelton of PenCorp International?”

“Yes.”

“I thought his son was an actor?”

“He has three sons, Julio, Enrico and Benicio. I would like you to watch Benicio before we make a move. Gather as much useful intel as possible. This son has defected from his family. He moved away and changed his name and credentials. He now goes by the name Ben Knox. Apparently he has been hiding from his family for quite some time.”

“If he disappeared should he be the mark? The actor will be harder to get to but I’m sure it wouldn’t pose a problem for me.”

“I have it on good authority that Benicio is the beneficiary of all things PenCorp? He is the valuable son. He is the intelligent son. I’m giving you the responsibility of the oldest and most valued son. I have teams in place for the other two sons.”

“You’re taking all of them?”

“I’m not sure but I like to keep all options available.

“I will fully inspect him.”

“I also need you to secure information on his wife Margo Powell.”

“Of course.”

“Conrad has two business associates, I need their info as well, Walter Bennigan and Steven DeFrances. Gather the information, stay in the shadows and as soon as I give the order, you strike.”

“How long do I have?”

“A week. There is a time table put in place. Conrad gives me fifty percent of the funds owned by the end of business Friday or his sons will be abducted.”

“Sons?”

“I will take them all if I have to. Assemble your team. You will abduct Benicio if I don’t get my money.”

“This may be fun after all.”

“See, I knew you would like this assignment.”

My father knew me well. Investigating people gave me a rush. Digging into people’s lives was exciting. I could assess receipts and learn what coffee they drank, what toothpaste they used, where they went on vacation, anything and everything left a paper or electronic trail. This job seems easy enough, Conrad Pendelton, Steven DeFrances, Walter Bennigan and Benicio Pendelton.

My first order of business was to fly to the runaway son, Ben. He lived in this quaint all American suburb. He couldn’t be happy there. Could he? What is he even doing in small town USA? He was hiding from his lavish upbringing. Things had to be really bad for him to run away from all that the Pendelton name had to offer.

I met up with the private investigator that Father hired. The P.I. dispersed his principal files to me and he shared additional information on my target. He had fairly decent surface information but I was a hacker. I could dig deeper.

It didn’t take any time to get the details. I slipped inside Benicio’s house while he was out. I was there to gather DNA samples and to snoop around. I got what I came for and didn’t find anything out of the ordinary. Benicio’s home was just a regular raised ranch with a two-car garage. It actually looked better on the outside than the inside but I had been raised in a mansion. His place was truly a humble abode.

I knew where Benicio was. He was at his place of business. I put a tracking device on his pick-up as soon as I got in town. I had a time to spy on him and give my Father a call with an update.

Benicio wasn’t alone. I wasn’t surprised. I had uncovered many things that peaked my curiosity. I parked and watched his workplace from affair. I waited for the tall blonde to leave. She was pretty enough not beautiful or anything, just pretty. Benicio likes blondes. His wife is blonde and all his past and previous conquests are blonde. I’m not his type. I’m not going to bother with trying to seduce him. It would probably be a waste of my time and energy. I will just take him out as soon as my father gives me the word.

I waited for him to fall asleep. This was his normal routine. Fuck some random blonde and then nap for an hour or so. I entered his place of business from the back door. I didn’t want anyone to see me. I was good at sneaking around. The door wasn’t locked. Benicio was too damn lazy to get up and see the lady to her car after he fucked her. Such ungentlemanly behavior.

I knew a lot about him and none of it excused his cheating. He was a male whore as far as I was concerned. He did use condoms. I acquired the receipts from his condom purchases. I’m not sure that makes his little conquests any less licentious.

I entered the back bedroom and laid eyes on him. He was napping without a care in the world. The typical man that falls asleep after sex. He was sprawled out over his bed completely naked. His entire body was tanned but his naked ass was as white as snow. I had to admit he was somewhat impressive in person.

What would happen if he woke and caught me here? I couldn’t help but smile to myself. I would have to kick his ass, his pretty sexy ass. He would look good in a suit but I loathe this kind of jerk. His duplicitous behavior sickens me.

I knew that as soon as I have him in my custody he’s going to be trouble. He will resist. I can see the fire in his eyes from the photographs, from his cocky demeanor. I’m going to have to put my foot in his ass in order for him to comply.

I think I want to torture him. It may be fun. I’m good at torture, mental and physical. He views woman as objects. I’m going to have to break him.

***

I had to fly back to Los Angeles. I sent one of my men to keep an eye on Benicio. I had a charity event to attend on my father’s behalf. It consisted of donated pieces of art from various successful artists around the country. The proceeds went to cancer research. My father always volunteered my services. I was his daughter, his attorney, his spokesperson and his hired gun.

He claimed I had more culture than he could ever possess. He was right but he paid for my education, culture and etiquette. He was the reason I spoke five languages. He was the reason I could maneuver around in the world. Clearly, I was destined to be a crackhead. He made me who I am. I have the good sense to understand the difference he’s made in my life. I love him.

Local painter Marco LaFata had his eye on me for a while now. He drooled over me the way that men do. I thought it was cute but I could never see myself with another artist. I needed an Alpha to pair with my Alpha. I needed a strong man to fulfill my needs.

Professor Cavil was a gentleman. He was never a true alpha but he was in my life when I was young and different. I had changed over the course of the years. I’m drifting further from la femme Selita and more toward yellow ghost. I feel like a mist that comes in and suffocates all who oppose me. There is a sense of superiority that comes with money. I have money in abundance.

I spotted Marco from behind a sculpture before he spotted me. I love to toy with him. He was and always will be a random distraction if nothing else. He was so very Italian and completely enamored with me. I investigated him for my own purposes. Then again I investigate almost everyone I come into contact with. He has a thing for the darker skinned woman, all shades of tan and brown. There were mostly black woman in his past liaisons with just a sprinkling of Latino chicas, mostly runway and high fashion models.

Charity events were one of my Father’s covers. Not really a cover but a way to make him appear completely legitimate in certain circles. I was here to watch Conrad Pendelton. He was the owner and chief operator of PenCorp International and the father of celebrity actor Julio Pendelton.

Father wanted me to keep an eye on him and nothing more. I had been watching Benicio and I had no problem seeing the tree that bared the rotten fruit. They resembled more than most fathers and sons. They had similar mannerisms.

Conrad came from money. I traced his family all the way back to the first settlers. He had never experienced a day of poverty or hunger in his life. I loved these kinds of targets. They were so easy to break, white privileged assholes. I hope I get a chance to take his son down a notch or two. I love to see a strong man breakdown and kneel before me.

I glanced behind me and clandestinely acknowledged Frank. He followed me everywhere. He wasn’t just my bodyguard. He was my right hand. He had become my best friend if I believed in such things. We were together all the time but without the meaningless conversations that most regular people engage in. Sometimes I thought Frank knew me better than I knew myself.

I decided to give Marco a moment of my time. He would like that. I glided to a corner where a lovely Pedro Bonnin piece graced the nude wall.

Marco the artsy Italian was at my side in seconds. He was never one to miss an opportunity to engage me.

“Hello Selita.”

“Marco.”

He supplied me with a glass of champagne. “
Champagne, bella signora
.”

I quickly glanced over at Frank to see if it was okay to accept the flute. Frank nodded. When my back was turned Marco could have dropped something in my drink. It wasn’t his M.O. but I am always cautious. I trust no one.