Chapter 107: Chapter 107

- "What happens now?" Lora questioned.

- "Steve will listen to the whole recording countless times" Colton replied, nonchalantly.

Both walked side by side to the end of the hall, where the training room was located. The soundproofed room was empty that morning when Colton opened the door, then waited for the redhead to enter.

Deep down, that militarized man didn't like what he was doing. Teaching Lora to be an agent, when she hadn't even mentioned that she enjoyed the profession, felt wrong.

- "Today is your lucky day. Let's practice some shooting" he commented.

Target shooting was an activity that involved testing proficiency and accuracy, foresight and speed. It didn't matter if the shot was short-range or long-range.

- "Where do we start?" The redhead questioned.

There was a demarcation on the floor of the room, which indicated the place where people should stand, so they could aim at the target and shoot. The distance between the mark and the target was ten meters. Lora positioned herself on that demarcation while Colton walked to the closet and removed his protective gear.

- "What is the difference between a revolver and a pistol?" Colton asked. He had already explained that question to the woman at another time.

- "While the revolver can be loaded with up to six bullets, the pistol can be loaded with sixteen bullets, or more"

- "Very good"

On the same wall where the closet with protective equipment was located, there was a grid with several weapons, of different calibers. Colton selected two low-caliber revolvers, then walked over to Lora.

- "Despite what Hollywood keeps showing on screens, shooting with precision requires balance, technique and practice" the man muttered, firmly. Although he didn't like training Lora, he never did a bad job.

- "Understood"

- "You don't need a big gun if you don't have a big job. Always choose the best one"

Colton handed over all the paraphernalia to the woman. Goggles, ear protectors and the gun. She braced herself and waited for the man's next advice.

- "Aim down when the weapon is in the resting position" he instructed, and she followed the rule.

Lora wore black leather pants juxtaposed to her body, along with a thin fabric T-shirt and coat. On the other hand, Colton's clothes made him extremely serious. The military pants, moss green T-shirt, and the holster at his waist were almost like an extension of his body. The man was tall, strong, and had the expression of someone hardened.

- "Whenever you pick up a gun, make sure it's loaded. If you just got home, make sure it's loaded. If you're taking your revolver out of the closet after 10 years without using it, make sure it's loaded. And even if you've just unloaded the gun, make sure it's loaded."

- "You always do it?" Lora asked, out of curiosity.

- "Yes. It's a habit as common as brushing your teeth"

- "For a policeman, maybe"

Colton also prepared to continue. He put on his glasses and earplugs, and then approached the redhead to finish his explanation before they went to practice.

- "Keep your finger off the trigger until the moment is right" the agent said, and Lora nodded in agreement.

- "The dominant hand holds the weapon, and the other guarantees support" Colton informed, and demonstrated with the weapon itself. His right hand held the revolver precisely, while his left served as a support.

- "Understood" she repeated the movement.

- "Stay with your body straight, but slightly curved forward, keeping your balance" the man guided, and analyzed Lora's body while she took a more upright and confident posture.

Something Colton couldn't ignore was the sensuality she exuded in that position. The power that hovered over a beautiful, armed woman. He confirmed with a nod, approving the way she followed his commands.

- "Now aim at the target. It is better to aim looking with only one eye, the one on the dominant side, and closing the other"

Colton took a step back so Lora had full space to act. The woman raised the gun to the target, exactly as told, and closed one eye. The agent remained on his back, just directing what should be done.

- "And now?" the redhead asked.

- "When you're ready to shoot, load the gun. Keep the safety on the whole time you're loading the revolver"

- "It's already loaded" she assured.

- "How do you know?" Lora wouldn't see it, but Colton's eyebrows were raised.

- "If the department is invaded, the weapons better be loaded. The time they would waste reloading could save their lives" she supposed.

- "He is sure?"

- "Yes" Lora replied with conviction, still pointing the revolver at the target.

- "Disable the safety and place your finger in the trigger slot. Do not pull abruptly, as you can lose sight. Try to squeeze the trigger as if you were shaking someone's hand after closing a good deal" Colton guided.

- "And then?"

- "Since you're sure the gun is loaded, breathe and shoot"

By the time Lora pulled the trigger and the bullet left the barrel of the revolver, Colton had barely finished speaking. She was slightly propelled backwards, but she remained steady on her separate feet.

The redhead studied the hole in the target made by the bullet. The target was divided between four colors; green, yellow, orange and red. The center was red, and she'd hit it the first time.

- "I said it was loaded" Lora said, with a certain amount of audacity in her tone.

- "Beginner's Luck"

- "Can I shoot again?"

- "How many bullets do you think you have?"

- "Now five"

Colton didn't respond. Perhaps, at that moment, he was hating Lora more than any other. The woman acted with pure petulance and superiority, as if she weren't there to learn.

- "The first thing an agent should keep in mind is humility. Never think you're the best" the man muttered.

Colton walked to the ground demarcation, stopped beside Lora, pointed his revolver at the target, and fired. He fired six times in a row, and they all hit the red part of the target. Ever since he'd been a Marine on some missions out of the country years before, the man had been known to be a good marksman.

- "Don't worry. I'm not trying to steal your job" Lora joked.

- "Talk less and shoot more. We're not leaving here until you're able to keep silent"

The reason casinos were legal in Las Vegas was simple; no one would be unhappy if he could commit sins. What people judged and dismissed elsewhere was Vegas fun, it was what they called Monday.

At the Wynn Las Vegas Casino, one of the most luxurious environments in Sin City, a cocktail party was beginning. A relatively small party, for just over a hundred rich people. This was not going to be an ordinary night, with million-dollar games going on the tables, or golden call girls dancing around the room. The night promised much more.

The casino decor was modern. The golden ceiling, carpet all over the floor and the gaming tables around the place were exactly what people could expect. For those who have never been to Vegas, visiting the Wynn Las Vegas Casino was like making fantasies come true.

A number of drinks decorated on trays slipped around the room, in the hands of the less fortunate. Outside the casino, there was an extensive swimming pool. Some of the guests were on the shore, but it was still early for a swim.

The ladies wore expensive jewelry on their wrists, unafraid of being robbed. The biggest crooks wore suits and were at tables, not on the streets. Las Vegas was the city of sin in every way, not just pleasure.

In the less-visited ends of the casino, it was possible to see a girl or another consuming illicit substances, far from the prying eyes of society. In that place, no one would be judged. In that city, no one would be condemned.

The cocktail party had barely begun, but it was already at its climax. The games were in full swing, always with one man smiling and the other getting very angry. The dancers wore microscopic dresses and twirled around the room, enchanting guests with the flexibility of their bodies. Contemporary music was the least important factor in the face of the delight that everyone felt. Whether it was making money or drinking methamphetamine with liquor, everyone was satisfied.

The party was hosted by Michele Brian, an important textile entrepreneur. The woman was imposing on many levels, even in illegal business. His greatest pleasure was to show his fortune to the world, and the best way to do that was with his grandiose parties, before, during and after the semiannual parades. Michele was wearing a silver pantsuit, something that left her exactly as she was; powerful.

However, the target point of the party, in fact, was the entrance of Lora Angel Lins in the hall. The guests were unprepared for the hurricane of red threads entering the space, dominating it inch by inch.

The green tourmaline dress was a deliberate choice as it suited a certain someone. The thin fabric wrapped her body in smooth layers, reaching halfway up her thighs. The subtle cleavage left little room for imagination, and plenty for greed.

Lora wasn't the kind of woman who doubted her own beauty or compared herself to others. She knew she would get what she wanted, from whomever she wanted. It was also true that her sensuality got her into trouble, like the fact that it never went unnoticed, but she could handle that.

It was late, just after eleven at night, when Lora and her friend, Daliah, walked into the casino. The gaming tables ceased the constant clatter of dice and cards as the women passed them.

Daliah had charm, and she knew how to dare when it came to style. The long dress in gold bath highlighted every part of her black skin.

Drinks continued to be served in massive doses throughout the room. The guests didn't care what they did, not least because they weren't in danger of being discovered. Casinos were known for keeping very dirty secrets.

The music played in an upbeat rhythm while Lora looked for her boss. She didn't like casinos, as she had bad memories of gambling and excessive drinking.

Daliah followed her friend around the casino, attracting covetous glances from men who wouldn't have her with little effort. She even caught a glimpse of one of her past romances, but decided to ignore it completely. It wasn't a good experience. She just squeezed Lora's hand, gently, to attract her attention.

- "Some problem?" the redhead turned to her newest friend.

- "No. I want to show you my last mistake" Daliah smiled.

- "And how it was?" Lora arched an eyebrow in genuine interest.

- "I went out with him a few times, but we only had sex once"

Daliah glanced at the tall blonde who was at one of the tables, playing cards with a group of older men. Lora averted her eyes in the same direction, and saw that he was a young and handsome man.

- "Only once?"

- "Yes. He didn't know how to finish the job" Daliah rolled her eyes, thinking about how she had deceived herself with the man's external beauty.

- "I didn't understand"

- "I mean he didn't make me come" Daliah wanted to laugh as she said those words aloud, but kept her composure.

- "So you faked it, or something?"

- "Girl, I don't pretend. I let him know that he fucks badly" Daliah's words made Lora smile. They shared the same thought.

The women continued looking for Michele, occasionally chatting and commenting on some guests. Lora was new to Sin City, and Daliah was introducing her to some influential people in the area, or in the fashion industry. They managed to understand each other in a pleasant way for both of them.

At one point, they stopped looking for Michele and went to the bar. The good part of their job was flexibility. They didn't have to remain bored, as they could always genuinely enjoy themselves.

- "I want a glass of white wine" Daliah asked the man behind the counter that separated the bartender from the rest of the casino.

- "I want a bottle of water, please" Lora decided that she would not drink during her work hours.

When they received their respective drinks, the women returned to the center of the casino, where the games and fun went on without a break. The men played while the women acted as locksmiths, always smiling and showing joy, when in reality they were forging an image.

It didn't take long for Lora to spot someone who caught her eye. Leaving one of the tables, Will Thomas was smiling enthusiastically. He had just won a game of the game, and he couldn't hide his happiness. He was good at gambling, although he didn't practice it often.

Thomas also saw Lora, after all, it would be impossible not to see her. People around the hall were talking about her; if not about her beauty, her recent influence, or her father. He walked over to her, who wasn't far away, and kept his smile warm.

- "Good night, ladies" Will, with a light and gentle expression, greeted the girls.

- "Hi, moreno" Lora, remembering the moment they met, said.

- "Hi. I don't want to be inconvenient, but I think we've seen each other before" Daliah commented.

- "Well, yes. In fashion week, probably"

The conversation between the three flowed easily. Will felt good in the company of the two beautiful women, but at this point anyone would. He had some interest in Lora, and he didn't mind hiding it, but he decided he would respect Daliah's presence. Meanwhile, the redhead took the moment to get to know that man better, after all, he could be useful to Spencer.

- "I need to look for my boss, it's getting late. Can we meet later?" Daliah asked, looking at Lora as the redhead sipped her water.

- "Of course. You can call me"

Daliah smiled before walking away, waving to Will in farewell. He was too handsome a man to ignore. And with Lora's attention to himself, Will turned to her and smiled before starting a new subject.

- "I haven't seen her since New York"

- "These were busy days"

- "I hope the next few days will be more accessible, at least for friends"

- "They will be" Lora ingested another dose of water, thus finishing all the contents of the bottle.

Will Thomas was wearing jeans and a button-down T-shirt, nothing too social. He had as much money as most people in the casino, but he didn't express his bank account in the clothes he wore. He had a modest, unostentatious style.

- "I don't know about you, but I hate standing. We have a table upstairs, and maybe you'd like to come up with me" Will opened his order.

- "We have?" Lora frowned.

- "Evans and Me"

Thomas would never admit it, but he loved being by Lora's side in Evans' presence. He knew the redhead was his friend's weakness, and he wanted to exploit this new weakness.

Hearing the mention of Evans' name, Lora had to hide a satisfied smile. Not very recently, she had discovered a new fascination with him. The touches, the kisses, the heat, the connection. Everything between them was reason to want to be in the same environment for as long as possible. However, in the redhead's mind, she swore to herself that it was all for the sake of the investigation. Nothing personal.

- "It would be nice"

Lora Lins was a woman of exuberant beauty. And as she climbed the stairs into the casino, following Thomas, her dress danced in time with her movements. The redhead had many attributes that favored her. The rich and powerful men downstairs wanted only one thing when they saw her; be able to have that vision for the rest of their lives.

Evans Donovan's thoughts were no different as he watched Lora reach the second floor. He was sipping from a glass of bubbly when she came into his field of vision. In fact, she overpowered him. Although the man was accompanied by a stunning blonde, his mind was corrupted by copper wires and blue eyes.

There were only two tables on that floor. One was surrounded by middle-aged men with far more money in their bank accounts than the people downstairs.

An iron bar stretched from floor to ceiling, right in the middle of the floor, and served as a pole-dance for two scantily clad dancers.

At the other table, Evans, his date, and two other women were enjoying a game of cards while drinking.

At first, Lora was surprised by the amount of information in that environment. The way people played, the aura of wealth, the sensual and flexible dancers revealing much of their bodies, the way the men carried themselves. That was his first real contact with the meaning of the city of sin.

- "Let's go" Will placed his hand on the base of Lora's spine and guided her to the table.

The meeting of eyes happened when Lora decided she was ready to face Evans and not ramble on the flavor he had. Tourmaline eyes found the Maldives sea, and the ever-present tension between them hung in the air.

Evans seemed to be at home, in a completely comfortable environment for him. His commanding yet relaxed posture showed that he was not far from his comfort zone. On the other hand, Lora was totally far from what she considered to be normal.

- "Do we have room for one more?" Will looked at Evans, then at the women at the table. They were all young, between twenty and thirty years of age. All, too, bearers of undeniably captivating beauties.

- "We always have room for one more" one of the women, the brunette, murmured, already moving away to make room.

- "Welcome, Miss Lins" the blonde, Evans' escort, smiled.

From the postures of the women, Lora understood what that meeting was about. The women weren't receptive simply because they liked her, but because the end of the night was already scheduled. Those beautiful girls were part of a meal, and Lora was joining the plate.

- "Call me Lora, please" the redhead returned the smile, but with some nervousness.

- "As you wish. Do you know how to play cards, Lora?"

- "Yea"

Will joined the group, sitting next to Lora, as close as possible. She was still keeping eye contact with Evans as the blonde dealt the cards. For the redhead, the way these women handled the situation was incredible. They all knew what would happen next, but still, they didn't show nervousness.

- "I didn't know you bet" Lora commented.

- "And I don't bet" Evans, in the next second, replied.

- "We are among friends. There are no bets among friends" the woman who had welcomed him before, the brunette, said. With the warm smile of someone who was content for the moment, the woman wanted to make Lora feel comfortable.

- "On this floor, people can do whatever they want. We don't have a limit" Will added.

- "I didn't know you bet either" Donovan was not a man of much conversation. He was direct, most of the time. But with Lora, he wanted to extend the matter.

- "I don't bet. I'm here for my job"

"It's amazing work, then," Evans's escort muttered, totally oblivious to the fact that the conversation didn't belong to her.

At the center of it all, the dancers danced sensually to the beat the music called for. Their bodies, wrapped in feathers, and nothing else, developed synchronized steps. It was a beauty in motion, despite people being busier with games. The lighting also favored the sensuality of the moment; in shades of red and purple, depravity was something to think about.

- "Let the games begin" the last woman, who until then had not spoken, said. She was as blonde as the girl next to Evans.

The first to play was Will Thomas, with the enthusiasm of someone who rarely lost. He had gone down to the hall just to place some bets, to put some excitement into the matches. The truth was, he was a good competitor.

The second player was Lora, who didn't really care about the game itself, but was willing to see how far the game would go.

Across the table, facing the redhead, Evans watched her delicate hands as she placed the letter on the table. He didn't like to play, and this would be his first game of the night. But the man was competitive enough to want to win. And when his turn came, he was the last to throw the card on the table, ending the first round.

Donovan was curious about the redhead's presence. He didn't know how far she was willing to go that night. Whether he would stay to the end or give up, he had no way of knowing.

- "Interesting" the brunette commented.