Lucky Strike Read online

  LUCKY STRIKE

  Book 3 of The Mystic Nights series

  By

  MJ Nightingale

  Lucky Strike Copyright © 2017 MJ Nightingale

  Published by MJ Nightingale

  Kindle Edition

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

  This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  Published: MJ Nightingale February, 2018

  [email protected]

  Editing: Keriann McKenna

  Cover Design © Melissa Gill at MG BookCovers

  Photography and Cover Image: CJC Photography

  Cover Model: Alli Theresa

  Formatting by: Paul Salvette BB eBooks

  This book is intended for a mature audience of eighteen and older.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26 (Epilogue)

  Note from the Author

  The Mystic Nights Series

  More Books by MJ Nightingale

  The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.

  Other Books by MJ Nightingale

  Acknowledgments

  About The Author

  Chapter 1

  ‡

  “The club looks fabulous,” Jewel told her new sister-in-law admiring all the last-minute details Eve had put into Spirits in the Sky. She was still coming down from her high. She had gotten married just an hour earlier and they were celebrating on the day before Eve’s new club was set to open. The views were spectacular on Tower 2 of Mystic Nights Casino.

  “Thank you.” Eve looked around and took in the rooftop club. It was more than fabulous. It was outstanding. The walls were sheer glass so there wasn’t an obstructed view in sight. One massively long bar stretched across one side facing the North. Across from that was the river and a view of their competitors. It provided an amazing vista. Tables circled the dance floor on the East, and in front of that was a massive stage for the performers she would be bringing in. She had Spirits in the Sky booked for a solid year. It hadn’t even opened yet, but she just knew it would blow any club in the state out of the water.

  The decorations were simple and sleek. White marble for the bar, white leather sofas and sleek mahogany end tables. The carpeted areas a soft grey. The dark wood dance floor shining to perfection. Behind the stage was a shimmer of silvery curtains. But the best feature was the retractable roof. It opened to the night sky and tomorrow night it would be open, weather permitting. And so far, it looked good. She hoped it went well because at nine thirty when the club opened its doors to the public and it was full dark, they had a fireworks extravaganza planned unlike anything ever done along the Mystic River. Spirits in the Sky would dazzle.

  She turned her attention back to her new sister-in-law. Jewel was stunning in her simple white wedding gown.

  After last month’s fiasco, Joseph hadn’t wanted to wait to marry her, but they had waited until today as so much was going on. Joseph had won the election. He was sworn in and began to serve as one of the tribe’s four council members. Then Jewel’s brothers had their graduation ceremony. Jewel wanted the focus on them and did not want her nuptials to take away from their celebrations.

  “Thank you for letting us have the wedding here. I know your grand opening is tomorrow and you must have so much to do,” Jewel added as her husband joined her. They were both grateful.

  “It was no trouble at all. Everything is ready for tomorrow night. I’m sorry the band showed up right in the middle of the ceremony.” She rolled her eyes remembering how the band had burst in when Jewel was about to say I do. “I wasn’t expecting them until tomorrow.”

  Jewel’s eyes wandered over to where the five member band was setting up on stage. “Not at all. Stryker is amazing. Lucas came by to apologize and said he’d perform a song later, once they get their instruments ready. It’s so exciting; I can’t believe you nabbed that band. They are fantastic.”

  Joseph looked down at his stunning bride affectionately. “Should I be worried?” he teased, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.

  “Not at all,” she blushed. “They are a great band, and Lucas Stryker, well he is hot. I must admit I had a tad of a crush on him back in high school. I knew him as Levi then.”

  “High school?” Eve asked, surprised at this revelation. She hadn’t known the band had roots in Lantern Hill.

  “Yes, I was in school with him in Ledyard. That was before they opened the high school on the reservation.”

  That made sense. Levi Lucas Stryker was a few years older than both her and Jewel. But surely if he had gone to her high school, she would have remembered him. “So, he’s local?” she stated more so to herself than anyone. He had mentioned he had family in Connecticut, but she hadn’t thought it would be so close.

  “Yes, and a nice guy too from what I remember. But he was so into his music we never really traveled in the same circles. I was a freshman when he was in his senior year.”

  “Lucky for me,” Joseph piped in. He had to admit he felt a twinge of jealousy that his wife had a crush on the up and coming rocker in the tight black jeans with short hair. His white t-shirt clung to him. And he was tall and lean. But it was those green eyes that really must have had the ladies swooning. The rocker locked gazes with his sister, Eve, and gave her a smile that spoke volumes.

  Joseph saw the smile that he gave her and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. It was knowing. He looked between the two and knew instinctively Eve had something going on with the man.

  Eve cleared her throat before speaking, avoiding her brother’s questioning glance. “It seems he’s ready to perform a song for you.”

  Joseph glanced up and saw the man was giving him a thumbs up. That was the sign for him to lead his bride onto the dance floor.

  Once he had Jewel in his arms, he forgot all about the rocker until he spoke.

  Lucas Stryker tapped the mic. “Hey folks. Again, we are sorry for crashing the party. But we would love to make it up to the bride and groom by singing and performing for you all. I just wrote this a few months ago, and I think it’s perfect for this occasion. It’s called The Promise.”

  The sound of the band began to fill the club. For a new song, it sounded great, like they had practiced it before, many times. Eve loved t
he sound of Lucas’ voice as he cupped the mic lovingly and poured his heart into the words of the seductively slow love song. When he looked up from the small crowd his green eyes sought her out, and then he sang, directly to her.

  “Promises are made

  And promises are broken.

  But never in a million years

  Will I break my promise to you?

  I promise you this.

  I promise you this.”

  Something fluttered in the pit of Eve’s stomach. The words were beautiful. He sang the melody once more, and it told the story of two young lovers who’d met and from the very beginning knew they were destined to be. It was the perfect wedding song, she mused wryly, though her lips twitched suspiciously. The lyrics were telling her more. She knew exactly why he was singing this song, why he’d written it, and why he was singing it now.

  Her promise. To him. She had made a deal with the devil to get him to perform at her club for the next three months. And now the devil had come to collect his due.

  “Promises are made

  And promises are broken

  But don’t break me

  by breaking yours.”

  She was going to have to sleep with him. Again. And again. And again. For the next three months her body belonged to him, he owned it, and he was reminding her about that in front of everyone at the wedding in his own special way.

  She simmered as he ended the song and then led the applause for the bride and groom. She joined in as Joseph escorted Jewel back to the head table. She continued to simmer as Lucas Stryker started into another song encouraging all those in attendance to hit the dance floor.

  Eve made her way over to the head table to sit with her mother and sister. They were conversing with Senator Silver who had been invited to attend the small private function of fifty guests.

  Dawn grabbed her arm as soon as she sat. “Oh Eve. He is fantastic. You are so lucky you nabbed him.” Then in a lower voice that only she could hear, her twin whispered. “And my God, how come you didn’t tell me you were sleeping with him?”

  Eve’s soulful brown eyes snapped to her sister. “Don’t tell anyone. Hush. I’ll explain it later.” She never could hide anything from Dawn. Though they were like night and day, just as their names implied, they had always been able to read each other. Twin instinct.

  Dawn nodded, but Eve saw the smirk she was giving her. She was going to be drilled later, by her sister minus one minute. And just how was she going to explain this? Lucas Stryker. Her sister was thinking she had hit pay dirt. But she knew this was no lucky strike. Not at all. She had sold herself for a song. Lucas Stryker had come to get paid . . . and laid. The devil had come to collect his due.

  Chapter 2

  ‡

  Four months earlier . . .

  The Manhattan hot spot was packed for a March weekend with no holiday attached. But this was New York. The headliner tonight was an up and coming rock band called Stryker. Their first album had done well and two songs from it were getting a lot of notice.

  Eve scanned the night club appreciatively admiring the simple décor of Nitro, the Club she was in now. She knew without the right lighting it would not look so classy and upscale. Weaving her way through the crowd lingering around the crowded dance floor, she listened to the opening act perform one of its final songs. It was a female rock band, Black Raven, and they had the crowd on their feet. The music was good and the sound system pumped it via high tech equipment throughout the entire multi-leveled hot spot. Even if you weren’t near the stage, closed caption circuit TV brought it to every nook and cranny of Nitro. This club attracted the younger crowds she wanted to bring to Mystic Nights and Spirits in the Sky. The new club she was opening in July on top of The Mystic Nights Casino & Spa would rival even Manhattan’s finest night spots. She listened to the lead singer belt out a popular cover song. They were good. But she wanted better. She wanted Stryker. And that was why she was here. She knew the moment Stryker got onto the stage, the people here would go berserk, and the crowd would storm the stage to be up close to the action.

  She quickly glanced at her watch. It was still early. Just after ten. Black Raven was probably finishing up their hour-long set, and then the club would play some dance music until Stryker went on around ten thirty. They were playing two sets with a thirty minute break in between. That’s when she was meeting with them. She had made the arrangements a month ago with her brother and the band’s manager.

  As she reached the back of the club, she turned once more and scanned the crowd. And to her eyes the crowd seemed even thicker, if that were possible. She knew Nitro was licensed by the fire department for a 400 capacity. Her license was for five hundred. She could fill Spirits in the Sky easily. Especially if she could get Stryker there.

  To convince Lucas Stryker, the lead singer, and his band to come to Mystic Nights would ensure her club’s success. She glanced down at her tight black dress, and knew she looked good. Whatever it took, to her, meant almost anything. Though Lucas was one of the sexiest men on the planet in her estimation, she didn’t think she would go that far. The man already had a reputation in the music scene as most men did when countless women threw themselves at your feet. The gossip magazines were full of those kinds of stories recently.

  But looking the part of the nightclub manager was what she was going for with the smart and sexy dress she had chosen. The chunky silver and aquamarine jewelry accented the shimmery satin she wore. She was showing a lot of leg, too. Her best feature in her mind, and others, was most definitely her legs. At five nine, in black stilettos, they were killer assets. Several heads turned her way as she crossed the room earlier, and she could still feel the eyes of several men upon her. But she ignored them. She was there for only Lucas.

  She tossed her long wavy black hair over one shoulder and it cascaded down her back, still paying no mind to the blatant hungry looks she got. Lucas Stryker was the only thing on her mind. He had to play for her. She had to convince him to perform at Spirits in the Sky. Her brother had already laid the ground work with Fiona Healy, the band’s manager, last week, but she was here to seal the deal. Tonight was all about business.

  Eve saw a break in the crowd around the bar and squeezed in. Noticing her right away, the bartender immediately came over and took her order giving her a saucy wink. She slid the bartender a twenty to pay for the expensive cocktail and indicated for him to keep the change. Drinks were premium in the Big Apple. She’d have the advantage in Connecticut. She turned, dismissing the attractive body builder by day bartender by night who was still trying to engage her, and focused her attention on the club in its entirety.

  Her plans were set. The building and structural changes to the roof were nearly complete, and the final details and design of the club had been decided on long ago, but things could be added later, she mused, as she took a mental note of some features she could add to her own club. This was her love, her passion. And even at twenty-five she was good at it. For the past two and a half years she operated and managed four clubs at the casino her family ran. But Spirits in the Sky was her baby. She had done her research, and starting it from scratch had been no easy task. More than anything she wanted it to be the success she knew it could be.

  As Black Raven left the stage announcing the arrival of Stryker in a few moments, the crowd erupted into applause and headed back to the general seating or to the bar to order drinks. Eve, instead, fought the crowd, and made her way closer to the stage. She wanted to enjoy the first set before her arranged meeting with Lucas and the rest of the band during their break.

  She sipped her cocktail and joined a few other women who remained near the stage area. All of them were here for one reason, and one reason only. She knew the type. They hoped to go home with a member of the band. They eyed her suspiciously at first, and with a smooth gesture of hands off, she was accepted into the group and allowed access to the stage.

  “I’m just here to enjoy the music, ladies.” The girls
laughed not believing her for a moment.

  “Sure thing,” one young brunette murmured drunkenly as she reached for her friend to help support her. Eve peered at her momentarily before focusing her attention once more on the stage entrance.

  “Come on, Carly. I think you’ve had your limit for tonight,” her friend stated as she dragged Carly off.

  “But I wanna see Lucas . . .,” she whined. Her words were drowned out by the noise. The band was beginning to emerge and when Lucas took the stage, not twenty feet from where Eve stood, the crescendo was deafening. She felt the heat immediately. This close, she could not deny the man’s pure animal magnetism. The man was drop dead gorgeous. In a pair of black jeans, and a simple white crew neck t-shirt, he exuded sex. The lights shone on his dark hair, looking like he’d just crawled out of bed. Sexy. As. Fuck.

  There was no other way to put it. And she no longer blamed the hangers-on near the stage for hoping he’d take one of them home tonight. Everyone ought to have a dream.

  “You ready for this!” Lucas announced excitedly into the microphone he produced out of thin air and then he pointed at the drummer who banged out a wild impulsive beat.

  The crowd roared. He repeated the words for each member of the band, ending with himself.

  When his thumbs hooked backwards and he pointed at himself, a girl screamed her answer so loudly in Eve’s ear that she thought she would go deaf. She knew she wasn’t though when the music merged together and picked up, with Stryker off and performing one of their most popular songs, “Not now, not ever.” The crowd went wild singing along with the lyrics.

  Lucas knew how to play the crowd. He worked the stage and his audience like nobody’s business. He knew just how to lure them in and bring them into the experience.

  She had to give it to him; his performance was spectacular in this New York Night Club. She was enjoying the set immensely. He played it up to the audience making eye contact with as many people as possible, as many women as possible, she corrected herself. He was living up to his image as a playboy and the girls were reacting to it. Screaming and swooning. When his eyes landed on her, she smiled and swayed to the music. Nothing over the top. That wasn’t her. His eyebrow quirked up interestingly. And he continued to keep his unwavering eyes on hers as he sang the final words of that particular song. She was beginning to feel something and knew he was playing, and singing hard to lure her in. He was showing an intense interest in her, looking her up and down, his eyes stalling on her long legs visible in the black satin dress she had chosen to wear. She wondered if he realized who she was. She hadn’t met him in person yet. So far, they had talked on the phone only once, and then he referred her to his manager. Fiona Healy. She met with the woman, who was as tough as they came, but finally convinced her to come for a sit down, and arranged for Fiona to come and see their venue. That had happened two weeks ago. Now she was here to meet them both, Lucas Stryker for the first time, although she’d heard him plenty of times. On you tube, and once last year when she and her sister attended a club where he had been performing. She knew then he was an upcoming artist, a true talent, and she wanted him to perform at her club.