She turned to her right, glancing down at the slight Hispanic man in his late fifties. ‘And you are?’

‘Deputy Mayor Raul Hernandez, at your service. Are you a … um … local girl, or—’

‘Deputy Mayor? Is that something one volunteers for, or do you get season tickets to the theater with the title?’

‘Excuse me?’

Her azure eyes blazed violet as her temper rose. ‘Go away, little man, before I eat you.’

Hernandez blushed, choked on his retort, then, seeing the almost maniacal look in the girl’s eye, decided it was best just to leave.

Ben Merchant approached, snorting a quick hit of cocainelaced BLISS from a designer thimble. ‘Well, darlin’, what do you think?’

‘Pimps and pawns. There’s no one here who could fill our bill. I need a real power broker, someone with some backbone, someone I don’t have to constantly manipulate like a marionette. Powerful and rich, Benjamin. Filthy rich.’

Merchant grinned. ‘I know just the man.’

The handsome jet-setter with the oily black ponytail took his time licking the olive from the redhead’s size 47-D cleavage, allowing his right hand to grope beneath the woman’s miniskirt.

At only twenty-three, Lucien Mabus, son of the late billionaire, Peter Mabus Jr. was already wealthier and more feared than his deceased father. He had more money than he could spend in three lifetimes and met more women than he could possibly bed … and now he was bored.

What Lucien Mabus yearned for was a challenge.

The adrenaline junkie’s eyes followed Ben Merchant as he approached from across the room. On the gun lobbyist’s arm was the most captivating woman he had ever laid eyes upon.

‘Lucien, dear boy, imagine running into you here.’

Lucien retracted his hand from beneath the redhead’s skirt. ‘Cut the bullshit, Merchant. My yacht’s been docked here all week. Introduce me to the lady.’

‘I’m sorry … Lucien Mabus, this is Lilith Aurelia. Lilith, Lucien Mabus, president and CEO of Mabus Tech Industries.’

Lucien extended his hand.

Lilith shook it, then inhaled its scent. ‘Be careful, your date’s ovulating.’

Lucien’s laugh carried across the crowded bar. Turning to the embarrassed redhead, he shoved a hundred-dollar bill in her cleavage, and yelled, ‘Go the hell away!’

The redhead stormed off.

Lucien flashed Lilith a coy smile. ‘I like you. Ever been aboard a yacht?’

‘No.’

‘Join me for a drink. Merchant won’t mind, will you?’

‘Not at all. Got a full day tomorrow anyway. Watch out for this guy, Lilith, he’s a handful.’

‘Mmm … I hope so.’

Oval Office, The White House 11:43 a.m.