Chapter 34
Erica places my spiced rum old fashioned down on the bar in front of me as I take a seat at the bar stool to check in with her.
My fitted leather skirt only just allows me to cross one leg over the other.
“Successful evening?” she asks, her face bright and cheerful even though I know she and the other girls working behind her bar tonight have been swamped with drinks orders.
I smooth over my hair, making sure my bun is still perfectly in place.
“Sure is. The scent of fucking in the air and our pockets full of cash, what more could we hope for?”
Her laughter echoes through the air, light and carefree.
She leans on the bar, looking me over like she wants to ask me something.
She hesitates. “Your brother coming in tonight?” she finally asks.
I raise a brow curiously.
“Which one?”
“Asher?” she whispers, her cheeks coloring to a deep crimson.
I slap my face. “Not you as well. I knew it was going to be trouble having him helping out around here.”
She shrugs, and I can see she’s kind of embarrassed.
“I knew it wasn’t anything special, he just…”
I hold up my hand to stop her.
“He’s my stupid big brother, I don’t want to know how he swept you off your feet.” I look her over, and she seems defeated, her perky smile from before gone, and I feel bad for being a bitch.
“You can do so much better, Erica. Trust me. Just forget about Asher.”
“Yeah, I know,” she agrees, but I see the look in her eyes that tells me she’s not going to listen.
She has it bad for him.
Just another girl on a long list of women he’s screwed and left with a broken heart.
I’m going to kick his ass next time I see him.
“What’s your secret?” she asks.
I tap my chest confused.
“Mine?”
“Word is you’re living with three dudes. The boss man, your bodyguard, and a cop. You have it made, girl; I want me some of that action.”
“Stop listening to rumors, Erica. If I had a secret recipe for the ideal man, I would share it with you. Trust me, I have nothing.” I toss back my drink, ready to move on.
She tops up my glass.
“If you find it, let me know,” she says, way too hopeful.
“I will, sis.” I awkwardly pat her hand, my attempts at comfort feeling clumsy and forced.
Even after all this time running this place, I’m shit at the girly stuff.
I collect up my glass and hop up from the bar, ready to take a walk around the room.
The vibe is fun and playful.
My girls that are still hanging in this space and not already in the private rooms are all dressed up in flashy cocktail dresses, the men in expensive suits and masks that add to the sexy allure.
I know this is about fucking and living out your dark fantasies, but maybe it could be more.
Maybe we could do something to help girls like Erica.
I’m not sure how yet, but I’ll think on it.
Maybe Romeo has some ideas of games we could play or something fun we could do to find people their real love match.
Onyx steps in at my side as we walk toward the front bar.
“See, what did I tell you, big guy? It’s nearly midnight and no crazy stalker to speak of. Can we go have a little fun of our own now? ”
He wraps an arm around my shoulders, his lips dropping to my ear.
“I won’t relax until I get you home safely and that crazy motherfucker is dead.”
Romeo looks up from his computer with a cheeky smile as I approach him with Onyx by my side.
While Reef and Romeo have done their own thing, Onyx hasn’t left me for a second all night.
“I’m impressed, Sloane, you’ve outdone yourself with this event. Our VIPs are happy, our girls are cashed up, and our bar is busier than ever.”
Reef sits at his side, the two of them enjoying a quiet drink in the front bar, away from all the action still going on in the VIP section.
I lean onto the table, exhaustion starting to take over.
These nights are always long but so damn worth it.
“Are you checking the figures before the evening is over?”
“I like to see how much money I have coming in.” He grins.
“Just wait till next door is finished. You will be able to bring all their wicked fantasies to life… even your own.” Reef chuckles at his excitement, and I wonder what his fantasy is.
I feel like Reef knows something I don’t.
Both sets of eyes come to me, and I know I have something to do with it.
Reef pulls me down onto his lap, kissing my cheek as he hugs me close.
I take up his tumbler, having a big swig.
Now that the night is getting on, we can relax a little bit, and after the week I’ve had, God knows I need it.
Onyx moves into the seat opposite us, the four of us settling into conversation that feels way too normal and comfortable.
But I have spent a lot of time with the three of them over the last few days, and somewhere among the chaos, this has become our new normal.
From across the bar, I catch sight of Sally’s reaction.
She smirks as she shakes her head, amusement dancing in her eyes.
I know what this must look like, and for once, I don’t care.
It feels right. “So, Romeo, what’s this fantasy you have?” I ask, wanting in on it.
His expression changes instantly, his eyes flaring with heat.
Before he can answer me, Reef’s phone rings, and he takes it out of his pocket.
From my place on his lap, I can see it’s a work call, so I hop up so he can leave the table.
He moves a couple of tables over and leans into the wall, answering the call.
As he talks, he still watches me.
His expression is unreadable, and I’m not sure if it’s something to worry about or not.
“What do you think they’re calling him about at this time of night when he’s off the clock?” I ask the others.
Romeo’s brow rises in my direction.
“Reef’s never off the clock; he’s a workaholic like you.”
As I sip on my drink, I watch him hang up the call.
He takes a deep breath before returning to our table, and I already know I’m not going to like what he’s just been told.
“That was the boss.”
“And?” Romeo asks, still distracted by his laptop.
“They found another girl’s body, heart cut out of her chest, left on the steps of Harley’s new clinic. She was another working girl just like the last one. Blonde hair, same build as you, Sloane. A note was pinned to her. It’s becoming a daily occurrence,” he says, horrified.
He has all of our full attention now.
Even Romeo, who had been engrossed in his laptop, has closed it to listen in.
“Let me guess, I’m coming for you, my girl.” I shake my head, irritation and sickness coming over me.
This poor girl, wrapped up in my fucking mess.
“This one is different. ‘ Your father took all his secrets to the grave, but you won’t.’ ”
“Secrets? What secrets did my father have?” I wonder out loud.
“Why would he leave it at Harley’s clinic?” I whisper, worry filling me for her.
“This place has security round the block tonight, he wouldn’t be able to get close enough to get in, and your apartment is locked up tight after what happened yesterday,” Romeo says, but I see the worry now crossing his face.
After the call last night, I know he’s been on all of our minds today.
Jagger has men out on every fucking corner trying to track him down.
He’s also got a couple of cops from bordering districts keeping an eye out.
Malachi has been on his computer all day trying to look for anything that could lead us to him.
But so far, their searches are turning up nothing.
Onyx’s attention comes to me.
“We should get you home. Tonight has been the success you needed it to be. People have seen your face. Now we go into lockdown for a few days, just until your brothers or the cops locate him.”
I sigh heavily, not loving the idea, but it feels like he’s closing in on me.
He knows way too much about my life, getting my friend involved now as well.
Maybe Onyx is right.
“Okay,” I agree.
He throws me a look of surprise that I’m giving in so easily.
“I’m tired, Onyx, take me home,” I sass back so he knows I’m still in here somewhere.
I just don’t have a lot of fight left in me tonight.
He takes my hand, but the sudden buzz of his phone interrupts the moment as he retrieves it from his pocket.
“Speak,” he growls out, unimpressed.
As I wait to see what’s going on, Reef wraps an arm around me and kisses my cheek.
“We will be right behind you. ”
And I know he means quite literally, because that’s how we have been driving everywhere since they took me to Jagger’s place at the docks.
Onyx watches me. “Give me a minute,” he tells the person on the other end of the phone, his attention coming to all of us.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about him not targeting this place. Another two bodies were found. One in the back alleyway, the other out on the street in full view of clientele. My guards have moved them out of plain sight, but we need to deal with this mess. Now. The last note says, ‘ You’re next Ava.’”
My skin goes all prickly, knowing he’s closing in on me.
It should have been impossible for him to get this close.
But somehow, he’s finding a way.
“I’ll call it in,” Reef says, ready to make the call.
I shake my head, trying to think about what to do.
“Not tonight you won’t. This place can’t be crawling with cops, not while we’re running an event this big.”
“I’ll call Jagger,” Romeo says.
I massage my temples, trying to work out what we do.
Onyx runs a hand over his stubble.
“Jagger is dealing with a mess of his own. This is on us.”
I nod, agreeing with him.
“We have men surrounding the building. This place is safe, you boys go and deal with it.”
“I’m not leaving you alone,” Onyx snaps back.
“Who knows who saw one of those bodies out there,” Romeo says, agreeing with me.
“If we leave it too long, the cops will arrive for sure, and this shit will be pinned on us. I don’t want to leave her either, but she’s safe in here. ”
“I have my gun, and there’s security everywhere. He can’t get me here, and he knows it. That’s why he’s leaving these fucked-up messages all around. Go on, Onyx, I will be fine.”
His face hardens to motherfucking scary.
“I’ll see you to your office on our way out. If you leave that place before one of us gets back, you don’t even want to know how badly I will punish you,” he growls, and I know he’s deadly serious.
I salute him, knowing now’s not the time for me to be joking around, but I’m freaking the fuck out, and if I don’t mess around, I’m going to fall into a heap on the floor and not be able to get myself back up again.
“I swear I won’t leave my office. Go sort it out, Onyx, I’ll see you soon.”
Romeo takes off out the front of the club, a security guard in tow, while Reef and Onyx walk me through to my office.
I swipe myself in, and right before he takes off, Onyx lowers his lips to mine.
“Don’t fucking do anything stupid while I’m gone,” he mutters in warning.
I stare back at the two of them, and I see the worry in Reef’s face as well.
“I won’t, I swear. I’ll just sit in here and watch you guys on the security feed. Go fix this mess.”
With one more quick kiss from Onyx and a lingering look from Reef, he closes the door and checks that it’s locked.
Then I’m alone, with my heart racing erratically.
I place my gun down on my desk right in front of me.
I’m not scared, I know this asshole can’t get in this place, but it doesn’t hurt to be extra safe.
I flick on the power switch to my computer, the screen illuminating my dimly lit office as I access the security feed.
In the shadowy back alley, I find Onyx and Reef conferring with a security guard.
At the front of the club, I see Romeo ducking around the corner and out of view, the rest of the street looks deserted, eerily quiet .
They have this handled, Sloane, all you have to do is wait for them to get back here.
I bring up some of the live feeds from the rest of the club, not sure what else to do with myself.
Playing with the bracelet Onyx gave me, I watch over it all.
Inside, everything looks to be in control and functioning as normal.
My girls are safe, but out there, no one is.
Why the hell is someone doing this to me and to the women of this town?
His haunting words keep playing in my head.
Like father like daughter, playing both sides.
We both know what that gets you…
dead.
They died because of you, and they will continue to pay for your sins, until I have you in my hands.
Years ago, you stole something from me, and now the time has finally come for me to take it back.
What’s happened to those girls is just the beginning.
Enjoy your freedom while you can.
You’re next, Ava.
What could I have possibly done to this asshole that was so terrible?
I have dedicated my life to this place, to helping the girls who work here.
I haven’t stolen anything.
But I already know the Morettis wouldn’t see it that way.
Romeo’s papa would be out for revenge after his son died in this very club when he tried to attack me.
Is that what this is?
Revenge for his son?
I type the name Orlando Moretti into my Google search and wait to see what comes up.
All I can find is a news story of an underworld shooting, his body found in the back alleyway of this very club nine years ago.
An obituary stating how devastated the family is at his loss.
I click on the photo of him attached, and a shiver slithers down my spine.
I never saw the face of the man who attacked me.
The only thing I remember is the distinct angel tattoo that peeped out of his shirt onto his neck.
But this guy looks exactly like a younger version of Romeo.
It’s unnerving to know the man I have fallen for is so closely connected to this monster.
There is one last story I find from just two weeks before his death, saying that federal authorities were ramping up an investigation into him.
They show him as somewhat of a party boy, whose lavish lifestyle and high-risk business ventures had drawn suspicions from the FBI.
I’m not sure what to make of any of it.
Next, I type in my birth father’s name.
Jagger gave it to me two days ago, along with any other information he could find on my birth family, but until now, I have been reluctant to look any deeper into my past. But if he has something to do with this asshole hunting me down, I need to know.
My search for Daniel Kingsley, brings up more newspaper stories than my search for Orlando, most of them linked to his assassination.
There are conspiracy theories about his links to the mafia, but from what I can see, nothing was ever proven.
For the most part he was a much-loved vice president, living the high life with his beautiful wife and baby girl.
There are photos of us all together, but I have to skip over them.
It’s too hard to see and makes me feel physically ill, knowing what happened to them in the end.
What the hell were his secrets and why would someone do this to keep them quiet?