Chapter 40
Mila
For the third day in a row, my messages to Lovelyn went unanswered. She hadn’t even read them, same with the chat in our Skeleton Girls Detective Agency group. Last night, I’d texted my brother to ask if she was with him and got a one-word reply that she wasn’t.
Propped up in bed, I scowled at my screen. “What are we doing this evening?”
Convict lifted his head from the nest he’d made in blankets, his dark hair adorably messy. As tidily as I’d cut it, it grew fast and chaotic. Kind of like our relationship had.
He stretched then threw a tattooed arm over me. “Quiet night, as far as I know. Arran gave everyone time to chill before the game runs on Friday.”
“Want to kidnap someone with me?”
“Little gangster, don’t tempt me with a good time.”
I went to reply, but Convict’s mouth landed on my belly. He kissed me, pushing my legs open so he could get under and between them.
I drove my fingers into his hair, arching back when his lips landed on my thigh. I’d learned to sleep naked because the two of us couldn’t keep our hands off each other and clothes were a waste of time. My man was an addiction, one I never wanted to get over.
I smiled at a kiss somewhere more delicate. “What are you doing?”
“You said kidnap, and I got hot.”
“Everything gets you hot.”
He groaned and made out with my pussy. In minutes, he had me sweating and cursing his name, then he climbed up and thrust inside. I clawed the sheets, gasping out loud as he filled me over and over again.
“Eyes on me,” he begged.
I did. My fiancé, the love of my life. He kissed me, finally launching me into the space of a spectacular climax. Convict growled a desperate sound and came, too, dropping down onto me with his dick pulsing inside me.
His hand clutched mine, the tattoo of my name around his ring finger a promise to be mine forever. When we cooled, he pressed kisses to my cheek and chin.
“So, when do we leave and who am I abducting?”
I laughed and pulled his arms around me. With the promises we’d made, I had this forever. How did I get so lucky? “I love how it’s no questions asked. It’s Lovelyn I want to see. Something’s wrong. I think she might need our help.”
Night had fallen by the time we reached Lovelyn’s suburb.
We’d been here once when Kane had needed the place watched, so were familiar with the street.
Outside her house, I squinted at the building. “Am I imagining things, or does it look like someone’s tried to kick the door in? The panel’s crushed, and there’s marks on the paint.”
Convict scowled at the house. “There’s been someone here watching over her for the past few nights, according to Manny.
He just told me because I called in where we were going.
They aren’t here now, and…” His words dried up.
“There’s something broken on the ground.
Her cameras have been smashed. Wait here and lock the doors. ”
Like hell was I doing that. I climbed out after him. “What do you mean someone’s been watching over her?”
“Your brother’s request, apparently. I don’t know any more than that. If you’re coming, stay close.”
I clutched his hand on our walk down the path. Broken plastic and glass glinted on the ground, the remains of the cameras, and a clear boot mark decorated the front door, a panel broken, though it had held.
“Lovelyn?” I called.
In the next-door house, a window cracked open and an elderly lady peered out. “Who’s there?”
“We’re friends of Lovelyn.”
The window opened more fully. “Is she okay?”
“That’s what we want to know. Did you see anyone here?”
“An hour ago, just as dusk was falling, the police were in the street. They picked up a man who’d been sitting in his car just down the way.
Then the minute they were gone, another man ran at her house and smashed down her cameras with a golf club.
He made a racket, hammering at her door.
He didn’t speak but caused one heck of a mess.
I called the police to come back, but they haven’t yet. ”
Alarm tightened my stomach. “Did you get a look at him?”
“He was all in black. I wish I had the phone number for her big boyfriend. She isn’t answering me.”
Convict advanced to thump on the doorframe. “Lovelyn? Open up. It’s Con and Mila.” He glanced back at me. “If she doesn’t answer, I’ll find a way inside. You call my crew.”
At the upstairs bedroom, the curtains twitched. Lovelyn peered down.
I waved frantically. “It’s us. Open up or we’re coming in.”
Thudding came of feet on the stairs, then the front door flew open and Lovelyn stared between us, her shaking hands coming up to cover her mouth. Pale. No blood, no torn clothes.
I threw my arms around her in a hug. “Are you okay? What happened?”
She sobbed on my shoulder. Convict called out to her neighbour that we had her then guided us both inside.
“Tell us who,” he demanded.
Trembling, she dried her eyes with her sleeve. “I don’t know, but he tried to break in. I was terrified and hid in my wardrobe.”
“Why didn’t you call someone? Why isn’t Kane here?”
Words spilled from her lips, of her phone left downstairs, of a previous attempt my brother had helped with.
Of her alarm at the cops taking the person she knew he’d left to guard her.
But when it came to talking about Kane, her face crumpled all over again.
I made a decision and lifted my phone to dictate a message to our Skeleton Girls group.
“Emergency meeting. Convene at my apartment in half an hour. Lovelyn needs our help.” Then I held her at arm’s length. “You’re coming home with us. Pack a bag. I won’t take no for an answer.”
With her safe, I’d work out what was going on and help my friend. And if my idiot brother had done something to hurt her, he would answer to me.
A short while later, we were tucked up in the living room of my apartment, Genevieve, Everly, and Cassie with us. Convict lingered in the doorway. I shooed him out to join the other men in the hall.
“We need some alone time.”
Convict scowled. “What are we supposed to do? Sit out here and scratch our balls?”
Behind him, Arran, Shade, and Riot waited, fortunately with their hands in plain sight.
If I’d been told three months ago that I’d be hosting a gangster girl meeting in my apartment while a collection of the scariest men in the city lurked outside the door, guarding us, I’d have thought the suggestion insane. Yet here we were.
I gave them a little wave with my fingertips. “I’m sure you’ll find tough guy things to talk about. Let us know if you want snacks.”
I shut them out then returned to my girls.
Pale, Lovelyn looked between us. “For this to make sense, I need to go back to the beginning. I’ve lied to you. I hope you’ll understand why.”
She broke our hearts in confiding how her mother had died a year ago and that she’d been working hard to rebuild a life, or just keep her head above water.
“I didn’t tell you because I was trying to be someone else. A professional. Maybe the cool friend who provided intelligence. Not someone grieving. Our group was my escape from that.”
Genevieve gave her a soft smile. “My mum died when I was a teenager. For years, I was living in the tragedy. I understand where you’re coming from.”
“You don’t blame me?”
“Of course we don’t. But I’m glad you told us now.”
“Quick,” Everly said. “Your three favourite facts about her.”
Lovelyn grinned and described a lovely lady, but then she moved on to the next part of her explanation and the threats she’d received. Kane had helped her, but their breakup had set her back, and then she’d lost her job.
“I’ll throttle him when I see him,” I promised.
She peered at me through eyes red from tears. “You don’t have to. He didn’t break any promise. The emotional attachment was all on my side.”
Genevieve rubbed her arm. “Not to contradict you, but we all saw the way he looked at you.”
“Is that why you didn’t answer our messages?” I asked.
“I don’t have anything to offer you now. I can’t help with police data, and I didn’t want to make things awkward between you and your brother.”
My heart ached for her. “You must have felt so alone. You aren’t. We’ve missed you.”
From her position on a floor cushion, Cassie cocked her head. “While hiding away to deal with all those headfucks is a completely valid method, I wish you’d come to us. We aren’t your friend just because of what ye can give us. You’re skeleton girl to the core.”
Lovelyn shuddered on an exhale. “I’ve missed you all, too. Are you sure you still want me to be a member?”
All of us confirmed it. Vigorously.
At last, she smiled. “Then catch me up.”
Cassie filled her in on Karla, the stories in the press of the riverside murder, the way it had been downplayed by the discovery of her previous work in a strip club, and the hints that it was probably sex work gone wrong. Then how the crew found that she was an applicant for the game.
“Remember she said she’d come in for an interview? That’s what she meant. We talked to her last employer, the club called Heaven, and the manager confessed to Arran that Dixie had been there. She fake-named them, though, and they had no more info on where she went.”
Lovelyn briefly closed her eyes. “God, we were so close to finding her. But they were able to tell you Karla’s plans. Was there any clue to her killer?”
“Not yet. We still suspect Presley, just without any strong evidence other than right place, right time. And the fact we don’t like him. But we have a new suspect.” Cassie made jazz hands at Genevieve.
She took over. “Remember that list you sent of the trusted companies? It had the name Sullivan Property Solutions. Dixie’s last client was a Mr Sullivan.”
Cassie jigged her legs. “And, there was someone nicknamed Sulli who was involved in the sex auctions that ended with Esther being killed. Do you remember Yelland telling us when we interviewed him?”
‘Interview’ meant mild torture at her hands. He’d sung like a bird.