Chapter 18
Kat
A week had passed since the shooting lesson, and my leg was finally on the mend. Thank goodness. I was under strict orders to stay in bed, and I was so bored sitting around doing nothing all day. Connor felt bad and brought a TV in for me to watch, and when I was bored with that, Killer, Iris's dog, was the only one that kept me company. Taking naps with me in my bed was a favorite pastime for him.
Wren, she tried to help by playing card games, and when I was feeling up to it, she took me to visit Tomas, which was nice. Even though his faculties were starting to fail him, he still remembered both of us. Sadly though, Wren told me it was just a matter of time when he didn’t. Declan was determined to bring Tomas home, once he found a qualified nurse that was willing to move to the estate, that was the plan anyway.
And Rory. He avoided me like the plague, possibly because of the dog but secretly I think it was just his hatred for me that kept him at bay. Instead of teaching me to shoot a gun, he got Chris, one of the reapers, to show me how.
When I asked Wren where he was off to, she only shrugged and said she didn’t get involved with the family business.
I tightened the tensor bandage that hugged my thigh then stood up, testing my weight on my leg. I still walked with a slight limp, but I could handle that.
I headed out of my bedroom and made my way down the staircase. I slid my hand along the polished cherry wood banister, needing the grounding because I was feeling a mix of excitement and dread. Declan had called me in for a meeting.
I shuffled my way towards the library door, where it stood ajar, and paused at the threshold, taking in the scene before me. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of Rory lounging in a high-backed leather chair, his long legs stretched out before him, and I had to tear my gaze away. I turned my focus on Declan as he stood by the fireplace, arms crossed over his chest as he stared into the dancing flames.
I took a step inside, and Declan turned to look at me. “There you are,” he said, heading to the chair behind his desk. “Come on in, Kat. We have business to discuss.”
I settled into the chair beside Rory, very aware of how close our knees were to touching until Declan cleared his throat. “We’ve got a situation at one of our clubs downtown. The Velvet Veil. Have you heard of it Kat?”
I shook my head, I felt like saying I wasn’t from around here, why would I? But I didn't.
Rory on the other hand looked towards me and caught my eye. “It’s a high-end place. Lots of VIP clientele.”
“It’s a glorified whorehouse is what it is,” Declan confirmed. “And it’s been a goldmine for us ever since I took over and cleaned the place up. Paid the girls their worth. When you do that, you have happy employees. But lately, we’ve been hearing about some disturbing reports about the manager, Marcus Kelly.”
I snorted.
“What’s so funny?” Declan asked, looking straight at me.
It was on the tip of my tongue to say nothing, but instead, I thought for a minute. If I were to become Captain, that was one establishment I would close. “They’re not employees, you’re pimping these women out. ”
“No, that’s where you’re wrong. When our dad was in charge, it was a hell hole and that’s exactly what happened. The women were forced to do the job or be killed. Now, they choose to do it. If they want out, they can leave any time they want.”
Rory nodded. “You have a cousin that was forced into it.”
“Yeah, right.” I folded my arms across my chest. They were trying to pull one over me. “Why would a blood relative of ours work as a call girl?”
“I shit you not. Unbelievably, she was abducted by one of her clients.”
Declan rubbed his forehead and gave Rory a look. “She was only an escort. Not one of the working girls.”
Then he glanced at me. “Because her mother became ill, and she couldn’t afford the treatment. But she pulled in so much money each night that our father neglected to tell her she was off the hook.”
“But why would she need to do it in the first place? It’s not like Tomas was in the poorhouse,” I said as I looked around the room, it reeked of money.
“Because our father was an asshole, still is,” Declan sniffed. “Our cousin Brit’s father was the Captain until he was killed, and Tomas took over. Her mother disgraced the family when she divorced her father. One just doesn’t divorce the boss of the Irish mafia and not reap the repercussions. She signed a contract for a year, unbeknownst to her. She thought it was until the debt was paid back. It was to make an example for what happens when you cross the clan.”
I couldn’t believe it. I felt pity for a cousin I never even met. “Now I know why my mother warned me not to come here. That was an awful thing to do.”
“Exactly and that’s why I changed the rules of a few things.” He looked pointedly at Rory and then at me. “And they are never to be changed back, got it?”
I nodded while Rory leaned forward, “Absolutely. Now, about the Velvet Veil,” he said, his brow furrowing. “What kind of reports?”
Declan’s jaw clenched. “Marcus has been roughing up the girls. Threatening them, beating them if they don’t comply with... certain requests.”
I felt a surge of anger. “That’s despicable,” I spat.
“It is,” Declan agreed. “And it stops now. I want you two to pay a visit there tonight. Observe, gather evidence if you can, and then at a later date, we will deal with Kelly. ”
Rory and I shared a knowing look. “He will be taken care of,” he assured Declan.
We both move to stand, but Declan stops us. “One thing. Kat, do you think you can dress the part?”
I froze, what the hell did he mean by that? I raised a brow. “Beg your pardon?”
“Dress like one of them, I want to hear it firsthand from the girls in the back. You know, dressing room chatter.” Declan opened a drawer in the desk and pulled out a device and sat it down in front of me. “You will be wearing a wire of course.”
“You want me to go undercover? I’m not a cop, Declan!”
Rory threw a hand at his boss. “That’s asking a little too much, don’t you think?”
Declan froze, his eyes were the only thing that moved as he shifted them between me and Rory, and I could see the dawning question in his eyes… are they fucking?
“I’ll do it,” I grabbed the wire device and stood up. “Only one problem, what does a high-end call girl wear?”
∞∞ ∞
As night fell, I stood in my room before the full-length mirror, smoothing my hands down the silky dress that Wren and I went shopping for. The deep emerald color complimented my auburn hair, which she had styled in loose waves. The dress hugged my curves, the slit along the side offered tantalizing glimpses of my leg with each step.
A knock at the door had me jumping to go answer it. It should be Wren coming back with the perfect jewelry she said she had. But when I opened the door, it was Rory who stood there.
His eyes widened as they took me in, sweeping from head to toe. I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard.
“Christ, Kat,” he breathed, his Irish lilt thicker than usual. “You look... incredible.”
I felt a blush creep up my neck, warming my cheeks. “Thanks,” I mumbled, suddenly feeling exposed. I crossed my arms over my chest, deeply aware of how the dress clung to every curve.
Rory cleared his throat, seeming to remember himself. “Right, well, I came to check if you’re ready. The car’s waiting.”
“Almost,” I said, glancing back at my reflection. “Just waiting on Wren with some jewelry.”
As if she was waiting for me to say her name, she appeared behind Rory, a velvet box in her hands. She shouldered past him with a smirk. “Move it, loverboy. Let the professional handle this.”
Rory stepped back, his face flushing. “I’ll, uh, I’ll wait downstairs.”
Wren rolled her eyes as she entered my room. “Men,” she muttered, opening the box to reveal a stunning emerald and diamond necklace with teardrop earrings. “Now, let’s make you irresistible.”