Chapter 13 Cade #2
Good thing Bug took care of him. Another CEO whose darkest, vilest secrets would be buried with him.
“So, that sounds like the girls aren’t to order.”
But the Dungeon’s stuck a chord in me. I want to know about it. They get in girls, and they don’t have shipments.
My mind starts bubbling. “They’re an exclusive club… Invite only and almost impossible to get into. They’d vet girls. They wouldn’t ship in a group. Handpicked. Chosen. A different type of trafficking.”
Enzo eyes me. “You think you can get in?”
Knowing Enzo, he’s thinking of how to get me in if I can’t come up with a way.
“There’s always a way in.”
And he grins. “You gotta know the right people.”
I grin back. “Lucky for us, we both make it a habit to know the right people.”
He raises both hands. “I don’t know those kinds of right people.”
“But I do. I have someone very much into that world who owes me big.”
It doesn’t take much to call in the favor and land a meeting with the owner of the club for later that evening. When I hang up I stand.
“I’m gonna need a new suit.”
There’s nothing Enzo loves more than going suit shopping, especially to his favorite tailor who makes bespoke suits and can help make any regular suit look like one.
I need something like a Brioni suit. Without the price tag. He can do it.
When we’re done with the suit being fitted, we head to a bar in Chinatown to get a drink.
Enzo signals for the waiter, then turns to me. “If we’re going to pretend to be rich and exclusive, I think we start here, with an eye wateringly expensive Scotch.
The single malt is surprisingly rich, sweet, and fruity. And I eye my rum-loving friend. “Normally, I don’t like Scotch.”
“This is your drink, Cade. It’s closer to what you prefer, but if pressed about it all, state a sixteen year. Stick to it. Men in those exclusive fucking clubs always love shit like this, but being the best and the most expensive isn’t always mutual. It’ll be appreciated.”
I nod, thanking him.
And as we talk about the latest girl lined up in Enzo’s never-ending revolving door of girls, I text Violet who should be finishing work soon.
Me: I’ll be late home tonight, so try not to get into too much trouble.
It takes her a while to get back to me, but I imagine she’s working hard.
Violet: What will you do if I get into trouble?
A dark thrill passes through me.
How she has the ability to grab me by the balls and stroke my cock I’ll never know.
Me: Tempt me and you’ll see.
Me: But when I say late, it’ll be late, I’m meeting with Enzo for dinner to talk strategy over G. So maybe it’s a good night to catch up with your friend, Lia.
Violet: Look at you, thinking of me. But I might go out for drinks with some of the girls from work.
Me: Be careful.
Violet: Always.
That’s a fucking low-down lie, and we both know it.
I don’t mean she’s going to look for trouble, but she’ll possibly get into it by getting too enthusiastic.
Me: I mean it, Vi. Careful. No prodding. More soaking.
Violet: In a tub? Naked.
I narrow my eyes and glare at the screen.
Me: I’m talking information.
Violet: I promise I’ll be subtle as I delicately prod for information.
It’s probably the best I can hope for, and I’m more than aware of Enzo rubbernecking next to me. “Get your own girl, man.”
“No way, this is more fun.” And he flashes me his butter-wouldn’t-melt smile. “I like living vicariously through you.”
“You’re an asshole,” I mutter as the screen lights up.
Violet: Any news? Any developments.
Enzo puts his hand on my phone like I’m so besotted I’m about to tell her what I’m up to.
I glare at him. “Dude.”
“Sorry,” he mutters, not sounding sorry at all.
Me: Nothing. I’ve got some leads but they’re probably dead ends.
Violet: You’ll look into them, though, right?
Me: I’m going to follow them anyway. Yes.
Me: And if I find anything, you’ll be the first person to know.
Violet: Got to get back to work. See you later tonight. XOX
I don’t know why the XOX punches me in the guts, but it does.
And I sit back and take a swallow of the Scotch.
Enzo leans back in his chair, checking his messages, and then he glances at me. “Why didn’t you tell her? You could tell her without telling her where you’re going and who you’re meeting.”
“What difference would it make? She doesn’t know the Dungeon or the owner.”
“That’s not what I mean, bro.”
“I know what you mean. I guess maybe I’ve got a feeling about the meeting, and I don’t want to get her hopes up or crush them.”
“And here I thought you didn’t want her to know about you joining the Dungeon.” He signals for two fresh drinks. “Cade, I know you. Anyone else, you’d have just spun a story. Or said you have a lead and you’re following it. But you didn’t. Is there a reason?”
“What I said is close enough to that.”
“I said I know you.”
“I don’t know,” I finally say. “I don’t fucking know why I didn’t explain it to her, apart from the fact she’s at work.
” I cast him a glance. “And I don’t need you to point out I can tell her at home, and I might not.
Maybe I’m…maybe I’m trying to protect her, stop her hopes being crushed.
She’s putting so much on finding a girl who might never be found alive. ”
“Yeah, I know. And I think you hit it on the head with the last one.”
I think he’s right.
Violet means way more to me than she should in such a short period of time. She’s like my sun.
I want to protect her, I want her safe, not just from harm but from the harshness of the world.
And I also know it’s more than that.
Much more.
I swallow, a lump appearing in my throat that makes my eyes prick and blur a moment.
“I think it’s because the thought of something happening to her is something I don’t want to think about.
I almost lost her once when that fucker broke in.
I can’t lose her. And if this is connected to Ivan or people who are worse, then I want her far from any dangerous situation.
No matter what I have to do to protect her, I will.
“She’ll be fine.”
I hope so.
No matter what happens, I’ll tell her about this and anything else I find out. As soon as I have something concrete to share with her.