Chapter Nine
THE DOOR OPENED dragged Ari from the book she was reading. Surely it said something about her current situation and not how she felt that her breathing sped up when Rex walked into the room. Some kind of Stockholm Syndrome. The look on his face should have had her curling in on herself. Instead, she found herself wanting to go to him and do something to ease his mind. Which was ridiculous.
“Do you need to use the bathroom?” he asked.
Ari nodded. “Go do it then and come back here. We have things we need to discuss.”
Ari hurried to do as he asked. He didn’t follow her to the bathroom this time, which she took as a good sign. Surely he wouldn’t be leaving her even for a minute if he didn’t think she’d been telling the truth earlier. Ari flattened herself against the door frame to get around Rex, but her arm brushed his chest. He stiffened, and she sucked in a breath, but she forced herself to keep moving. Every contact with him felt like a shock to her system. Even when he’d… spanked her last night. It had hurt, but every contact of his hand had left a heated pulse. She’d ached in several ways last night for hours.
“Let’s sit,” Rex said.
Ari sat in one of the chairs, leaving the small loveseat for Rex.
“I’ve brought your request to Tommy, and he’s agreed to help you,” Rex started.
“Oh, thank you!” Ari burst out.
“For a price.”
Ari froze. A price? What kind of price?
“I don’t have any money right now. I’ll get a job soon though. As soon as you let me out of here. I swear.”
Rex took a deep breath. “We don’t want your money.”
Ari’s mind raced. If he didn’t want money, there was only one other thing he could want. She let the thought of sleeping with this man… or maybe with his cousin, roll around in her head. It didn’t disgust her as much as it should, really. I mean, she didn’t know Tommy, so that might be hard. Ari mentally slapped herself. She didn’t know Rex either. Why then was it less intimidating to think about giving herself to Rex than Tommy? It didn’t matter. She’d worry about that later after Olivia and Owen were safe.
“Ok.”
“Ok? You don’t even know what we want.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Ari told him. “I have to keep them safe, no matter what. It doesn’t matter what happens to me. I’ll be fine.”
Rex studied her, and it made Ari squirm.
“Alright then. I need your help. I’d like you to come back to the next auction with me.”
Ari gaped. Oh shit. He didn’t want her. He wanted to sell her. Wait, that didn’t make sense either. She wasn’t sixteen and the next guy who found that out wouldn’t be so understanding. So what did he mean?
“I don’t understand,” she said, looking down.
Rex stood and paced a few steps before turning back to her. “If you’ll agree to accompany me back to the auction as my submissive, it will help me build more credibility. I’ll be in the club, so to speak, more so than if I have to fake your death.”
“What exactly would that mean?” Ari asked carefully. The picture was getting clearer, but she just wanted to be sure she understood.
“I’ll dress you similar to how you came home. You’ll accompany me. Sit on my lap or kneel by my side. We won’t do anything beyond that. If I speak to you, all you have to do is answer respectfully.”
Ari thought back on the auction night. She had surprisingly clear memories of it. Yes, there had been other girls in the crowd. Some had done what Rex was saying, but Ari specifically remembered one girl on her knees doing… other things.
“And that’s all?”
“Yes,” he said, his voice firm.
She hesitated. “I can try.”
“Try?” Rex asked, raising one eyebrow.
Ari fidgeted with her shirt, not meeting his eyes. “I mean, how do you just sit there and watch? I don’t know how I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
Rex nodded in understanding. “I get that. What I do, what I want you to help me do, is important, though. This is the only way to stop them. I need more information before I can get the authorities to take them down. Having you with me would help me get it because they’ll start trusting me more.”
It didn’t sound hard, really. But could she do it? Just sit in front of a group of men who lusted after her nearly naked? Her resolve hardened as she thought about Olivia possibly having to do it. She would do anything she could to prevent that. She didn’t want to screw it up and risk his project. Maybe Rex could help her with that.
Ari took a shuddering breath. “Could we… I don’t know, like practice or something?”
“Practice?” Rex asked sharply.
“Yeah, I mean the sitting with you or kneeling and being quiet. Maybe just while you work or something, so I can get used to it. If I’m going to do this, I don’t want to screw it up by freaking out or something.”
“I uh… yeah… alright, I’ll think of something. You’re right, that’s probably a good idea for both of us.”
Rex stood outside in the frigid air for several long minutes to cool his heated blood. The idea of Ari on her knees next to him… or in front of him in nothing but scraps of lace had him hard enough to pound nails. He’d all but fled the room to get away from the temptation. How would he make it through an entire evening like that? Let alone do it where all the sleaze balls he was trying to take down could see her. He grit his teeth against the growl of rage that threatened to bubble up.
Honestly, he still couldn’t believe how easily she’d agreed. She must love her brother and sister very much. Rex could respect the idea of putting your family ahead of yourself. After all, he did it most days.
He gave himself two more minutes and then walked to the garage and took one of the big black SUVs housed there. He had a list of payments that were late from the businesses they worked with that he wanted to visit this afternoon. It was an odd list, which was why he was doing it instead of an enforcer. None of these businesses had a history of skipping payments. They were old family businesses.
Rex barely had to pay attention as he drove through the city. He’d driven this route hundreds of times with his father and then Tommy. This was their neighborhood. He pulled up outside Tolino’s Bakery. The scent of bread was already strong, and he was still outside in the car. He knew once inside, it would be nearly overwhelming and wonderful. The bell overhead tinkled when he pushed the door open bringing a tiny woman with a white braid coiled on top of her head to the counter. Her wrinkled face brightened at the sight of him.
“Rex, dear, to what do we owe this pleasure? Was something wrong with the bread delivery this morning? My granddaughter has been trying to help, but I’m not sure she’s quite got the knack of yet. What did you have? I want to review it with her again.” She spoke fast and sharp and was around the counter hugging him around the middle before giving him a chance to answer. She stepped back and briskly patted him off to remove the traces of flour her apron left on his suit.
Rex grinned down at her. “No, Ruby, everything was perfect. I actually came by to see Gino. Is he in today?”
“Of course, of course. He’s back in the office. Can I get you anything?”
“You know I can’t resist your croissants, Ruby,” he told her.
“The chocolate ones?” She cackled. “Of course, you haven’t changed a bit since you were a boy. Go on, I’ll grab you one and bring it back.”
Rex leaned in and kissed her weathered cheek and she shoved him off playfully. “Get on with you.”
He turned and followed the hallway behind the counter to the small office. Gino Tolino looked like he should be one of the enforcers for the family, but he’d never had the desire. He loved baking almost as much as his mother. His bulk came from years of kneading dough and eating it, not fighting. A pair of glasses looked like they were going to fall off the end of his nose as he peered at a computer in front of him. He glanced up as Rex came in the door.
“Rex! How are you, son?”
“I’m ok, Gino. How’s business?” he said, sitting across from him.
“Good, good. Casey’s learning how to bake. Mama’s a hard teacher, but I think she’s got natural talent.”
“Ruby told me. That’s good to hear. So you’re planning to continue when Ruby retires?”
Gino laughed, “I doubt she’ll ever do that. I expect I’ll just come in one morning to find her keeled over in a pile of dough. But yes, we’re not going anywhere. Why do you ask?”
Rex rubbed a hand on the back of his neck, “Well, we didn’t get our contracted amount from you for the last two months, Gino.” Rex fought to keep his voice controlled and his face neutral. He really didn’t want to come across as accusatory, but he needed an answer.
“What?” Gino looked genuinely confused. “Let me look at the books. I’ve a got a new kid, one of my nephews, helping me out with the paperwork. I hate that shit.”
Gino pulled out a ledger and ran his fingers down the lines of entries. He put a small dot next to one and then another after a few minutes. Then he turned back to his computer screen. Rex waited patiently. He actually felt relieved that Gino was taking the time to do all this. Gino clicked around and typed several things in and pulled a pack of post its out of his desk drawer. He wrote down two dates and numbers that went with them.
“Here you go Rex. I swear, we’d never do that to you. We’ve been doing business for two generations.”
“I know that, Gino. That’s why I wanted to come talk to you personally. Thanks for this, I’ll look into where these went. Who’d you say is doing your books now?”
“Jordan Caruso, my sister’s kid.”
Rex remembered him. He was several years younger than Rex, closer to Liesel’s age. He’d been orphaned and Gino had raised the boy.
“Does he only work for you?”
“He was, but I told Liesel about him when I asked her for a new laptop, and she asked if he’d be interested in some other work. I told him to give her a call. I’m not sure, but I think he picked up at least a few gigs.”
Rex filed that away. “When did he take over the books?”
“He started helping me out about six months ago, but he took over completely two months ago. Hey, wait a minute… you don’t think—”
“I don’t think anything yet, Gino,” Rex interrupted. “I’m just gathering information.”
“He’s a good kid, Rex—” Gino started.
“I never said he wasn’t, but business is business,” Rex stopped him, his voice sharp now.
Gino’s mouth snapped shut. Then he nodded. “You’re right. Sorry. Let me know what I can do, ok?”
“I will. Have a good day, Gino.”
“You too, boss,” was the quiet reply.
Rex left the office and the shop. He couldn’t evade Ruby and her package of treats bagged up and ready to go. He tried to refuse, but the tiny Italian woman didn’t know how to take no for an answer, and she wouldn’t even take his money for them. Rex carefully placed the bag on the floor in the backseat so it didn’t tip over. He wondered idly if Ari liked sweets. He’d seen her eat cheesecake at dinner the other day. Did she only like certain things or all sweets? Rex shook his head to clear the thoughts. It didn’t matter what Ari did or didn’t like. In a couple of weeks, she’d be gone and out of his life. It would be better that way for both of them.
Rex visited two more businesses, and both had the same story. The last two months, the money had been paid, but never made it to the account. They both had entries and tracking numbers to give him. They were both using the accounting services of Jordan Caruso. At the third stop, he found Mr. Caruso himself.
“Hey, Jordan,” Gus Russo called from his kitchen. “Mr. Nardone is here.”
It didn’t surprise Rex to find Jordan was a big man, like his uncle. He had a broad chest and thick dark brown hair. His chin showed a five o’clock shadow, but instead of the t-shirt and jeans he’d found his uncle in, Paul wore a button-down shirt, a tie, and slacks. His smile stretched his face when he saw Rex and reached to shake his hand.
“Mr. Nardone, it’s so good to meet you. I’m so grateful for Liesel’s help setting me up with new clients and getting me the new computer and software I needed.”
Rex studied the young man and couldn’t find any of the tells they had trained him to see of deceit or lies.
“Mr. Caruso, a pleasure.”
“Please call me Jordan.”
“What are you working on today, Jordan?”
“Mr. Russo’s accounts for the month,” he answered quickly.
“Would you mind if I observed?”
Jordan’s eyes widened in surprise, but he nodded without hesitation. “Of course, Mr. Nardone, right this way.”
Rex followed him, eyeing his body language for any aggression or agitation, but he found none. This young man seemed to link multiple cases of missing funds, but nothing about him said he was at fault. He let Rex move behind the desk and then brought a folding chair to sit next to him. The show of respect impressed Rex. He watched Jordan pull up the software with the numbers in it and listened patiently as Jordan talked him through the figures. When it came to the fee that the Russo’s paid to his family, Jordan showed him the percentage calculation, which was accurate, and pulled up the banking information in front of him.
“Liesel programmed the bank’s information in here for me,” Jordan said as he pulled up the accounts payable, and Rex saw all the information he knew about the bank they used. Rex watched him enter the transaction and write down the tracking number in the account ledger. Just like at the other places Rex had visited today. Rex quickly pulled up the app for the bank on his phone and opened it. He checked it and reloaded it several times, but the transaction he’d just watched happen, didn’t even register.
Jordan watched him and when he put the phone away, he asked, “Is something wrong, Mr. Nardone? Did I miss something?”
He was scared, and rightly so. Money not going where it should for the family was a big deal, but Rex couldn’t figure out what he might have missed that Jordan was doing. He was fairly certain Jordan wasn’t stealing from them. He couldn’t be absolutely sure though, so he asked him, “Would you mind coming to the house tomorrow to meet with Liesel and I? I watched you do all that, but the money isn’t showing up where it should.”
“Mr. Nardone, I’m sorry… I’m not I swear—”
“I don’t think you are,” Rex told him, meeting his eyes so Jordan would know he meant it. “I just want Liesel to see it happen because she’s good with tech stuff and might be able to track what’s happening. That’s all. You are not in trouble.” He left off the implicit yet. It was understood that if Liesel found something Rex didn’t, that was a different story. Jordan also seemed to understand that the request for him to come to the house wasn’t really a request, it was a demand.
“What time tomorrow, Mr. Nardone?”
“Four o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.”