Chapter 10 #2
My brain was obviously fried. I flopped back into the seat, tapping the video and moving to the next one.
Every night Indulgence was open, it was packed.
Two figures caught my eye, although they were doing nothing that should cause alarm.
In truth, they were positioned at a table where there was a direct line of sight with one of the cameras.
If they knew it was positioned in the painted rafters, they didn’t acknowledge it.
They had to be Russo’s men. But working for Sergio or Carmine? Even with limited duties, Sergio would have assigned men at his disposal for protection or action if required.
What they were doing was nursing their drinks while studying the crowd. I carefully pressed fast forward. Thirty minutes. Then to one hour later. They’d maybe said two words.
At hour two, they simply got up and walked from the frame, leaving their half full glasses.
That was not normal behavior. Not by a long shot.
Yet it also wasn’t incriminating in the least. I wrote down the video’s date for my own personal records and emailed the video’s link to one of our computer experts.
While the men’s faces were shadowed because of the club’s dim lighting, I had a feeling our expert computer team could figure it out.
Ralph was the best at what he did. If he could get clearer shots of either one, perhaps he could run it through the system for facial recognition.
Maybe Carmine Russo would be helpful or at least expose his betrayal of the alliance.
At least if Sinclair kept his cool, which he wasn’t always known for doing.
At this point, I was at a complete dead end, the realization frustrating as hell.
Leaning back, I stretched out my legs and thought about what the dead man had told me.
I’d also checked the logs for the warehouses.
Two of the men in the group waiting outside had been our regular drivers.
No wonder they’d looked freaking terrified.
They’d likely been dragged into the delivery at gunpoint.
I rubbed my jaw. I’d been so distracted by the woman and her early departure I’d lost all sense of how I handled situations of that nature.
I’d need to check with Donatello to make sure they were the ones he’d selected to remain alive.
Fuck. I loathed making stupid mistakes. They should have been the ones interrogated.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
I tossed my pen onto the desk, more frustrated than ever. Maybe the months of peace and prosperity were the problem. I’d forgotten my training.
Another image of the girl flashed into my mind. Was the reason my instinct or something less sinister?
Maybe I should stop fixating on her. She was just a single woman, but how many had been used as ringers? I returned to my desk, realizing it was getting late.
I’d accomplished very little in the way of paperwork. Given that the club was closed tonight, at least I’d have time to check over every employee thoroughly and make a list of those I wanted to have a long chat with.
With another few seconds of resting my eyes, I was inundated with visions of the stunning woman. Perhaps the reason I’d become so enthralled with her was because of her attitude. Typically, someone didn’t respond the way she had when a stranger offered assistance.
That is unless she was being harassed or worse.
I sat forward, dropping my head into my hands. Goddamn it. Her defiance and the subtle yet effective way she’d pushed me aside had awakened a hunger that right now I had no time to explore. Not with the Italians bearing down on us.
However, the urge was controlling and sadistic, a need that I typically kept buried under a layer of respect.
Women were enjoyable creatures. I’d never denied myself the pleasure, but I also hadn’t walked away from a night of passion, a dinner, or a single meeting with the same raw desire I was experiencing now.
Fuck it.
With Donatello dropping by my house later, maybe the best thing to do was to head home.
Maybe after a good night’s sleep, I’d be able to think more clearly. I’d also need to figure out the best way of sharing what I’d discovered with Alexander. I could only hope my brother was in a decent mood.
He didn’t appreciate mistakes from anyone, especially his family. He was just like our father. Tenacious. Brutal. Funny. Powerful.
Yeah, Pops was one of a kind.
Okay, what the fuck was wrong with me that I was stuck in the past all of a sudden?
Even before I stood, for the first time in years, I allowed myself a moment to grieve a loss from my youth. A loss so tragic that I’d wallowed in the pain for a long time. Too long. Yet the agony had used teeth and claws, dragging me into the pits of hell I didn’t wish on anyone.
Hell, no. I wasn’t doing this.
It was my father who’d taken me aside, providing his perfected form of tough love. He’d explained in no uncertain terms that grief was in and of itself a weakness, enemies enjoying a feeding frenzy the moment they captured the scent.
That’s why only the women of our family had shed a single tear in public after our father’s murder. Privately was something else.
Why was desiring another woman providing me with thoughts and heavy angst regarding the past?
Maybe a visit to my spry grandmother would be worth her chiding me for not settling down like my brothers had managed to do.
I turned off the computer and pushed back my chair, grabbing my jacket and heading for the door.
Lilian Prince was a formidable lady who read everything from tea leaves to tarot cards, and was able to put hexes on people.
A link to our Cajun heritage. I tossed the jacket over my shoulder, eager for a frosty beverage.
I’d made it all the way to the door leading outside when Emmeline caught me.
“Oh, darling brother of mine. Can I ask for a favor?” She batted her eyelashes as she always did when about to ask for the worst favor. Usually something grimy.
“You already asked for your weekly favor.”
“How was the ballet?” She laughed.
“Did you try and set me up?”
She seemed thoroughly confused. “What are you talking about?”
I knew my sister better than anyone. She wasn’t lying. “Nothing. Irina Novikov was very… friendly.”
“Ah. She was very eager to see you. Maybe you need an older woman in your life.”
“Very funny. What’s the favor? If you ask me to change your oil or dig holes for an additional piece of fencing, you can call someone else.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “You’re the only handyman in the family. Now, unless you’d like me to hire a big, burly, very handsome personal construction worker to be at my steady beck and call…”
As Emmeline was the only girl of the family and much younger, we treated her with kid gloves, so much so she usually balked at our interference. She was right. I was the only one in the family who could do anything remotely handyman like.
“What do you need?”
“The toilet in the guest bath is constantly running. I’m afraid it’s leaking. Can you stop by on the way home and just make sure? I’ll call a plumber in the morning.”
My sweet sister had been insistent on the house purchase by the corporation. She loved being in the heart of the action, adoring the sights and sounds of the city when her four siblings preferred blocking it out. In doing so, she’d inherited a list of issues typical for an older house.
And I’d been the one to handle most of the work. Usually emergencies. Which meant I had a key to her house on my keyring.
When I didn’t answer right away, she pulled something she had behind her back.
“A bribe.” Her voice was singsong, another method used to get her way.
“You did not,” I challenged, laughing. She’d made my favorite cream cheese chocolate brownie with icing. It was the single sweet I adored, a leftover from my childhood.
“Oh, yes, I did.” She waved it in front of me, pulling it away when I dared try to grab it.
“You drive a hard bargain, but I’ll do it.” I snatched the brownie, shoving it into my mouth. I had to admit, the girl was an amazing baker, her sweets to die for. “As long as you answer a question.”
“Thank you very much and what’s the question?”
When she started to walk away, I snagged her arm. “Did a girl come to see you? Perhaps, oh, I don’t know, a girl from the ballet company?”
“A girl?” The look she was giving me was as if she could see right through my veiled attempts at garnering information.
“Yes, a striking brunette with majestic forest green eyes who just happened to be one of the performers last night.”
As she’d done before, she folded her arms, the look in her eyes one of mischief. I’d stepped right into it. “Uh-huh. Majestic forest green eyes? Really, brother? Why do you need to know? Maybe I should ask what did you do?”
“What do you mean what did I do? I need to know because I asked you.” My sister was likely the most hardheaded of the family.
She was also the one least interested in our less than legal activities.
She had no desire to be a part of that world.
That’s why she was scrutinizing me in almost the same manner as the unknown girl.
“Emme. Please. Just answer the question. I have my reasons.”
“Did you touch her? Did you hurt her?”
“Emme. Jesus Christ. No, I didn’t hurt her. I was intrigued. Okay? She’s an incredible dancer.”
She continued to shake her head. “Yeah, so she is. She’s also an old friend of mine who dropped by to see me. And don’t you dare try and touch her. She’s a good girl.”
“What’s her name? Why is she here?”
“Oh, no, you don’t. She’s not one of your conquests, brother. Forget about it.”
“That’s not why I need to know.” My frustration was showing, which was pushing my sister into silence. She was highly protective of her friends.
“Then spill it or you don’t get a thing.”
How in the hell was I supposed to tell my sister about the morning’s activities?
Or the night before? Maybe she should be forced to understand the reason we were so highly protective of our family and our business.
My mother would kick my ass if I did. “It’s important I know.
I’m not going to hurt her.” I could immediately tell I’d used the wrong choice of words.
Emme took a step away, shaking her head. “Mum is the word. You’ll need to get whatever information you need from her. But for God’s sake, don’t treat her like an enemy.”
“She’s Italian.”
“Yes, so what?” Now she was becoming exasperated.
I glanced around at the remaining customers in the various shops. This wasn’t the time or place for getting into an argument.
“So we need to be careful who we’re friends with.” I kept my voice low, even taking a step closer.
Which prompted her to take a longer stride away.
“We? Don’t you mean me? I’m a big girl, Jaxon. I can befriend anyone I want to.”
When she started to walk away, I groaned. “I didn’t mean that. I just want you to be careful.”
“Like I said… But I’ll offer you a piece of advice. Don’t be your typical rough around the edges self when you meet her. Unless you’ve already done that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She pressed her hand on my chest, acting as if she was smoothing out the edges. “I just mean you’re very edgy lately. She has a lot on her plate and you won’t help matters.”
“I’m not edgy!” As soon as I snapped, I regretted it.
The moment she noticed the specks of blood on my shirt she shook her head. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing for you to worry about.”
“You can’t let well enough alone. Can you?”
“It’s business, Emme.”
“Business. We own a business. This one right here. We don’t need to continue being those other people.”
“Those other people have allowed us to have this business and all the fancy cars and houses you seem to enjoy.” I even threw out my arms. “We also own a corporation that takes times and precedence.”
She allowed me to see the fire of her fury. “Fine. That’s why you’ll remain single. No woman can tolerate a guy who goes out and bloodies someone on a regular basis. You’re an asshole, Jaxon. Leave my friend alone.”
Before she could walk away, I grabbed the second brownie.
Even while only being in her twenties, my sister had the uncanny ability of making me feel as if I was the younger of us two, chastising my behavior with joy in her heart.
She also adored embarrassing all four brothers whenever she had the opportunity.
Unfortunately, the woman was usually right.
I watched Emme walk away while munching on my favorite treat.
And all I could think about was the woman from before.