Chapter 19
HARRISON
My ears perk up at Bianca’s words. “Wait, what?”
Bianca giggles softly. “I mean, of course I know that she must eat, but—”
“No, no. What you said before. Your sister… The other clubs she runs.”
She bites her lip. “Yeah, I thought that was pretty common knowledge.”
I can’t believe the thought didn’t occur to me before now.
Aces Underground is the most exclusive club in town, but Rouge’s other clubs allow access to non-members.
Chet told me as much last night when I was trying to get into Aces.
Maybe I could snoop around those clubs, gather some intel on Rouge, and finally figure out what the hell is going on with Maddox and Alissa.
“Which other clubs in town does your sister run?”
She taps her fingers on the table. “There are five total. Aces, of course. Then there’s the Noir Parlor, MINOS, the Jade Sanctum, and Second Star. I’m sure you’ve heard of some of them.”
I rub my chin. “I’ve been to Second Star a few times, but other than that, the rest are unfamiliar to me. I’m not much of a clubgoer. I only ever went to Aces with my buddy Maddox. I was kind of his wingman, and he always paid for my drinks.”
She nods. “They’re all really magnificent. Say what you want about my sister, but she has an eye for theming and décor. Each club has its own distinct vibe.”
“Are any of her other clubs open during the week?”
“Yeah. They don’t keep the limited hours that Aces does. They’re moneymakers for Rouge, where Aces is more of a den of power and influence. They’re open weekday and Saturday evenings. Closed on Sundays.”
“And you don’t need to be a member to go to those other clubs?” I ask.
“Correct. You just pay the cover, which can be pretty pricey.”
Luckily, money is something I’m not hurting for. I make a very good living as a doctor, especially compared to the squalor I grew up in. I don’t throw it around, but I can absolutely afford a few nights at some local clubs, especially if it’ll help me figure out what’s going on with Maddox.
“Have you been to any of these clubs?”
“I’ve visited them during the day, but I’ve never gone in the evenings,” Bianca responds. “Rouge refuses to let me in without the cover, even though I’m her own flesh and blood. So I’ve always avoided them on principle.”
“How about if I paid?”
She narrows her eyes. “Why would you want to go to one of my sister’s clubs? She just kicked you out of Aces last night. Surely you’re not hoping to give her any more business.”
“What if I am?” I grab Bianca’s hand across the table. “Would you come with me?”