Chapter 4
I leanedback in my office chair, facing my brothers and sister. The only person missing was my aunt. She didn’t have much to do with the business, but I kept her informed about the more important things. Her days were busy at the charity she managed, and laying all this on her would only stress her out, especially with things up in the air as they were.
Getting Dimitris, Ari, Thea, and Alexander all in the same room on such short notice was a Herculean feat, but I was grateful they’d dropped what they were doing and agreed to meet. I’d told them about my conversation with Franklin, every word. The disbelief and mistrust on their faces mirrored my feelings.
Something didn’t smell right. Half a billion dollars and Franklin expected me to believe he’d let me keep it? Even suggesting I could kill Claire only meant that instead of killing me, he’d have me sent to prison for her death. Either way, that fund was his.
“It’s too risky,” Alexander said, standing next to Dimitris, who’d taken the chair facing my desk. Lex was the youngest at twenty-nine and much like Ari in temperament. He was cautious, meticulous, and observant. If we needed a calm, even approach to something, he was the guy for the job. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Dimitris, one year my junior, leaned forward in his chair and scoffed as he twirled a cigarette in his fingers. “It’s half a billion dollars.” Impulsive. He was the type to ask for forgiveness. He was the more secretive of the five of us, but none of us gave him any grief, especially me. I had more demons in my closet than Satan had in his army.
Thea’s eyes cut from Dimitris to me.
As loyalty went, she was my fiercest protector. During a meeting a few years back, one of the men at the table threatened me. He was found the next morning with his throat cut. Equally beautiful and deadly. Most people never saw the strike coming. Only a man with a strong fortitude would even stand a chance at taming that cobra.
She pushed away from the corner where she’d been tucked and said, “I’ll be right back.” She slid out of the room, and the discussion continued.
“If that rat is telling the truth, he’s baiting us,” Ari said. He shouldered the office door, hand in his pocket. Age-wise, he was in the middle. The two of us were closest. He was as tall as me, but he’d trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His street name was Wick. I hadn’t witnessed him killing anyone with a pencil, but I didn’t doubt he could.
A knock came from the door, and Ari moved away. Thea pushed her way through and glided to the desk with her laptop tucked under her arm. “It’s true.”
“What?” asked Alexander.
Thea smiled, her bright white teeth framed by red-stained lips. “You think I’m letting Lucas walk into the lion’s den with no proof there will be a payout? I found the bank and checked the balance.”
Alexander shook his head. “This is crazy.”
“Especially knowing what Momma believed about marriage,” Ari added.
“Franklin said Lucas could kill her. That’s in the vows, man.” Dimitris teased.
Alexander rolled his eyes. “We need to be serious.”
“I think he knows we’re the vigilantes, or at least suspects it,” Ari said.
Finally, after holding my tongue for most of the meeting, I nodded. “That’s what my gut says, too. Both Franklin and his daughter showing up on the same day gives me pause.”
“My vote is a power struggle. Franklin wants to keep what’s his, and Claire wants to take it.” Thea took my seat behind the desk, crossing her legs. “Occam’s razor. The simplest solution is usually the right one.”
That was my first thought, too, but as I had time to digest my encounter with Claire and contrast it with Franklin, I wasn’t so sure. It certainly was a mystery, and against my better judgment, I found myself wanting to play detective.
I’d made up my mind before I’d called the meeting with the hopes they’d see things my way. However, it was clear they wouldn’t be on board. “I’m going to the party.”
Dissent followed.
“No,” Lex growled. “It’s a setup, damn it.”
I set my jaw and glared at him. “Just because I seek out your opinion doesn’t mean you get to make the decisions. I’m still the boss of this family. If he knows it’s us causing him all the trouble, I want to keep my enemy closer.”
Pushing off the door, Ari let out a string of profanity, gave me a hard look, and slammed the door as he left.
Alexander shook his head and pulled a pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket. He muttered on his way to the door. “Ari’s right. This is stupid. You keep talking about the promise we made to Momma, but if we’re all dead, who’s going to keep it then, huh?”
“Lex, I know this is a risk, but he’s making a move against us. How can we prepare when we don’t know what’s coming? Maybe if I sit at his table, it’ll give me access to information.”
Dimitris stood. “You have my support. Get the money and duck out. We’ll worry about the marriage part later,” he said as he met Lex at the door. “Loan me a cigarette.”
The two argued about his borrowing habits as they left, leaving me alone with Thea.
I turned to her. “Got any input?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes. I want your support.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I also want you to keep tabs on my maybe wife-to-be. I want to know everything—who she calls friends, her enemies, down to what fabric softener she uses. If she’s making a play against her father, I want to know about it. Maybe this is an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and be rid of the entire Benoit stain.”
She stood and lifted her chin. “Consider it done.”
“I’d say don’t kill anyone, but we both know you won’t listen.” I smiled.
Her lips curved up. “Do you have a tux ready for tonight?”
I shook my head.
“It’ll be ready when you get home.”
“Thank you, Thea.”
She rounded the desk and stopped in front of me. “Do you want me there?”
“No, Claire saw you earlier today. I don’t want them to think we’re making any moves. We aren’t ready yet.”
“All right. I’ll see you later, Lucas.” She walked to the door and paused. “Be careful. I’m not the only snake out there.”
I acknowledged the warning as she walked out of the office. If nothing else, I’d witness Claire interacting with Franklin. Perhaps that’d tell me what I needed to know without ever asking a question.
The thirty-minute driveto Nocturnal gave me too much time to think, and most of my thoughts centered on Claire. I couldn’t understand why I was fixating on her. She was a Benoit. That alone meant she couldn’t be trusted.
She’d told me not to believe Franklin, but I didn’t have any reason to believe her either. I’d seen the fear in her eyes, though. The way her body and voice trembled. There was frightened, and then there was terrified.
No matter how many times I told myself that there was no such thing as coincidence, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Claire had no idea her father would be darkening the doorway of my restaurant. Then again, what if they’d rehearsed that encounter? Trying to make me lower my guard, make me think I could trust one of them?
By the time I arrived at the party, my head was killing me, and I was no closer to figuring out what I believed. My decision to attend against the wishes of Ari and Alexander nagged at me. Their reservations were understandable, and we’d already lost enough people. They didn’t want to lose me. I got it, but they didn’t make the promise that I made to Mom… to destroy Benoit. It felt like he was being handed to me on a silver platter. I just needed to be careful of the C4 strapped to the underside of it.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but this unassuming brownstone wasn’t it. I’d have driven by completely unaware this was where Franklin and his ilk met, especially with a name like Nocturnal. I’d expected something more gritty-looking.
I was greeted by a woman—make that a girl, I realized as I got closer. There was no way she was legal, and she had on a skimpy outfit that would have earned Thea a reprimand and a demand for a clothing change. What was this little girl doing out here at this club? The answer to that question sickened me, and it was hard to ignore the urge to sweep her off her feet and get her out of there. She should be home with her parents, doing homework.
Yes, I valued her life, but there were others out there in Benoit’s organization just like her, and this was one for the many. I tried not to look at her as I walked in. The sadness, dejection, and fear couldn’t be ignored. What was worse was that I used to trade in this.
When I point my finger at Franklin and call him a monster, I had four pointing back. If it wouldn’t devastate my little sister, I might find a way to take myself out with Franklin. Two devils getting their due at the same time. I wouldn’t even pray for absolution as I went.
Pushing the painful thought away, I stepped inside. It was darker, much darker than the outside would suggest. No, oppressive was a better word. Demons lived here. I knew because the ones lurking in this place were old friends of mine.
“Lucas,” Franklin greeted me almost immediately and shook my hand. “I’m glad you could make it.”
The man I met earlier today and the man standing in front of me were two different people. Senators, members of Congress, and other influential people were the reason for the change. Franklin was playing the part of Dr. Jekyll tonight, but I saw Hyde just below the surface.
“I couldn’t, in good conscience, turn down such a gracious invitation. Thank you for welcoming me into your club.”
“Why don’t I introduce you to a few of my closest friends?”
As he was introducing me to some of the guests, I spotted Claire, and her back was turned to me. She was…making me wish I could skip the introductions.
The demur little librarian from earlier today had turned into a siren. Claire Benoit was the rose under the glass in a room full of over-made, over-teased, mundane women.
The floor-length red dress she was wearing popped against her creamy white skin, and the back plunged almost indecently. It hugged every curve and defied gravity. I imagined rubbing the back of my hand along her spine and relishing the feel of her soft skin against my calloused hands.
The more people Franklin introduced me to, the thinner my patience wore. I had yet to see Claire from the front, and the curiosity was killing me. If she was as delectable from the front as she was from the back, I’d be taking a cold shower when I got home.
When I realized we were moving in her direction, it was all I could do to keep myself from bolting forward, grabbing her, and taking her somewhere much more private.
“Claire,” Franklin said.
She turned with the grace of a ballerina, and every thought I had was chased away. She was downright breathtaking. Shock registered on her face, but only for a moment. “Hello, Daddy.”
“This is the man I was telling you about earlier. Lucas Kalantzis.”
Her hand slipped into mine, and I brought the back of it to my lips. “A pleasure, Miss Benoit.”
The tremble was slight, but I felt it against my lips. It brought me more satisfaction than I was willing to admit. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Kalantzis.”
“Please call me Lucas.”
“Claire.”
I slid my finger to her wrist, and by gauging her rapid pulse, she was either nervous or excited. Maybe both.
Before Franklin left us alone, he tasked her with giving me a tour of the club. While I enjoyed her walking next to me, what I really wanted to do was follow a few feet behind. I suspected she walked with the grace of a prima ballerina. The way she held her shoulders, the lift of her chin. She was magnificent.
When we reached the gardens, she waved her hand over the expanse. “As you can see, we have a wide variety of flowers. In the spring, there’s rarely a weekend when we don’t have someone getting married.”
I was more interested in the flower whose arm was still wrapped around mine. “I understand why you wanted to start here.”
“It’s nice this time of night.”
I glanced at her. Her eyes were closed, and I caught her taking a deep breath. What would it be like to take her face in my hands and claim those lips?
The sounds inside the club faded the deeper we wandered into the garden. The beauty out here was in such contrast to what was inside.
“Do you spend a lot of time out here?”
It seemed the trance was broken when she pulled away from me and glared. “What are you doing here? You told me no.”
“Circumstances have changed.” I dropped my voice low and watched as she swallowed hard. I took a step forward, purposefully invading her personal space.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t step back. “What do you want from me?”
“Money.”
When her bottom lip trembled, I was taken off guard. “I offered you money.”
“His offer was better.”
The color drained from her face. “It was?” If I weren’t staring straight at her, I wasn’t sure I would have known what she said without seeing her lips move.
“Why did you come to me?” I had Franklin’s reason, or the one he wanted me to believe. I was curious what her reasons were.
A shiver rolled over her. She held my gaze, an explosive battle waging in those jewels. “The Wolf Butcher. I’ve done as much research on your family as I could. There wasn’t a lot of information, but the conclusion I came to was that you were dangerous. You wouldn’t fear Franklin Benoit, and I know he fears you.”
What an interesting approach. Was she trying to sway me to her side of the war? “Is that so?”
She glanced in the direction of the party and returned her attention to me, nodding. “I overheard him talking one night. I know he said he feared you, and then something about vigilantes that were costing him money.” I don’t know if she realized it, but her left hand slid to her right wrist and played with the wide bracelet wrapped around it. She was nervous, but I didn’t get the feeling I was the source.
“Vigilantes?” I wanted to believe her, but my distrust of Franklin colored my opinion. What if they were working together to flush my family out? Father and daughter conspiring to take out a common threat. What if the whole thing was a lie? That amount of money seemed absurd, but Thea had verified it, so I knew it was real. What was the game here? “Are you close with your father?”
Her eyes dilated until a sliver of the color remained. “That’s none of your business.”
Before I could think it through, I snaked my arm around her waist and pulled her flush against me. When she gasped, I expected it to be backed up with flying fists, but instead, her palms stayed flat against my chest. I brought my face closer to hers. “It is my business when I have two Benoits wanting me to get married.”
Her face paled, and her eyes cut to the door.
“Are you close with your father? If I have to ask again, I’m leaving.”
“I…”
She was close to breaking. I could feel it, taste it.
“Fine.” I pushed her away, making her stumble.
I was almost to the door when she flew in front of me.
“Please, wait. Please.”
My plan was to use their greed to topple the entire Benoit enterprise, but between arriving at the club and seeing her, I’d changed course. If I could get her on my side, maybe we could take him out. She’d be indebted to me, and using that, I could not only take them down, but their associates too. “Are you going to tell me what I want to know?”
Her bottom lip caught in her teeth. She wasn’t trying to be sensual, but my body didn’t seem to care. I’d never wanted to kiss a woman as badly as her. I wanted that soft lip between my teeth and her breathlessly calling my name.
Stepping closer, she clasped my hand in hers and tugged at me to walk with her. We delved deeper into the garden, and when we were as far from the door as possible, she stopped.
She looked down and away. “No, we’re not close.” Slowly, she lifted her gaze to mine. “He hates me.” The sadness in her voice grabbed my heart.
My dad and I were close, as he was with all my siblings. As soon as we were old enough to understand, we started working with him. He’d taught me everything. Losing him right after my sister had been the nail in the coffin for my mom. They’d loved each other, and it made sense when her heart gave out.
“If you’re not going to tell the truth, I can’t help you.” I’d stalked back to the door when she caught up. She grabbed my hand, and the electricity momentarily froze me. I turned to her. She had no idea how much I hated liars. I’d rather call a thief friend. At least I knew what to expect. “What?”
“I’m telling the truth. We’re not close.”
“You realize if we take him down, I’m taking over Benoit, right? You will never take control of your family’s business.”
Her lips pinched together, and fire ignited in her eyes. Before her hand could reach my face, I grabbed her wrist and squeezed. “And that won’t be tolerated.”
Her lips curled as she leaned in, lifting on her toes to get in my face. “I’d do anything to get away from the family business.”
My eyebrow hitched up, and I raked my gaze over her. “Anything?” I moved like lightning, twisting her arm behind her back and drawing her close enough that our breath mingled. “We don’t have to be married for that.”
The words doused the fire burning in her eyes and replaced it with terror. I knew she was attracted to me by the way she’d gawked each time we met. Surely, she’d felt the heat of a man’s touch before and knew what marriage would mean.