10. Collins #2
He kept saying that. Still, I’d seen what even his nightmares were doing to him, too.
He was just as scared as I was. “I hope so.” Every time I tried to tell myself that, little things kept creeping in.
Maybe Kyle was right. I needed to tell Miceli everything.
Doing so, regrettably, meant telling him I’d been lying to him the whole time.
He specifically said no lying. Combine that with what happened last week, and I’d for sure get fired. Nope, it was best to keep my secret.
Once Kyle left, I tucked into the book I’d been reading before Robbie showed up.
The escapism in reading helped settle my mind.
I hadn’t realized how much I needed the downtime until I was right in the middle of it.
I needed to put aside the pressing issues of being stuck in a no-win situation and concentrate on the present.
When the time was right, maybe I’d have the solution to our troubles.
Until then, I couldn’t dwell. Dwelling caused me to fuck up in more ways than one.
Miceli
The minute Ellory called, I headed out. We met at a small jazz lounge in a secluded upscale hotel I sometimes frequented. Benny was down at the bar while Antonio stood sentinel as a lookout. Whatever caught Ellory’s attention, I had to know, even if it meant meeting with him away from my home.
“Took you long enough,” Ellory blustered, pointing to the empty glass across from him. On the table sat a bottle of the establishment’s best bourbon. He only drank that when he was neck deep in shit. “Pour you a glass and we’ll get to work.
I frowned. “That bad?” When he didn’t answer, I did as he asked, filling the tumbler in front of me halfway.
“Depends on how you look at it,” Ellory grumbled. “I think it’s good and bad news.” He produced a manilla envelope and pulled out a stack of photos. “Remember her?”
Gritting my teeth, I nodded. “Yes.” How could I forget her? She’d been a whirlwind of chaos in my house, turning everything upside down. Just the sight of her now made me nauseous. Allowing my dick to make judgement calls was going to get me killed.
“Looks like she’s been meeting with Alphonso Tripoli for the last six weeks.
Seems they have a thing for each other or.
..” It was the or part that bothered me more.
She was a high class escort of sorts, a woman who knew how to get by in high society and within our society.
I’d used her because sometimes it was easier to find a woman for the night in my line of work than it was to find a person who’d accept who I was and what I did.
Ellory shrugged. “She meets with him at the same time every week and in the same location. I thought about sending one of my people in to observe. See if I could catch a conversation or two, but...”
“No, don’t risk your people,” I said, agreeing with his non-verbal assessment of the situation. “How long are the meetings?”
“Three hours,” Ellory answered. “I suspect she fucks Alphonso or one of his men after she spills her guts.”
“More than likely.” I sighed. “I didn’t talk business while I was around her or, should I say, when I was around her.”
“What could this little bird be telling Alphonso about?” Ellory quirked a brow. “Since she was your longest bed fellow to date, she must’ve had some kind of dirt on you.”
I racked my brain trying to think of anything I might have let slipped then it hit me. “Collins.”
Ellory frowned. “Why though?”
I downed the contents of my glass and shook my head. It was a waste of good liquor, but I also needed a beat to think. “If we go by our assumptions, maybe she’s telling Alphonso about my new employee.”
“Are you thinking she’d use Collins as a leak? Or are we back to thinking Collins is Stephanie Hollis?”
“Both?” I couldn’t put my finger on why I’d become more convinced over the last few weeks that Collins was Stephanie, other than they almost looked alike and her brother’s hair wasn’t white-blond either.
They were hiding. I’d become more convinced of that after our little spat when I walked in on her and Robbie.
Now, she was putting as much distance between us as she could, and I didn’t like it.
“Explain.” Ellory poured himself another drink before shuffling the photos back into the envelope he pulled them out of.
“Benny and Antonio have been working out with Lucas. They said the boy’s injury was a bullet wound to the shoulder.
I don’t know if he got sloppy in hiding himself or what, but he took off his shirt for the first time since they arrived.
The scar is pretty bad, according to them, and I bet if we lined up his scar with the puddle of blood on the floor of Kyle’s closet, they’d match.
” I uncapped the bottle and poured myself another glass.
“Just because he has a scar there doesn’t mean it’s him, though,” Ellory retorted. “Could be from anything.”
I nodded. He had a point. A scar in the long run meant nothing. Happenstance, quite frankly. “He’s also not a natural platinum blond.”
“Well, I could have told you that.” Ellory laughed.
“His hair color matches Kyle Hollis,” I replied in a droll tone.
“Son of a bitch, how did you find out?”
“Benny and Antonio noticed the other day in the gym. His hair is curly like Kyle’s as well.
Seems Collins and Lucas haven’t been keeping up with his disguise.
” Of course, again, this was all conjecture on my part.
I wouldn’t know if it was factual until Collins told the truth or I uncovered the entire plot.
“Shit.” Ellory sat back. “We need to find out with certainty. You’re blind in this situation and with that woman talking to your enemy, you’re in real trouble.”
I agreed. “I have this as well.” Producing my phone, I placed it on the table, then played the video.
The same one I made Collins look at. It was a dick move, making her watch Robbie screw another woman because I told him to.
Some possessive part of me wanted her to see she couldn’t trust a guy like him, while another part thought of it as being revenge for trying to take something—someone—from me.
Hitting play, I sat back as the scene unfolded on screen.
I’d keep it for blackmail and perhaps, after learning what I had, use it to scare Brooke from ever going back to Alphonso.
I should have known that crazy bitch was feeding him information.
I had chalked the incident in the foyer, the night of the gala, up to Brooke being a stupid, petty bitch, trying to hurt Collins.
Now, I wondered if she’d been hoping to cause a scene and get Collins angry enough to say something incriminating.
Thankfully, Collins hadn’t taken the bait, and neither had I.
“I’ve seen that ring before,” Ellory said. “Haven’t I?”
“Yes.” Running the pad of my thumb around the lip of my glass, I contemplated telling him the truth. “That’s my bonus from the Dimitri contract.”
Ellory paled. “What was she doing with it?”
“I went to the gala. I couldn’t go by myself without looking suspicious, so I took her.
” Obviously, now, knowing the truth, I’d fucked myself the minute I walked into the event.
It also explained why those who were slated to be there weren’t.
If I had to guess, the bitch ratted me out.
I exhaled slowly. What to do? What to do?
“You were fucked over that night, too,” Ellory hissed. “Weren’t you?”
“Now we know why.” I finished my drink before standing. “Is there anything else you can tell me?”
He shook his head. “Without knowing if Collins is telling the truth or not, I can’t be sure. Just keep your wits about you. Don’t go fucking her without us knowing for sure who she is.”
“Nothing to worry about there,” I said. “She’s already put distance between us, and I can’t remember the last time she said hello to me.”
“Good, that’s all the better for you,” Ellory replied. “Send me a copy of that video, and I’ll add it to the file we have now.”
I gave him a crooked grin. “You sure it’s not for your personal consumption?”
He flipped me off. “Asshole.”
With a wave, I was off. Benny and Antonio were in front of me and behind me.
Now that I knew who the mole was, I had to figure out how much Brooke was aware of, and who she was selling the information to besides Alphonso.
I also needed to figure out if Collins was really Stephanie.
Because, if she was, I had a whole new set of problems dropped into my lap.
“We’re going home,” I said to my men. “Who has eyes on Brooke right now besides Ellory?”
“Frankie does,” Benny answered. “He’s been reporting back frequently since the night Robbie hooked up with her and took the jewelry.”
“Good. Have him report to me in the morning,” I stated. “I need to know what else he’s found out.”
“I’ll let him know now.” Benny sent the text while Antonio got behind the wheel.
Next on my list of things to do, find Collins and make her talk to me.
Our relationship, even as boss and staff was strained.
Our pseudo-friendship more so. I wanted to protect her from whatever was going on in her life, but I couldn’t do that if she didn’t let me in a little.
Even if what she told me hurt me more than continuing with the lie.
When we arrived at the house, the lights were off, except for a few in the cottage.
As I started across the walk to the backdoor, the door to the cottage opened and Lucas exited carrying Rocca; Collins was hot on his heels.
Fear knotted my gut. Had something happened to my daughter while I’d been out?
Had Brooke used the opportunity to strike back at me, or worse, Tripolli’s men?
I hurried to their side. Rocca was asleep in Lucas’ arms. She was unharmed. Some of the worry and fear bled from me. “Did something happen?” My tone was harsh. I winced when Collins jerked, taking a step back from me. Damn it, could I do nothing right in her eyes? “Is everyone all right?”
“We’re fine,” Collins quipped, narrowing her eyes at me.
In what? Anger? Resentment? Both? I couldn’t blame her if it was both.
I’d done everything wrong with her. With her, I’d been impulsive and irrational.
I led with anger, even though I had no reason to be mad.
She confounded me. Tied me in knots. I didn’t like the easily frustrated version of myself whenever I was around her.
“Let me get the door.” I hurried in front of them, opening up the house so Lucas could carry her in. “I’ll get her up to her room now.”
“If you don’t mind, I can do it,” Lucas whispered. He didn’t wait for my answer. He brushed past me, heading up the stairs to Rocca’s bedroom.
“What in God’s name happened tonight?” I tried to keep my tone level, but the worry and fright of seeing Rocca in Lucas’ arms, along with what I’d learned from Ellory, had me coming out of my skin.
“Nothing,” Collins said. “Rocca wanted to hang out with us. So, I said it was fine. I made us dinner. She watched movies with Lucas and I, then fell asleep about forty minutes ago. I didn’t want her here alone, so I waited for you to get back.”
I sagged. Of course, Rocca would come to Collins. “I’m sorry. I’ve had a terrible night, and I took it out on you and Lucas. Forgive me?”
“Nothing to forgive. I get it. I’m the same way with my brother since his accident. She really is a good kid, Miceli.” Well, at least she said my name. That was something. “Do you want to talk about what happened tonight?”
This could be my opening. The one chance I might have to get the truth from Collins. “If you don’t mind. I could put on coffee for us or grab another bottle of wine out of the cellar?”
She paled. “No wine. Coffee’s fine.”
I chuckled. “Sounds perfect. I’ll go up and say goodnight to Rocca, then prepare our late-night snack.”
“Sure. I’ll wait for Lucas to return.”
“The entertainment room is fine,” I said as I exited the kitchen. “If you want to wait there.”
Collins said nothing else as I made my way to my daughter’s room.
Passing Lucas in the hall, I thanked him for his help.
The boy’s gaze softened before he answered with a “no problem.” Brooke’s involvement with this whole mess had gotten the better of me.
The paranoia of the situation only put me on higher alert, which caused me to bark at people who didn’t deserve my ire.
I needed to get myself under control before I did or said something stupid.
Because if I didn’t, I might get someone hurt or worse, myself.
After tucking in Rocca and kissing her forehead, I returned to the kitchen to make us a pot of coffee.
Lucas was gone already, and Collins sat on the couch waiting for me.
I could kick myself for all the terrible things I’d done to her.
She drove me crazy, yet saying as much out loud would be an excuse for taking advantage of her.
That day in the kitchen, Collins braced against the sink, my fingers bringing her to climax in my arms..
. I’d masturbated to that image more times than I could count.
It’d also been wrong of me. I’d used my power and position to seduce her.
Given half the chance and if we hadn’t been interrupted, I would have had sex with her right there.
There was no doubt in my mind.
Now, I had to right the wrongs. If I was going to earn her trust back or at all, I needed to start with a few truths.
The first thing I had to tell her was about Brooke, because sooner rather than later, the woman would return.
Once Brooke realized she couldn’t come and go like she pleased from any of my establishments or homes, she’d be here demanding answers.
I couldn’t put Collins or Rocca in any more danger than I already had.
I had to fight back.
Carrying the tray into the entertainment room, I grinned. “Here we are, some coffee and danishes, courtesy of Mrs. P.”
Collins’ eyes lit up. “That woman can spoil me all day.” She laughed. “So, what did you want to talk about?”
I sat beside her. “What I am about to tell you stays between us.” I sucked in a deep breath and hoped by the time I was done speaking; Collins would open up as well.
“That doesn’t sound ominous at all,” she muttered, before taking a bite of her treat. “Does it have something to do with why you left earlier?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
She frowned, putting her danish down, exchanging it for her coffee. “Okay, lay it on me. What happened?”
“Brooke is a mole.”