Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
I know my sister doesn’t enjoy talking about it, but this is a war.
“I want to question Yuri,” I say, with no warning, cutting into my stuffed French toast.
They’ve been busy talking about places to cruise next summer, and I barge in with wanting to confront one of the biggest crime bosses in the history of Russia.
“Are you fucking crazy?” Ledger asks as a dark cloud crosses over the sun, casting us all into darkness.
Roman doesn’t say a word because I know he’ll always have my back without a fight. Ledger will have my back too, but he’ll have to be convinced.
“I just keep coming back to their names on my list,” I say.
“Yuri’s sons?” Ledger asks.
I nod. “Vlad and Dimitri,” I remind him of the names.
“Don’t you think you should let the police do their job?” my sister chimes in from the opposite end of the table. “I mean, they have investigators that can question him.”
“The police? Have you even seen them around?”
Roman takes a bite of bacon. “Nope. They’re too busy sticking their fingers up their asses.”
“Guy Adams pulled me over today.”
My sister’s worried eyes meet mine. “He did?”
Oh, that’s another likely reason he hates me. My sister has turned him down more times than a mother turns down their teen’s loud music in the car.
“Blamed me for the murders.”
“Of course, he did,” Roman snarls from across the table. “Dev, lots of people are going to point their fingers at you. You can’t let that shit phase you.”
“Fuck the cops. I say we question Yuri and figure out who’s behind this,” Ledger says.
See, a little convincing.
“What else did Guy say? Do they have any leads?” Greer asks.
“He’s a beat cop. Not homicide. He has no clue what’s going on with their investigation,” Ledger says.
I rub my fingers against my temple, trying to ease the tension lying underneath. “I’m so stressed.”
“It has nothing to do with the pretty little blonde at your club, right?” Ledger asks with an all-knowing laugh.
“What pretty blonde?” Greer’s ears perk up. I’m sure she’s ready to play matchmaker or some stupid shit.
“There is no girl.” I put an end to their inquiry.
“Oh, there’s a girl all right. And Dev can’t keep his eyes off her.”
“Shut up, Ledger.”
He laughs and Greer shifts in her chair. “Tell me more.” Of course, she wants to know more.
“Look, Swan may differ from my other girls, but that doesn’t mean I’d ever break my non-fraternization rule. Besides, we have bigger shit to worry about than getting laid.”
Greer hits me with a concerned stare. “I just worry about you, big brother. You’re under extreme stress. You should ask her out on a date? Relieve some tension?”
“Ask her out?” I laugh. “Are you fucking kidding me? This isn’t grade school, and I’m not asking her to be my date to the dance.”
Greer points her fork at me. “Stop being such an ass.”
Ledger and Roman chuckle and I shoot them each a warning stare.
“I’m not an ass, and I will not be asking out one of my employees.”
Greer holds up her hands in surrender. “Fine, let me hook you up with the single mom. Her name is Evangelina. She’s really nice.”
“No. I don’t want to be hooked up with anyone. I’m fine,” I nearly shout the words, wanting them to believe it as much as I’m trying to convince myself.
The conversation falls away and I barely listen as Roman tells us all how he met yet another woman and brought her to my club. I don’t think he’ll ever be serious about anyone, but neither will I, so we’ll always have that in common.
My mind drifts to a particular woman. A taken woman. A woman who currently holds residence inside my head. I’d love to evict her from my thoughts, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t.
I’m tired of jerking off to thoughts of her.
I’m tired of watching her flutter around the main floor of my club, waiting on guests, and getting embarrassed when she sees half-naked people walking around.
She can’t really want to be a Greedy Girl, can she?
Chapter 11
Chloe
* * *
Here’s my list of things I’ve done that haven't worked.
* * *
I’ve questioned a few of the girls, but got nowhere.
I’ve gone through the DMV database, looking at picture after picture of random people seeing if any of them match anyone I’ve seen at the club.
I’ve even followed a few employees after work, but it always leads to nothing.
I followed Devereaux late one night, but his car went incredibly fast and I couldn’t keep up. Once I finally made it to his place, because I know his address, he was already home, lights out.
I’ve checked into all potential leads, and they’ve all been a bust.
* * *
I slam my laptop shut, because I’ve been reading the case files all day and feel like my eyes are crossing. I crack my neck and stand, stretching my arms over my head.