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)
“Remember when I kicked Guy’s ass in school?” Roman asks, grinning. “I think he cried for days after that.”
“I say this time we kick Brandon’s ass. If there’s something going on in this club he has to know about it, right?” I ask.
Ledger and Roman both nod. “You’d think. Maybe you should start asking the girls at the club if they’re involved. Bring them in one by one.”
I nod. “Good idea. I’ll have to question Adele too.”
“No way would I think she has anything to do with this.”
“Why?” I look at Roman.
“She’s too nice. She wouldn’t hurt these girls,” Roman says.
I take another sip of my whiskey. “Well, who would hurt them?”
And that’s the question…
Chapter 28
Chloe
* * *
It’s been two hours since I called the cops to have them head to Club Throwdown. I don’t know what Devereaux has planned, but I couldn’t let him go into a war zone, guns blazing, without backup.
Finn hasn’t updated me on anything.
It’s nearly closing time, and I don’t know if I should head to Devereaux’s house after work, or to my place.
“Are you going out after work?” Panti asks Kitty.
“I was thinking about it,” she answers.
They’re standing near Raven at the bar, and I pretend I’m cleaning and not eavesdropping.
“What about you girls?” Panti asks me and Raven.
Here goes pretending. “I’m so broke. I’m barely making enough to pay my bills.”
Panti gives me a strange look. “You make lots. You’re always busy.”
“I have lots of bills.” God, I hope they buy this. I want them to trust me enough to offer me a side hustle. A little prostitution on the side. If they even know anything about it.
Raven wipes the bar with a terry rag, staring at Panti over my shoulder. “Ok, listen, I’ve been thinking about bringing you in on this anyway.” Raven moves closer. “Do you want to make some extra money?”
“Yes.” Finally, I’ve hit pay dirt. This is it.
“I don’t think you can trust her,” Panti says, winding a dark curl around her finger.
“You can absolutely trust me.” I try not to sound too eager. “I need money badly.”
Raven studies me a beat and must decide I’m worthy. “Now, this has to stay between us. Got me? Like no one else can know.” Raven gives me a look like if I ever breathe a word, she’d have me killed.
Could she be behind all of this?
“I won’t say anything, Scout’s honor.” I hold up three fingers.
Raven leans closer. “I work for Sugar. She runs a sort of escort service for the women who work here.”
“Escort how?”
“Not everyone can afford a membership here. I mean, have you seen the prices? It’s astronomical.” She continues wiping the bar in the same spot. “So, we cater to the not so privileged.”
“To people who aren’t members?”
Raven nods and the rest of the girls, bored with the conversation, leave. “Right. Sugar has a huge list of clients. Now, some get a bit rough, but nothing anyone can’t handle.”
“How rough?” I blink.
Raven drops the bar towel. “Like rough bondage and mock rape type shit.”
“And you supply them with girls who do that?” My mind is reeling with all this information. These women go from playing at the club to after-hour parties where they have more sex.
“I do.” She moves out of the bar area to stand with me. “But lately, I’m having a hard time finding girls who want to play.”
“I’ll play. Like I said, I really need the money.”
Raven nods. “I’ll talk to Sugar and we’ll let you know.”
“Thank you so much.”
She falls silent, staring at something behind my shoulders, and I spin around to find Devereaux standing there.
“Hello, ladies,” he says in a deep voice.
Roman and Ledger flank him, and if they heard what we were talking about, they’re giving nothing away.
“Everything’s done for tonight. I’m outta here,” Raven says with forced cheerfulness. “See ya later, Boss.”
“What were you girls talking about?” Devereaux asks, his eyebrow arching slightly.
“Nothing. Just girl talk.” I’d love to tell him everything Raven said, but I can’t trust him not to act impulsively on the information.
“We’re headed out,” Roman says. “Why don’t you take your girl home and tuck her in nice and tight.” Roman and Ledger laugh.
My stomach does a somersault when they refer to me as Dev’s girl. I don’t move a muscle, waiting for Devereaux to tell them to be quiet, or to tell them that me staying at his house isn’t like that, but he never does.
When the twins leave, I dive right in with my questions. “Are you going to tell me what happened tonight?”
He tsks me. “Swan, don’t ask questions you don’t want answers to.”
I chew on my lower lip. “I do want the answer. It’s why I asked the question.”
“No, you don’t.”
I scan his body for clues. There’s not a hair out of place or a wrinkle in his suit. But…