And then he was gone. I flopped back onto the sofa and grabbed a piece of flatbread, scooping the warm hummus onto it and devouring it within seconds. I couldn’t remember a time I’d ever tasted anything better and I knew it wasn’t just because I was rapidly approaching drunkenness. It was damn good food.
I took another few bites before sitting back and evaluating my current state. I decided it would be a good idea to take a break from the tequila and maybe rest a bit. My head was foggy and I was no longer feeling tipsy and happy. I was rapidly approaching drunk… that is, if I wasn’t already… and I was back to feeling frustrated and angry.
I couldn’t believe that Austin would just leave me here. He had no right. I walked to the button again and this time a man’s voice came over the loudspeaker.
“Will someone let me know when I’ll be released from my cell?” I asked.
“Mister Carver didn’t give me that information, Miss Harris. I’m sorry.”
“Well, tell Aus-Mister Carver that if someone doesn’t fill me in on what the hell is going on, I’m going to call my brother.”
No one responded, so I decided to give them five minutes before I was going to pull out my cell phone and call down the wrath of Dani in the form of Elliot Harris, badass detective with a heart of gold. I giggled at the thought. Maybe I should switch careers. Be an ad person. My brilliance was obviously wasted on five-year-olds.
I was pulled from my thoughts when Austin walked into the room. “What the fuck, Dani?”
“You got my message I see,” I slurred, swaying a little on my feet.
“I can’t deal with you right now.”
“Then let me go home!” I snapped.
He swept past me and grabbed my purse. Taking my cell out of it, he slid the device into his pocket.
“What are you doing?” I squeaked.
“Protecting you from yourself.”
I forced back tears of frustration. “I hate you so much right now.”
He sighed. Making his way to the door, he opened it, handed my phone to who the hell knows, nodded, and then closed the door again. He pulled me into his arms and stroked my hair. “I know you don’t get what’s happening, baby, and if I could explain it, I would. But I need you to trust me.” He lifted my chin. “I’m trying to keep you safe.”
“By having me locked up in a strange place?”
“By having you close.” He cupped my cheek. “Please, Dani. Trust that I’ve got your back. Kim’s safe-“
“Was she not safe before?” I demanded.
“That’s something I wasn’t willing to find out. Mack’s got her.”
I snorted. “Knowing Kim, Mack’s probably tied up to the bed while she fucks him senseless.”
Austin burst out laughing. “Babe.”
“What? It’s true. She’s perfect and awesome and sweet, but she loves sex and she goes through men like underwear.” I shrugged. “They love every minute of it, but she doesn’t tend to stay with one guy for very long.”
“Well, knowing Mack, he’ll be happy to oblige whatever fantasy she can dream up.”
I licked my lips. “Can I really not go home?”
“Not right now. I will make this up to you, but if you’ll just be patient for a little while longer, I’d appreciate it.”
“I drank your two-thousand-dollar tequila,” I challenged.
“I know.”
“You’re not mad?”
He smiled. “No, baby, I’m not mad. Just pace yourself.”
“It made me tired.”
“I bet.”
“It also made me horny.” I bit my lip, sliding my hand under the waistband of his trousers.
“Fuck, baby,” he rasped, grabbing my wrist. “I can’t do this right now.”
“Five minutes,” I argued.
“No.” He cupped my face. “One, I’m not having our first night together be when you’re wasted out of your mind and, two, I have shit to do.” He turned away from me and opened a cabinet door against the wall. Pulling out a blanket and pillow, he dropped them on the sofa and then closed the distance between us again. “Hydrate, Dani, okay? If you get tired, go to sleep. I don’t know how long this is going to take. If you want to watch television, do so. Do your best to make yourself at home and if you need anything, press the button. But try not to pull me away again, yeah? I need to focus.”
“Fine. Go.” I pulled away and flopped onto the couch.
He sighed again and leaned down. “Rest, baby. You’ll feel better once you sleep off the alcohol.”
“Do I need to remind you of the fact you’re not the boss of me?” I asked.
Austin smiled. “God, you’re gorgeous.”
“Don’t get all cute and sexy right now, Austin Carver. I’m not in the mood.”
He kissed my forehead. “Forgive me. I’ll see you in a bit.”
I waved my hand in the air and stuck my tongue out at him. “‘Bye. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.”
He grinned and walked out the door.
Booker
I LOCKED THE door behind me and nodded to one of my youngest recruits, Train, who was on Danielle watch. Train was nineteen, six-foot-five, and quite possibly the size of a small house. Hence his name. If he hit you, it would be akin to being hit by a freight train. I trusted him with Danielle because Train wouldn’t let anyone past him, and he was wholly loyal to me.
I headed back downstairs, and Johnny met me at the door to the basement. Blush’s basement was sometimes referred to as the “Woodshed,” as it was here that lessons that could only be learned with a switch were dispensed.
Johnny was Blush muscle, but he had no ties to the Dogs, which meant he only knew what I wanted him to know, and it was all under the guise of Blush business.
“Everything okay, boss?” Johnny asked.
I nodded. “You find him?”
“Yeah. He’s in the galley.”
I headed to the last room on the left, stepping inside the long narrow space, and closing the door behind me. Steven Mills. The man who ruined Dani’s life was duct-taped to a chair in the middle of the room, my laptop open on the table beside him, and one of the Dogs’ soldiers, Grizz, keeping guard.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting,” I said, and yanked the tape from his mouth.
“Who are you? What do you want?” Steven demanded.
He didn’t seem afraid which interested me. I smiled slowly and leaned against the table. “I want to know where the money is.”
“And what money would that be?”
I chuckled. “The money you’ve been stealing from unsuspecting women for the last twelve years.”
Steven grinned. “There’s only been one.”
“No,” I corrected. “There’s only been one where you’ve been caught. I have uncovered eight others.”
“How the hell did you do that?” Steven snapped.
“That’s not really important.” I reached back and grabbed a stack of paper. “But I think the D.A. would be interested in learning about them, wouldn’t they?”
“Fuck you.”
“Sorry, wrong team,” I retorted as I thumbed through my research. “You’ve managed to hide four-point-seven million dollars and I’d like to know where it is.”
“Since I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, I can’t help you.”
“I will find the money, Mr. Mills.” I slapped the file on the table. “You can count on it. What you can also count on is that this will go easier for you if you just tell me where it is.”
Steven shook his head. “What if I could give you something more valuable?”
“Like?”
“Like a notorious motorcycle club President’s daughter or perhaps a certain chief of police’s daughter, among others?”
I forced myself not to react. Blush couldn’t be traced back to the Dogs, I’d made sure of it, but it was still owned by a shell company that owned other businesses in the area. Different than Big Ernie’s which could be traced back to the Dogs. “Motorcycle club?”
Steven smiled smugly. “Yeah. Some guy with a bird’s name… Crow, I think. I’d need to check my records.”
I picked up and studied the file in front of me again to keep myself from beating the shit out of Steven. “And why would this be important to me?”
“I get the impression you want money. I can give it to you.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.