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)
Obviously, that’s for the best, but disappointment chokes me and I have to force the eggs down my throat.
“I have to run some errands before work,” I tell him.
He nods. “Ok, do you want me to come along?”
I shake my head quickly. “No, I’ll be fine.”
He winks. “Well, you don’t have a car.”
“Oh, right.” I completely forgot. My car. I almost wish Vin would have damaged my car just a little to where I could still use it. However, I know Devereaux would have never invited me to stay if I didn’t.
“Ok, can you drop me off at my place?”
He nods. “Sure, eat up,” he says.
I shovel the food in my mouth so we can leave soon, because I feel like I’m close to finally solving this case. I can feel it.
“A prostitution ring?” my sister screeches at the top of her lungs.
I cringe. “It gets worse.”
“What can be worse than prostitution?” Ashley asks.
“He’s also married.”
Ashley blinks. Tilts her head. Blinks. All the color drains from her face. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I wish I was.” I asked Ashley to come over to tell her about Derek, and have her take me into work until my car is fixed.
“So, he was paying for sex?” She parks a hand on her hip, her eyes glossy from the tears that are ready to fall.
“It was more complicated than that. I’m really sorry, Ash.”
Her gaze drops downward. “I don’t get it. I don’t understand how somebody could be so stupid.”
I understand her hurt, but I’m not sure how to console her. I’m not qualified for this.
“Ash, I’m sorry. Some men are just assholes.”
She nods. “And I’m a magnet for them.”
“You deserve better,” I tell her.
I explain most of what Devereaux told me, keeping quiet about the senator’s involvement and the specifics.
“I think you should quit, Chloe,” she says.
“You’ve said that a lot,” I say with a small laugh.
“Well, I still think you should. Tell your partner about the prostitution and be done with it.”
I nod, my mind trying to piece the puzzle together. “Yeah.”
“It’s kind of smart, actually. Run a ring with the women this whole town is obsessed with. I mean, to not be a member and get to sleep with a Greedy Girl? I’m sure they had tons of clients.”
“Yeah, and lots of money too.” My mind goes over everyone working at Club Greed that would have the know-how to pull something like this off.
“I need to call Finn.” I take out my phone, pulling up Finn’s contact information.
He answers on the first ring and I tell him everything Devereaux told me.
“Who do you think is running it?”
“I don’t know, but if they’re running it from inside the club, I can definitely find out.”
“How’s it going with Devereaux?
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” I glance at my sister. “Just let me know if you get anything new.”
“Will do,” he says before hanging up.
I look up and Ashley’s mouth drops open.
“Why did you say you’re fine?” Ashley asks. “Is he worried about you working at Club Greed?”
I don’t want to tell her about me staying at Devereaux’s house, so I nod and tell her yes. I know she’s worried about my safety, but this is still an investigation. “Because I am fine.”
“Are you going to infiltrate this prostitution thing?”
I nod. “Yep, I sure am.”
“How?”
I shrug. “I’ll just say I desperately need money, I guess.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” she says with a shake of her head.
“I do.”
“Chloe, you need to be careful.”
“I always am.” Lies. I’ve been nothing but careless with how I’m handling things.
Chapter 27
Devereaux
* * *
“Wait,” Roman says. “She’s been staying at your house?”
“It’s only been a few days, and besides, nothing’s happened.” Not since the first night in the hot tub.
Not since she got mad at me for making my own case of trying to find the killer. Since then, I’ve followed her to my home every night, and she’s gone to her room, and me to mine.
We’re nice, saying our pleasantries, but there’s nothing more than that. I know she’s worried about me, but I can’t just sit idly by.
It’s just Roman and me in my office at Club Greed, and I don’t need him giving me shit for keeping one of my girls safe. And who knows, maybe he’s right. Maybe there’s something about Swan I can’t deny.
I just can’t quite figure it out.
“And who are you to judge? How many times have you brought home women to stay at your place?”
“Yeah, but there’s a difference. I wasn’t falling for any of them.”
“I’m not falling for her.”
He laughs, and it pisses me off.
Ledger barges through my office door, where Roman and I have been holed up since the club opened two hours ago. “I’ve got news,” he says with purpose.
Roman stands. “What is it?”
Ledger makes sure the door clicks locked behind him before he strides further into the room, his eyes raging with insanity. It’s rare that I see Ledger this worked up over anything. “The Chekov brothers were lying. They weren’t in Russia, they were here.”