Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Is there something he’s not telling me?
“There are plenty of clubs in Chicago we could go to. Why my sister’s?”
He presses his lips together. “Well… There’s a reason I showed up at Aces last night.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“Let’s talk about this outside.” He gets up, helps me into my coat, and guides me out the Brassica Rex front door. “I’m sure you know who Maddox Hathaway is, right?”
I widen my eyes. “Maddox Hathaway. Of course. He’s a regular at the club. Tips well, as far as I can tell. Not a creep, which places him above ninety percent of the male patrons.” I cross my arms. “I assume he’s the same Maddox you just referred to as your buddy.”
“Right.” He leans in. “Have you noticed that he hasn’t shown up in a few weeks?”
I blink. “Honestly, he’s not really been at the forefront of my mind. From what I remember, he usually sticks to the bar at Spades, or occasionally he’ll play a game in Diamonds. He’s rarely in Hearts.”
“A few weeks ago, he took off suddenly with a woman he just met. Alissa Maravilla.”
“Oh yeah. The lovely blonde woman. Chet calls her Miss Wonder. So they went on a romantic getaway. Sounds kind of nice.”
“You don’t understand.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Alissa and Maddox are both people who are extremely grounded. She’s a nurse, and he owns a haberdashery in Uptown. Neither of them have the funds to take off for a month. Alissa’s used up almost all of her PTO, and Maddox is in business for himself, so he’s not making any money while he’s not working in his shop.”
I bite my lip. “So you think there’s something fishy going on?”
“Exactly. And I think it has something to do with Aces Underground. Specifically your sister.”
I swallow. “So you came to Aces to look for clues…”
“And I ended up sleeping with you instead.” He frowns. “I don’t regret it, just like I don’t regret the Brassica courtyard just now. But the fact remains that I need to focus and look for clues, see if there’s any evidence of anything fishy. And if I can’t get into Aces…”
“You can go to the other clubs. See what you can find out from them.”
“Exactly.”
I’ve always known my sister was a little slimy. The Montroses for generations have raised their children to operate outside the law when necessary. Aces was, after all, an illegal speakeasy during the twenties. Everything is now aboveboard, at least on paper. When a patron takes one of the waitstaff into a private area, it’s not prostitution. It’s a consensual interaction between two adults, and the payment is a suggested tip. When Rouge brings people over from destitute countries in South Asia and Eastern Europe to work as her playing cards, she’s not trafficking them, she’s sponsoring them.
My sister is best friends with the chief of police and all the major Chicago politicians. She can do whatever the hell she wants as long as she keeps her powerful buddies happy with free drinks and pleasurable company.
Do I think she would do something as heinous as disappearing two of her own patrons?
If she had a good reason to, she could.
My sister is capable of a lot of things.
A lot of terrible things.
I know that better than anyone.
“Do you want to come with me?” Harrison asks. “People might be less inclined to think I’m looking for clues if I have Rouge’s sister on my arm.”
I look up at Harrison.
There’s something about him. A touch of darkness underneath his handsome façade that makes me want to lean in further.
And if this exploration of the clubs turns out to be a big old goose egg, I’ll at least have gotten to know him better.
Plus… My sister, for all her faults, does nothing half-assed. These clubs are going to be next level in their design. I’ve heard a lot about them, especially the Jade Sanctum. They’re probably not going to be quite as polished as Aces, but I imagine they’re worth a visit.
My decision is easy.
“I’d love to, Harrison.”
“Great.” He reels me in for another kiss. “You said they’re all closed Sunday? Are you free Monday evening?”
“I am. I only work the nights that Aces is open, so weekday evenings until Friday are free.”
He grins. “It’s a date then.”
We walk from Brassica Rex to the alleyway off Randolph and State. Harrison walks me to the black door that leads to the Aces atrium and gives me one last kiss.
Damn. Is there a direct line from my lips to my pussy? Harrison sends a jolt through it every time he kisses me.
“Have a great night, babe,” he says. “I wish I could see your performance tonight.”
“Me too.”
I walk through the door, flash my license, and go down the mirrored staircase without so much as a hello to Chet.