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“And Steven let her?” I eye the tall, commanding Steven Kingsley standing next to some guys, smiling at his wife.

“Pssh. He doesn’t get tolether do anything. She’s the boss of her own life. Long story, but we got saddled with massive debt and if we couldn’t come up with quick money, things would’ve gotten ugly. Steven didn’t know about our issues back then. It caused a lot of drama, to say the least.” Taylor sighs. “My sister took one for the team.”

“Wow. I don’t know what to say. You girls are tough cookies.”

“You need to be to survive the underbelly of The Bronx. Things are better here on the Rose floors than at other shady places. Elias keeps a tight leash on things. No funny business. The workers get the final say in what they want, or don’t want, to provide.”

“I heard my name.”

A tall, imposing man himself materializes next to us from thin air. I jolt.

“Holy crap, Elias! You need a cowbell or something.” Taylor slaps her hand over her chest.

Oh, so this is the infamous Elias.I’d heard about him before but have never met him until now.

“I don’t think a cowbell will go well with my outfit,” he murmurs, a barely there smile tilting his lips.

I eye the mobster, taking in the dark hair and piercing green eyes, the masculine features that almost look aristocratic if it weren’t for the long scar spanning his cheek. He’s wearing a tailored black suit, no tie to be seen, and a green handkerchief tucked in his jacket pocket. A gold chain peeks from his vest and, as if he knows I’m curious, he pulls out an intricate gold and silver lighter.

He flicks it on and off.

“What were you guys saying about me?” He stares at the flickering flame.

“Girl gossip. Don’t tell me you’re interested in that now,” Taylor deadpans.

“It’s good to broaden my horizons. In my experience, women often overhear things or have unique insights into issues. I value your thoughts.”

This is the weirdest conversation I’ve been part of.

“Tay was mentioning how you have a tight rein on the Rose floors.” I cock my head, trying to figure out if his lighter flicking has a pattern. Morse code? His moods?

He smirks. Stuffing the lighter back into his vest, he turns to me. “Too many people take advantage of sex workers—male or female.” His jaw works and he swallows. “The Andersons know I won’t stand for that.”

Elias stares at me—the unnerving intensity in his eyes reminding me of Ethan. “I may be many things, but I have a special hatred for crimes against women. Sex sells and will happen whether you like it or not. But taking advantage of the hard workers here—not on my watch.”

A chill runs through my body from the dangerous rasp of his voice. This is a man I don’t want to cross.

“Charles is waving me over. I gotta go.” Taylor flashes me a peace sign and darts off, leaving me with the enigmatic man.

“I want to ask you.” He steps to my side, his voice a low murmur. “Have you seen anything strange these days?”

Frowning, I glance toward the bar, searching for Ethan, because he’ll know what I should or shouldn’t say, but I don’t see him. I only notice Dayton chatting with Trey.

“Ethan stepped outside with Maxwell,” Elias says.

I glance sharply at him, finding him smirking.

“Reading facial expressions comes handy in my job.”

I scoff. “Scaring everyone in a five mile radius?” I slap my hand over my mouth.Why can’t I keep my mouth shut?

Elias barks out a laugh. “I get itnow.”

Huh?What does he get because I’m not sure what’s going on? “What do you mean?”

“Ethan loves you. You’re the light he needs. I’ve always wondered about the woman who held his heart for all these years. He’d deny it, saying there was no one. But I knew he was lying.”

There’s a strange solemnness in his voice, and I glance at him.