Page 155 of Family Affair

Chapter 36

The nightclub was jumping.

It had been ages since Coco set foot inside one, and Vamp Arcade was definitely too much for someone who might be looking to ease into the social scene.

The hardcore techno music immediately assaulted her eardrums and promised a massive migraine soon. Why on earth Alex chose to hold their meeting at such a noisy place was beyond her, but the club had met her demand for a public location, and she had accepted.

When Coco walked inside, she immediately found herself on the dance floor. Disoriented by the cacophony of flashing strobes, loud music, and a dense crowd of jerking bodies, she stopped, pulling at the shoulder strap of her sizable purse, knowing how incongruous it looked at a club. In their terse phone conversation two days ago, Alex had instructed her to take the stairs that led to the loft with its VIP booths where they could talk.

Locating the staircase, she started a slow progress toward it with the parting words of the no-longer-a-detective Willis echoed in her brain. “Remember, it’s tight in there, it’s loud, and it’s hard to see. You cry for help - no one will hear.”

“I will be alright.” It had been easy to disregard his warning from the safety of her own living room.

“I have a bad feeling about this. Ask for a different place to meet.”

But Coco had refused. “No, I won’t risk having him cancel. We’re doing it his way.”

Willis had shaken his head, his face stony, his eyes regretful. “I am already losing my career over this case. I can’t go with you Coco, I’m sorry.” He had seemed to have been arguing with himself.

Coco had laid a consoling hand on his arm. “I’m not asking you to go with me. You’ve helped enough.”

The good detective had sworn then. “Cade will have my head if something happens to you.”

Now Coco meandered about the club alone, weaving her way between people. She kept fiddling with the purse strap with damp hands as apprehension clawed sharply at her gut.

“Hello, love.”

She jumped, and the strap of her bag slipped. Fumbling to put back over her shoulder, she turned to face him, amazed that she could still be annoyed at the endearment.

Ross fit right in with the party crowd, decked out in tight leather pants and a black mesh t-shirt. His striking gray eyes glittered coldly from beneath a knit cap pulled down past his eyebrows.

“Hi.” Coco’s voice was as tight as her nerves. “What are you doing here?” She had to lean closer to him to be heard above the music.

“It’s Friday night, love,” he leaned toward her in turn, and it was way too close. “I’m here to get lucky.”

She wasn’t that naïve. “Don’t let me keep you from your proclivities.”

She turned away from him, ready to mount the stairs.

“I’ll show you the way.” Giving her a stern glance so reminiscent of Cade he went ahead and motioned for her to follow.

He had clearly made himself a part of the meeting, and Coco didn’t like it.

They mounted the stairs and stepped inside a softly lit, semi-private cabana tucked into a corner. Ross reached behind and let the privacy curtain fall covering up the entrance completely. Even the loud club music sounded muffled, as if coming from a distance.

Coco found herself face-to-face with not just Alex, but the three of them sitting around a gleaming black table, their identical dark stares intense and hostile.

“Well, good evening, Miz Coco,” Rick bared his teeth in a parody of a smile. The shadowy interior blurred his features, making him look almost identical to Cade, minus the graying hair.

“Good evening,” she said with equal parts antagonism and fear.

“Have a seat.” Ross waved at an empty chair before dropping down between Alex and Dan.

Keeping her spine straight, Coco sat down and carefully placed her bag on the table in front of her and assessed them warily.

Up close, Rick’s marked resemblance to his oldest son diminished. His face was mean and haggard, worn out, and more lined than she remembered from the 4th of July party just a short while ago.

Dan’s eyes shot daggers in Coco’s direction, and his expression saidBitch with a capital B. No surprise here.