Page 6 of Finding Denver

Security had notified me that one of the guests in the VIP room was getting handsy with a waitress, and she’d been close to tears when she’d taken her break. I was already in a bad mood that night. I’d been cleared of any involvement in Hayes’s murder, but the reminder of how it had all unfolded had tension growing at the dinner table. Ranger had picked a fight with me and demanded to know where Axel was. I’d refused. I’d gone to Pulse to cool off.

And Dorian Eddards had crossed me.

After Dorian had hurt the waitress, I’d had him brought to the office. He left an hour later missing a finger and half an ear, and I’d explicitly told him if he came near my club or my staff again, I would remove his tongue as well.

Would I have reacted differently if I’d known who he was? No. Would I have mentioned it to Ranger to prepare ourselves for the potential shitstorm? Yes.

Because Dorian Eddards is Leo Eddards’s son. Leo “Spider” Eddards, a human trafficker piece of shit, who seems to be everywhere and nowhere all at once. A powerful, connected man, who would likely not react kindly to me cutting off pieces of his flesh and blood. But so far, it’s been six months, and Spider hasn’t retaliated.

I’m sure that’ll change soon.

The positive of our little run-in is the respect that came with it. Powerful men no longer snub my calls in favor of Ranger’s, and when they come to our house for dinner and drinks, it’s me they speak to. It’s my business ventures they praise. I’m being taken seriously—all because I removed a finger.

“—truly inspirational. And your speech was perfect,” Miller Smyth says, lifting his champagne glass to me. He’s the CEO of something.

I smile. “Thank you.”

“So, what’s next?” Miller asks. “I’ve heard your casino deal has hit a wall. It’s a shame.”

My jaw tenses as I force a smile. I’ve been working on the casino for over a year, and it would have been my most lucrative venture yet.

It took me a month to get a meeting with Samuel Lok Shun Lau, the head of the Triads in the city. Another month to convince him we could work together in opening a casino. We’ve become something close to friends since.

I’ve practically danced my way home from meetings, singing my excitement—until last week, when the land sale was stonewalled by environmentalists.

It’s a move from a rival. I checked and double checked every survey completed on that land, and there was no mention whatsoever of birds close to extinction. It’s fabricated, and the mayor has conveniently dodged my calls ever since the sale was scrapped.

“A temporary roadblock,” I say, sipping my drink.

Miller nods. “I think a Deluxe casino is exactly what this city needs.”

Irritation prickles my skin, and as I open my mouth to voice my carefully practiced response, Ranger interjects.

“My wife’s name is Denver,” he says calmly, but not without bite. “You may call her that or Mrs. Luxe. She isn’t a headline.”

The swell of warmth in my chest almost has me keeling over.

Miller looks like he might keel over, too, but for a different reason. “My apologies, Denver?—”

“Actually, Mrs. Luxe will do just fine,” Ranger says.

Miller swallows, his smile brittle. “Mrs. Luxe.”

The conversation moves on, and I push myself to my tiptoes to kiss Ranger’s cheek, my lips hovering by his ear. “If you’re not inside me in the next two minutes, I’ll be very disappointed.”

His hand slips into mine. “Who am I to deny Businesswoman of the Year?”

Chapter 2

Ranger

Abroom falls as I press Denver against the wall of the custodial closet and get to my knees. She grins and wiggles her hips to pull up her dress, the figure-hugging material making it too fucking difficult to get to her.

I growl impatiently. “I’m ripping it.”

“Don’t you fucking dare,” she says. “This cost more than your watch.”

I grip her hips. “Are you joking?”