Page 10 of Provocation (Den of Deception #3)

‘Who?’

‘She was like…a governess, or something. She’d come to The Heath every other day. She made me learn etiquette and poise, had me walk around with a book on my head and practice walking in heels. I had to get in and out of cars a certain way. Things like that.’

‘When did that start?’ I ask with a frown.

‘About five years ago.’

‘Five years. Yeah, it’s likely she was hired when they first struck a deal.’ I let out a breath. ‘I’m sorry. We aren’t going to let this happen.’

‘What do you know about the Bandervilles?’ she asks, sounding almost robot-like.

But her fingers tighten around mine just a little.

I hold in my wince. I don’t want to tell her about what Blake sent me this morning. I think even the tip of the iceberg will terrify her, but she deserves to know.

‘Only rumors. Their women are trotted out for parties and social events. They aren’t allowed to be educated past high school.

Marcus and Joe have a younger sister. Elizabeth.

She graduated Birchmore Academy a couple years ago, but she’s rarely seen outside of the usual galas and parties.

The mother, Martha, barely even goes to those except when it’s necessary.

Banderville is trying to get his daughter married off, but Joe keeps vetoing the matches. ’

‘And Joe? What do you know about him?’

I lean against the table. ‘Not much. He’s in his thirties, so no one I knew went to school with him. Publicly, he takes care of thirty percent of the Banderville holdings in preparation for Joseph’s retirement. Privately…’ I hesitate.

‘Tell me,’ she says, looking up at me beseechingly.

‘I only know what Blake sent me. He’s seen with high-end escorts mostly. Women have been known to go missing and he’s allegedly the last person to see them alive, but there have never been any charges, or police involved.’

Daisy scoffs. ‘That doesn’t mean anything in Richmond.’

‘No, it doesn’t,’ I agree.

Daisy takes in a long breath and surveys the lab.

‘I should start,’ she says, changing the subject. ‘The first batch will take the longest and it will need small changes to get everything right. If we don’t start selling this and making money, any future we actually want is just a pipe dream.’

I give her hand a final squeeze and let her go. She immediately turns around and promptly forgets I’m there as she focuses. With a wisp of a smile, I leave the lab, closing the door behind me and making sure there’s no evidence that there’s a room there at all.

Upstairs, I find Dom lurking and I jerk my head in the direction of the office. He follows me without a word.

‘Well?’ I ask, sitting behind my desk formally as he shuts the door.

He looks momentarily surprised at where I’m sitting since I usually perch on the couch when we’re talking, but I’m not in the mood to be his fucking friend right now.

He sits almost warily.

‘Sark?’ I prompt.

‘Yeah. He was here earlier. His face was a mess. Pop Pop Garrett sure doesn’t pull his punches, I’ll say that much. Anyway, he says Sauvage better see something tangible soon.’

‘He will,’ I mutter. ‘But don’t tell him about Daisy.’

Dom regards me, unease evident on his face. ‘I don’t like this. You. Blake. My brother. Her . Pussy complicates shit and I’m not going back inside because you three started thinking with your dicks.’

I stand up with a snort. ‘Stay in your lane, Dom,’ I advise, ‘or it won’t matter to me that you’re Mav’s brother. Understand?’

He lets out a sigh. ‘I was afraid of that. Jesus, this little girl has you guys by the balls, huh? What, did she threaten you with the cops, or something? Is that why she’s downstairs playing chemistry set?’

I step around my desk and stalk forward, gratified when he rises and takes a jerky step back.

‘Let’s get something clear right now,’ I snarl. ‘If it wasn’t for Daisy, we wouldn’t be anywhere near making the product. Ask Mav if you don’t believe me. Without her, you, me, Blake, your brother, and everyone else we’re close to are dead. Treat her with some fucking respect.’

His eyes widen. ‘Sure. I get it…boss.’

‘Good. Now, who’s on the list for the Dark Lounge tonight?’

‘Chapel Williams. He’s bringing guests.’

‘Okay. Make sure everything’s ready for them to go in from eight-thirty and then go home. Close the door when you leave.’

Dom nods, glancing back at me with worry in his eyes as he does what I say, leaving me alone in the office.

I let out an annoyed noise and watch him walk across the club floor to the basement door. Sandy, I notice, has already left.

I go to my desk and grab my phone, reminding the guys to make sure Daisy has some snacks and drinks. I know she’ll forget if we don’t remind her at regular intervals, so I settle down into what is probably going to be a long day of waiting around and trying not to bother her while she’s working.

After a minute, I also message them that the Dark Lounge is booked tonight in case they’ve forgotten what day it is. We haven’t explained that room to Daisy yet, so it’s probably best she doesn’t find out by accident before we do.

I’m itching to go downstairs, not to spy on her, but just to make sure she’s okay. But I stay in the office and try to get some work done. I try to keep Daisy out of my head for five minutes.

But I can’t. She’s permeated my soul. My goals are starting to shift.

There was a time not so long ago that all I cared about was Blake, Mav, and the lab we were going to one day open together.

All I wanted was to escape from here and get out from under my father’s thumb.

That’s still true, but where we go and what we do isn’t really important to me anymore, so long as I’m with my best friends and Daisy, and we’re safe.

Protecting our little family is the most important thing to me now. I can’t fail them; not like I failed April.