Page 23

G oing through the messages on my desk, I feel overwhelmed. I don’t even want to be here, but I felt like I should. Especially after neglecting the business for several weeks so I could focus on Laura and Phillip.

Picking up my phone, I frown as I check my messages again. I’m worried about Laura. She still isn’t responding to me.

Putting my paperwork aside, I dial Tiny.

“Hey, Hellcat,” he answers.

“Still no news on Laura?” I ask.

“Hades has been hanging around, but he hasn’t seen her. He said it’s like Fort Knox out there. No one in or out unless you are in the program. He did say he was able to charm the lady at the front desk, who did confirm someone checked in under her name and is paying for it. I’m leaning toward her being there,” he admits.

He’s right. I have no reason to be worried about her. She has done this before. That spa retreat is her go-to place when she feels life has gotten out of control. I have never flipped out before, but her brother was never presumed dead before either.

“Thanks, Tiny. Will you keep an eye on it for me? I’m sure she’s fine, but I’m concerned,” I tell him.

“Of course. I would even if you didn’t ask. If she’s important to you, she is important to me.”

I smile at that. The guys have been amazing about everything. They have accepted me in with open arms. Even the fucker who gave me problems before seems to be putting respect to my name now.

“Thanks. I better get back to work. Talk to you later.”

After we hang up, I look back at the pile of papers on my desk. My father loved this office, but I find it stifling. Especially with all the requests for PI services flooding in. I have no idea how we are going to catch up.

The office line rings, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Watts PI, how can I help you?”

“Hello, I’m looking for someone to follow my wife to prove she is cheating. I’m a referral from Harry Pignet,” the older, scratchy voice says in greeting.

“Of course. Our services are two hundred fifteen dollars per hour. This is for basic surveillance. If anything special is required, such as entering the property or gaining access to exclusive clubs, there will be an additional cost. I can email you a packet that will need to be filled out prior to the start of our service. After that, we will schedule a face-to-face meeting to ensure we are on the same page.”

“I’d prefer not to have anything emailed. I don’t want a paper trail on this,” he admits.

“Understood. I could courier it and destroy it afterward,” I offer.

“That’s not ideal either, as anything in my handwriting could be used against me in the divorce.”

I want to sigh, but I withhold. Cases like these annoy me the most. Not because he wants to catch his wife cheating. If she’s cheating, she deserves to get caught.

No, this is one of the rich pricks wanting to leave their wife, likely for a younger model, so they are using us to try and find a reason to get out of the prenup they signed. I hate them, but the money is usually easy. I also get a sick enjoyment when I find out the wife isn’t really cheating.

“I can send someone to your office to collect the information verbally from you. How long will you be there?” I ask.

“Until you send someone. I’ll wait all night if I have to.”

He’s desperate. Great.

“Someone will be there shortly.”

I hang up the phone, rubbing my head. It’s the first case we have taken on since I’ve been back, but I can’t even be bothered to do it. I wonder if this is what burnout feels like.

Picking up my phone, I dial the one person who always makes me feel better.

“Bails, what can I do for you?” Hayes answers, his voice smoldering like coal. He has no right to sound as hot as he does.

“Why did I want to come back to work again? I could be a traditional old lady and spend all my time at the clubhouse doing nothing all day.” I know I’m whining, but I can’t help it.

“Yeah, right. You used to talk shit about the old ladies who would sit and drink all day. I can’t picture you doing the same. What’s really wrong?”

I let out a sigh. “I got another cheating case. Asshole doesn’t want to fill out paperwork, so I have to go over there and take the information verbally. He’s likely to hit on me the whole time. I don’t like these cases.”

“So don’t go.”

“So simple, yet we need money to run the business,” I say wistfully.

“That we do, which is why you should call Happy and have him do it. You aren’t in this alone anymore. We bought into the business, babe. That means my men are yours. If you never want to do another stakeout, you don’t have to. You can sit in the office and do the shit I know the guys won’t want to do.”

“Oh, so you would reduce me to their secretary?” I tease.

“Never. More like whip holder. You take the calls and determine if we want to take the case. Then you dispatch it to whoever you think will fit the best. Once they are done, you turn over the information to the client yourself, or make them do it. Then you collect the money. You’re the owner. You delegate your chump work to the chumps.”

“God, if you keep talking sexy to me like that, I’m going to get all hot and bothered.”

I hear some movement before a door shuts on his end of the phone.

“Yeah? Slip that dainty hand down into your panties and tell me how hot you are for me right now.” His tone is huskier.

“Hayes, I am at work. We cannot do this.”

“Sure we can. You are there alone. The door is locked. Come on. You know you want to. Put me on speaker and set the phone down and then play with yourself,” he hums into my ear.

My body is already alive and ready for it. Has been since he answered the phone. Still, I feel dirty. I’m in my office, but the one my father occupied isn’t far away. It feels so taboo.

Yet my hand follows his demands, unbuttoning my jeans cutoffs before sliding down into my panties. I’m not surprised to find myself slick.

“Hayes, I’m so wet for you. I wish you were here to make me come,” I tell him, my finger finding my clit.

“It’s okay, Hellcat. I’m going to make you feel good, and I won’t even have to touch you. Take two fingers and plunge them inside of you. Curl them up the way you like until you feel that tender spot that makes you see stars.”

I do as he asks, thrusting my fingers in over and over as I hit that spot.

“That’s right, baby. You imagine that I’m there, thrusting my dick inside of you. Fucking you so hard that you have to dig your nails into me.”

My free hand does as he says, digging my nails into my leather chair as my ass lifts from the chair, trying to get my fingers deeper.

“Press the heel of your palm into that clit. With your free hand, wrap it around your neck. Squeeze it like I’m there.”

It’s intoxicating to hear him outline what he wants me to do to myself as if it were him. Before we started this, I would have told you it would never work, but as I squeeze my own neck, my fingers deep in my pussy, I feel myself let go. I come so hard that I collapse back into my chair.

I can hear Hayes grunt on his end of the phone as his breathing pauses for a moment before continuing.

“Such a good little brat, Bails. I’m going to reward you for this later. Call Happy. Give him the job, then organize your shit and come home to me. I’ll be waiting.”

As he hangs up, I can’t help but wonder how this is my reality now. How I can be so in love with one man that I lose all sense.

I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

I am happy.

It hit me out of nowhere on the ride over to the strip club, but it’s true.

I always thought I needed to get away from this place. The burden of being Rogue’s nephew really did a number on me. Rogue always played it off like Colt would be his legacy, but he didn’t treat him that way. Rogue was smarter than that. He knew he could have two for the price of one. With my father being his brother, he had two heirs that could help take over the world one club at a time.

When he sent Colt to Vegas to mentor under the president there, I knew what he wanted from me. He wanted me to be his successor. At sixteen, that pressure was too much for me. I needed out of here.

I haven’t been happy since I was a child, and I never thought I could be happy here.

I was wrong.

Turning off my bike, I smile as I look at the text on my phone.

Bails: Waiting for you. Hurry home.

It’s a picture of her in nothing but my Lotus MC shirt. She looks delectable. I’m tempted to say fuck this meeting and head home, but that’s not fair to my boys.

Fang has been working hard on turning around this club. The least I could do is show up and get the update from him.

So for now, my woman is going to have to wait. Not too long, though. Lord knows I hate strip clubs.

Nodding at the guard at the door, I step inside. Already, the vibe is different. The lights are all on right now as Fang has the club shut down while he does renovations. The walls already look much better.

Stepping around the guy repairing the floor, I make my way to the main area. I almost laugh as I see Fang sitting at a booth covered in plastic. I withhold it, though, as he speaks to the woman across from him.

“Sorry to interrupt,” I say on a laugh.

He looks up at me, glaring, “It’s fine. Good to meet you, Porche. We will be in touch.”

The woman gives me what I am assuming is supposed to be an enticing smile as she walks away. I shiver in disgust before taking her seat.

“How’s it going?” I ask.

He gave me an “eat shit” look.

“Strippers are a fucking pain in the ass. This one can work any night, but only wants to work primetime hours. This one here only wants to do lap dances because she can’t actually dance. It’s always something,” he grumbles.

“Welcome to management, buddy. Wait until they all sync up and you’re dealing with a bunch of hormones,” I joke.

He groans. “Great. Something to look forward to.”

“Take a break from tits and ass. What about the tire shop?” I ask him.

“Loyal is doing good working with Antonio. They put two of our guys on the payroll to help get the point across. I told him to take some of the younger guys who aren’t covered in tats since they have that “no tattoos showing” rule. Seems to be going well. We got the first check from them yesterday. It will be profitable for us.”

“Good. Bailey went back to the PI business today. She already has a new case. Told her to put Happy on it. She said she’s got a lot of prospects there, so we will make money from it too,” I inform him.

He nods. “Now I just need to get this place back up and running. You know I had to fire every single employee in this place. The bartender was dealing drugs behind the bar. The manager was useless and liked to spend his nights with the entertainment. Then the girls were all hooked on something. None of them were willing to go into rehab.”

“Drug testing is mandatory, then?”

“Fuck yeah it is. We don’t need any tweakers. This place will be legit.”

Before I can respond, a woman walks up to the table.

“Sorry to interrupt, but the guy at the door said to come see you.”

Fang eyes her up and down, a look of contempt on his face. She’s not even dressed provocatively. She’s wearing a simple pair of jean shorts and a tank top. Fang still doesn’t seem to like what he sees.

“Are you even old enough to be here?” he asks.

Her hand finds her hip. “I’m eighteen years old. Is that a problem? The ad said that was the minimum age.”

“It is, but you look like you’re sixteen. I’ll want proof you are old enough. You do realize you’ll have to take off your clothes, right?”

“That’s negotiable. I’ll agree to dance up on that stage and bring you in tons of money. I’ll take a lower cut since I won’t be willing to take my panties off, and I refuse to do lap dances or any backroom shit.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, princess. Are you too good to dance on laps? You are only willing to shake your ass?” Fang stands, not liking that she is standing over him.

I sit back and watch the show. She has his feathers all ruffled. I’ve never seen him like this before.

“That’s exactly it. I’m not here for men to paw all over me. I need money so I’m going to do what I have to do, but this is my body. I own it. I do what I feel comfortable with. Take it or leave it.” She crosses her arms, looking up at me.

It’s really comical. Fang is on the taller side. Probably about six foot. This little pixie can’t be over five foot. Yet she is standing up to Fang as if he is the ant beneath her shoe. It’s fucking impressive.

“If you work here, I own your body. It means if I tell you to get on that stage, you are on that stage. I will respect your other requests, but it means no lip from you when I have you on that stage four times a night.”

“Fine. Anything else?” she huffs.

“Yes. No drugs. We will be testing weekly until I can trust you. We will have themed nights, and I expect you to come prepared. You can come up with your own routines and choose your own music, but if you don’t get results, I will step in. When you are here, you are working, which means no drinking on the job. You will not harm any of our customers. If someone gets handsy, you call one of us to handle it. Understood?”

“Yes, sir. I have one other request,”she says.

“What? You want fancy water in your dressing room?” he says sarcastically.

Her eyes narrow. “I want to be able to rehearse here when it’s closed. Unless you plan to be open all the time.”

“No, we will close at five in the morning until five in the evening. I can arrange for you to have access during the day.”

“Good.”

“Good. Why do you want to work here anyway? This place is a dump.” He narrows his eyes at her.

“I heard Lotus took over. You have a good reputation. I figure if you can meet my demands, it would be the safest place to work.”

That’s where she got him. Fang talks a big game, but he cares about the women who will be working here. That’s why he doesn’t want any addicts. His soft heart can’t handle them constantly falling off the wagon.

“All right, come here tomorrow at noon. We can discuss more then.”

“Thanks.”

She starts to walk away, Fang watching her. When she is almost to the door, he calls out, “Hey, what’s your name?”

“Camille, but I’ll go by Cami.”

He nods, dismissing her before taking his seat across from me.

“See what I mean? Bunch of entitled bitches.” He shakes his head.

“You hired her, though, so maybe you respect them for having boundaries?” I say as I stand.

“She looked like she was a child,” he admits.

“Nah, she looked eighteen. You’re being judgmental. Don’t forget, there’s a reason she is here. You heard her, she felt this would be a safe place for her. Will it be?”

“Fuck yes,” Fang spits out.

“I thought so. Good luck with the shit show. I got somewhere to be.”

As I head out the door, I hear him call, “Tell Hellcat I said hi.”