Page 7

Chapter seven

Declan

C laire calls me while I’m on my way into the office. It’s never good when Claire calls me outside of regular business hours.

“Good morning, Claire,” I answer through the truck speakers.

“Morning, Mr. Adams, there’s an issue at the warehouse. Are you able to stop by before you come in?” She asks.

“Where’s Zander?”

“He’s already there,” she answers.

“Well, I’ll be in later then,” I tell her and hang up.

Taking the next exit, I drive to the warehouse on the opposite side of town from the office. Zander runs things there while I take care of the smaller warehouse and the office side of the business. If he had Claire call me, it’s a big issue. There’s almost always a problem to handle in this business, but he rarely needs my help.

When I park in front of the entrance, I already know the issue. It isn’t a company problem at all. It’s my fucking dad. I jump out of the truck and sling the door open to find Dad stumbling around Zander’s office, trying to convince Zander to give him some cash.

“Dad,” I say, stopping a few feet away from him .

“Hey, Dec! I was just telling Zander that I need to hang out here for a bit until I sober up. I need to go see your mom today,” he says and walks toward me.

“Come on. I’ll take you,” I say, trying to keep my cool about the drinking.

He gets drunk when he misses Mom. As unhealthy as it may be, I can't blame him. I've used so many things over the years to drown my thoughts of Noel. I can't imagine what I would've done if I didn't think I'd get her back some day.

“Now, son, I don’t need a babysitter. I can drive myself in a few hours,” he says.

Here we fucking go.

Keeping my voice calm as if we’re having a normal conversation, I say, “I know, Dad. I had some time today and thought we could go together. You in?”

He studies me for a minute while he leans on a chair. “Yeah, alright, but you’re driving,” he says.

Zander runs his hand over his face behind my dad, relieved it was easy to deal with him today.

Dad and I get into my truck, and I drive him straight to the diner for food and coffee. When we pull into the parking lot, he speaks for the first time since we left the warehouse. “You read my mind, son. Let’s get some breakfast.” He slaps my shoulder before hopping out of the truck.

The hostess brings us to my usual booth, and Dad looks over the menu. It takes him a while, but he finally decides and sets his menu down. Trish notices and comes right over to take our order.

As soon as she walks away, he says what I already know is on his mind. “How did I make it this long, Dec?”

“Because you’re a survivor, Dad,” I tell him honestly.

“It should’ve been me,” he says, referring to my mom’s death.

“Well, men don’t get breast cancer too often, so I’ll have to disagree with you there,” I joke to lighten the mood even though I know it will likely piss him off.

“Don’t joke about it, son.”

“Listen, Dad. When you need something, just call me, alright?” I say, getting down to it since he isn’t angry drunk today.

“Yeah, I know. I just hate to bother you when I know you’re busy, and your office is no place for a drunk like me.”

“Dad, wherever I am is always a place for you,” I tell him just as Trish brings our food.

We eat in silence, and I pay the check. When we get back into the truck, I start the drive to the cemetery to go see Mom. He fills the time by telling me why he needed to borrow money from Zander. After talking me through everything he did yesterday, he finally remembers where he put his wallet.

When we pull into the parking lot, I’m surprised to see Noel’s car. The cemetery is big with lots of hills, so we probably won't even see her. I’d try to find her if Dad wasn’t with me. At the very least I'd like to know what's so important that she needs to visit him when she's supposed to be at work. I’ve waited six months to give her time to get over the fucker before inserting myself into her life. I thought it would be more than enough time. She certainly seems ready to move on.

The cemetery has golf carts at the main entrance for people to drive if their family members are far from the parking lot. Mom is buried a decent walk in, so I pause and notice one is missing.

“Let’s walk it, Dec,” Dad says, interrupting my thoughts.

I nod in agreement, and we set off down the main path. When we get to Mom’s gravesite, he sits on the bench I had put here just for him and pats the spot beside him. I sit down, facing her headstone as he talks to her about all the day-to-day shit he wants to tell her about since he’s been here last.

“Love, you’d be so proud of our boy,” he rambles. “Well, he’s all grown up into a man now, but anyway. He’s here with me today. Took his old man to breakfast this morning. I’ll admit I needed sobering up, love, I’m sorry about that.” He rambles on about me and how boring retirement has been.

At least fifteen minutes pass before a golf cart is driving toward us on the main path. When she closes the distance, I stand. She slows down when she sees me and comes to a stop behind the bench.

“Declan?” She asks in confusion.

“Hey sunshine,” I say in greeting and walk over to offer her my hand.

Taking it, she steps out of the golf cart just as Dad stands to see her.

“Sunshine, huh?” He asks, walking over to meet her.

She smiles and says, “Noel, actually,” holding out her hand to him.

He stands straighter and shakes her hand. “Levi Adams, love. It’s nice to finally meet you.” He gestures to my mother’s headstone and adds, “This is my wife, Diana.”

Noel looks between my father and me then at the headstone. Her smile never wavers, and she doesn’t pull her hand away from his when he holds on longer than he should. Instead, she rests her free hand on top of their joined ones and says, “It is so nice to finally meet both of you as well.”

Dad invites her to sit on the bench, and she graciously agrees. I stand back and watch the interesting exchange between the two of them. He tells her a few things about Mom, his favorite subject, and she listens intently. Some of what he tells her she already knows, but she goes along with it as though it's all new information. Eventually, he asks what brings her to the cemetery, and she shares with him that her husband died six months ago.

When the conversation between them finally lulls, I say, “Dad, we should be going.”

Noel stands first, setting her left hand on the back of the bench to steady herself as she walks across the uneven ground. I notice her ring is gone. Good girl. I offer her my hand while Dad stays on the bench.

Just before she lets go of my hand to get back into the golf cart, I rub her bare finger to let her know I noticed the missing ring.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say and wink.

She bites her bottom lip to hide a smile. “See you tomorrow,” she says and drives away.

I find myself watching her drive off just to watch the way the sun halos around her body and her hair blowing behind her. Dad stands and walks to the golf cart path where I’m still rooted in place.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asks

“It’s only just begun," I reply.

“How can I help?” He asks, knowing what I’m up against.

I raise an eyebrow at him.

“I won’t drink another drop until it’s done,” he says.

I nod, and we walk back to the truck. His involvement will complicate things, but it does give me leverage with Isaiah Canton. And if it stops Dad's drinking for a while, I’ll take it.

Instead of taking him home, I bring Dad back to the office. When we pull into Velocity’s parking lot, he looks at me confused. I get out of the truck and walk toward the door knowing he will follow and would rather explain inside. Sure enough, he’s on my heels by the time I cross the lobby.

“Claire Morris, meet Levi Adams, my father. Dad, this is Claire Morris. She will help you fill out your application. Claire, set him up in the office next to mine. He’s going to be our new accountant,” I explain the turn of events to both of them at once then walk into my office and shut the door.

Chance, my head of security, managed to get his hands on several of Nate Williams’ files—mostly from Nate’s wealthiest clients. After going through them the past week, I finally found proof to back up my hunch. Nate was involved with Isaiah Canton’s very exclusive business, the Cordeliers Gentleman’s Club.

I need to figure out how deep his involvement ran sooner rather than later. It won’t take long for Daddy Dearest to find out I’m back in Noel's life, and I need some answers before he does. Now that I know Isaiah is in need of someone to help with his finances again, I may need to reconsider his request for my services.

After Dad is settled in his new office, I step out to go to Cordeliers Gentlemen’s Club to see an old friend. With Isaiah, it’s easier to do things in person.

Isaiah Canton and I were on our high school baseball team together. We were friends, somewhat. There was a level of mutual respect, even though we weren’t close. He was always throwing parties at his dad’s house because Jeff was always working. In school, none of us knew what his dad actually did, and Isaiah always said he traveled a lot when someone asked. Now I know better.

Jeff Canton operated the family business—a secret club for men that only the rich and powerful were invited to join. It’s run completely off the books through random accounts, businesses, and schemes to hide its existence. Men are the only members, and almost any vice is offered to them. The only rooms I’ve personally ever been in were the poker room, a banquet hall, and Isaiah’s office. Based on what Isaiah told me when he asked me to join, I also know that they have an escort service and access to just about every sort of illicit drug.

The building is tucked behind a wood line, and the main parking area is around the back. The club never closes, but you wouldn’t know that from the front of the building. There are only ever a few cars parked in the lot facing the road, and it looks run down to deter anyone from wandering in.

Using the inconspicuous backdoor, I enter the small lobby with dark wood paneling on the walls. Dark leather chairs are set off to one side, and heavy, cathedral-style doors fill the opposite wall. In the middle directly ahead of the entrance, an intricately-carved double podium separates me from the bleach-blonde receptionist.

As soon as I make eye contact, the tip of her tongue peeks out of the corner of her mouth between her teeth. She lowers her black-framed glasses to look me up and down.

“Good morning Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome,” she says seductively.

“I need to see Isaiah,” I state, crossing my arms and keeping my distance.

Her lips press into a pout. “He’s not expecting you. Guess you’ll have to wait here with me.”

I scoff and stare her down, pulling out my cell to dial his number.

“Declan, my man!” He answers, happily. “Is that you I see in the lobby?”

“Yep,” I clip.

“Hand Leah the phone for me, will ya?” He requests.

I close the gap between me and the podium, handing her the phone. She’s sure to brush her fingers across my hand before taking it from me to hold against her ear.

After a moment, she says, “Alright,” and hands the phone back to me.

Stilettos click against the marble as she rounds the podium to unlock the double doors. She’s wearing little more than lingerie, but that’s the point. Isaiah’s exclusive men’s club is attractive to the elite because it offers a world that doesn’t exist outside of these walls. All they have to do is pay their dues to be a part of it .

I follow Leah down a dark hallway very similar to the lobby before reaching the elevator. When we step inside, she turns to face me. I cross my arms as she traces her finger from my bottom lip down my neck and around my shoulder as she circles around me. Then she runs her fingertips down my spine before snaking her hand back to my front to grab between my legs.

“Just my size,” she purrs, massaging my dick. “You know, there aren’t any cameras in here.”

I step to the side, causing her to lose her footing. I catch her arm before she falls. I need to play the part of a potential member, but she needs to keep her hands to herself.

“Maybe on the way out,” I tell her and wink to hide my annoyance.

She smiles as the elevator opens to the penthouse on the top floor. Exiting alone, I walk through the empty living area to find Isaiah snorting a powdery white line off a woman’s ass while she lays across the dining room table completely naked.

I clear my throat.

He spins around as though he’s surprised by the sound.

“Please tell me you’ve changed your mind about the club, Dec,” he begs, walking over to me with his hand out.

Isaiah is only slightly shorter than me, but he has more of a runner’s build. His innocent-looking baby face and rich boy attitude have always worked for him. No one would ever suspect him of running an underground organization like this.

I shake his hand and answer him honestly, “I’m still a solid fuck no, bro. I do have a business proposition for you, but I want something else instead of the membership.”

“Oh?” He asks, tilting his head to the side.

“It seems we have a mutual friend, Nate Williams,” I state, waiting to see what he does with that.

“Well, I hate to tell you this, but he’s dead,” he replies flatly.

“I’ve heard.” I raise my eyebrow at him.

“What’s this business proposition you have for me?” He asks, ignoring the implicating look I give him.

"Is Jeff really retired?" Before I make my offer, I need to be sure things are as I believe them to be.

"What do you think?" He sneers.

Looking around the room, I mouth nonsense words to him. My way of asking him if we're being watched or listened to without being too obvious for potential cameras.

"No, you can speak freely here," he replies.

I proceed to make Isaiah an offer he can’t refuse—a way around his father, namely my dad helping him funnel money without his dad noticing, in exchange for a few favors. Isaiah plays his part well. But he isn't the black-hearted mother fucker his father wants him to be, not completely anyway. There's only one way for Isaiah to make the changes in the club he'd like to make. He has to buy out his father. The problem with that is he can't stash enough cash without Jeff noticing and shutting it down.

His face lights up like a kid at Christmas when I give him a basic overview of what Dad could do for him and how quickly it could be done.

"Whatever the fuck you want, bro. Name it," he says with a grin.

"I need information about Nate Williams, his father, and his father-in-law," I state.

He nods his head. “Nate was sleeping with a couple of the girls here. Sometimes, guys let shit slip if they drink too much. Leah would know if he told the girls anything that could be useful to you. His dad isn't a member, but Conner Anderson is a real piece of work. He's here often, and he's friends with my dad. I'm not sure what you're looking for, but Conner would be at the top of my list if I were you.”

Isaiah walks over to a bar and pours us each a drink. I let the information he gave me sink in as I drink the whiskey he poured.

"I have a pretty good hunch that I'm going to need one more thing," I tell him.

After the details of our arrangement have been ironed out, I make my way back to the elevator. The door opens to Leah in the center. Her clothes are in a pile off to the side, and she’s wearing nothing but stilettos and a smile.

I step into her as the doors close behind me handing her a slip of paper. She looks down at it, confused. After she reads it, I place my mouth just below her ear.

"The camera is in the corner behind me. Make it look real for Jeff, but do not fucking touch me," I threaten her in a whisper.

We put on a show for the cameras that are absolutely in here, audio and all. When we reach the lobby, she grabs her things and leaves with me.

As soon as we get into the truck, I text Zander to let him know I’m bringing him something.

“You sure know how to make a girl curious,” she says, reaching over the center console to run her hands up my thighs.

I grab her wrist and glare at her. “There’s nothing in there for you. Now, if you can keep your hands to yourself, I’ll pay well. Deal?”

Her eyes narrow, and she pulls her wrist from my grip. “My bad, I thought maybe that was some sort of kink. Where are we going?”

Just then her cell phone rings, and I nod to let her know to answer it.

“Hello?” I can hear the confusion in her voice.

After a minute or so, she says, “I understand. ”

She throws her phone out the window, and we drive off. Once we are out of the Cordeliers parking lot, I demand, “Start talking.”

“Nate started out in the poker room when he first joined. A few girls tried to seduce him, but he refused. He didn’t buy any drugs either, just gambled. Years went by like that. A couple of girls pushed hard, but he never caved. Men that look like him don’t come in very often. Or men like you.”

She stops talking to look at me. I can feel her stare but don’t return the attention, so she keeps going.

“Anyway, one night he came in really angry. We had never seen him like that. A man named Conner Anderson came in with him that night. Mr. Conner has had a membership for a very long time and is one of Mr. Jeff’s longtime friends, but I had never seen Conner with Nate before.

They went into a private room with a new girl, Veronica. She served them whiskey, but both declined anything else. When Mr. Conner left, Nate stayed and had Veronica for the first time.

After that, he came in every Thursday night to play poker and see Veronica. At some point, he added Chelsea. Some nights it was both of them. Some nights just one or the other. He still saw Veronica more often than not.”

By the time she finishes giving me a rundown of Nate’s sexual encounters at Cordeliers, we’re pulling into the warehouse parking lot. I shuffle her into the office where Zander is waiting alone and lock the door behind me.

“My answer is yes,” she squeals as she stares at Zander.

“The fuck?” He asks, looking from her to me.

“Zander, Leah. Leah, Zander,” I introduce them as I sit down.

“Now that we’re all comfortable. Leah, I’d like to explain that I’m not really interested in the who-fucked-who drama. Let’s back up to the night Nate brought in Conner Anderson. What were they arguing about?” I ask .

“Oh, I think about his wife,” she answers, still fucking Zander with her eyes.

Zander takes a seat in the chair beside me and prompts her, “Go on.”

“Let’s play a little game, shall we?” She announces, walking over to us.

I narrow my eyes at her in response.

“It’ll be fun! Since I can’t touch you,” she says, looking at me then turning to Zander, “maybe you can play with me?”

I scoff and wait for Zander to respond.

“Color me curious. What do you have in mind?” He asks.

“For every answer I give that he likes,” she says, pointing to me. “I get a reward from you," she declares and takes a step closer to him.

“Tempting, but your pleasure doesn’t interest me,” he responds.

She pouts and looks between us.

“The only game to play here is to tell us everything you fucking know about Nate Williams and Conner Anderson. Like I said before, I will pay well for the information. If you hold back, we’ll know.” I pull the knife out of my pocket and walk up to her. Touching the tip to her exposed chest, I whisper, “If we decide you’re not telling us everything, I have permission from Isaiah to cut it out of you.”

Her lips part at a sudden intake of breath. Finally, I have her attention. Zander asks the next question as I walk back to my seat.

“This time let’s hear every detail you remember, hm? Now, what were Nate and Conner arguing about?”

“Mr. Conner was pushing Nate to get his wife pregnant. They needed an heir. They never said for what. Nate said he was working on it. He argued with Mr. Conner that their agreement had been marriage right out of college, not kids. He said they had plenty of time left. Mr. Conner insisted it had to be done soon then left. Nate told Veronica he had made a deal with the devil then told her to take his mind off things.”

“Any other conversations pertaining to his wife or Conner Anderson?” I ask.

She looks down and replies in a much lower voice, “Yes. He confided in Veronica months after that. Apparently, he had been replacing his wife’s birth control pills with placebos for a while. He really did want to get her pregnant, but he didn’t want her father to know how long he had been trying to do it.

Then one night he asked Veronica to help him by having her IUD removed to have his baby. By then, she was so in love with him that she would do almost anything he asked of her. He told Veronica that his wife couldn’t get pregnant, but they could all three share the baby. I tried to talk her out of it, tried to explain to her that she could end up pregnant by another member. She did it anyway.”

“Fuck,” Zander hisses.

I nod. “Thank you, Leah. Now, here’s what happens next. You’re going to continue to work at Cordeliers as usual. As far as Jeff knows, I’ve made a deal with Isaiah to use your services privately in exchange for something he needed. You will come here any time I call. I want to know everything you see or hear pertaining to Conner Anderson or his daughter, Noel.”

Standing, I stalk toward her and grab her by the chin. “Keep your mouth shut and your ears open.”

Her nod is subtle, which assures me she understands I will act on my promise to cut her if needed. Satisfied with the agreement, I walk to the door and look at Zander.

“Give her a burner and take her back in a few hours. Make sure she looks like she’s been thoroughly fucked. She needs to keep up appearances.”

He nods, and I shove the door open to the southern July heat.