Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“We’re short staffed, if you haven’t noticed. Ebony quit after Luna’s death.”
I move across the room to stare out the window. “I expected more girls to quit. I’m surprised there was only one.”
“I just don’t think we should invite trouble to your doorstep,” Adele says.
I laugh, turning from the window to face her. “It’s already here.”
“Adele, baby, you can’t get mad at Dev for wanting to draw out the killer,” Roman says.
She parks a hand on her hip. “Yes, I can. You’re not Sherlock Holmes. Let the police do their job.”
Roman’s sarcastic laugh booms throughout the room. “Ha. What are they doing?” He stands and moves closer to Adele. “I’ll tell you what they’re doing.” He dips his head down. “Absolutely jack shit.”
“That’s not true. They’re questioning everyone. They’re doing their jobs.” The normally unflappable Adele looks ready to come apart at her designer seams. “They’re building a case.” She pokes him in the chest with a French-tipped nail. “Let them.”
It’s true what she said. There isn’t an employee at Club Greed that hasn’t had the detectives at their doorstep. But there’s nothing to show for it.
I stride to my desk as Roman returns to his chair. “I don’t doubt the police are doing everything they can, but I won’t sit here and not do everything I can.”
Adele stares at me for a beat and then sighs. “Fine. What’s your plan for a party?”
“A sinner and saints ball. We can do it next week. Saturday.” Adele jots down notes. “Masquerade style. Make it classy. A grand adventure.”
“Ok. Anything else?”
I shake my head. “Just plan a lavish party. Think elegance and then go beyond that. And get everyone ready for tonight. We have a few parties on the books.”
She scurries away, and the guys and I make a plan to question Kurt Merrick. After they leave, I head downstairs to check how the night’s going. Morale is down with the girls, but morale is down with me as well. I’m angry more than anything else because I hate not being able to do anything.
I move through the club, glancing at a rowdy party in the main area, and make my way into the server’s side area where Swan is placing drinks on a tray.
“How’s that party?”
Swan scowls, not making eye contact. “Great.” She slides the tray off the bar. “Thanks,” she says to Raven, who is busily slamming liquor bottles back in the wells as she tries to keep up with the amount of people here tonight.
Swan marches past me, and I watch as she makes a sweep of her assigned tables, delivering drinks. I know she’s mad at me for the abrupt way I kicked her out of my car, but she can’t avoid me all night.
I remain in the server area as Swan floats throughout the club, taking care of customers.
When she has to come back into the side area, her eyes narrow before she busies herself with more work.
“You can’t ignore me all night,” I whisper against the shell of her ear.
“Watch me,” she says over her shoulder and then halts her steps. “I mean, don’t watch me.”
I step back. “I like watching you.”
“Fine. Do whatever you want. It’s a free country.” She sashays away, and I swear there’s an extra swing in her hips.
Because the place is so busy, I hop behind the bar to help Raven with the onslaught of customers.
The club activity eventually dwindles down, and it’s only Raven, Swan, Jeremy, one of the other many security bouncers, and me left. Jeremy heads outside with Raven, making sure she gets to her car safely, leaving me alone with the woman who refuses to look at me.
“You’ve wiped that table down for five minutes, Swan.”
She huffs in my direction, her eyes finally meeting mine with barely concealed disdain. “I was hoping you’d leave.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Too bad I can’t kick you out.” She trots over and drops the rag on the bar. “Fine. What do you want?”
“I want you to talk to me.”
She rolls her eyes, and the action makes me want to bend her over my knee. Discipline her. “I’m not really in the mood to talk. Maybe you can phone a friend?”
“I think that sass deserves a punishment.”
She gapes at me. “What kind of punishment?”
“A spanking.”
Chapter 18
Chloe
* * *
The excitement that courses through me has nothing to do with the case, and everything to do with the man standing before me.
When we were at the church playground, and he told me he felt I was hiding a part of myself, I felt sick. I honestly thought he was going to pressure me into telling him my secrets. The fact I’m a detective.
It’s like he can see right through me, and later, when he kicked me out of his car at the funeral, I didn’t think he’d stalk me through my shift, and now say I’m the one who needs punishment.