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)
The thing about sisters is you can never really lie to them. Or at least, I can’t. Because Ashley can see right through me. She also knows when I’m holding things back, like right now.
“Listen, I can’t tell you anything so please don’t ask, ok?” I push away from her, grabbing my gym bag and water bottle.
“I know you’re going to say you’ve got this, but I still worry. You’re still my baby sister.”
“I’m also a detective. They’ve trained me to do this, Ashley.”
Ashley holds her hands up. “Well, I can still worry about you. Remember the time in elementary school? When Jimmy Parks pulled your hair and kicked your lunchbox?”
“I was five.”
“So. I still fought him off for you. I was only seven, and I made sure everyone at that school knew not to fuck with you.”
I roll my eyes at the memory. “Mrs. Haverhill didn’t appreciate you yelling at all the kindergarteners in her class.”
Ashley shrugs. “Well, I can’t have anyone picking on my little sis.”
I pull the bag strap over my shoulder. “I’m not little anymore. I’m a big girl who can make big grown-up decisions.”
Ashley nods. “Ok, you don’t have to tell me anything. Just blink twice if it has anything to do with those Greedy Girl murders.”
I stare at her, and then blink twice. I can’t help it.
“I knew it,” she shrieks. I’m on the fence whether she’s happy I’m on the case or excited that she guessed right until she says, “You should quit the force.”
A laugh escapes me as we make our way to the front entrance of the YMCA. “I’m not quitting.”
Ashley stops me. “This is serious, Chloe. You might get hurt.” She grabs my arm. “Like, seriously hurt.”
“This is my job. Just like you go to work every day and do your job.”
“Selling homes differs greatly from chasing bad guys.”
That’s a great point. One I ponder while I try to come up with something to reassure my sister I know what I’m doing, even if I really don’t. Looks like I am no Sherlock Holmes. I thought I’d start the job and things would fall into place easily and there’d be clues all over the club. But there’s not.
In fact, now that I work at Club Greed, I feel like I’m getting further away from solving anything.
I shrug and go with, “I’ll be fine.”
The sun shines high in the sky when we exit the front doors of the YMCA and head toward our cars in the lot.
“Have you met the owner?”
I nod.
“And?”
I make a zipping motion across my lips.
“Tell me, Chloe. Is he as hot in person as he looks on TV?” she asks, eyes wide with her hands clasped in front of her in anticipation.
So, I tell her the truth. “No.”
Her face falls. “What? Really?”
“He’s hotter.”
Chapter 7
Devereaux
* * *
“Eight ball, corner pocket,” I say, leaning over the pool table in my office to line up my shot.
Roman and Ledger groan as I sink the ball, ending the game.
“Ah, good game,” Roman says. “Rack ‘em again, Ledger. I need a win.”
I head over to my desk while Ledger racks the balls, getting everything set up for another round of billiards.
“I was thinking we should probably start questioning people.” I fire up my computer, checking the schedule for tonight. “I heard Yuri’s in town.”
Roman chalks his cue stick. “I hate to say it, but every single member of Yuri’s crew is a criminal. So, if anyone knows the scum of the city it’d be him. I don’t trust them. Is Greer ok?”
I nod. “I talked to her this morning. I’ve still got the security detail watching over her as well.”
Roman lines up the cue ball, leaning over and aiming his shot to break. “That’s good,” he says, before sending the balls rolling across the table. The eight ball careens into a corner pocket. “Fuck.”
“That was a quick game.” Ledger cracks a grin. “Didn’t even need to play to win.”
Roman points at his brother. “That’s not a win. Re-rack.”
“You lost.”
“Says you. Re-rack. I’m allowed to ask for a re-rack. Right, Dev?”
I move from behind my desk. “I’m gonna head downstairs and check out how things are going. You two can figure out your own shit.” I’m not getting in the middle of their fight over who won the game. If I know these two well, which I do, this fight will escalate to them playing pool all night until they’re both exhausted and ready to deem themselves both winners.
Plus, what I’m really thinking about is Swan. I can’t stop thinking about her. The door clicks shut on their argument and I make my way to the balcony that overlooks the action. The club is in full swing, and we booked most of the rooms tonight, which is a relief.
I feared no one would visit the club to avoid being caught up in something they didn’t want to be caught up in, but that’s not the case. This club is not the ghost town I thought it would be.