Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
I barked out a laugh. “Yeah, okay, maybe. I didn’t think about that, but it would be worth it to know everyone’s secrets.”
Her brows dipped, and her perfect lips twisted into a soft pucker, making it hard to keep from kissing that disdain right off her face. “Yeah, right. Well, if you’re finally ready to give me a chance, then let’s start here, in the offices.”
“Okay.” I stepped down the hall and opened a door to show her the desk filled with monitors and computer equipment. There were six monitors all together, each covering a different part of the club. “This is the surveillance center where I spend a lot of my time.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow. Do people know you’re watching them?”
“I would think so.”
“But isn’t that illegal?”
I huffed out a laugh. “It’s Vanetti’s club. He can do whatever he wants.” She frowned, and it occurred to me that she might not know that Vanetti was a mob boss. “It’s not illegal. This is an exclusive club. People know what they’re getting into when they come here.”
“Oh… right.”
My brows rose. “Have you ever been here before?” I studied her, suddenly wanting to show her around, and not for the investigation, but just to show off a little.
“Me? Uh… no. I’m not into that sort of thing…” She raised her gloved hands and wiggled her fingers. “…mostly because of this.”
“I see. Well, come on. I’ll show you the rest.” I almost reached for her hand, but resisted the urge at the last minute. We continued down the hall toward a door that opened off the side of the bar inside the club. A worker was re-stocking the bottles of booze, while another guy mopped the floor.
Serenity followed me past the bar to where booths and tables were set up along the outer edges of the hall, with a big wooden dance floor in the middle. Without any people, the space looked big and cavernous.
Special lighting was mounted all along the vaulted ceiling, ready to shine down on the dance floor in strobes of color. But, for now, the place was pretty tame, with golden light pouring from above the wainscoting lining the walls. The club oozed wealth and privilege without being stuffy.
“I thought clubs were supposed to feel sleazy during the day, without all the fancy lights and music, but it’s nice here, especially without any people.” Serenity glanced around the room before sending me a shrug. “But I guess that’s not the point.”
Her phone rang, and she quickly pulled it from her purse. Her brows dipped, and she caught my gaze. “Is it okay if I take this?”
I shrugged. “Sure.” I knew it wasn’t polite to listen, but who said I was polite?
“Hi, Ethan. What’s up?” Listening, she paused and her mouth twisted. “Are you kidding me?” Closing her eyes, she huffed out a breath. “I can’t believe it. He’s suing me? For what?” Rubbing her forehead, her lips pinched together. “Seriously?” She let out another frustrated huff. “He has to know I can’t give him what he wants. I don’t have it. Is there anything else we can do?” Her brows rose. “What? Go to trial? This is unbelievable.”
Someone was suing Serenity? It sounded serious, and an unexpected anger flooded my gut. My fists clenched, and I had to consciously relax them. Who would do that to someone like her?
She turned to pace a few steps away, but I could still hear her. “I know… you’re right. I’ll stay the course. Just let me know when you find out the details, okay? Sure. Thanks.”
With her head lowered and her back to me, the pain I’d heard in her voice was etched into every rigid muscle of her body. Anger stirred my stomach. Even though I thought we were wasting time, it wasn’t because I thought she was a fake, but because—
She took a deep breath and straightened her spine before turning to face me.
“Is everything okay?” I really wanted to ask who I needed to beat up.
Clearing the gloom from her face, she nodded and tried to smile. “Of course. Just a little bad news, but it’s nothing new. I can handle it.”
I raised a brow, knowing a lie when I heard it. I was dying to pry, but now didn’t seem like the best time, so I let it go. “You want to touch anything while we’re here?”
She swallowed. “I don’t think it’ll help. Let’s go back to your office. I’m interested to see what’s on the surveillance videos. Maybe I’ll see the guy who ran you off the road? That would be good, right?”
“I can’t argue with that.” Especially since it was what I wanted to do, anyway.
She nodded and took off toward the doors behind the bar. She pulled the door open and nearly collided with one of the workers carrying a box of full of bottles. Luckily, I was close enough to catch the box and avert a disaster.