“Sleep well Bonnie and baby,” Kat called after her with a genuine but worry-filled smile that had me wondering what that was all about.
Kat, it seemed, was full of secrets lately. I didn’t like it, she was such an open book most days, wore her every thought and feeling on her face.
“What up with her?” She directed the question at a distracted Cal who shrugged.
“She’s pregnant Kat, what do you expect?”
“For you not to bite my head off for asking a simple question.” With a shake of her head, she turned away from Cal, dismissing whatever he’d been about to say in response.
She flashed a sincere smile and said, “Thanks for encouraging the fighters to do promo Em, it’s had the desired effect.” And then some lever deep inside tripped and she went into corporate drone mode, talking about social media numbers, Q score increases, and sales numbers. She finished up with, “We’re all gonna make a lot of money.”
Emmett flashed an embarrassed smile as he stood. “I’m happy to help Kat. Thanks for dinner, Sadie, the roast beef was magnificent, but I have to get back to the gym. Rachel needs some help,” he said with a pointed glare my way.
The room fell silent for a moment until Emmett was gone, leaving the inner circle, so to speak, minus Virgil. “No need to retire to the office since we’re among family,” Sadie said as she stood to grab her silver cigarette case and another decanter of whiskey. I appreciated that Sadie considered me family. She always had and never treated me any differently than the rest of her kids. Good or bad.
“Jasper.”
He nodded at her unspoken command and finished his whiskey before he slid the glass her way. I did the same before Jasper gave his report.
“I spoke with Ravager and he was less than receptive to my request and belligerent to my order. He’s not happy that he’s not getting the belt.”
Shit. Emmett was right. I put in my two cents.
“Emmett said Rob’s been acting funny lately. Nothing specific just, jumpy and acting different. Em doesn’t think it’s just nerves.”
“Do you?” Jasper’s green eyes stared at me, detailing my expression to get the answers he was after.
“After hearing what you just said, no I don’t.”
“Who is the new Lance? Get him on the phone now,” Sadie barked, but my phone was already in my hand and dialing.
“Provo, get to House of Ashby right now. Keep eyes on Ravager until I tell you to stop.” I listened and nodded, noting all eyes in the room were on me. Especially Kat’s. “Great. Keep me updated.”
Sadie flashed a smile at me. “I do love your efficiency, Terry.”
“Thanks. Provo will be there in about fifteen minutes.”
“Excellent.” Sadie nodded her approval and pulled out a joint, lighting it slowly. Carefully. She took a deep inhale and smiled, exhaling before she passed it to Jasper, who passed it to me.
“Kat, anything on Mueller?”
Kat nodded at her mother and then shook her head, thick chocolate brown hair falling around her shoulders temptingly. My fingers itched to touch the silky looking waves. Then she shrugged and blew out a breath before finishing off her whiskey and sliding the glass towards Sadie.
“A girl came to see me. A young girl looking for her sister, Molly, who worked for a couple that worked for the Church.”
Jasper and Sadie both groaned at the mention of their second largest enemy. “How’d you find her,” Jasper asked.
“She found me. Actually, she found the couple her sister worked for the last time she’d heard from her, and then she found me because they checked into one of the Mueller Suites.”
Kat let those words sink in and I could see how heavily it all weighed on her delicate shoulders. If only I could massage that tension away.
“Between basic internet research and help from Travis Stone, I managed to confirm much of Madison’s story.”
Jasper frowned, but it was Sadie who looked most displeased, in fact she looked ready to kill.
“And the girl?” she asked, her words urgent. Demanding.
“That’s what brought Madison to Glitz. She hasn’t heard from her in a few months. She’s fairly sure the McLaughlins are the reason for the silence. I am too,” she said with a heavy heart. “They checked into the hotel as the Smith family.”
“Fuck.” Cal let out a low, visceral growl from his spot beside Kat and smacked the edge of the table with enough force to make the silverware rattle. “Send me everything you’ve found and I’ll do more digging.” He flashed a look at Jasper, who gave his nod of approval because that was how things worked in this family.
“Good job, Kitty Kat, but you need to stop digging. Now. It’s too dangerous,” Jasper said.
Kat’s eyes sparkled with fury as she shook her head. “Fuck that, Jas. As long as they’re staying at my hotel, I need to know what the fuck they’re doing and that means watching them. Closely. I won’t let them take some kid to fulfill their sick fucking desires, not on my watch. I just fucking…won’t, Jas. I won’t.”
At Kat’s emotional display, Jasper looked to Sadie and they held a silent, minute-long conversation before she nodded. I understood their hesitation, their worry. Given everything the Ashby boys and even my own fucking brother had gone through at the hands of the fucking Church, I knew why this mattered so much. And I would help in any way I could, especially if it meant keeping Kat safe.
“Fine,” Jasper finally conceded. “Terry will keep an eye on them as much as needed, which shouldn’t be much since you said they checked in alone.”
Kat nodded; shoulders slumped in defeat.
“If they require more surveillance, he’ll let me know,” Jasper said, his gaze on mine to make sure I understood what was expected.
I nodded my agreement because there was nothing I wouldn’t do to keep Kat safe. “I’m on it,” I assured Jasper, Sadie and Kat.
“Good,” Sadie said and stood.
