That was a heavy burden. Being adopted was one thing, learning both of your birth parents were dead was another.
“Did they tell her?” He shrugged. “Did you tell the adoption guy that you were her brother?”
“I look out for her,” he said, getting defensive. “Maze keeps an eye on her every way he can. If she’s ever in trouble, we’ll be there.”
Harlow thought some more about it. “You should tell Penzance.”
“I don’t think we want to pull on that thread until we know how tonight goes down.”
Dover was right. Introducing more tension and friction into the mix wasn’t a good idea. Ryske had been hurt when Penzance disappeared from his life. Having a better idea why that was, she could understand why Dover and Maze hadn’t told him about Charlize. That would mean bringing up old grievances. To talk about Charlize, they had to talk about Audrey, which meant talking about Penzance.
Dover was a good guy. Despite knowing about his half-sister, he hadn’t gone crashing into her life. He’d checked her out from a distance and hadn’t disrupted her happiness. That couldn’t have been an easy decision.
“You know if you ever decide that you want to meet her…”
“I know,” he said, letting go of her hand to sling an arm around her. “Floyd always told us to look out for each other. This isn’t a great neighborhood for a girl on her own. We didn’t have a woman on the crew to soften the blow for her either.”
“Now you have me,” she said, tipping up her chin to show him a grin.
One side of his mouth curled. “Yeah, I’m not sure you’re any better an influence than your boyfriend,” he teased and pulled her closer to kiss her head. “One day when she’s older, maybe. And if she needs us, we’ll be there no matter what.”
“But while she’s still so young and impressionable, you think it’s best she doesn’t know she has a thug for a brother?”
He squeezed her. “I think it’s best she stays in her nice middle-class neighborhood as long as she can. Look what happened to you after you crossed our path. Death, grief, jail, hospital, servitude… We’re tough to take.”
“Can’t say I didn’t give as good as I got.”
“That’s the truth,” he said, swinging her around into Bale’s building. “We’ve gotta let that shit lie for now. We’ve got bigger things to worry about.”
“Yes, sir.”
Harlow let him lead her up the stairs to Bale’s. Within the crew, it was unusual to have secrets, but she understood why Dover hadn’t thrown the issue out for debate. Charlize was happy and safe. A bunch of big, tattooed guys from a rough neighborhood showing up to say they were related to her wasn’t going to put the girl at ease.
Their crew had enemies. While Charlize was a secret, she was safe. Harlow didn’t know how far away she lived either, maybe it wouldn’t be possible to have regular contact. Just introducing himself as her brother was one thing, but what would Dover have in common with a middle-class teenage girl?
In the future, if Charlize wanted to meet him, Dover would be open to it. In the meantime, he’d let her live her life in blissful oblivion. A childhood wasn’t something the guys of their crew had really enjoyed, not an innocent one anyway. Dover was giving his sister a gift, but was ready to take action if the need arose.
Harlow was proud of him and of Maze for supporting him. Now that Ryske knew, and Penzance was back in their lives, the issue might come up again. But Dover was right, they had to concentrate on Ophelia and couldn’t afford to split their attention.
So, it was on to the doctor’s apartment and then back home to find out how everyone else had done on their missions. After they regrouped, they’d get ready for Windsor’s. Already it felt like it had been a long day, but Harlow had a feeling that the night would sneak up on them fast.
38
Turned out Harlow had been right. Everyone achieved their goals.
With the computer, Maze discovered pictures of Parratt dressed in babygirl clothes being whipped by his mistress. The woman was in a full body suit with mask, so her identity was concealed. Still, it was primo blackmail material.
Ryske had gloated and boasted to Yarker. The man was an easy mark. Insecure and timid, Yarker fell for every part of Ryske’s ploy. Her love was sure the weak man was festering, dwelling on the ideas and doubts Ryske had planted.
Bale had identified the markers of two personality disorders by reading the files. He’d noted relevant events and crucial times. It was obvious Ophelia was unstable. Now they had the proof to back that claim up with those who didn’t know her.
Despite every part of their plan being in place, nothing was guaranteed as they walked into Windsor’s that night. Being cautious was healthy. They couldn’t underestimate their opponent.
Ryske held Harlow’s hand. Maze was at her side carrying two files. Anwen was with them as well. Penzance was waiting in the alley where Noon was parked. Dover was in a second vehicle with the doctor, but they were parked in a different alley.
“We should’ve had sex in the car,” Harlow said, thinking of how they’d discussed it at her parents.
She tried to pull her hand out of Ryske’s, but he wouldn’t let her go. “There’s still time.”
There was no time to waste. They had to show up and soon. There was one couple that they wanted to talk to before having to face Ophelia.
It turned out that living with Ophelia for more than a month came with unseen benefits. Harlow knew the routine and that Ophelia wouldn’t even be ready to leave her apartment yet. Penzance took advantage of the allies he had on the inside. He had gained some useful knowledge of his own. He knew where Ophelia’s driver hung out and that the man owed his bookie big. The driver was more than happy to take a generous bribe in return for taking the scenic route. That delay would buy them a little more time.
Just before they went through the entrance to Windsor’s main floor, Harlow tried again to slip her hand out of Ryske’s. He squeezed hard to keep hold of her. So hard that she thought he might crush her bones. Her mouth opened in a silent scream.
Before she could speak, he whipped her around in front of him. “No more hiding,” he said, crowding her against the doorframe. “You belong to me, Trinket. Only me.”
With the hand he wasn’t crushing, she straightened his tie and then smoothed it down his torso. “Actions speak louder than words, Crash,” she said, pouting. “You want me? You better come and get me.”
Turning around, she shoved into the club, slipping away from him. Glancing back over her shoulder as she strode away, she was excited by the aroused, feral amusement he had pinned on her.
He strode in with his posse behind him. The room was filled with people, but she was the only one he saw.
Harlow brought her focus back to her path. Walking with confidence, one foot in front of the other, shoulders back, she led with her chest. Her breasts were presented in a low cut, skin tight dress that clung all the way to her hips and then loosened to a knee length skirt with two slits.
When she got to the central booth, every person there spotted her, or more accurately, her breasts. Bending over, she laid her forearms on the back of the booth between Parratt and Lydia. Plumping her breasts even more for Parratt’s visual enjoyment, she widened her smile when she noticed that every man at the table was fixated on her chest.
Someone smacked her ass hard. The sting of painful pleasure made her straighten and spin around. At the same time, the perpetrator’s arm came around her back to seize her hand against her opposite hip.
Ryske just held her there against him, but looked over her head at Parratt. “Gotta talk,” he said and side nodded.
He started to pull her away, so Harlow was quick to steal a glance at Lydia. “You come too,” she said and winked.
Ryske yanked her away, so she skipped along behind him. Still holding his hand, Harlow was flanked by Penzance and Maze. It hadn’t been specified that they should act as protection, but it sure seemed that was wh
at they were doing.
Glancing back, she spotted Anwen who seemed a little lost. Like it or not, they needed her. Harlow didn’t like to see her rattled, so she reached a hand toward her. Although Anwen was surprised by the gesture, she took Harlow’s hand. They all trailed across the room in Ryske’s wake.
He took them into the room he always occupied on Pothos night. Everyone fanned out. Ryske sat in the center of the couch. While he pulled her down at his side, Harlow swung Anwen around to ensure she sat at Ryske’s other side. Penzance sat in the armchair closest to her while Maze sat in the furthest one, perpendicular to Anwen.
She noted the look Ryske and Maze exchanged. That was the confirmation Maze had turned on the recorder he was carrying. It was gratifying that they were taking a leaf out of her book. Having a record would afford them protection, and allow Dover and Noon to know exactly how the night had played out.
Ryske spread his arms to lay one across her crossed legs and the other across Anwen’s in a show that implied he possessed them both.
Parratt noticed, as did Lydia, when they came in together.
Harlow ignored them and leaned in to Ryske, pressing her breasts to his arm. “Can we turn on the porn?”
“Not now, baby,” Ryske said, focusing on Parratt.
She pouted and hummed her disappointment. “Oh, I wanted to turn you on.”
His heavy-lidded eyes swung around to her and she plumped her pout. “Done.”
Letting herself grin as though she was a child who’d just received a gift, she ran a hand up the inside of his spread thighs. He didn’t even stop her when she stroked her palm up over his cock that was already responding to her attention.
“This is not talking,” Parratt asserted, blustering. “Did you call us in here to witness this depravity?”
Harlow kept rubbing and brushed her lips down Ryske’s jaw. Kissing his stubble, she let her lips ascend to catch his earlobe.
“No,” Ryske said, as cocky as ever. “Thought maybe your girl would like to join in.”
Harlow smiled against him, dragging her teeth on the angle of his jaw.
“That’s outrageous,” Parratt said.
Harlow noted there was no objection from Lydia.
Acting like she was too enraptured with Ryske to have heard another man, she rubbed her chest against him. “Can I suck it?”
There was a smile in Ryske’s voice when he patted her leg. “Later, babydoll. I’ve got business. Will you ladies excuse us?”
All part of the plan. Harlow wouldn’t be excused for business unless it was exactly what they needed. Without questioning him, she stood up and straightened her skirt with a shimmy before opening a hand to Anwen who took it and stood up. Harlow reached for Lydia’s hand as they moved toward her.
Though she didn’t quite know what was going on, Lydia took her hand and let herself be led to the adjoining door that would take them into the next bedroom.
Anwen opened it, but Ryske spoke before they could go through. “Trinket,” he said, making her turn. “Don’t go far.”
“I’ll be in earshot.”
If Ryske needed her, he’d whistle, she knew how it worked. Leading Lydia out, the three women went into the bedroom. Harlow let the other two go inside while she closed the door.
Anwen went over to sit on the bed, kicking off her shoes to lounge against the dozens of pillows propped on the headboard. The night wasn’t in full swing yet. Although this was Svetlana’s room, she wasn’t there, and tonight, she wouldn’t be. Ryske had given word to keep the women off the premises.
“You are both with Ryske now?”
“We’re whatever he wants,” Anwen said, stretching herself out.
Harlow smiled. Anwen was good at this. Lydia was standing near the end of the bed, as skittish as ever. Harlow got on the bed by Anwen, who skootched over to make space for her, though not much.
“You both seem so relaxed,” Lydia said, wrapping herself in her own embrace. The poor girl was wearing a look of fearful worry when she glanced at the door they’d just come through.
“Why do you look so scared?” Anwen asked. “Come lie down with us.”
Lydia edged closer, but only perched herself on the bottom corner. “I think… I think something big will happen tonight.”
“Something big?” Harlow said, sitting up and glancing around to make quick eye contact with Anwen. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know,” Lydia said, stroking her arms. “Gil and Anthony were fighting… Anthony was saying he was through. I don’t know what he was talking about.”
“Ophelia, I would guess,” Anwen said, startling Harlow with how quickly she’d jumped in. Lydia must have been surprised too. When Anwen caught them looking, she was startled by their shock. “You know he’s fucking her.”
Anwen didn’t know about the conversation Harlow had had with Lydia. But it was good to get the truth in the open.
Harlow gasped and pointed at Anwen. “That’s right… I guess they had a fight.”
“Ophelia’s been crazy all week,” Lydia said. “I can’t believe you got away from Brash. He was so mad.”
Harlow folded her arms under her breasts. “I’m used to pissing off strong men. I know how to calm them down.”
“Yes,” Lydia said, slipping off her shoes and pulling her legs to the bed to fold them in front of her. “You and Ryske, I can’t believe it. I thought you were over.”
Arching and relaxing, she didn’t mind looking cocky as she admired her nails. “He can’t stay away from me. He’s insanely in love with me.”
Lydia gasped. “You think he’s in love with you?”
“Of course,” Harlow declared. “Ryske loves all women.”
Anwen scoffed. “All women except Ophelia.”
“Difficult to love a woman who doesn’t understand the meaning of love,” Harlow said.
“True,” Anwen said. “And I’m the woman who was her best friend for years. I know exactly what she’s like. She never gives a damn about anyone. She wants to be worshipped.”
“Can she think Ryske would worship her?” Lydia asked. “I didn’t think they’d ever slept together… Did they do it recently?”
“You can have love without sex,” Harlow said. “But I don’t think Ryske will argue with Anthony if he wants to push her out.”
Lydia bounced closer. “Really? Gil wanted to keep her on.”
“Why?” Anwen asked. “Because he doesn’t like Ryske’s power? Ophelia is more dangerous. The worst thing Ryske would do is have sex with you. Ophelia would shoot him in the head.”
“Or the chest,” Harlow said, raising her knees and letting the center panel of her dress fall over her crotch. “She’s evil.”
“She’s more than that,” Anwen said. “She’s a killer.”
“Annie,” Harlow soothed and took her hand. “I don’t know if we should share.” The coy act was a ploy. “But, I suppose, Lydia should know how dangerous Ophelia is.”
Eager to know the truth, Lydia was hooked. “I’ve never enjoyed her company. Ophelia always wanted to take Gil from me… She tried to seduce him away from me. I tried to be her friend, so many times I tried.”
“Oh, she doesn’t like women,” Anwen said. “She wants to be adored, the kind of adoration she gets from men, not women… We’re never enough.”
“Right,” Lydia said, opening a hand to Anwen. “That’s it. I always sensed that. The way she talked to me, it was condescending… Though most of the time she acted like I was invisible.”
Harlow felt bad for her. “We’ll talk to Ryske. Make sure she never belittles you again.”
Lydia seemed incredulous. “You know what she’s like.”
“But you don’t,” Anwen said. “She told me she killed her brother.”
Shocked, Lydia sat stunned for a moment before turning to Harlow who didn’t blink. “Oh my God, you spent time in jail for that.”
“Yeah.”
“Oh my God, but… if you knew that, w
hy didn’t you tell the police?”
Harlow gestured around them. “Because of this. She would’ve turned us all in.”
Lydia gasped again. “We’d all go to jail forever!”
Anwen sat up. “Anthony is right. I think we have to get Ophelia out.”
Lydia thought for a minute. “We could band together against her. Anthony has no love for her. Gil doesn’t want to go to jail… Do you think our word would be enough?”
A loud whistle from the next room made Harlow leap up off the bed. Much as it seemed like she was trained, Harlow was also aware that they might have to move fast. If someone was hurt or in trouble, she didn’t want to delay.
39
Opening the door to Ryske’s room, she zeroed in on her man in the middle of the couch. Penzance and Maze were in the same positions as before. Parratt was in the corner, but she only looked at Ryske.
“Miss me?” Ryske asked.
Harlow started to strut toward him. “Feels like you’re punishing me when you send me away.”
He smacked his thighs. “Come tell me what you want for Christmas.”
Skirting the small table in front of the couch, she climbed on to straddle his lap. He slid a hand into each of the slits in her dress to snake his hands around to her ass.
Leaning in, she kissed his mouth, but trailed her lips to his ear. “She’s with us,” she whispered.
His mouth was lost in her hair. “We own him.”
One of Ryske’s hands stayed under her dress, slithering around to press her lower back, holding her body to his. The other came out of her dress to cup the back of her head so he could guide their mouths together.
Rocking her hips on his, she gained pace and let the fury of their mouths increase. She’d said they should’ve had sex in the car, but seemed to have forgotten there was a bed in the room.
Without breaking the kiss, she squeezed her hands between them and began to unbuckle his belt. All Harlow could think about was how much she wanted him. How this could be their last chance. She eased their mouths apart to make eye contact, to check he was going to consent.
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