“Yeah, well ... field agents ... watching ... waiting.”
Agents? What kind of agents?
Declan’s voice grew louder. “Comptroller's office. How did those girls get inside in the first place?”
“Sorry, man. I ... I.D.-ed them at the door.” The edge in Max’s voice was new, and at least he was speaking louder.
A long string of curses—but from which man?—was followed by a thunk.
“My, my,” a deep voice purred.
Starr shot up, and a quiet exclamation burst from her throat. She slapped her hand over her mouth and turned.
Cherry stood with her hands on her hips, looking every inch the queen towering over Starr in her platform shoes.
“You scared the crap out of me, Cherry.”
“Mmhhmm. Hear anything good?”
“Not much. Something about a bunch of seventeen-year-olds, IDs, and I think Nathan is pissed, and Declan, well, he doesn't share much. Men. They never give enough information.”
“Move over and let me listen. I've got hearing like a bat.”
Before Cherry could position herself closer, the door opened. Declan's face registered surprise but then smirked at her and Cherry. “Ladies.” He strolled by, his cane punching at the floor. Max and Trick followed their boss.
Nathan paused in the doorway. A wash of red colored his cheeks and forehead as if he'd been running a marathon. To call him pissed off was an understatement.
“Girl, I’ll leave you to it.” Cherry backed away, and with a dismissive wave of her hand, sauntered down the hallway.
Starr swallowed and grasped Nathan’s forearm. “What's going on?”
“Nothing.”
Well, didn’t that take the cake? “Don't tell me nothing, Nathan Baldwin. Tell me,” she prodded.
He ran his knuckles over his beard. “There was a bachelorette party here tonight. Only they were seventeen and not legal. Field agents from the comptroller's office picked this night to check on things. Too much of a coincidence for me, but Declan's got a plan.”
Oh, wow. “What?”
“Starr.” He grasped her waist as if to pull her into a hug.
She slipped free. “Don't Starr me. Just tell me.”
“It was a MacKenna set-up. Had to be. Declan has some hefty fines to pay, but he got an attorney. That's all he needs.” Little lines circled his eyes and his words dripped with fatigue.
“If Ruark has a line into teenagers, that makes him both evil and a pervert.”
Nathan burst out laughing, instantly cooling her irritation and worry. She liked hearing him laugh. He had a good one.
“The good news is that the suit filed by the kid who grabbed you on stage has been settled.”
“See?” She mock-punched his arm. “Declan always handles it.”
Nathan's face grew too serious. “The problems have just begun, believe me.”
“Well, that settles it. You're coming home with me.” She held up a finger to silence any protest he might dare to utter. “I'll be safer that way.”
He cocked his head, a long pause settling between them. “Well played, Midnight Starr.”
“Oh, we're going to play all right. You started something in the storeroom, and I'm not a quitter.”
“Just so you know, I was coming home with you no matter what.” He moved closer and slid his hands around her waist and across the small of her back. His fingers massaged either side of her spine there. Lordy, that felt amazing.
“I'm better with my hands than words anyway,” he growled.
Need hit her between her thighs, and suddenly, she didn't care what Ruark MacKenna had up his sleeve, just so long as Nathan kept doing that. “So you do like me.”
“Yeah, I like you. More than ... I'm hooked.” His lips twitched.
“Bewitched?”
“Yeah, that, too. You're ... my North star.”
Oh. She didn't need much more of a reason than that to be attracted to this man when so many others had failed to even earn her phone number. She liked who she was with him: desired, normal but special, not an object but an artist. He respected her.
She leaned in so her cheek could rest against his rough beard. “You sure you want to wait until later when you're off?”
“I'm not sure of anything. Except maybe this.” He brought his mouth down just as a loud crackle from around the corner sounded. Joshua, one of the handymen, cursed as he walked by.
“Let’s go somewhere more private.”
She moved her face to his ear. “Lead the way.” She nipped his earlobe, which she’d have to remember he liked because she found herself back in the storeroom, Nathan deliciously grabbing her ass and pounding her against huge wooden crates. He filled every part of her body with an aliveness she'd forgotten she'd lost. This man was good, decent, and oh, so wicked when it came to sex.
She didn't care what the hell was going on in the world swirling around them. Too many people left when there was trouble and then tried to come back into your life when things were back on track. She wouldn't be like that. As she’d told him, she was not a quitter, be it hard times or good.
30
Starr yawned and followed Luna into the dressing room. She was not used to being at Shakedown so early on a weekday morning. “I still can't believe we were set up. By a bunch of seventeen-year-olds?” Of course, look what she’d done at that age. “At least Declan’s still paying us.”
Declan had called an all-staff meeting, and it was short and to the point. The club was closed for a bit, but they would be paid, regardless.
Luna blew out a breath. “Thank God.”
Despite having a few days off last week, Starr had to admit, being told to take some vacation time wasn’t unwelcome news. Maybe she'd surprise Nathan and take him somewhere. They allowed camping in national forests, and it'd be so good to get outside and get some fresh air.
“It was nice of him.” Phoenix scooted by them and plopped herself on the stool before her make-up station. “Now maybe we can work on those new dances. I’m so bored with everything we've been doing.”
Starr crossed her arms before her sister. “Wait. Did you just say something nice about Declan?”
Phee lifted one shoulder in a delicate shrug.
“Maybe we can go visit Dad.” Luna worked her bottom lip with her teeth. “Stop ignoring the fact that he’s just hours away.”
Phoenix gave an unladylike snort. “He ignored us first. Besides, Starr just did that.”
That morning she’d filled them in on her conversation with their father. To her amazement, Phee was happy she’d gone to tell him to stop calling, and Luna was happy she’d gone at all. She’d also delivered her father’s message to Phee. Her sister stared blank-faced at her, answered “message received,” and then went back to scrubbing the pot she’d been working on at the kitchen sink.
“Phee, it may be time to let go of the anger, ya’ know.” Luna never quit.
“I have let go. The guy said he was sorry, so let’s just get on with our lives.”
Starr rolled her eyes. “Now who's lying?” She didn’t have to be happy about her father’s too-late apology, but it would do Phee good to release some of her hatred toward the man.
“Look, just because you're all googly-eyed over Nathan, doesn't mean the rest of us have lost our senses.” Phee spread her arms wide in a circle. Costumes hung haphazardly on hangers, and make-up stains decorated her stand. “Look at this place. It could use some cleaning.”
Starr groaned. “I’d rather get that show together we've been talking about.”
Luna's face brightened. “I agree.”
Starr and Phee glanced at one another. Something was up with L. She didn’t give up that easily.
Luna's eyes darted from Starr to Phee and back again. “In fact, I have an idea. Promise me, you'll hear me out.”
“Of course.” Starr nodded.
“No, I need you to promise.”
She sighed dramatically. “I promise.”
�
��Good. Let's develop a new show and then debut it in three weeks for all those people who want to come to a place like this but are in recovery. We won’t serve alcohol.” Her words came out in a big rush. “We could do it for charity. Give Shakedown some good PR. I mean, right after the renovations are finished. It might buy Declan more time in case the license gets delayed.”
Starr's shook her head slowly, utterly amazed at her sister. The idea was good.
“I know exactly who we can raise the money for. Sunset Home. They are part of a larger network of alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers. We could do it for them.”
Phee's lips thinned to one disapproving line, and she plopped down on her stool. “You have got to be kidding.”
“You promised to listen.”
“Listen, not agree,” Starr corrected.
“Why not?”
Phee swiveled her stool and started organizing her make-up. Here Starr went again—playing referee between a justifiably-ticked off sister and a genius-albeit-manipulative sister.
“Starr?” Luna pleaded.
“Is this your way of doing something for our father?” She had to be kidding if she believed her plan wasn’t transparent as glass.
“No. It’s a way to best him.”
Huh. Starr paused and chewed on her fingernail. She had to admit, despite her own fury at the guy, the idea had merit, and it would appease Luna without pushing Phoenix toward her father, or causing Starr to have to deal with him again. It was a compromise in an odd way.
Hold her horses. “Why would a rehab center get involved with a burlesque show?”
Luna crossed her arms. “You know the burlesque world has raised tons of money for causes—many of them medically related.”
Starr tapped her lips with her index finger. “True, it would help out Shakedown and Declan, someone being quite generous with us,” she emphasized those last few words, staring at Phee. “We won’t be dancing every night, so we would have time to choreograph a few new dances. It's actually brilliant.”
Luna’s face lit up. “I'm glad you think so, because this morning, I got Sunset Home to agree to cut Dad's rehab bill in half if we do it.”
Luna, she screamed in her head. Why did she always act first, think later?
Phee swung her stool back around so she faced her two sisters. “I’m not dancing for that piece of shit.”
Luna stared straight at Phee and didn’t back down. “It makes us look good to Declan and the rest of Shakedown. It's for a good cause, and it might help some families who've been hurt by alcoholism. Like us. It shows we’re better.”
Never again would Starr underestimate Luna Belle. She sure had balls. “You little Machiavellian strategist.”
Luna flounced to the door. “Good. Then I'll go and run the idea by Declan. If he agrees, we're in, right?” She paused in the doorjamb. “Phee? Show him. Show them all.”
A long silence stretched out between them. “It will help out Shakedown.” Phee stated the words as if attempting to convince herself.
“Yes.” Luna chewed on her lip, her voice softened to butter.
Phee surprised them both. “Okay. I'll do it. But only if he does not come.” She swung away but not before Starr caught a tear rolling down her sister's cheek.
She hadn't seen Phee cry in years. When was the last time? It had to be that day in the hospital room when she and L. had to say good-bye to Phee. Shivering in the cold air conditioning, they were given five minutes before they were taken to a government office and separated.
Luna reached her hand out, which Starr grasped. Starr's throat closed, but she managed to squeeze Luna's fingers before she traipsed out. Starr didn’t have to forgive and forget to do this show. She could rise above it all and do something nice for people who deserved it, like her Shakedown family. But only if it ultimately served Phee.
As soon as Luna was down the hallway, she stepped over to Phee and placed her hands on her sister’s shoulders. “Are you sure?”
Phee picked up a brush and yanked it through her hair. “No, I’m not sure, but it seems important to L.” Her lashes lifted in the mirror, and she locked eyes with Starr. “I’ll do it for her. And you.”
That was the best she could hope for.
She kissed the top of her sister’s head. “For the record, we are already better than him, we don’t need a show to prove it.”
Forgiveness started with doing something nice for someone else with similar hurts, or so the stupid Sunset Home brochure had said. Okay, then. Since they were victims of an alcoholic father, it made sense for them to help those like them by supporting rehab centers. Luna really might be the smartest of them all.
31
Declan tapped the top of his desk with his index finger and pushed the notice from the Comptroller’s office around like he was playing with it. “So, this latest development is not the biggest surprise. I’ve got legal working on it.”
Nathan didn’t know what to say so he kept his lips zipped. Trick leaned against the wall, also silent.
Declan, however, was in quite a chatty mood. “You report to your parole officer about Ruark MacKenna?”
“Yeah.” He cracked his knuckles.
“And?”
“She didn’t tell me to quit Shakedown. Just said to watch it.” Nathan eased down into the chair before Declan's desk and scrubbed his hand through his hair. She’d texted him three potential apartments to check out, too—all of them rat holes. “It's going to get worse with them, ya’ know.”
“Of course it is. You give men like MacKenna an inch, they take the whole fucking mile. I'm not having it. Not at my club.”
Trick pushed off the wall and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Anything he does to us makes it easier to put him away.” His gaze locked on Nathan. The men's utter calm in this shit storm was oddly unnerving.
Nathan stared down at the oriental carpet—a piece like that was worth thousands. Declan could lose everything—again—if he wasn't careful. “Nothing sticks to them. They're Teflon. Declan, you know this more than anyone.”
“And they underestimate my ability. I've put word out on the street. They have enemies, too, you know.”
“Gang war. That what you want to get into?” he huffed.
“No. Let's just say I have friends on the force who'd like nothing more than to nail a MacKenna.”
“He's fixated on Starr.” Nathan would be damned if his fixation turned into anything.
“We're watching the girls, and honestly, if Ruark’s identified Starr is important to you, then she's already in this mess.”
Exactly what he wouldn't stand for. “I won't let them near her.” He’d ensure even distant relatives of that revenge-thirsty family couldn’t get within a mile of her.
“Neither will I. Now, what else do they have on you that I don’t know about?” Declan leaned back in his chair. “And don’t bullshit me.”
Nathan rubbed his hand through his beard. He'd stay and see this out. “You know I have an ex-wife in Florida?”
Declan nodded once.
“Well, I’ve got a kid, too.” He took a second to exhale. “When I got served divorce papers, I released full custody. Signing them was the least I could do. I knew the MacKennas would come for me. Had to leave them out of it.” Fuck, he didn’t know how to talk about this. Yet, here he was, spouting out words.
“Anything else?” The man’s tone was bored, flat.
“My ex doesn't know where I am, and I'm going to keep it that way.” At least that way, they'd have a chance to be off the MacKenna family’s radar. Ruark couldn't be in two places at once.
Trick stared down at him. “Given the circumstances, understandable, smart and kind.”
Yeah, he was saint material.
Declan’s chair righted with a thunk. “I'm sure Ruark would rather go after someone closer.”
Like Starr. Was that supposed to make him feel better?
“Here.” Trick held out his palm.
“What's
this?” Nathan took a key from the man’s hand.
“The key to my old apartment. Rach and I just bought a house.”
“I can't afford—”
“It's paid up until the end of the year. Rachel hates my taste, so it's fully furnished. Just take it, Nathan, and don't let my plants die.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because sometimes the good guys have to win.” The man’s good natured smile wasn’t an act.
He scrubbed his chin and blinked back some emotion that threatened his eyes. His fist curled around the key. “Thanks, man.”
They heard a rap, and then Max cracked open the door. He stepped in, grinning from ear to ear. “Just heard from my buddy on the liquor license board. Eighteen-day suspension but nothing more.”
Declan stood. “Good. Now let’s discuss an idea our formidable Luna Belle brought me thirty minutes ago.”
32
Starr fingered a canary-yellow jacket adorned in real ostrich feathers. God, she'd missed their costumes. Unfortunately, their six-by-two-foot closet at home gave them no choice but to move them to Shakedown’s warehouse. She pushed its hanger to the side to inspect the military jacket next on the garment rack and caressed it like an old friend.
“Don't even think about it.” Phee's voice echoed in the warehouse space, the sound bouncing off the corrugated steel walls. “We need fringe.”
“I know. And don't forget crystals, not sequins, or it'll look cheap.”
“Agreed.”
Phee was less careful than her with their babies, quickly scraping hangers over the metal rod, rejecting dresses, and jumpsuits, and corsets, with a speed that made Starr’s inner diva wince. Phee wasn’t normally rough with things. Something was up, and Starr’s hands itched with the need to intervene, but picking battles you could win was the key to dealing with Phee.
“Please tell me we won’t spend all of our time off, working,” she said.
“God, I hope not.”
They weren't the only ones who thought three weeks allowed major projects to be undertaken. She had hoped she and Nathan could go somewhere for at least a day, but he ended up helping Declan get the club “spruced up.” Nathan was putting in sixteen hours days at this point, but then again, so were she and her sisters as they cobbled together as many new dances as they could in the short three weeks.
Vote Then Read: Volume I Page 79