Wannabe: An Against The Odds Novel
Page 12
Briar is now seated at the table I vacated, and I stop short, surprised at the sight of her. I’d been watching for her, and didn’t see her come in. I slide into the booth, keeping my gaze on all exits. Briar gives me a wan smile. She looks tired as hell and a spike of worry shoots through me. I stare hard at her as her eyes rise to meet mine and she grimaces slightly. I blow her a kiss, letting her know I’ll always have love for her. She gives me a better smile and nods slightly before taking a deep breath.
“Good of you to meet me. I appreciate it, especially after I dropped such a bomb on you, babe. I want to say first off, I’m sorry I lied to you. Next, I know you’re still angry and you have a ton of questions, but Ryan’s been shot, and I’d bet his left nut that it’s somehow connected to the OD’s at Exile. I would appreciate it if you would tell me what you know,” I tell her in a reassuring, calm tone. She stares at me for another long minute.
“It really is like you’re two different people. It’s a little odd. I want you to know I’m not angry anymore. I was last night when you told me, but I get it now. You’re my friend, no matter what, and I sincerely hope that wasn’t a façade for you and that you’re actually my friend.”
“Of course I am. That part was one hundred percent real. You and Zaydra are my main bitches.”
She nods at my words. “I was always going to tell you what I knew, but honestly, at first, it wasn’t much. But since you told me, I’ve done some digging. And, Amber…it’s not good. I need to tell you though…I’m not just a member of Club Exile, I’m a part owner.” She catches the shocked look on my face and pauses, closing her eyes for a moment.
“I didn’t have a great upbringing, you knew that. I got involved with some rough people when I was younger, and found my way into BDSM, but not for the right reasons. Until I met Nathaniel, and Nikolai. They got me away from my situation, and we all three played together for a long time. I was their professional submissive for a long time, and then they came up with this idea that they’d start a sex club for the extreme fetishes as well as the regular fetishes. Nothing against the law, just a safe place to play in the community. But as men, they knew that they’d butt heads, so they couldn’t be equal partners. They’re too dominant. They needed a third party. They each own forty four percent of the company, while I own twelve percent. I’m the deciding vote.”
I’m leaning forward in rapt attention when the male barista places a coffee down in front of Briar. She smiles up at him, pausing in her story, then focuses her gaze back on me. The barista looks slightly crestfallen and makes his way back to the counter.
“Last year, the three of us had a falling out. We stopped our play and just became business partners. I was the one who ended up hurt, so I started working full-time at Dark Angels, because I’m most comfortable around sex and sin, and the money is good. I play one night a week, because BDSM is a part of who I am, and I couldn’t leave it completely behind. Sometimes I’ll go a month, but never longer.
“When you and I went, I hadn’t been in a month. Nikolai caught me up on the comings and goings. There really were a few overdoses in the past month… they all seem to be connected to Nathaniel. Girls he’s played with, brand new subs to him. Nikolai wasn’t sure what to make of it. Only one of the girls died, but one is one too many,” she says fiercely.
My mind is racing at the possibility her business partner could be behind this and dealing to these people.
“That’s not all. I did my own digging, and I cross-referenced the list of Exile members to the open list of overdoses and deaths on the city website, and nearly half were members. Or knew each other in some way. Most of the females were like you said, in the sex trade, and the males were Johns or people they knew. I love my club, Amber. I don’t know when it went to shit, but I definitely think somebody is dealing in my club. I just don’t know who or why.”
“All of these concerns, and your first suspect isn’t Nathaniel? In my line of work, there is hardly ever such a thing as coincidence, Briar. You did well though. I’m going to need you to send me the list of members. I know it’s not a comfortable situation for you, but I need those lists to catch this guy,” I tell her firmly.
“I know Nathaniel, intimately, and for a lot of years. He’s a lot of things, but he’s not a dealer and he’s not a killer. I think somebody is setting him up,” she tells me quietly. My eyebrows shoot up in disbelief and she sighs. “He wouldn’t gain anything from dealing at the club, Amber. It’s as much his baby as it is Nikolai’s or mine. You need to trust me. I’m not going to misrepresent or slander his character just because he hurt me.”
I pause and think long and hard about what she’s saying. I settle back into the booth and steeple my hands together while Briar stares at me in a calm, cool way. The trouble is, I do trust her, completely. So, after a moment, I nod.
“I won’t make him Suspect Number One, but I need to dig more. I need unfettered access to your club, Briar. I need you to put me on the member list. As a Dominant though; I’m through bowing for other people.” She cocks her head at me and a smile forms. My fingers tighten on the tabletop in front of me and my mouth is pressed into a grim line as I wait for her answer.
“There’s my bad bitch. I knew you had her hidden. I’ll get you on the list. If you’re a Domme, you’ll need a sub… You got anyone in mind? Some hot cop, perhaps? His name might rhyme with lion?” she tells me with a wink, and I roll my eyes.
“If I wasn’t a believable sub, then he damn sure won’t be either. Plus, he thinks I’m dating Danny. I’m not, but it’s safer if he thinks I am. I don’t even think he’d do it if I asked anyways,” I say on a sigh.
“Listen, I have to run. I have to be at work in fifteen minutes, and I still have to change. But I think we both know that if you asked, Ryan would do pretty much any damn thing you asked. Love you, bye, bitch.” Briar gathers her things and darts out the door with a wave and an air kiss.
I pull out my phone and shoot off a text to Michael.
We have a lead. It’s pretty solid. Club Exile.
I drop my phone and rub my temples. This has been the day from hell. I keep seeing flashes in my mind of Ryan being shot. My phone vibrates against the table and I pick it up and swipe the screen.
Finally. If it pans out, you’ll stay on. Be careful though. And for fuck’s sake, choose a different meeting spot than Starbucks.
I roll my eyes at his admonishment. Bosses suck sometimes, and stalker bosses suck most. I grab my things and head out towards my bike. I have two more things to do before I head back to the hotel. I text Matthew I won’t be at work because of a family emergency. One last thing to go.
Chapter Twenty-Two: Ryan
I wake to the beeping of a machine and the smell of antiseptic. It takes a moment for me to remember I’m in a hospital because I was about to complain to my housekeeper. I pry my heavy lids open to look around the tiny hospital room they moved me to. There’s a uniformed officer standing outside my darkened hospital room door. I continue to scan my surroundings before settling on the form in the chair to the right of my hospital bed, in dark leather with a mountain of blonde hair. My heart warms slightly. Her gaze lifts from her phone and settles on me. She jolts when she realizes my eyes are open and on her. I clear my throat.
“What are you doing here? How’d you get past the guard at the door?” I ask in a gruff voice.
“I bribed him with White Castle. I also told him I was your girlfriend and showed him some pictures we had together,” she responds unabashedly.
“Why…” I clear my throat again. “Why would you do that? Where’s your man?”
“That doesn’t matter right now. What matters is, how are you feeling?” she asks quietly, dodging my questions, not looking in my eyes.
“I’m feeling like I got shot. Seriously, Amber, where’s your man?” I tell her with anger in my tone, but break off when I hear hurt seeping into my voice. She looks at me with sadness in her gaze and my gut twists. She sighs.
“Come here.” I pat the bed to my left and her eyes widen.
“I’m not getting in that bed with you. You were shot!”
“If you want me to trust you, you’re going to get into this bed with me and let me hold you,” I tell her gruffly.
“This is blackmail.” She continues to grumble, but stands and makes her way over to my left side. She lowers herself into the bed with me gingerly. “You scared me, Ryan,” she whispers, touching my face with gentle fingertips. I wrap my arms around her, ignoring the pain in my right shoulder and side. I tilt her face up to mine and capture her full lips in a kiss.
The kiss starts off sweet but leaves both of us breathless when she breaks it. She touches her fingers to her lips and stares at my mouth lustfully. I bend to catch her mouth to mine again, but she dodges.
“You can’t do that right now. You’re hurt, and I know you won’t stop once you get going.”
I smirk and she mock glares at me.
“Just as long as you know that you’re mine. You can play your games, just don’t forget that you’re mine.” I lay my head back on the pillow and close my eyes. I’m drifting off when I hear her response.
“I could never forget that I’m yours, Ryan. You’re like my heart. I need you to function,” she whispers and places a soft kiss to my lips. I smile as I slide into unconsciousness. The knowledge that the woman I’m falling for is in my arms and safe is what helps me slide all the way to sleep with the same smile on my face.
Chapter Twenty-Three: Amber
I stare up at Ryan a long time after he falls back to sleep. His face is relaxed and almost boyish as he dreams. None of the things that haunt him or the pain he’s in can touch him right now. After I soak up the feeling of security and affection of his sleepy embrace, I slowly extract myself. Whatever drugs the hospital has him on must be strong because he’s a light sleeper on a good day. I finally get free of his spider monkey embrace and gingerly rise from the bed, feeling a million emotions at once.
I shut the door to Ryan’s hospital room with a wink to the uniformed officer and he smiles broadly at me. I start down the hallway towards the front of the hospital when I see Collin. He kicks himself off the wall he’s leaning against in the waiting room and I sigh inwardly.
“For some reason, I knew you’d be back here,” he tells me with a cocked brow.
“Maybe it’s because you’re a gypsy that can see the future,” I snark. His eyes bore into mine with intensity and I fidget uncomfortably, finally breaking the tense silence first.
“Where’s your fiancée?” I ask in a higher voice before I cough to clear the anxiousness out of my throat.
“I sent her home, she’s had too much stress on her lately. It’s not good for the baby or her. Don’t worry, I didn’t tell her…”
My eyebrows shoot to my hairline and I feel the confusion showing on my face. “Didn’t tell her what? Collin, lovebug, are you drunk?” I ask in disbelief.
“I didn’t tell her that you were undercover. Because it will break her heart unless she hears it from you herself.” He pauses for his message to sink in, but when I start to deny it, he holds up his hand to stop me. “I didn’t tell Ryan either, but you know it’s a matter of time before he figures it out. The difference between us is, I have more investigative options that are slightly less legal at my fingertips than he does. Plus, he’s a standup guy who looks for the best in people.”
My heart is beating a mile a minute as he stares down at me from his impressive height, not showing a flicker of emotion. I open my mouth to respond but close it again because in that moment, I become tired…so tired of lying to people I love. I just shove past him without responding at all because I’m smart like that. My life has become so much harder in the past few weeks. I never thought I’d miss just being known as the crazy stripper friend.
“Jensen, from our old unit, is in town. He’s looking to move here, and put in a transfer request with the local PD in Gainesville. He’s a decorated detective and he wants to work Narcotics with Ryan,” Collin calls to my turned back. “Ryan needs help with this case, and if Jensen can’t, I think you can help him. Please think about it. I knew you were too smart when you slipped those trackers on us without us knowing. Help us. Hell, help him out again. Please, Amber.”
I stiffen slightly but continue walking. Every step feels like agony.
I leave the hospital with my head held high and before I can think about it, I’m back at the hotel. I bypass the front desk completely and take the elevator all the way up to our suite. I’m feeling completely out of sorts when I unlock my door. Danny meets me as soon as I walk in, and I feel my hackles rise immediately at the look on his face.
“How could you leave? You put the whole operation in jeopardy! Amber, I know you’re not that dumb! You’re lucky I was able to switch the registration so quickly! Fuck, it’s like you’re trying to blow your whole story! What are you thinking?” he yells as I shove past him to head to my room. At his forceful words, I whirl around and pin him with a scathing gaze.
“I’m thinking that I finally fit in with a group of people! I’m thinking I finally found somebody who could love me no matter the bad shit! I’m fucking thinking that I finally sacrificed enough blood, sweat, and tears to deserve a good fucking life with friends and somebody to love me. Get. Off. My. Back,” I grit out in a raised voice, and immediately regret it when I see the hurt look on Danny’s face. He quickly backs away as I reach for his arm and puts his hands up at chest level.
“Okay, Bella Bear, I get it. You don’t need any help. After all, I’m not a friend, I’m just a coworker, right?” He walks away and slams the door to his suite. I plop down on the couch and put my head in my hands. I feel like I’m being torn between doing my job and helping the people I love. I don’t know why I can’t just do both.
I sit there for I don’t know how long before I hear Danny come back out into the foyer. I keep my head in my hands because I can’t handle another confrontation right now. I feel like I’m on the edge of shattering. After a beat, I feel giant arms come around me in a comforting hug. I press my face against the familiar chest of my best friend.
“I’m sorry.” My voice comes out muffled and full of unshed tears.
“It’s okay, I know you didn’t mean it like that. I was just worried about you, but I would have reacted the same way if it was Del.” I let loose a sigh of relief and pull away from his embrace.
“Moose, I just can’t keep doing this. I’m pulled in too many different directions. I feel like my cover is falling apart just because I care for people.”
“Sometimes it happens like that, Bella Bear. That’s why you’re not supposed to make strong connections when you’re under. But Michael told me you think you caught a break in the case,” he responds softly.
“Exile. Briar told me a lot of new information about this club. And I’m almost certain it’s ground zero for the distribution and selling of these narcotics. It’s leaking over into every other sex trade in this city, but I’m almost positive this is the center of it.”
“Well, you were close enough to figuring it out anyway. You put us all on the sex trade aspect. Prostitution, exotic dancing, a sex club—those seem pretty similar to me. Now, how are you going to investigate a members-only club?”
“Briar is adding me to the members’ list. She’s a co-owner, and she’s giving me unfettered access,” I say, a bit smugly. He looks at me strangely for a moment.
“Don’t you have to be a submissive, or have a submissive, to go in there?” he asks with furrowed brows.
“You do. We’ve already discussed that I’m not the submissive type, so I won’t really be believable in that as
pect. So, I’ll be going in as a Domme.”
“And who do you think is going to be your submissive? Because it’s not going to be me, and I don’t think Michael likes you enough to pretend to swing your way.” The indignation is clear in his voice, I laugh slightly.
“My thought is to get the local Narcotics division involved finally. They can provide me with the perfect type of backup. It’s long past time we get them involved anyway. And this way, it eliminates most of the stressors in my life. If they have an active role in this investigation, they’ll quit blocking my efforts at every turn. We’re working towards the same goal anyways…” I let my voice trail off, finally voicing the thought I had a mere few hours ago. I wait with bated breath for his response and after what feels like forever, Danny slowly nods.
“I think that idea would work. Whoever is after you seems to think you’re already cooperating with the police. We can just go in the precinct in your ‘undercover clothes’ and change for them to take you seriously. Michael will have to meet us there, of course, but I think it would work. You actively working with the police as Amber James might enrage whoever these people are enough to make them slip up and make a mistake. They seem a little too focused on you as it is. Let’s do it.” His words cause me to startle slightly because I wasn’t expecting him to agree to my harebrained idea so quickly.
“This is why you’ve always been my ride or die, Moose. But first we have to get Michael on board with this plan,” I say with a grimace. His eyebrows raise and he laughs.