Atlas whipped his head, facing me. “So it’s bugged?” I was glad when he whispered. But there was also the creeping dread we were heard anyway.
Leaning into Atlas’s ear, I said, “If the thing went poorly with Wang, and Vick was able to figure it out or even suspect it was us, he’d want to have proof to show Wang. So Wang could come after us and let him go. Vick’s not dumb.”
“This is ridiculous, Toby, water in the circuits.” His expression belied his words. He was playing it up.
“Look, I’m just saying maybe that’s why George came up here and the other person was a repair guy. You’re paranoid,” I fake-argued.
“Why didn’t George say something?”
“He’s human, Atlas, he likely forgot. We can ask in the morning.”
“Fine.” Atlas stepped back from the panel. “Let’s go get ice cream. I need to get out of here.”
“It’s late.”
“Then stay here, I’m going.” I knew he wouldn’t leave without me, but if he was willing to leave me, Vick would be more convinced we thought we were safe.
“Fine, I’ll come. I want some rocky road.”
We grabbed our wallets and keys and left the penthouse. We opted not to use Atlas’s car in case that was bugged now too. We called for an Uber and when we got in, he texted Ciro.
“He’s gonna meet us at Two Scoops.” It was a small ice cream parlor near Joker’s Sin. At least I really would get ice cream out of this deal.
We had just sat down with our ice cream when Ciro and TJ walked in.
“So you think your place is bugged?” TJ asked.
“Yeah. And maybe my car.” Atlas offered Ciro some ice cream.
“No, we’re good. TJ has some news.”
“Right. So, Wang certainly found out about the switch-up, but he’s holding Vick responsible. I don’t know how or why, but he gave Vick a deadline to either hand him the people who did it or get his supply back. Between you and me, I think he’ll kill him anyway, but Vick is enough of a narcissist to think otherwise.”
That made sense. “Yeah, it was all too much of a coincidence. Liberio probably set up the bugs and looked around real fast to see if he found any of the drugs.”
“If what you’re saying is true, then we just have to wait it out. I’m sure something will happen within the next twenty-four hours. Vick will have nothing, and Wang will want his head.” Atlas was right.
“Yeah, but what, we go to your place and play chess or something? There’s no way they didn’t hear all the shit we said.” I laughed.
“If you don’t go home, he’ll know something’s up. Keep your conversations light. Maybe talk about how excited you are about the opening. If you don’t return, it’ll be worse. Talk about how worried you are and feed Vick’s ego.” TJ smiled. “He’ll love that.”
We finished our ice cream, and TJ promised to meet us at Joker’s Sin the next day to see how the night went and if any more news surfaced. All I knew was that it was going to be a long night and a longer twenty-four hours. With the opening so close, Atlas didn’t need all this stress. I only hoped Wang stepped in and dealt with Vick before Vick decided to take matters into his own hands.
When we walked into the penthouse, Atlas said out loud how happy he’d be when maintenance fixed the light.
“I do think you should talk to the property manager or whoever about George just entering people’s homes, or at least not informing people that he would be going in for repairs.” Even though I knew I’d spoken softly enough that it was Liberio in the video, we needed to show concern about strangers entering the penthouse.
“Check and see if anything was taken. Maybe the repair guy or George took something.”
After we pretended to look things over, we took a shower, Atlas changed his alarm code because he was vigilant, and when we went into the bedroom he shut the door, locked it, and pushed the dresser in front of it.
“Love what you’ve done with the place,” I whispered once he was in bed.
He pressed a kiss to my forehead. There was no way we were having sex, knowing Vick was listening.
“Night, babe.”
“Night.”
But we didn’t sleep. We lay in silence, staring at the ceiling, knowing every breath we took, Vick was listening.
Chapter Forty-One
Atlas
TJ came to Joker’s Sin the following morning as promised. “On my way over, I saw a huge presence over at Vick’s. Lots of fancy cars.” She chuckled.
“Wang?” She nodded.
“We didn’t say anything last night. Played it off convincingly, if I do say so myself.” Toby was quite pleased with himself.
“Your opening is Friday?” TJ asked as she took the cup of coffee Toby offered.
“Yeah.”
“So keeping things away from you is a good thing. Let Wang handle Vick for a while. Stay vigilant, remember the bugs, and let me know if anything weird, or weirder, happens. In return, I’ll let you know if I hear anything.” She took a few sips of her coffee and went to leave.
“Thanks for everything,” Toby said.
“We’re the good guys, we need to stick together.” She passed Ciro on the way out, they spoke for a minute, then turned to leave when a loud blast shook the place.
“What the fuck!” Ciro shouted.
I grabbed Toby, pulling him to me and shielding him just in case there was another. I could feel him shaking, and his breathing was fast. When no other sounds were heard, I took his hand. “Stay with me.” He nodded and we walked over to where Ciro and TJ stood.
“Everyone okay?”
“Yeah,” she said. “It wasn’t here; I’ve heard my fair share of explosions in my day. That was a little ways away.”
I remembered last year when there was a huge explosion about ten blocks from here, an entire tower went down and rocked the whole city. But this one was closer, just not as powerful.
“Stay here.” Ciro and TJ slipped outside. When they opened the door, smoke and dust filtered in. It was brief but whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
“This fucking town,” Max said as he came out of my office. He’d been printing the papers for Shane to sign later today. “I don’t know why the fuck I stay here.”
Everyone who lived in Haven Hart often had those thoughts. They’d always be quickly extinguished by an opposing thought of, I wouldn’t live anywhere else.
Max, Toby, and I sat and waited for Ciro and TJ to return. Ledger wasn’t coming in until later, and I knew he wasn’t near here, so I didn’t worry.
“I hope Shane is okay.” Toby reached into his pocket for his cell phone, likely to check on him, when Ciro returned.
“TJ is staying on the scene and called for backup. Vick’s place is destroyed. The whole left side is gone, and fire is taking the rest.”
Holy fuck. “Could you see if Wang’s cars were still there?”
He shook his head. “Too much smoke, but I don’t think they were. Now to see if Vick or any of them were still in there.”
“Shane said he heard the explosion but is fine. He was home, sleeping.” Toby rested his head on my shoulder and sighed. “Maybe this is over now.”
I really hoped so.
“This salary is crazy good, and the medical benefits are awesome.” Shane was signing the paperwork, smiling in disbelief as he did.
“I don’t think you’ll be working at Vick’s tonight, seeing as it’s gone, so if you’d like to hang out and get a lay of the land with Max, go for it.”
“Yeah. I can’t believe someone blew the place up.” He puffed out a mouthful of air. “Crazy shit.”
“Could’ve been a gas line burst or something.”
“Uh-huh, right. This is Vick. He probably has just as many enemies as he does boneheaded followers.” Shane rose, hand out to shake. “Thanks, Atlas. I’d like to stay and talk with Max.”
“Sure, and welcome aboard.” I shook his hand and the second he left my office, Toby came in.
> “I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you hired Shane.”
I opened my arms, and Toby fell right into them. I liked him like this, on my lap and in my arms. “He’s a good fit, and you’ll feel better that he’s here and safe.”
“Do you think Wang blew up Vick’s place?” I felt his lips rubbing against my skin and damn, he was making me hard.
“Maybe, who knows? What I do know is, a world without Vick Keller is a better world.” Toby’s tongue slid over my skin, and I hummed. “Are you starting something?”
“I locked the door.”
Turning my head, I took his mouth, loving how he sucked on my tongue. His taste was an addiction I didn’t think I’d ever felt with anyone else.
“We don’t have a lot of time, baby.”
He broke the kiss, looking at me with lust-filled eyes. “I kinda want to be fucked on your desk.”
Shit. “I’m all about fulfilling dreams.” I scooped him up and placed him on my desk.
“I’m good with you just filling me.”
Laughing, I quickly unbuttoned my pants and slid them down, Toby working on his own.
“That was so cheesy, and hot at the same time.”
We laughed, kissed, and when I pulled Toby closer to the edge of my desk, I rubbed my hard shaft over his hole.
“Fuck me, Atlas. Just you, please?”
“I want that, so much. But not without being tested. We can do that together but for now…” I opened my desk drawer, pulled out a condom and lube. “I won’t risk it.”
His gaze went soft. “Okay, but you need to fuck me like, now.”
I slipped the condom on, lubed up myself and my fingers. When I pushed one into him, he moaned beautifully, and I felt it all the way to my cock. By the time I had three fingers pumping into him, he was shaking and almost incoherent.
“Seriously, Atlas, please.”
I removed my fingers, gripped my cock, and slid into his heat. “Damn, you feel like nothing I’ve ever felt. Each time.”
After that it was moans, kisses, and skin on skin. Toby held his legs up and open. Hovering over him, I reached and cradled his head, slamming into him fast and hard. I longed to do this raw, feel my seed push into him, watch as it dripped out and shove it back in. To know I was in him long after I’d come.
“I’m coming,” he said as he arched up. A second later, he came all over his stomach, a little on his shirt—but who the fuck cared? Fucking him through his orgasm, relishing how he clenched around me, it was all I needed, and then I was coming too.
We didn’t bother dressing; I slid out, removed the condom, and carried him to my bathroom. We showered together with tender caresses and soft kisses. I was falling in love with Toby St. Claire, and it both terrified and exhilarated me.
When we were washed and dried, we redressed, glad that our clothes were salvageable. Sure, I had other clothes in my office, but if Toby had to walk out with wrinkled clothes, I would too.
The rest of the day was spent getting things ready for the reopening. As we all left that evening, we watched as fire trucks and police vehicles still surrounded Vick’s place. TJ did say there was a dead body inside but no word yet as to who it was.
On our way home, we stopped at a diner for a quick bite. Honestly, we were just prolonging the inevitable of going back to my place, where we’d have to watch what we said. The property manager had contacted me after I informed him George came into my place uninvited, and promised he’d be dealt with. I knew George was likely threatened by Vick, and that was why I opted not to press charges, but I had to worry about Toby and our safety. The doorman told me today George was let go. It only made me feel marginally safer.
We entered the penthouse, sensor still not working, and watched TV. The news was talking about the explosion and claiming faulty wiring, but the investigation was ongoing. When we went to bed, I locked the door, pushed the dresser in front again, and with Toby cradled in my arms, fell into a fitful sleep.
Chapter Forty-Two
Toby
Atlas, Max, Ledger, Ciro, Shane, and I all stood on the stage of Joker’s Sin. It was a couple of hours before opening night, and the rest of the staff hadn’t arrived yet, but TJ had news. Ledger wanted to test the lighting anyway, so he asked for our help. TJ sat below us on a stool, and we all were on different areas of the stage.
“Sorry we have to talk like this,” Atlas said. “We’re running out of time.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m kind of enjoying this.” She chuckled. “I just wanted to tell you the body from the explosion was identified as one Chester Romanski.”
Forgetting about my position on the stage, I walked over to the edge, where TJ was reading off her tablet.
“That’s impossible.”
“I agree,” Shane said standing beside me.
“I too found it odd since his body was found on the docks a few weeks ago.” TJ sighed.
“Why would Vick do that?” Atlas asked.
“Funny thing about that. See, when Vick was questioned after that, he said Chester had an altercation here in Joker’s Sin, and lo and behold, there was a police report on that. When we said his body was found on the docks a few weeks earlier, he said we were wrong. And when we went into the police records, guess what?”
“There was no record anymore,” Ciro answered.
“Bingo!”
I remembered the fight outside the club, and I was sure Ciro and Atlas did too. “He got Chester’s first murder erased and just moved the body to his place, blew it up, and is blaming Atlas for it?”
She nodded. “Yeah, it’s totally unhinged. But he has the chief in his pocket, and God knows who else for now. I’m sure he didn’t do all this shit on his own. My guess, Wang isn’t waiting and Vick’s nervous. He wants the insurance money, but he’s vindictive and wants Atlas to pay for all of it too.”
“He’s getting ready to run?” Ledger laughed. “It will take a while to get the money from the insurance company. What’s he gonna do in the meantime?”
“He’s desperate,” Ciro said. “That’s worse than anything. He wants cops looking here, maybe he’ll tell Wang his shit’s here too. Then he runs.”
“That’s ridiculous. Wang wouldn’t believe that.” Would he?
“I paid a visit to Wang this morning,” TJ said. That was very risky. “Not alone, don’t panic. Wang is a cruel man. I wouldn’t ask him to hold a ladder so I could climb up it. But he’s also a proud man. He doesn’t think for a second you’re behind this, even though you are. He’s out for Vick’s blood. I told him I wouldn’t stand in his way.”
“So Vick wants to disappear, he’s gonna hole up somewhere until his settlement, then run and because he’s a psycho, he has to get one more punch into Atlas?” Max rolled his eyes. “Seriously, this fucking town!” he shouted, arms out in disbelief. “He’s moving bodies, changing reports. How is this just being overlooked?”
“It’s this town, Max. I like to think it won’t always be this way. Just keep your eyes open, all of you. I think Wang will be ahead of him, and his plan won’t even have a chance of blossoming. I’ll hold the cops off. Don’t worry.” TJ bid us farewell and left.
“Let’s concentrate on opening night,” Atlas said, and while I wasn’t as convinced as everyone else that Vick wasn’t going to snap before he disappeared, I decided to busy myself with preparing for the doors to open.
The opening was in full swing, and if anyone was nervous to come after the rain thing, it didn’t show in the numbers. Shane was laughing and having an amazing time. I could see he and Max were working really well together. People were dancing, drinking, and it was like nothing ever happened.
“How you doing?” Atlas wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“Good. Everyone’s having a blast.”
“Thank fuck. I tell you, I was a little nervous.”
Turning in his arms, I looked up into his honey eyes. “People like Vick make messes, but they never win in the end.”
<
br /> “Yeah. You know, I always knew the justice system in Haven Hart was fucked up. But seeing all this shit, how Vick just changes paperwork, and no one bats an eye. How drugs are everywhere, bodies line the street. How did it get so bad?”
I rested my head over his heart. “I think it’s always been bad in a sense, but I also think because it’s directly affecting you, now it feels magnified.”
“Maybe. I dunno. It’s crazy, though.”
We were in agreement there. The whole thing felt unbelievable, like it was a Hollywood movie and we were thrown in the middle of it.
“Atlas!” Someone called his name, and he excused himself to talk to whoever it was.
For the rest of the night I checked on all the stations, made sure things were running smoothly, and let the sounds of Joker’s Sin invade me.
When the doors closed for the night, everyone went into cleanup mode. Max, Shane, and the other four bartenders began their routine. Security started doing checks of the bathrooms, VIP area, parking lot. Everyone was busy. I was organizing things for tomorrow when I heard a crash and a curse.
“I’m sorry,” Shane said.
“Nah it’s okay.” Max was wiping whatever spilled off his pants.
“What happened?” I asked.
“I was moving the three bottles of vodka and dropped one. I’m an idiot.”
“You’re fine.” Max waved him away. “Let me go get another bottle.”
“You go get cleaned up, I’ll grab it. Which one is it?” Shane held up an unbroken one for me to see. “Okay, be right back.”
Opening the door to the hallway that led to the storage room, I was hit with a rush of cold. The door was ajar—probably security out walking the parking lot. The idiots have keys. I’d have to talk to Atlas about that; it was dangerous.
The storage area was huge, filled with so many bottles, cans, and kegs. But, Max was meticulous about his booze, and I knew he alphabetized it all. So Vodka was under V and the brand was in alphabetical order under V. A library of liquor. I chuckled as I moved toward the V shelf.
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