“Cincinnati?” He sat up straight. “Why the fuck does some private dick in Cincinnati care about a missing woman from Denver?”
A missing woman with no family, no significant other, and no real ties to anything or anyone.
She’d been the perfect choice for what they needed. Valdez had said so himself. And since the feisty redhead had been quick to see the light in regard to how things worked in his world—and knew her place in it—they’d had no trouble from her ever since.
“Don’t know why the nosey bastard’s trying to find her, but I’m looking into it.”
“Find him,” he ordered. “And when you do, I want the name of the person who hired him.”
“What if he won’t talk?”
The question had him blinking. “You fucking make him.”
“Understood.” Pauly dipped his chin in a curt nod. “I’m assuming you’ll want me to…handle him? After I have the information you need, of course.”
“Of course.”
“And Cinnamon?”
He stared back at the closest thing he had to a friend and sighed. “Take her shopping.”
Pauly’s dark brows bunched together. “We talkin’ shopping or…shopping?”
“What do you think?”
Seconds passed before the man gave a second nod. “I’ll take care of it. But…”
“But what?”
“Nothing.” The big man shook his head and blew out a breath. “It’s just…I kinda liked this one.”
Yeah. He kind of liked her, too. But business was business.
“We’re not here to make friends, Pauly,” he reminded. “We’re here to make?—”
“Money.” The other man nodded once more. “I know.”
It was a big ask, but one he knew the guy couldn’t refuse, even if he wanted to. Pauly had been around long enough to know certain jobs involved more planning. More risk.
An occasional occupational hazard for men in their profession.
But if a private investigator really had started snooping around, then it was because someone out there hired him. And if that was the case, it could only mean his little Cinnamon had a connection to someone willing to pay to find her.
Someone the mighty Valdez had missed.
Fucking Valdez.
“This little problem of ours needs to be taken care of soon, Pauly,” he told his trusted associate. “Like first thing tomorrow.”
Regret filled the other man’s eyes as he gave a single, solemn nod. “Don’t worry, Boss. I’ll take care of everything.”
“I know you will,” he responded with confidence.
Because Pauly always followed orders. Always.
5
“Are you sure?”Olly took the folder Jax Monroe had just handed him.