“I spoke to your colleague,” Daniel says loudly enough to broadcast the obvious change in topic.“She asked for names of anyone barred entry to the auction.The list of those we didn’t let in was longer than those we did, but after doing my own digging, I believe I know who you’re looking for.”
What?“Who?And how?”
“The how is a bit complicated, but I’m missing a couple of employees since the night of.Both recently received sums of money that weren’t easily explained, and one was caught propping a rear door shortly before your boy went on stage.”
“He’s not—” I bite down on the insistence that Ravi’s not my boy.The insistence I’ve been making for the better part of two years is more habit than anything else.
I did just insist to Doyle that he’s mine.
And he is.He’s mine.I’ll worry about the rest of it later.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell us sooner about all of this?”I’m trying to keep my cool, but I can’t stop the twitch of my neck that makes something in me pop and crack.
Corvus’s expression seems to convey “I’m telling you now.”Along with a heavy dose of “Don’t piss me off.”
I clear my throat.“And?”
“The man you’re looking for is Dylan Beck.”
The guy we’ve already been looking into.I remember the hungry look on his face when I slipped into Mercer Oak’s party while everyone, including the shit security, was busy watching Ravi scaling his fellow escort like a kitten in a tree.
I don’t know whether to be pissed off or thrilled.
“We already suspected him.How doyouknow?”
“Aside from tracing the source of my former employees’ recent windfall, he’s got a loose but significant connection to the young party promoter who was implicated in the trafficking ring you’ve been investigating.”
Tony.That little shit was alarmingly well connected.“The investigation is over.”At least, it’s supposed to be.
“Of course it is,” Daniel says with a look that tells me he’s not buying what I’m selling.
“Regardless, the man you mentioned is already on our short list, but the bigger issue is our missing staff.We value loyalty here, and they’ve broken it.”
“I know that guy you’re talking about, sort of.”Brennan takes a hearty sip of his drink.Leave it to Brennan Doyle to chug a drink you’re supposed to savor.
“One of my guys had a date with him awhile back,” Doyle continues.“Kid landed in the hospital.Never trust a man who doesn’t know not to break his toys.”Another glug of liquid.
Then, out of nowhere, he snaps his fingers, as if he’s having a lightbulb moment.“Jacob.The one who followed Ravi.His stepfather developed a lot of the real estate around here, and I’m pretty sure the two were friends or business partners or whatever.Overheard the kid mention a while ago that stepdaddy owns a yacht called theSally Sue.”
What a stupid fucking name for a boat.I suppress a growl.“You’re thinking he could be using the friend’s boat.”
“I’m thinking if you were stalking and threatening someone who’s under the protection of one trained killer, one who learned by doing, and one with some kind of hairy-ass dog fraternity at his disposal?—”
Corvus barks a laugh.Unexpected, given that Brennan just insulted the guy’s staff by calling them dogs.
“—you’d want to hide your ass in a place that’s not under your name or the name of one of your businesses,” Doyle finishes.“Am I wrong?”
What does it say that for a second I want him to be?That I want Brennan Doyle to be the violent, brainless Neanderthal everyone makes him out to be?If this lead is legit, then I need to check it out now, and I don’t want to.What I want is to take Ravi back home and finally sink inside of him.
It’s a fucked-up thought.From a fucked-up guy.Times like these, I’m not sure I’m any better than men like Dylan Beck.
If Doyle’s right, it’s not something I can ignore.Beck threatened Ravi.
For a second I study Doyle’s profile.The subtle lines at the corner of his eyes.The highlights in his hair that might actually be the start of him going gray.Brennan Doyle is older than I am, if I had to guess.You don’t stay alive in this line of work without being smart.And ruthless.
“No,” I admit.“You’re not wrong.”
Chattering voices from beyond the room tell me Ravi’s on the way back.