Bind (Manhattan Lux Book 1): Manhattan Lux

by Olivia Devon

  “Wyatt,” said Jinx. “What’s up?”

  “Fire Marshall. Don’t worry. I’m on it.”

  “Dammit. We’re over code by at least thirty people in the lounge alone.”

  “Forty by my count.”

  “Fuck,” Jinx responded. “Alright, cut off the door and have security escort the overage through the back hallway to Glow. We’ll open up the club, feed them free food and some drinks, send over a few performers and call it an exclusive waiting room or something.”

  “Good plan, but he’s looking kind of grumpy. Which means he may still shut us down.”

  “Wyatt, stand down,” Jack’s voice came on the line and Wyatt stopped in his tracks.

  “Boss?”

  “See to Jinx’s request please. I’ve got someone else to handle the Fire Marshall.”

  Wyatt pressed a hand to his ear and turned, scanning the crowd for who Jack was referring to.

  “Derrick?” A woman appeared at the Fire Marshall’s elbow. She placed one elegant hand on his shoulder, then trailed her fingers down his jacket sleeve to rest just at the cuff of his shirt. “My God it is you,” she cooed, her husky voice lilting with the barest hint of an accent. “How long has it been?”

  Wyatt smiled. “Well shit, Boss, you sent in the Wolf? That’s all you had to say!”

  “The Wolf?” Jinx asked.

  “Get to a monitor,” Wyatt responded. “Leggy brunette in the lavender dress.”

  “Sasha St. Cloud,” said Jinx. “Our silent partner.”

  “Thank God for us that she agreed to be a visible partner tonight,” Jack chimed in. “Sasha either does business with, or has slept with, half the city.”

  “And the other half wishes the same,” said Wyatt, watching as Sasha St. Cloud whisked Fire Marshall Derrick Cassano over to the bar. Poor bastard looked like he was trying to reject her offer of a drink. Foolish mortal. Sasha pressed the man onto a stool and draped herself over his thigh, laughing and flipping her hair over her shoulder. Two shots appeared in front of them on the bar and Wyatt could see the moment the Fire Marshall succumbed to the St. Cloud charm. She pressed her lips to his ear and whispered something. Cassano shivered, reached for the shot, and tossed it back.

  “Alright, well, that’s clearly taken care of,” Wyatt said. He turned to another channel, spoke a few words to his security team then switched back. “My guys are on the overage Jinx,” he said, as he watched his team approach some of the patrons in the lounge and begin directing them towards Glow. “Headed to the club now.”

  “Great, we can’t admit any more into the lounge right now, and the back rooms are filled to capacity as well.”

  “Pretty spectacular for an opening night.”

  “It is. I’m pleased, but don’t let anyone else in—”

  “Uh, no can do sisarooni,” Aiko’s voice interjected. “You’re gonna have to let one more in. Well one more plus his three security goons.”

  “Aiko we really can’t.” Jinx said.

  “Yes we can.” Wyatt said when he saw the man. Red hair, expensive suit, fancy pocket square. “Conroy.” He spat out the name. “Fucker actually showed up.”

  “That’s what I’ve been saying,” Aiko whined.

  Wyatt stood his ground, jaw twitching, feet squared. He hardened his gaze, stared the man down, and flicked a glance to his goons that said Go ahead, I dare ya. The goons didn’t flinch, but then, neither did Wyatt. Bodies swirled around him, a turbulent sea of drunk people that sent wave after wave of tipsy patrons crashing into him, the single lighthouse of muscle and badassery in this…this…whatever. The metaphor ran away with itself but the point was, Conroy had an appointment to get fucked, and Wyatt intended to do the fucking…

  Nope. That one’s no good either.

  Fuck metaphors.

  “Conroy,” Wyatt snarled. “Why don’t we have a chat?”

  Conroy crossed his legs, picked a piece of lint from his trousers and smiled at them. Aiko, Malcolm, Jinx, Jack, Aaron, and Wyatt all crossed their arms and stared back.

  Wyatt had ushered the man through the lounge and into Lux’s security room. He’d tried to keep the crowd to essential personnel only, but with this group, everyone considered themselves essential. Hell even Bryce had managed to sneak in. Wyatt hadn’t even known he was here tonight.

  No one had spoken yet. Just a lot of staring going on. The door creaked, and Kristie peeked in.

  “Just thought our guest might like some tea?” she said, holding up a steaming mug.

  “Oh that would be lovely dear thank you,” Conroy said and beckoned her closer. He took the tea, sipped delicately, and uncrossed and recrossed his legs, holding the mug in both hands over his knees.

  More silence. Wyatt surveyed the room from the corners of his vision. Did Jack want to go first, or was he waiting for Wyatt…or what?

  Conroy cleared his throat. “I’m not the villain, you know,” he said. “A pervert yes, but not the villain in this story.”

  “What are you talking about?” Bryce ground out the words. “You got my sister involved with all this. I want to know where she is.”

  Conroy raised a hand. “I do know of your step-sister Mr. Harrington,” he said. “I was working with her yes, though indirectly. But I was not the one who got her involved in as you say,” he waved a hand, “all this. No, that was someone else entirely. Someone I was working with.”

  “And are you still working with that person?” asked Jack.

  Conroy took another sip of tea. “I am not.”

  Wyatt scoffed. “And why’s that?”

  “Because our interests are no longer the same,” said Conroy. “And his methods do not align with my morality.”

  “Your morality?” Bryce said, his tone dripping with malice.

  “There is little of it, I admit. But, as I said, I’m a pervert, not a villain.”

  “Where. Is. My. Sister.” Bryce looked like he was about to snap.

  Conroy sighed and his shoulders slumped suddenly, as if he were very tired. “I have no idea,” he said. “I honestly don’t. Torrid Technologies approached me some time ago about creating a VR experience in one of my clubs. Their condition was that the club be opened here in New York.” Conroy turned to Jack. “Which, as you know, is not my usual stomping ground.”

  Jack nodded and motioned for Conroy to continue.

  “I had only a few contacts at Torrid. Daisy was one of them. We communicated via email and text. I did not know her well. And I don’t know where she is now.”

  “Then give us the names and information for your other contacts at the company,” said Wyatt.

  “I’d be happy to,” Conroy said, and one of the goons stepped forward to hand Jack a thumb drive. “I’m afraid that information won’t be much help to you though. The moment news hit the press of Lux’s imminent opening, all those contacts went dead. I’ve tried to reach out, but there’s nothing. They’re ghosts.”

  “Just like Daisy,” Bryce said, and Wyatt squeezed his shoulder.

  “Obviously Daisy is of paramount importance to us,” said Wyatt. “We found the apartment she’d been staying at. We also found blood there.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” said Conroy. “But I really know nothing. In fact I didn’t even know she was working at Glow until very recently.”

  “Yes you did,” said Aiko. “We saw you there.”

  “You saw me there after I found out about Daisy’s association with Glow.”

  “And how did you find that out?” asked Jack.

  “I grew uneasy with my relationship with Torrid,” said Conroy. “So I had some of my people do a little investigating.”

  “You investigated after you went into business with them?” said Wyatt. “Isn’t that a little backwards?”

  “It is.” Conroy nodded. “And stupid. Turns out my fears were justified. I let greed override my better judgement. Money is a powerful tool. Torrid has a lot of it, and they invested that money with me.”

 
“Okay so we’ve established you’re a pervert, and you’re stupid,” said Wyatt. “Why exactly should we believe you’re not also a villain?”

  “Because I’m here now,” said Conroy. “I didn’t need to come.”

  Wyatt narrowed his eyes. “Then why did you?”

  Conroy directed his gaze to Jack again. “To tell you that you win, Mr. Calvert. I will not be opening my club here in the city after all.”

  “Don’t pull out on my account.” Jack shrugged, arched one arrogant brow. “I don’t mind a little healthy competition.”

  “Yes,” said Conroy. “Well, as it turns out Torrid’s investment in our joint venture was smoke and mirrors. When they disappeared, so did all the capital, including my contribution.”

  “Whoa.” Aiko’s eyes popped wide. “That sucks.”

  “Thank you, young lady, it does suck.” Conroy sighed and took a sip of tea. “In addition to that loss, there have been others. Somehow Torrid managed to access my private accounts.”

  “Everything?” asked Jack.

  “Everything.” Conroy nodded. “All that I have here and offshore. As a man of wealth, I’m sure you know that everything can encompass quite a lot.”

  “Yes.” Jack’s brow furrowed with concern. “So…”

  “Oh yes,” said Conroy. “I’m ruined.”

  “You still have the income from your clubs,” said Aiko.

  “A shadow of my former wealth.”

  “Have you called the FBI?” asked Aaron.

  “No, that’s not an option,” said Conroy. “I’ve too many business dealings I wouldn’t want to come to the government’s attention. Torrid knew that. They chose their victim well.”

  “Jack,” said Aaron, running a hand through his hair. “Could you take on Mr. Conroy as a client? See if you can help him recover his money? I’d be willing to lend EI’s assistance.”

  “You’d be willing to help me?” asked Conroy.

  Jack scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck, his gaze shifting over his friends. “Bryce?” he said.

  “If it means we might find Daisy, then I’m for it.” Bryce shoved his hands in his pockets, and leveled a hard gaze on Conroy.

  “I promise you,” said Conroy. “If there is anything I can do to assist with the safe recovery of your sister, I will.”

  One by one they all agreed, but still Jack hesitated.

  “We’re all grownups here,” said Aiko. “We know what we’re getting into.”

  “This is shadow stuff,” said Jack. “Deeply covert.”

  “Yeah Black Ops, we get it.” Aiko nodded and jerked a thumb at Wyatt. “We’ve got a SEAL on our team remember? He’ll whip us into shape. We can have like bootcamp training.” She turned to Wyatt. “You guys do bootcamp or something like that?”

  “Something like that,” Wyatt said, raising an eyebrow.

  Aiko turned back to Jack and held out her fist waiting for him to bump it. “Then yeah. I’m in. Semper fi and all that shit.”

  Jinx slapped her sister on the back of the head. “That’s the Marines you idiot.”

  “Well we need some kind of motto. Like a war cry or something!”

  “While I myself am a fan of a good war cry,” said Conroy. “I feel the need to point out that this entire situation is still a matter of some urgency.”

  Heads swiveled and everyone stared at Conroy.

  “I’m so sorry,” he said. “Did you think that because I’ve confessed my part in the affair, and because Torrid appears to have vanished, that all was well?”

  “Maybe not all well, but at least kind of stalled,” Aiko said, shrugging. “It’s not like mission critical anymore is it?”

  “Dear girl,” said Conroy, tilting his head at her in sympathy. “This entire adventure has been a clever ruse. Torrid’s objective was never me, Daisy, or even this club. Their entire objective was—”

  A loud beeping sounded from somewhere. Everyone looked around for the source of the sound. Aaron patted down his pockets, reached inside his jacket and retrieved his mobile phone. “Someone’s broken into my apartment,” he said, his tone incredulous. He looked up, pinning Conroy in his gaze. “This was all…to get to me,” he said.

  Conroy tapped his nose delicately. “Ding, ding, ding.”

  “Jack,” said Aaron, turning to his friend. “Everything is at my apartment. All my research, everything.”

  “It’s been about Eldridge Innovations all along,” said Aiko. “They want your VR tech.”

  “Yes,” said Conroy, raising the teacup to his lips. “That’s why I came here. To tell you, that you have a traitor in your midst.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Well who is it?” Jack demanded.

  “I don’t know,” said Conroy, setting his now empty cup of tea on the nearest flat surface. “I hoped you might.”

  “Daisy was our traitor, we figured that out ages ago, and now you say there’s someone else,” said Aiko. “How do we know that’s even true? He could be lying, trying to manipulate us.”

  “I’m not,” said Conroy. “I’m trying to help.”

  Jinx moved to Wyatt’s side, put her hand on his arm and opened her mouth, about to voice her thoughts. But she didn’t. Her lips moved, but no sound came out, her gaze fixed to the wall, her brow knit and her expression pained.

  “What is it?” Wyatt whispered.

  “Just give me a second,” she said, her gaze darted unseeing around the room as if she was trying to process an overload of information. It was there, just at the edge of her consciousness. All the clues and signs were present, like the pieces of a puzzle. She just needed to put them together. Who was this traitor? Another of her staff, that much was obvious, someone who had used Daisy not just as an accomplice, but a diversion. Someone with complete access, someone she’d never suspect. Jinx’s spine snapped straight and she whirled to face Wyatt, whose gaze lifted to meet hers.

  “It’s—” Wyatt began, but Jinx finished the thought with him at the same time.

  “Kristie,” they both said in unison.

  “What the fuck?” Jack snapped. “You’re insane. She was just here, how could she be at Aaron’s?”

  “I live just a few blocks away,” said Aaron. “And we’ve been talking for a while.”

  “Wyatt?” Jinx said, her expression pleading.

  “Already on it.” Wyatt flung open the door and bellowed into his mic. Seconds later, footsteps pounded in the corridor beyond.

  “No way.” Jack shook his head vigorously. “No way it’s Kristie. She’s been with us for over a year. And really, she’s not the type to pull off corporate espionage.”

  “She’s exactly the type,” said Aiko. “She’s been acting this whole time, and her cover has been perfect. No one would suspect the ditz had it in her.”

  “I’m telling you it’s not Kristie!” Jack glared at Aiko.

  “Stop thinking with your dick,” Jinx growled. “It’s her.”

  “Thinking with your dick?” Aaron asked, frowning. “You two are sleeping together? You and Kristie?”

  Aiko laughed. “I doubt they get much rest.”

  “Shit.” Aaron scrubbed a hand over his jaw and glanced up at Jack with pity. “Sorry to tell you this, but I’m on board with the Kristie theory.”

  “Oh really?” Jack sneered. “You’ve known her for a hot second, and you think you’re qualified to make that kind of judgement on her character?”

  Aaron slapped a hand on Jack’s shoulder and looked him straight in the eye. “I do buddy. Here’s why. She propositioned me tonight. Was very aggressive about it too. Said she’d be happy to meet me at my place for a private sex party of our own.”

  Jack’s features grew dark, and his mouth drew into a thin line. “Dammit,” he said, as reality sunk in.

  “Yeah. I may not know her well, but I know you, and I know—”

  “Eh,” Jack held up his hand to stop Aaron from elaborating. “We don’t need to fill my staff in on the details of my s
ex life. I get your point.”

  “I’m just saying,” Aaron continued. “I’ve known you to be inclined to share, but you’ve never handled it that way. That’s why I turned her down. Well that, and I don’t go much for blondes.”

  “Hell boss!” Aiko said, a toothy smile spreading across her face. “You’re kinky after all! Dig a little of the ole ménage à trois?”

  “Whatever you think you just discovered,” Jack snarled, “you don’t know the half of it, so I suggest you zip it.”

  Aiko snapped to attention and offered a mock salute. “Yes captain my captain. Zipping it right up!”

  “Jack,” Aaron said, his eyes glued to his mobile phone. “I’ve got the camera feed from my apartment up on my app. Visual on Kristie. See for yourself.” Aaron held up the phone. “In case there’s any lingering doubt.”

  Jack looked at the phone and swore. “Alright. It’s your place, so it’s your call. What do you want to do? Call the NYPD, FBI, NSA or what?”

  Conroy spoke up from his perch on the chair. “Seems like a touch of discretion is required,” he said, an undercurrent of amusement in his tone.

  “Definitely.” Bryce added, nodding.

  “Don’t you have your own security team for shit like this?” Jack asked, squinting at Aaron with confusion.

  “I do.” Aaron sighed. “But I like my privacy. The security at my home is all automated, precisely so I don’t have to rely on man power.”

  “Man power is corruptible,” said Jinx.

  “Exactly. Listen, I’m confident in my security. She won’t be able to get access to anything sensitive. But if we handle this ourselves we’ve got a better chance of finding out who’s really behind all this, and exactly why.”

  As if on cue, Wyatt stormed back into the room. “We’re good to go. My guys and the rest of the staff have their instructions. Sasha’s taking over for Jinx, so Lux is covered.” He clapped his hands together. “Fuck it. Let’s do this.”

  “That’s it!” Aiko pointed at Wyatt. “That’s our war cry!”

  Noses wrinkled, eyes rolled, and Jinx sighed heavily as if she was preparing to shut that shit right down.