“You’ve actually met the bastard?”
Frank nodded. “Yeah, he’s a creep all right. The type of guy who I wouldn’t even let a dog sleep with. He made it clear that Vikki was his and nothing I could do would change that. But I kept after her about him—which was probably my biggest mistake since it just made him look better in her eyes—and within a month, she was gone. I haven’t seen or heard from her since.”
Gavin ran a hand over his face. He could understand the other man’s frustration. “That’s rough, man. I’m sorry. No leads at all? No other family?”
“Vikki’s mom. She calls me daily for news.” Frank ran a hand over his chin. Silence filled the room.
Gavin could only sympathize. His heart went out to his friend. “We’ll get him, buddy.” Standing, he turned the chair around and tucked it under the table. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to Charlie. You’ll have access to anything you need here.”
Frank stood and followed him from the room. Gavin closed and locked the door behind him, and they descended the stairs in silence. Gavin’s mind raced with everything he’d learned about Hagen, and he remembered his features from the day he’d gone to him at his office. The photos he’d seen gave a good visual of evil incarnate. Some might consider him a good-looking guy, but his green eyes were cold and hard, and he had slicked back, greasy dark hair and crooked nose. The smirk on his face spoke of a self-righteous and cocky confidence. His kind of swine liked to pull women in with his so-called charm and decent looks.
Gavin planned to break him of it. No matter how hard it would be.
He opened the door of the club and led the way to Charlie’s office. Some of the girls would be there within an hour to rehearse. Thankfully, Shree didn’t have to be there for a couple of hours. He wanted to have Frank settled and digging more deeply into how to find Hagen, then maybe spend a bit of time with her.
“This place is amazing.” Frank’s voice cut through his thoughts.
Gavin nodded and glanced back over his shoulder. “Yeah, and there’s more to it than just what you can see. More than just dancing. These girls are very talented.”
“Don’t bullshit. You get to see babes dancing on stage, shaking all their lovely bits, and you think they’re very talented? Come on, man, spill just how fuckin’ hot they are.”
Striding down the hallway, Gavin laughed. “There is that. The first night I was here, I nearly forgot what my job was.” He knocked on Charlie’s door. “Trust me, you’ll encounter more than you bargain for around here.”
Hearing Charlie’s permission for him to enter, he pushed open the door. “Hey, little one. I’ve got someone I’d like you to meet.” He pulled up short, seeing two men in her office, both with their backs to the door. He scowled. “Charlie?” Hands flat on her desk, keeping her upright it looked like, her eyes remained glued on the men in front of her. Gavin clearly read the fear and distrust in the depths. Tension circled the room like a hurricane ripping through a town.
One of the men shifted and Gavin clenched his teeth. The weasel Kelsey. He should have noticed the bastard’s bright loafers—an ungodly blue this time—and bold yellow shirt and grey pants. The guy should never consider his fashion sense as anything other than vomit-inducing.
“Son-of-a-bitch,” Frank whispered behind him.
Gavin strode toward Charlie and eased her into a chair as his gaze locked on Hagen. Frank stayed alert and at the ready in the doorway.
The black pin-striped suit did nothing to impress him. The man looked pleased with himself, his smirk irritating and cocky. Gavin wanted to leap over the desk and rip his face off. He had to wonder where Bulky Number One and Two were.
“You must be Mr. Bennett. I’ve heard about you from some of my associates. I was surprised you didn’t heed my orders to get me what I want and leave town. Then again, the world is full of ignorant people who don’t matter, isn’t it?” Hagen inspected his manicured fingernails.
Anger and frustration filled Gavin’s gut. Hagen believed his own holier than thou attitude and he never took no for an answer. He expected others to follow his lead, be at his beck and call and never cross him.
“Well, we finally meet. What rock did you disappear under when I came to see you the first time, Hagen?”
The other man had the audacity to laugh. “Now is that anyway to treat a potential employer? Come on now, we can be friends. Right, Parker?” He looked at his right-hand man and winked. “I only want to be friends with Mr. Bennett, don’t I?”
Parker giggled, his excited gaze running over Gavin’s body, then nodded. “Absolutely, boss. So do I.”
A wave of disgust rolled over Gavin’s back. For fuck’s sake. Both of them were practically gazing at him as though he were naked. He had nothing against people’s way of life, but when directed at him, he had an issue with it. Especially when these two sick fucks took pleasure in other people’s pain, and it appeared perversion was a hobby for them.
“They were here trying to get me to sign these papers again.” Charlie’s soft voice registered through his anger.
Gavin stalked toward Hagen. The guy creeped the hell out of him, but he wanted to ensure the man received his final warning. And since the prick seemed to like the direct approach, he got as in his face as possible. “You need to get the fuck out of here and stay out. This place isn’t for sale and never will be.”
Hagen’s dark brown eyes narrowed. “There’s no need to be rude, mister. How dare you talk to me like this! Do you have no idea who I am? What power I wield around this town?”
Gavin chuckled, though he found nothing humorous. “I don’t give a shit who you are. I have a damn good idea who you really are. And guess what? I’m not impressed.”
“Listen, you—” Kelsey interrupted.
Gavin’s focus never left Hagen. “Shut up you weasel, I wasn’t talking to you. This is the last time you’ll come here, you got it?”
Hagen shook his head. “And here I had high hopes for you, but you know nothing about who you are dealing with. Charlie, my dear, always nice to see you.”
“Don’t talk to her,” Gavin growled through clenched teeth, his fists tight against his thighs.
Hagen’s jaw tightened, and a vein in his temple pulsed.
Good, the son-of-a-bitch wasn’t unaffected.
He could only hope the bastard would throw the first punch.
“I’ll see you again soon,” Hagen warned, his stiff tone filled with promise.
“Oh, I am counting on it. Find me anytime,” Gavin invited.
After a last glare, Hagen turned, Kelsey on his heels, and headed for the door. Frank stood, arms crossed, face tight and eyes shooting flames of fire as he blocked the door. Gavin could see past the fire in his friend’s eyes to the hunger to rip Hagen apart, piece by little piece.
“Let him go,” Charlie ordered. “Just get him out of here.”
“Why thank you, Charlie. How kind of you. No need for me to request the help of my associates.”
“Go to hell, you bastard.”
Frank stepped to the side as Hagen laughed. Gavin and Frank stared at one another, and Gavin could practically read his thoughts. They both wanted to hunt him, beat him to a pulp, then lock him away in a dark, disgusting hole never to be found again. It was a pleasant thought, actually, but not one he could act on without guilt riding him the rest of his life. He’d never take another man’s life, especially if he was unarmed, and he knew it was the same with Frank.
“You must be Frank,” Charlie commented.
Gavin turned toward her. “Yeah, Charlie, this is Frank Shaw. Frank, this is the boss—and my honorary little sister—Charlotte Weber.” They shook hands. “You okay?” Gavin asked. The color hadn’t fully returned to her cheeks and her blue eyes were wide and uncertain.
She let out a shaky laugh. “I’ll be just fine. I was expecting you and didn’t even realize he’d walked in here for a few minutes. I was buried in paperwork.”
“Nice to meet you
, Charlotte. Looks like a great place you have here.” Frank smiled. Gavin guessed he was trying to put her at ease.
“Thanks. If I can keep the wolf at the door, it’ll stay this way.” Sarcasm dripped from her tone. “He’s not done yet.”
“We’ll get him out of your life. If it’s the last thing I do, he’ll never bother you again.” Gavin watched as his two friends stared at each other. Frank’s tone relayed his conviction and belief in what he said.
Charlie’s cheeks flushed, and her shoulders relaxed. “Thank you for coming here to help us.” They continued to stare at one another, the room quiet.
Frank shrugged off her thanks and turned to Gavin. “At least we won’t be bored.”
They all laughed, and the tension in the room dissipated. “Yeah, well, I have all the excitement I can handle right now. Once Hagen is handled, I can get back to it.”
“So there is a woman. I knew it,” Frank boasted.
Gavin groaned. “Drop it. Come on, I’ll give you the tour.”
The intercom on Charlie’s desk buzzed.
She looked over her shoulder to the monitor on the corner table. “The girls are starting to arrive.” Three of the dancers stood, waiting to be granted access. She pressed the button, her gaze locked on the screen until they were safely inside. “I’m going to check in with them. How about a tour, Frank? Gavin, go find something to do.”
“I can handle it, Charlie.”
She shook her head. “It’s okay. I need to get out of here for a bit. Shake off the ickiness and disturbing images now running around in my head. I may get the office fumigated, too.”
Gavin and Frank chuckled. “All right. I’ll go check and see if the surveillance guys are around yet. You gave them my cell number, right, Frank?”
Frank glanced at his watch. “Yeah, Jonas and Marc are probably already watching him now. We’ll each get updates on Hagen or his goons’ activities. Both guys are out of the same office I am, on leave after their last assignment. They’re trustworthy and hate thugs.”
“Okay, I’ll touch base with them. Hagen will probably stew in what happened here today and come up with some plan. We can relax a little. At least for tonight. Sure you don’t need me around right now, little one?” He ran a hand over her head, concerned.
She jerked her head back out from under his touch. “Quit that. You know I hate it. And no, I don’t need you hovering. Go away.”
“Maybe you can find that excitement you were talking about, bud.” Frank gestured for Charlotte to head out before him and smirked at Gavin.
“Shut up.”
Charlie laughed. “Oh by the way.” She laced her arm through Frank’s as they started to walked away. “Shree is at her place taking a nap.”
Frank and Charlie laughed, suddenly two friends sharing in the teasing of another. Well, if that didn’t beat all. Though Gavin hadn’t seen her as often as he’d like since she’d grown up, he’d never seen her so at ease with a man before. It was nice to see someone else protective of her as well. He could already tell that Frank would do whatever possible to put her at ease while Hagen still lurked.
For the next couple hours before the club opened, he could take thirty minutes at least to himself.
And find the gorgeous raven-haired beauty who wasn’t far from his thoughts.
****
Gavin entered Shree’s apartment, pocketing the spare key Charlie had given him a few days ago, and locked both deadbolts. He wasn’t sure if Shree knew he had it, but it would make for an interesting argument, and if he was lucky, an even better make-up session.
The tiny living area was dark, with only a small bit of light coming in through the small window. He’d say one thing about Shree, she was neat. Not a throw pillow or blanket out of place on the sofa, and very little littering the glass end tables except for a copy of some magazine. He toed off his boots and snuck down the hall.
The bathroom door stood open. Catching sight of red in the sink, he frowned and moved inside.
The usually small white vanity was covered in red. If he had to guess, he figured it was hard, crusted nail polish spread all over it. A false showing of blood to scare her?
The mirror hadn’t faired any better. Taking a step back so as not to touch anything, he studied the mess. He had to guess it was lipstick spelling out, “You were warned” in big letters.
His heart thudded hard in his chest knowing that some sick fucker had been in Shree’s apartment.
He had to get her out of here. Turning, he stalked out of the room and pushed open her bedroom door. Halting fast, his breath caught.
Spread out on the double bed, the bed sheet tangled over her lower half, Shree lay on her stomach. Her back was bare, leaving him no doubts that she was at least fifty percent naked underneath, and her hair was disheveled around her head as if she’d tossed and turned a lot. And still, she looked glorious.
Now wasn’t the time to be going gooey-eyed over her. There was an imminent threat hell-bent on running her out of town. But Frank, Marc and Jonas were keeping an eye on things. Nothing would happen tonight. He’d make sure of it, too. Being with her now, he’d keep her safe, and move her to a safer location as soon as one could be found.
He’d do whatever it took to protect her. Nothing would happen to her on his watch.
Firing off a text to Frank about Shree’s bathroom, he inched closer to the bed and gazed at her.
Catching sight of her toes on one foot peeking out, he snickered. Her sweet face was barely visible under the strands of hair, but he was transfixed. No one else matched her beauty. Not to him. She looked peaceful—an angel with no cares in the world. Even with her lips fluttering a little with each exhale. He chuckled. She must have been dead tired to be sleeping so deeply now.
Gavin lifted the rocking chair from the corner and placed it near the bed. As quietly as he could, he sat in the rocker and crossed his feet at the ankles. Shree would kill him when she woke and found him there, but for just a few minutes, he dared to watch her uninterrupted, memorize every facet of her beauty and listen to her breathe as she slept.
After their discussion yesterday, he’d had a hard time sleeping last night. Her honesty and trust humbled him. To share the details of her past, the pain she went through and the fear she still harbored...he hated the thought of all she’d endured. No woman deserved such treatment, especially from someone who claimed to love her.
His blood boiled. Above all else, Gavin wished the bastard was still alive so he could teach him a lesson for all Shree’s pain and suffering. He would have enjoyed it immensely.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. Reaching in, he withdrew it, wincing as the rocking chair creaked. Shree shifted and turned onto her back. At the sight of her high, firm breasts, Gavin drew in a deep breath and licked his lips. He wanted to wake her and explore that fine body again, but she needed rest.
Down, boy, he thought, and shifted the front of his jeans. His phone vibrated in his palm. Seeing Frank’s name on the screen, he read, “Am near Hagen’s with Marc, getting vid-feed from business owner across street. See who comes and goes. Jonas remained at club to watch it. Will be back ASAP to do forensics.”
Gavin quickly typed back. “Everything locked up tight here. Give me an hour or so. Get that footage. Might help.”
He nodded at Frank’s quick reply—“C U”—then gently set his phone on the nightstand.
Shree shifted again, stretching her arms over her head. Gavin’s head filled with images of Hagen’s demise, Parker’s future picking up other men’s soap in prison...anything to keep his lust at bay for the captivating woman laid out before him.
They’d been together in this very bed last night, his arms wrapped tight around her after she’d shared so much with him. He’d stayed the night, only to awake and find her gone. He understood it, hated her need to distance herself, but acquiesced to the fact she wasn’t used to having someone in her corner.
Defense tactics. All of them. She’d wanted t
o shore some of her walls back up again, he was sure. He could only hope they weren’t so easily replaced.
Gavin wanted to experience everything with her, be there for her, share the darkest hours of one another’s lives. He even felt compelled to share details of his time in Afghanistan with her. Something he never did. Not with any of his buddies, or the shrink he’d been sent to by the VA.
But with Shree, nothing seemed off limits. She was dangerous to his well-being, and to his heart. Never had he fallen for a woman so fast. Doubts niggled in the back of his mind last night as he lay with her quietly, both lost in their private thoughts. Perhaps it was just the danger of the situation around them. Could they be latching onto one another in the tension? Was he reading too much into his feelings for her? Were they a distraction for one another?
“Gavin?”
His head lifted. She lay on her side gazing at him. Sleep was still heavy in her eyes.
“Hey, sleepyhead. Sleep well?”
She lifted one shoulder. “I guess. What time is it?”
“Almost five.”
“What are you doing here?”
He shrugged. She still looked exhausted. No sense worrying her for nothing. “Watching you sleep.”
Her cheeks flushed. “Sounds boring. I have to get up and get ready for work. Some of the girls must be here by now. I wanted to sit in on this new routine they’re working on.” She yawned. “Damn, I’m still tired.”
“Why don’t you grab at least another hour of shut eye? I’ll go make you something for dinner so you can eat once you’re up.” He grabbed his phone and set a timer for an hour and fifteen minutes.
Shaking her head, she reached out a hand to him. He sat forward and clasped it. “What have you been up to today?”
The domesticity of the moment washed over Gavin. As if they were a normal dating couple, sharing each other’s days and plans for the evening...sweat dotted his upper lip. Scary thoughts, but at the same time, he could grow very used to days like this. “Frank arrived. We went over a few things, but never mind all that. Get some rest. I’ll wake you in an hour.” He tightened his hand around hers and leaned closer to kiss her cheek.
Guarding Midnight Page 8
