“You did all that in ten minutes?”
“Your girl here is gold.” Ricardo smiled. “Don’t know where you found her, but—”
“Ready to get out of here?” I interrupted, wanting to stop Ricardo from embarrassing himself as a fanboy.
“Sure, I’ve got to check my shifts at The Club. Two nights without tips and my rent starts looking expensive.”
“You work at The Club?” Ricardo suddenly checked out Katie with more than his previous cursory interest. “I’ve been meaning to see what all the fuss is about.”
“Make sure you bring your wife, and Katie will look after both of you, she’s one of the best hostesses.” It took no effort to cut my friend down to size. How quickly he’d stopped looking at Katie with professional respect the moment he found out about her job. No wonder Garrison thought he could deal in hostess contracts.
And I’d been the bastard to put Chelle and Katie’s contracts on the line. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
“Ibby’s right. The Club is guaranteed to spice up any relationship, at least if you aren’t afraid of your wife being surrounded by hundreds of sexy men with one thing on their mind.” Now, Katie gave Ricardo her professional, thousand-watt smile. Designed to appease the most discerning customers.
“I’m sure they only have eyes for you,” Ricardo said smoothly, still not looking away from Katie.
“You are very sweet, like Ibby said, come by. Let them know at the desk that I’ve agreed to look after you and your wife for the night and we’ll make sure she has fun.”
“Let’s go.”
I pulled Katie away. It had been hard enough watching random customers try their luck with her at The Club before I knew how she felt in my arms. How the hell was I supposed to ignore the looks, the flirting and protect her without it come across as possessive?
“Thanks again for showing me around.” Katie charmed each of the workers, remembering and thanking them by name as we left. I knew the mask she wore was half fear and half autopilot and couldn’t do anything about it until we got out of here.
“Ready?” Grizz opened the car, all the while looking around. I double checked, no one seemed out of the ordinary, no one from the other buildings looked like they were paying us unusual attention. “I suggest Miss Katie lies across the back seat. I’d rather anyone think it’s just the two of us driving around.”
“Good point.” I helped Katie curl up on the seat, covering her in a blanket. “Sweetheart, I’m gonna make a call and you won’t like what you hear. I promise you that it’s not forever and it’s for your own good.”
Katie’s eyes widened before closing. A small nod and I shut the door.
“Ibrahim, is this quick? I’m in the middle of a software release going pear shaped and a Softli board meeting is starting in less than an hour.”
I’d let the phone go through to speaker. Katie needed to hear but I trusted her and Grizz to keep their opinions to themselves until after I’d talked to Darius.
“Quick update, then. Garrison came out to The Venue.”
“So what?”
“He’s very interested in Chelle and Katie. I want to send Katie out of town for a couple of days.”
“Then do it, you don’t need my permission, only hers.”
“Wondering if we can send her to your friend’s place in the country.”
“Damn it, Ibby. I told you, one guest is safe, two could bring attention.”
“I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
The longest pause before Darius responded, “I’ll make a call. Is she working tonight?”
“Yes,” Katie said from the back. Damn speaker phone.
“Hey, Katie. Are you alright? Is he looking after you?”
“Yes, thanks Darius. Thanks for everything you did to get me back.”
“Tara would have my balls if I didn’t try. She sends her regards.”
“Please give her a hug for me.”
“I’ll give her more than that, but you won’t get the credit!” Darius’ laugh echoed through the car.
I waited. Darius wasn’t stupid or stubborn. I’d thrown him for a loop, and he needed a few seconds to process.
“Fine.” His voice cut through. “If the other party is willing to have an extra guest, he’ll pick Katie up from reception.”
“How will she know it’s your guy?”
“Remember the time I lost my shit?”
“Yeah, I think the world remembers you punching out a colleague in The Club. Luckily, Tara sorted you out.”
“Tell Janet that when the sexiest blonde she’s ever seen comes by and uses the name of my ex, then Katie is safe to go.”
“Sexier than either of you?” Katie hadn’t lost her sense of humor.
“Wait ‘til you meet him, and you can be the judge.” By now, Darius’ laugh had exceeded my patience.
“You sure she’ll be safe?” Not exactly the only question I wanted answers to.
“The man is very happily married. Your girl is safe.”
Katie
“Good to see you back.”
“Looking good, Katie.”
“Missed you these last few days.”
I felt like Miss Australia, or at least the most popular girl in the world from the moment I stepped out of The Club change room dressed in my new black latex uniform.
Not only did all the staff welcome me back, but my second father, Steve was now joined by Grizz’ replacement, Rex, as my personal security team.
With two men at my back, the poor bachelor party boys didn’t have a chance to do any more than harmlessly flirt before their female companions turned up. At least their last night of freedom would be memorable.
“Miss Elias, have you got a second?” Ibby, in full boss mode, pulled me aside with barely a glance to my customers. The customers who hadn’t yet given me a tip.
“Certainly, Mr. Mercia. Excuse me boys, when the boss calls, I have to obey.”
“How about the boss makes it worth their while by offering up the next round of drinks on me,” Ibby said before nodding to the hostess who was about to take over my table.
Ignoring the cheers from his new friends, Ibby dipped his head close to ask, “Packed?”
“Like you said, a small bag with only the essentials. Janet is giving me a week’s leave to see my parents interstate.” It was the only ruse we could come up with at short notice. Not even Janet knew the truth. “The story is my parents heard about the attack and want to see for themselves that I’m okay.”
“And are you?” He’d asked a thousand times. Enough for me to know he cared about my safety. But I still didn’t know about us.
“Ibby.” I softly moaned, adjusting my body so no one could see his hand caressing the inside of my thigh. “Do I really need to go?”
“Yes.”
I wanted his fingers to go higher, remove my doubts and fears. “Are you sending me away to break up with me? Like, you could just rip the band aid off here and now.”
“No! Damn it, no.” Ibby’s face crumpled and he pressed his forehead to mine. With the wall now at my back and in his black on black, we were almost invisible to the rest of The Club. Especially with Rex and Steve standing guard. “Sweetheart, please, habibat alqalb. Give me a couple of days. If you are here, I’ll want to spend all my waking hours making you purr instead of getting The Venue ready for opening.”
“You really think Ricardo can get it ready within two months?” My heart leapt at his endearment. Perhaps, just perhaps, I’d become more to him than an employee or the temporary fixture in his bed?
“Absolutely, now that we are using your ideas for lighting, the interior costs have almost halved and the schedule is manageable. All I need to do is keep the biker’s conflict out of the nightclubs, The Venue on track and you safe.”
“What happens in a week?”
Ibby looked around, catching Steve’s eye. Steve threw me an apologetic look before nodding towards reception. They wanted me out of here an
d my lift must have arrived.
“One week. Give me one week to sort it and then the rest is up to you.” Ibby brushed his lips against my cheek. “If it’s not safe here, then you can either stay with Darius’ friend, come back to my place, or I’ll set you up wherever you want to go.”
“I see, and if it is safe?”
“Then it’s also up to you—you can go back to your place, or come home with me.”
Yes, the man who greeted me at reception could be described as the sexiest man alive. Sun-bleached blonde hair, fit body and eyes that had already turned Janet into incoherent mush.
I’d left the main area of The Club dressed as head hostess, but by the time I left the front door, I’d been bundled up inside Ibby’s big jacket, with my hair hidden beneath the hood.
“I told you, you want hang at a place like this, we come together. Not dressed like you want to be peeled off the pole.”
The man’s gruff tone was for any audience. Almost forcefully grabbing my arm, tossing me into an old four-wheel drive parked illegally on the footpath. Just another jealous boyfriend finding his girlfriend in the wrong place, having fun with the wrong people.
A scene I’d seen play out many times before.
“Sorry about that, I’m Erebus.” He extended his hand after maneuvering erratically through traffic. “Hold onto the seat, about to—”
He whipped the vehicle around in an illegal U-turn just as lights turned red. I looked back, other than honking cars, no one cared, and no one was following.
“I’m Katie.”
“Hungry?”
“No.”
“Then get some sleep. We’ve got about four hours on the road.”
The man of few words focused on traffic and I let the loose suspension lull me to sleep.
Dreams of dancing at CandyShop with Ibby, before Garrison interrupted us.
Dreams of touring The Venue, before Garrison turned up.
Dreams of going to sleep in Ibby’s bed and arms, before they became nightmares with me waking on the cold, concrete floor.
Still wrapped inside Ibby’s large jacket, I awoke to the smell of salt air as the truck jolted across a gravel driveway up to an old, white, weatherboard house.
“Welcome,” Erebus yawned. “Good sleep?”
“Yes, and thank you again for doing this.”
“No problems. I can’t say I expected one guest, let alone two, but Felicity and Chelle seem to get on well, so what’s the harm.” His laugh was genuine and warm, “In any case, who could I complain to when I’m outnumbered by beautiful woman.”
“How’d you get my bag?” I’d forgotten all about it in the rush to get me from The Club to the car.
“One of the security guys put it in the car while I was waiting for you. No fuss, no scene. If anyone knew you were at The Club, they probably think you’re still upstairs in one of the private rooms.”
“You thought of everything.”
“I can’t take the credit. Your boss seems to think that your safety is important.” Erebus smiled, “Can’t have him proven wrong.”
Erebus opened the door into a large foyer, my work boots clicking on the wooden floor. I tried not to press down on my heels, not wanting to mark the beautiful boards. The house had been stripped of walls, the open plan living area to the right merging seamlessly into a dining room and kitchen. I assumed the staircase to the left would lead to the bedrooms.
Erebus didn’t look like a family man, but this house deserved to be filled with children and dogs. Then again, Darius had assured Ibby the man was happily married so perhaps family was still a work in progress.
The patched biker watching television in the lounge room looked out of place. The man and his jacket. After being protected by Grizz and Rex in their Kingsmen colors, the black and red spider on the Redbacks jacket reinforced the craziness of my situation. Natural enemies had somehow bound together to protect Chelle and me.
What on earth had Ibby done? How were we involved?
Until now, things had moved too fast for me to ask the questions, but I doubted either Erebus or my new security detail would give me answers.
“Felicity figured you girls would want to bunk in together, okay?” Erebus dropped my bag at the bottom of the steps.
“Yeah, what time is it?”
“Almost six. I’m gonna go and catch an early surf. Do you want to go up to your room, or wait down here for the girls to wake?”
Before I could answer, we all jumped at the high-pitched squeal from the top of the staircase.
“Katie! Thank goodness you’re okay!”
Despite her tiny frame, Chelle thundered down the stairs, pushing past Erebus to hug me. “Oh, when they said you were coming, I didn’t believe it!”
“Chelle, are you okay?”
“Forget about me, how are you?” Chelle’s normally pale face had more than a hint of sunburn, her normally styled hair was in a bird’s nest bun, but my friend had never looked happier.
“I’m tired but fine. But look at you! Sun and surf obviously agree with you.”
“Fully paid holiday a block from the best beach in Australia? I’m surviving.” Chelle laughed. “Hope you packed a bikini or two.”
“Nah.” I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d worn one. Or needed to.
“No problems, I’m sure we can find one for you to wear.”
Erebus returned to the room before I’d realized he’d left.
Now I realized what Darius meant. Wearing nothing other than the bottom half of a black wetsuit and a towel draped across his shoulders, each muscle and tattoo was a feast for hungry eyes. Sexy, yes. Hot as all fuck, yes.
But there was something missing.
His eyes didn’t have the what am I missing out on look. The one men usually got when they saw me at work. No matter how hot or in love they were with their wives or girlfriends, some men always wanted to know if they could do better.
Erebus didn’t have the look.
“Want a coffee before your surf?” Chelle asked.
“Nah, I’ll leave the two of you to catch up. Viper is here until nine and then Jimmy will be back.”
“Viper,” Chelle simpered, “Coffee?”
“White with four.”
“As if I could forget.”
I seemed to be the only person who didn’t think this situation was normal.
“Okay, I’m out of here, tell Flick I’ll be back in a couple of hours,” Erebus said, tussling Chelle’s hair. “Think you can show our new guest around?”
“Sure, I’ll even show her how to use the bread machine.”
“Sounds like an excuse to time my return for fresh bread.” Erebus laughed again before asking me, “You okay?”
“Yeah, thanks again for the lift.”
“No problems, maybe one day someone can tell me why the two of you are on the endangered list.”
For two days, Chelle and Felicity insisted on sharing their clothes while we sunbaked, watched Erebus surf and stayed within sight of either Viper or Jimmy. While Chelle covered herself in sunburn lotion to protect her skin, I lay back and enjoyed my pale becoming an olive tan. Perfect against the leopard print bikini Felicity had loaned me.
If only Ibby could see me now!
Felicity wasn’t what I expected. Soft brown hair, gentle eyes and an infectious warmth. It didn’t surprise me to find out she taught at the local high school, specializing in troubled teens. Within hours, she’d become my newest sister.
Outnumbered by women, Erebus hid in his workshop or sitting on his board beyond the brakes. Three women bonding was apparently too much! Not that Viper seemed to mind. I saw the way he looked and Chelle and figured it was only a matter of time before he draped his jacket around her shoulders. Not that she seemed to mind.
Glowing under Viper’s attention, Chelle wanted a status update on my infatuation with our boss, and what the hell had happened to land us in Meringa.
“I don’t know any more than Erebus
told us.” Which wasn’t much.
“Surely Ibby told you something?”
“Not really.” Something we needed to rectify.
“What happened when you stayed at his house, did you two—”
“Sorry to disappoint, I had my own room and chaperone.” Technically true. Until I knew what the future held, I didn’t want to become the target of gossip.
Chelle didn’t stop asking questions, and I got better at batting them away.
The third day on the beach and we were prepared. Thermos of coffee, loaf of fresh bread, slices of leftover roast beef and cold roast vegetables for a picnic lunch. I’d even borrowed a book from Felicity’s vast collection of biographies. She also had a supply of mystery thrillers, but they were too close to home.
The phone ringing felt like an insult to a lazy day and warm sun.
“Hi babe,” Felicity sang into her handset. Her face told us all we needed to know.
“Isn’t love sweet!” Chelle whispered.
“Oh.” Felicity looked at me with concern. “Really? I thought—”
Chelle and I shared glances. My heart went straight to Ibby. Had something happened to him? He’d assured me he would be safe.
“What about—I understand. Yes, we’ll be back soon.”
“It’ll be fine,” Chelle whispered, squeezing my hand. I didn’t know who she was trying to convince, but it wasn’t working on me.
“Love you, too.”
Felicity ran her lip through her teeth several times while we waited. It wouldn’t help to shake words out of her, although if she didn’t say something soon, my head would explode. Seriously. This was my life on the line.
“Ibby?” I asked. “Is he—”
“Erebus is going back to the city this afternoon.” Felicity said each word slowly. There had to be more. Why else would we need to go back to the house?
“Apparently he’s taking Katie back to the house she was staying at before, but Chelle can either stay here or go back.”
Ibby’s house. I’d been staying at Ibby’s house. The contraction in my chest released and my lips moistened at the thought of his next assault. Ibby.
Hard Bargain: a Billionaire Suspense Romance (City Sinners Book 3) Page 14
