Page 124 of Connor's Claim
“Makes him a murder suspect for Natasha. And he’s got our boy out cold.”
My heart hurt. “Convict wanted to come back. I said no.”
“I said the same with a gesture.” Arran scrubbed a hand over his face. “One word and he would’ve vaulted the church wall and been out of there safely. Fucking fuck!”
The two of us fell into silence. The city lights strobed over us on our retreat through the town centre, tension thick in the air between us.
“We’re getting him back tonight,” I decided.
It was inevitable. Already, Arran had his phone in his hand and an all-crew alert underway.
His savage smile said it all. “We’re bringing Convict home and shutting that church down. Red won’t know what hit him.”
Chapter 41
Everly
A whirlwind of action hit the warehouse. Connor and Arran arrived home with a flurry of skeleton crew rushing around and obeying orders. They closed the clubs, refusing an explanation to griping customers other than to get the fuck away or risk their necks.
Genevieve and I were summoned to the nightclub floor where the crew convened. Cassie was ordered to attend as well, except she slipped away somewhere when my back was turned.
We’d spent the past hour updating our detective board, obeying the instruction to remain in safety above stairs. Abruptly, our interlude had been interrupted by Mick who’d escorted us down to where the crew were weaponing up, the nightclub’s bright lights illuminating the space and all trace of the mystique of the place gone.
Genevieve huddled close, her eyes wide on the scene. “Do you think they found Alisha?”
“I don’t know. I can’t see Connor now.” He’d passed me and stolen a hard kiss but had disappeared again.
I drummed my fingers on my leg. “Something’s bothering me. Alisha left here to go find Convict after deciding she wanted a relationship with him. But why now? What spurred her on to leave the club in the middle of a shift?”
Genevieve pondered that. “Look, they’ve brought the dancers in. Let’s see if Dixie knows.”
A stream of scantily dressed staff entered the warehouse, taking up a corner of their own. We moved in on them, and Dixie weaved through the ranks in response to our hail.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“We’re not sure yet,” I replied. “When Alisha told you earlier that she was leaving, did she say why now?”
Dixie’s attention was on the rapidly filling room. The centre of the floor contained the deadly elements of the group. Mick, Manny, and a few other faces I recognised, along with a whole host of others I’d never met.
The crew numbered far higher than I’d guessed.
“She said someone passed her a note.”
I gawked at her. “From Convict? And she left to meet him?”
Dixie raised a slim shoulder. “I don’t know, sis. She didn’t show it to me. All I know is she was excited to go find him. Is this why we are on lockdown? Did something happen to her?”
I opened my mouth to answer, but Arran’s voice cut across the space. He appeared with Connor at the head of the room, and all attention fell on them.
“Crew, I’m going to make this short. We discovered this evening that the Four Milers have opened a strip club in an old church on Ilchester Street. We assume it’s functioning as a brothel as well. Does anyone have any information on this?”
Chatter and grumbles rose. Then one of the crew in the centre of the floor lifted a hand. Arran acknowledged him.
“I don’t know anything about the Four Milers, but that church was up for auction a few weeks ago.”
Arran twisted his lips. “Then they moved fast in converting it. They have the doors wide open this evening and they’re welcoming customers in.”
“How can they do that so openly?” someone else called.