Page 68 of Connor's Claim
The picture Shade had found was the gangster himself, I presumed. It was black and white, which gave the image a more menacing air, and had been taken by an overhead camera, perhaps CCTV. Red was mid-forties, but built, with a gym shirt under a bomber jacket. His dark facial hair ended at a point beneath his chin which, along with his cold smile, was hella demonic. As appearances went, he was selling the gang lord vibe.
Everly’s lips parted, and she leaned in, staring at the phone. I would, too, if this arsehole had ordered my kidnapping.
“Another woman was killed,” Arran said.
“So I heard. One of yours?”
“No.”
Red sucked his teeth. “Not mine either. Speaking of, I hear you’re having trouble keeping hold of people.”
Arran’s and Shade’s gazes met, some smugness in their looks that I’d bet was about Convict.
Arran spoke. “My crew is none of your fucking business.”
“Then get to the point about why you’re disturbing my peaceful afternoon. What do you want?”
Everly raised a hand. Instantly, Shade shook his head, and her shoulders deflated. Well, that was annoying. I imagined she wanted to know why Red was after her. Why shouldn’t she ask?
“Is it one of yours who’s killing women?” Arran asked.
The gang leader chuckled like that was somehow a joke. “No, and frankly I’m insulted that you asked, considering I had the good grace to tell you we didn’t dump that bitch on your doorstep. It’s such a waste of pussy. But if any of yours want better pay, feel free to send them my way.”
The call disconnected.
Arran swore and stomped to the window, staring out for a moment. “I’m issuing an order for all female staff to have escorts to and from work. No risks are to be taken. All women present in this room don’t go out alone. Including you, Cassie. We’ll see what the press comes up with, but is there anything else obvious we can conclude?”
“My father was a hundred miles away that night,” Everly said. “You thought he might be a suspect, right? This exonerates him.”
She was right. I made a note in my notebook, rested on top of the cat.
Shade laced his fingers into hers. “Sorry to say, but it depends on the pathologist’s report. She could’ve died earlier than Kenney estimated.”
I noted that, too. The cat’s rolling purr vibrated on my lap.
Everly gave an embarrassed smile. “True. I’m not sure it would even surprise me now to find that he was on a killing spree.”
“Can I ask why?” Genevieve said gently.
Everly peered at Shade then sighed. “Last night, he sent me on a date with a man who tried to assault me. My own father set me up saying I needed to take one for the team, meaning he knew what this man was and expected me to…service him. I knew my father had little respect for women, but that line is now so far beneath ground, it’s lost.”
My lips parted in horror. “He did that?”
She bobbed her head, sadness in the way she slumped. “I escaped with only scratches, but for a minute, I thought I wasn’t going to be able to get away.”
“I’ll help ye end him,” I said.
She chuffed a laugh. I didn’t.
“Seriously. Why should he walk around freely after doing that?”
“Men do it all the time,” she observed.
“All the more reason to take the worst of them off the streets. Or at least teach them a lesson.”
I sensed someone’s focus on me and found Shade with a watchful stare. Something ticked over in his vision, then he addressed me. “I once went out with Arran and Jamieson.”
Jamieson was the youngest of my four older brothers. He had a thing for burning shite down, occasionally people, too.