Now there were three beauties sitting on one chaise with one great mystery swirling around them.
Lynx frowned. “I’m going to sniff around. I wonder if Zayid has her hidden. Maybe he didn’t want to share anymore.”
She stood and went back to her own chair. She agreed with the others ... Sammy wouldn’t just disappear unless something was off. But Lynx didn’t need to show all her cards right this minute.
ZAYID DIDN’Treturn for a whole week. It was clear that Lynx was correct and he was in the States, because that’s the only place he fell off the wagon to complete debauchery and failed to check in regularly.
After three days with the girls, Lynx didn’t want to go back to the lonely apartment, dead set on staying and finishing the job she came for. As promised, Dane had looked out for her at the door for most of the shifts. A few times, she’d run some iced tea down to him, pledging perfect behavior if he let her stay on in the house.
On the morning of the third day, she begged, “Please, Dane. I don’t want to go back to the apartment. It’s lonely, and I’m having fun here.”
He pushed his aviators down his nose and peered over the lenses, raising one eyebrow. “Lincoln, I don’t think Zayid’ll be too happy with me.”
“I’m not going to do anything bad. No parties at night, I swear. Nothing. I just don’t want to be alone.”
Lynx batted her long fake eyelashes, pleading with the muscular wall in front of her. She wasn’t afraid of him. Plus, she was getting somewhere in the Sammy mystery. She needed to stay. With her dark curls fanning all around her face and her mouth painted with sparkly cherry-flavored lip gloss, she gave him her best pout.
“Okay, but the second we get word that Zayid and his detail are in the air on their way back, your ass is hauling back to the apartment. And no parties, Miss L. You hear me?”
“Yep.”
With a little pep in her step, she immediately ran back up to the common room where the girls were dancing and singing in their underwear. Of course, many of them were hopped up on something, but not Lynx. She didn’t do any of that; she needed a clear head to stay on top of details. Then again, she didn’t have to go to a party in a few short hours and sleep with any old cock.
Sitting onto the couch next to Ginger, who was sipping on a glass of sparkling wine, Lynx said, “Hey girl, you good?”
The redhead leaned her head on Lynx’s shoulder. “Yeah, just trying to get myself ready for later. You ever think of leaving here?”
“Yep, but I can’t,” she said, running her hand down Ginger’s soft bare thigh.
“I know the money’s good, and honestly, what would I do if I left? Go back to dancing in one of those shitty titty bars?” Ginger asked before taking a long sip of her wine.
Lynx got a faraway look in her eyes as they misted over. “Dancing in a titty bar isn’t always bad, honey. Back home for me, I knew some great guys who ran a club. The girls made good money and were taken care of, and it wasn’t creepy or anything like that,” she said, sniffing back tears.
Ginger peered over her wineglass. “Hey, you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just missed home for a minute.”
“Do you think you could go back? Would Zayid let you?”
“I’m not going anywhere yet, unless I go where Sammy went,” Lynx said with a shudder. “God, where is she? That’s so scary.”
“Not sure, but I think she either ran or Zayid hurt her. I don’t know why I have so many theories, but why do you care?”
Yeah, why did she care?
Because she’d wanted a family her whole life.
Ginger refilled her drink and grabbed a glass for Lynx. The wine’s oaky smell filled Lynx’s head, mixing with her strange thoughts and delusions of what she would find out in the townhouse.
Apparently, Ginger was through with the serious talk, because she popped a pill and was soon dancing around the room with the others.
