She bites her lip. “Yeah, I thought that was pretty common knowledge.”
I can’t believe the thought didn’t occur to me before now. Aces Underground is the most exclusive club in town, but Rouge’s other clubs allow access to non-members. Chet told me as much last night when I was trying to get into Aces. Maybe I could snoop around those clubs, gather some intel on Rouge, and finally figure out what the hell is going on with Maddox and Alissa.
“Which other clubs in town does your sister run?”
She taps her fingers on the table. “There are five total. Aces, of course. Then there’s the Noir Parlor, MINOS, the Jade Sanctum, and Second Star. I’m sure you’ve heard of some of them.”
I rub my chin. “I’ve been to Second Star a few times, but other than that, the rest are unfamiliar to me. I’m not much of a clubgoer. I only ever went to Aces with my buddy Maddox. I was kind of his wingman, and he always paid for my drinks.”
She nods. “They’re all really magnificent. Say what you want about my sister, but she has an eye for theming and décor. Each club has its own distinct vibe.”
“Are any of her other clubs open during the week?”
“Yeah. They don’t keep the limited hours that Aces does. They’re moneymakers for Rouge, where Aces is more of a den of power and influence. They’re open weekday and Saturday evenings. Closed on Sundays.”
“And you don’t need to be a member to go to those other clubs?” I ask.
“Correct. You just pay the cover, which can be pretty pricey.”
Luckily, money is something I’m not hurting for. I make a very good living as a doctor, especially compared to the squalor I grew up in. I don’t throw it around, but I can absolutely afford a few nights at some local clubs, especially if it’ll help me figure out what’s going on with Maddox.
“Have you been to any of these clubs?”
“I’ve visited them during the day, but I’ve never gone in the evenings,” Bianca responds. “Rouge refuses to let me in without the cover, even though I’m her own flesh and blood. So I’ve always avoided them on principle.”
“How about if I paid?”
She narrows her eyes. “Why would you want to go to one of my sister’s clubs? She just kicked you out of Aces last night. Surely you’re not hoping to give her any more business.”
“What if I am?” I grab Bianca’s hand across the table. “Would you come with me?”
20
BIANCA
I’m not sure what to make of this invitation.
Why is Harrison all of a sudden so interested in Rouge’s other clubs?
Is there something he’s not telling me?
“There are plenty of clubs in Chicago we could go to. Why my sister’s?”
He presses his lips together. “Well… There’s a reason I showed up at Aces last night.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“Let’s talk about this outside.” He gets up, helps me into my coat, and guides me out the Brassica Rex front door. “I’m sure you know who Maddox Hathaway is, right?”
I widen my eyes. “Maddox Hathaway. Of course. He’s a regular at the club. Tips well, as far as I can tell. Not a creep, which places him above ninety percent of the male patrons.” I cross my arms. “I assume he’s the same Maddox you just referred to as your buddy.”
“Right.” He leans in. “Have you noticed that he hasn’t shown up in a few weeks?”
I blink. “Honestly, he’s not really been at the forefront of my mind. From what I remember, he usually sticks to the bar at Spades, or occasionally he’ll play a game in Diamonds. He’s rarely in Hearts.”
“A few weeks ago, he took off suddenly with a woman he just met. Alissa Maravilla.”
“Oh yeah. The lovely blonde woman. Chet calls her Miss Wonder. So they went on a romantic getaway. Sounds kind of nice.”
