Did someone try to murder him?
Clearly, he’d survived.
“H-hello, how can I help you, sir?” I squeaked, then cleared my throat. I fumbled to set the wineglass on the bar, and he sighed and took it from me, putting the glassware out of harm’s way.
“You have an appointment.”
I blinked up at him, then glanced around the bar. “I’m celebrating. With who? A jewelry consultation? I admit I’m confused.” I tried to recover my wits because if this man worked for someone who wanted to drop a load of money in my lap, the last thing I wanted to do was offend him. He was wearing a suit, after all, and many of the people I dealt with lived in the things.
“Madam Winters.” He dragged me off the stool with both hands on my arms and literally set me on my feet. My heart hammered and I tried not to cringe.
“I don’t understand. Was there something wrong with her pieces?”
He stared down at me, gaze impassive, and his jaw hardened. He slid his tongue along his bottom lip, and for a moment I was transfixed because it was nice and full—the one gentle thing on his face.
“I suggest you think up a good story—” He leaned down to growl into my ear. “—because she wants answers.”
My heart nearly stopped. “Oh! Did the clasp break or something? That happens sometimes. It’s an easy fix, I swear.” I babbled on about loose prongs on gem settings and links and anything else that occurred to me as he marched us through the crowd toward the front door with his hands on my shoulders. I didn’t feel very well when the cold air outside smacked my cheeks, and I didn’t like the way he wasn’t speaking. “If we stop to get my tools, I can correct any issues. I promise.”
“No, you’re going to Madam Winters because that’s my job. I bring her people who have pissed her off and stolen from her.”
My heart stopped dead for a few seconds and I gasped as it picked up pace, chugging along at double time. “S-stolen? I would never!”
He grunted as if he didn’t believe me and took me over to a black sedan waiting at the curb. He opened the rear door and nudged me inside. I slid in, then when he continued pushing my arm, kept going to the other side. He sat in the seat next to me, and I got the idea if I tried to run away or do anything wrong, he would put an end to me—permanently. My clothes began to stick to my skin as sweat coated my body. I shivered.
The ride to the Courtesan Hotel didn’t take long, and the car stopped at the front entrance with an abrupt lurch. I stared up at all three stories of the beautiful historical building in awe because while it always held an aura of glamour, decorated for the holidays it was even more otherworldly. Everything about the Courtesan shouted money, from the brick walls and pillars to the curved balconies. Multiple wings held plenty of room for guests and events. The shiny gold-and-glass front doors and the arched windows gleamed and caught the eye, and as a designer, I never got enough of the decorative molding. Red ribbons with gold trim had been affixed above every pane and the tails trailed down on either side. Off to the left of the hotel, the willow trees had been decorated in red and green twinkle lights and they made a cheerful sight—which I unfortunately couldn’t enjoy, since my new “friend” opened the door and gestured for me to get out.
I shook my head.
“Move or I’ll drag you,” he said, but he sounded bored with the idea. He widened his eyes at me.
Sighing, I followed him into the cold night.
He frowned down at me, and I felt like I was trying to see the top of a tall building when I met his eyes. “If you just tell her what she wants to know, it will all be fine.”
I blinked up at him and nodded, fully planning to do that, especially since I had no fucking clue why I’d been “escorted” here in the middle of the night. I swayed a bit as I stepped forward, and he put a hand on my back. He pursed his lips and his eyelids lowered a smidge. We didn’t speak as he walked with me, then opened a door for me when we reached the entrance. He directed me to the right toward the bar, across the gleaming gold-swirled white marble floor and past decorative stone pillars that soared to the ceiling. Tonight the Courtesan overflowed with people and we had to dodge around several groups with champagne glasses in hand. I’d only been here twice, both times to meet with Madam Winters to discuss jewelry, so I was still iffy on how to get around.
When we made it through an archway decorated with pine boughs along the top, the low blue lighting made me feel as if I was entering a dream. On my left was a gleaming, silver-topped bar, which reminded me dizzily of the Zin. A man on the stage across the way played piano for the patrons, holiday music I knew but couldn’t name. Madam Winters rose from a table and her simple black strapless dress hugged her curves. Her blonde hair was pinned up in a perfect bun that showed off her neck to its best advantage—there was no jewelry on it. A small scowl tugged at her crimson lips as she marched toward me, heels cracking on the floor.
I held out my arms. “Madam Winters! You’re looking stunning tonight, darling. What did you think about—”
I gasped as her hand met my cheek. The blow stung. My face whipped to the side. I gaped at her.
“Do you know what I hate worse than anything in the whole wide world?” she asked, her Southern accent thick and eyes flashing danger.
“What?” I touched my hand to the painful spot on my face.
“Thieves. I have an eventtomorrow. You promised me my jewelry tonight. And then I find you’re in a bar? I paid! I need everything to be perfection for that client. Where is the necklace I was promised?” Her blue eyes were colder than diamond chips.
I stared around, feeling stupid from the wine and the unexpected slap. The big guy at my side crossed his arms and glared as hard as she did. “W-what do you mean? I sent the collection over here. I gave it to you already.” Tears welled in my eyes and I couldn’t help it. It felt like the floor dipped under my feet and a solid hand landed on my back. “Your courier took the necklace from my shop about an hour ago.”
She stared at me, and I fought to hold on to my composure. I’d worked so hard for so many weeks to bring that creation into the world, and the only thing that had kept me going was the hope that she would be ecstatic over it.
“Well, shit. RJ, be a dear and bring him upstairs. I do feel a headache coming on.” She sighed and shook her head as she glided off, and I couldn’t help it. My knees trembled and I had trouble breathing.
“It’s not here, is it? The necklace. The bracelet. The earrings. None of it.” I glanced up at RJ.
He shook his head and I could see the disdain settle on his face, almost like it was a layer of dirt.
