When I didn’t hear the locks, I banged on the wood. “I said lock it.”
I waited until he was finished and then left, storming out of the building, not even bothering to conceal my gun.
Inside the SUV, I headed for Blue Orchid. It was a long shot, but I didn’t know where else to check. The fact that he even worked at that bordello marauding as a gay bar made me see red.
What if he’s hurt somewhere?
Or worse.
I didn’t get in line at Blue Orchid. When the bouncer saw me, he smirked and waved me in.
Yeah, I was a member of this sin shack. Clearly, I hadn’t visited often enough because I’d never once seen Haz.
“It’s been a while, Mr. Vaughn,” he said, removing the rope barring the entrance so I could go inside.
I nodded and kept going, stalking through the place like I was SWAT and this was a raid.
Just as I was about to start going into the private rooms in the back, a hand lay on my shoulder. “I’m afraid those spaces are private.”
I turned to face Clive Rigaldi, the man who owned the place.
“I’m looking for someone,” I said. “One of your employees.”
“Well, if they’re here, then they are on my time.”
Breathing deep through my nose, I said, “Haz Maddox. He works here on the weekends.”
Clive smiled. “Ah, yes. Him. I’ve tried, but he always turns down the offer to work in my private rooms. A shame really. He’d make us both a lot of money.”
I pulled out my gun, jamming it beneath his chin. The security guards a few feet behind pulled out their weapons.
“He doesn’t work here anymore,” I said, flat. “And if I ever hear of you offering him anything, even a mint, ever again, I’ll cut off your dick and put it in your private rooms for your clients to amuse themselves with.”
Clive laughed beneath his breath. “Went and got yourself a crush, have you?”
Whatever he saw in my eyes wiped the humor right out of him. “All right.” He agreed. “He’s yours.”
I pulled the gun down.
His security rushed me, but Clive held up his hand, stopping them. “It’s fine,” he told them. “You’ve been a loyal client. Maybe even a friend.”
“I don’t have friends.”
“That actually hurts my feelings.” The new voice came right out of the shadows, catching everyone off guard.
I might have smiled if I weren’t half out of my mind about Haz. I didn’t even look over my shoulder. “Ghost.”
“I thought we were friends, Vaughn,” he said, leaning his elbow on my shoulder like he hadn’t just witnessed me threatening a man with a gun.
“I thought you were out of town,” I said, still watching Clive.
“I see how it is. Out of sight, out of mind,” Ghost quipped.
“He’s not here,” Clive told me.
I tucked the gun away and started for the exit.
Clive cleared his throat. “I think I’ll have to revoke your membership for this.”
