“Yes, sir.” Her tone is sullen.
She’s going to have to snap out of this pity party. Eventually, I’m going to have to need her cooperation in helping me get the girl ready for the strip club.
Vade is walking through the docks when I get to the warehouse. We’ve got multiple shipments going out today, so we have to make sure each order is exactly as specified.
“I set up surveillance on the Lucky Rabbit. We haven’t been able to penetrate the internal cameras though.” Worry is etched on his face. “We also haven’t had any luck with getting anyone undercover in there either. It’s like they’re on a hiring freeze.”
“Ethan is working on it. Give him a day or two and he should be in. As far as the hiring freeze, there are other ways to scope a place out. Get someone in there as a regular customer.” I give him a reassuring pat on the back.
“10-4. I have boats and drones combing the waters, so far everything has been quiet.” Vade opens a crate and counts the contents.
“Call Diaz and tell him I will wire him the money to do the same on his end. Have him be looking for a source there. The girls have to originate from somewhere. If we can find out where they are coming from, then we might be able to figureout who they are working for.” I open a crate of M6s, admiring the beautiful contents.
“That’s a tourist area, there are more than likely several trafficking rings operating there.” He takes the crate from me and stacks it in a neat pile to the left and attaches an invoice to it.
“Have you ever heard of the Buckit Club? One of my clients mentioned it today. It’s an underground gambling ring outside of Whiskey Rivers.”
“No. Why?” He looks at me questioningly.
“You would think with the guns we traffic around here, we would’ve heard of it.” I open another crate and examine the contents. There’s nothing like the smell of gunpowder in the morning.
“Do you think it has anything to do with the trafficking ring?” Vade starts pulling the guns from the crate I opened, checking the quality.
Diaz and his guys make the most high-quality black-market weapons on the planet. In time, I plan to be his only client. Alex’s increasing demands are helping me to being well on my way to achieving that goal.
“I don’t think the clientele they have there is smart enough or has the money for trafficking. Nonetheless, I want more information on it. See if you can get some drones to scope out the area.” I’d consider some of them as employment opportunities, but nobody wants a crackhead dealing with guns.
“I’ll get right on it. How are things coming along with the girl?”
Frustrating. All the women in my life are determined to give me high blood pressure. “It’s been a few days, but she’s agreed to work for me. She still has a long way to go. Maybe we can take them down before we have to send her in.”
“Perhaps. What are you going to do with her after the job is done?”
Somehow, I don’t think chain her to my bed and force that smart mouth into submission is the right answer here. “Whatever she wants to do, I guess. If she ends up a good asset, she can stay, and I’ll find her a job. If not, send her on her way…” To my bedroom. I’ll leave that part out.
“Very well.”
When I leave the warehouse, I pull up the live feed at the barn. Her and Ethan are giving Jester a bath. Or are they?
Jester’s in the crossties in the wash bay. The girl is spraying Ethan with the hose and he’s throwing suds at her. It looks like they are enjoying themselves.
I’m annoyed. She’s always so happy and relaxed with anyone but me. I call Ethan, no answer. I call the girl, no answer. I should call the security guard and have him go break up their little party.
I hit the intercom button on the security feed. “Quit assing around and get back to work.” They both startle and look up. The girl is wide eyed—good.
Ethan flips me the middle finger and shouts, “Don’t you have anything better to do? We’re working and having fun. You should try it sometime.”
I hit the intercom again. “Assigning you to strictly muck stalls sounds like a ton of fun.”
I look back at the screen to see what appears to be soap covering the camera lens. I’m calling security and breaking up their little party.
Part 2
Two Months Later.
Love is the most exquisite of all illusions—and the most merciless of all truths.
Chapter 18
