Focusing on one of the tables, he realized the men there were eating. Several tables had food, in fact. His gaze landed on a server carrying more meals out.
It wasn’t a sex den. It was a vintage supper club.
Dash searched the faces of the patrons below. He’d not expected to findso manyalphas there. Were theyallalpha-attracted? His mind boggled at the sheer number of men.
Men like him.
What shocked him even more was that they looked so happy. Their smiles could’ve lit up the shadows outside in the alley. He hadn’t expected misery inside, but the joy he found was startling.
They didn’t look like sinners breaking the law.
They looked like friends and lovers sharing a night of fun.
They looked like… acceptance.
Tears stung the backs of Dash’s eyes as he watched them. Laughter erupted in one corner with the largest circular boothpacked with a good eight alphas. Jealousy swelled within. He wished he could have a little piece of what they had.
Stepping away from the balustrade, he reminded himself he couldn’t have a piece of anything. He was there on a case, not to partake. As he spun toward the bar, his gaze landed on Emerson.
The alpha leaned against a wall nearby, watching him intently.
Dash froze, emotion getting the better of him. Emerson took a step closer, pity in his eyes. Dash panicked. He felt out of control. Spinning, he pushed through the crowd, putting distance between them before Emerson could take advantage.
Jaye Lachlin is missing. That’s why I’m here. No other reason.
Get it together.
While he might long to have the freedom and comfort those alphas did, he realized letting his defenses down could destroy all he’d built since leaving the Guard. The Lucky Dragon was regularly raided. If he was arrested for gross indecency or a crime against nature—and news got out—Keller Security could be finished. He’d promised Mason he’d come in, ask questions, and leave. That’s what he was going to do.
Glancing over his shoulder, he noticed Emerson had stopped following. The crowd slowly closed in behind him until he couldn’t see him any longer. Dash swallowed the lump in his throat, glad Emerson wasn’t pursuing.
Or so he told himself. He squashed the hint of disappointment filling him. Some tough guy he was. Thankfully few knew it was mostly an act. Play tough long enough and you could almost fool yourself.
7
Dash sidled up to the bar and hopped on one of the few empty stools, doing his best to pretend Emerson wasn’t there. After waving one of the bartenders over, he ordered a beer before checking some of the other patrons nearby, looking to see if any of them looked like Jaye Lachlin.
Once a bottle was placed in front of him, he slid over a twenty. “Keep the change.”
The bartender lifted his brows.“Thanks.”
Dash lifted his phone and showed the alpha a photo of Jaye. “Do you know this man?”
The bartender looked for a split-second, scoffed, and said,“Nope.”
Dash sensed it was a lie. “Yousureabout that?”
The bartender eyed him. “You with the Guard?”
“Used to be. Not anymore,” Dash said, deciding to go with the truth. It always went over better than a lie.
The bartender took an order from an alpha who slid up beside him. He pulled out a stainless-steel mixing cup and tossed some ice inside.
“I’m not here to cause trouble,” Dash said as soon as the alpha beside him started chatting with a friend. He lifted hisphone again. “I’m a private detective. He’s missing. I’ve been hired to find him.”
“Missing?”the bartender asked, frowning. He lowered the liquor bottle in his hand. “How long?”
“Two weeks.”
