Page 15 of Vail

I nodded. “Every minute he’s out there is a threat against Vail and by association, Hartley.”

“And you, but I know you don’t care about that.”

I waved her off. I’d faced much bigger nemeses than Gil.

There were visions floating through my head of Gil falling, cracking his skull on a guardrail or bench, then tumbling into the creek where he would drown if the fall didn’t kill him. Or maybe he found a guy he thought he could control but turned out to be the other way around, and when Gil raised his fist, he got knocked out instead. A train could have hit him too. No, that would have been on the news.

“You’re imagining different ways he could have died, aren’t you?” Kayli asked.

“Of course I am, because I can’t fucking touch him,” I seethed.

“No one can at the moment.”

I growled and leveled her with a glare.

Kayli put her hands up. “Sorry.”

The unease of not knowing drove me insane. At least when he was in the city or when he traveled, I had someone on him. I knew where he slunk off to.

How could I watch a threat if I had no clue where the fuck he was?

Gil had to know I had a man on him, or that Vail did. Something tipped him off. That was why he went missing without them realizing he’d left. He had an alternate way out and took it. Kayli had been to his home, looked for anything the cops could have missed, but she found nothing. Gil was a ghost.

At least Vail and Hartley were moving on with their lives, while I sat in this perpetual state of irritation. Unless we were in bed. That was the only time I let thoughts of the asshole drift away.

Vail was at Untouchable tonight, working with Dana. It was a dancer’s birthday. Dexen always celebrated them with the members of the club. Vail’s birthday was coming up too. What I wouldn’t give to be able to produce his ex, preferably dead before I got to him. It would be Vail’s birthday and Christmas and every other fucking holiday all in one. I’d even stick a bow on Gil’s bloody face. At least in my mind there was blood.

Reporters had tried to talk to Vail repeatedly, asking if he had anything to do with the disappearance, or if he thought I killed Gil because I was jealous of his ex. If they only understood how vile Gil was. Telling the media, it would have been easy to paint Gil in the worst light. In doing so, it would expose Vail’s deep wounds, which I wouldn’t do. Instead, he had to ignore those who tried to talk to him. Oleander had been doing a good job of keeping them back. They still shouted questions though. Still invaded Vail’s privacy when he left home.

Gil wasn’t a nobody in Dremest. Being friends with the right people meant he was noticed. Plus, he had a lot of wealth. There were powerful individuals all over the city wondering what happened to him. I could crush them, but I wouldn’t. I was trying to be better for my men.

Kayli leaned forward, putting her elbows on her thighs. “Tell me what to do next. Whatever you want, consider it done.”

“Except the one thing none of us can accomplish.”

“I left my wand in my other jeans.”

I cocked an eyebrow at her.

“We don’t have the same connection to Vail you do, but we’ve become friends with him. He takes the time to get to know us and is invested in how we’re doing. To think of someone out there that we can’t find, who has hurt Vail… Let’s just say, the line is long of people ready to kill for him. We won’t, but we’re ready if need be.”

“I appreciate you and the others taking care of my men.” Without them, I wouldn’t be able to run things as I did. I wouldn’t be able to do a whole hell of a lot outside of looking after their well-being.

“Hartley’s grand opening is soon. That will be fun.” Kayli loved any excuse to dress up and blend in, so no one saw her coming when there was an issue.

Having the party for Hartley’s opening didn’t ease my nerves. I’d have more guards around than usual. Word had gotten out that he had moved his business. Of course, the reporters were after any tidbit of information they received about Vail or Hartley. They were with me, and I was a hot topic usually. That saying about no such thing as bad press applied to me. Good or bad, people wanted to learn about the man who owned many properties and donated countless funds to the city.

My illegal activities were speculated about, like they always were. No hard evidence because I knew how to handle myself. Now they focused on my men and Gil being gone. I had selected reporters to join the party, who wouldn’t bash me or my men. They would get the word out about Hartley and his venture in a positive light.

“You need to kill someone,” Kayli said. “That will make you feel better.”

I stopped my pacing. “Who? Everything’s running smoothly. No one’s pissing me off.”

Like a call from the universe, my phone vibrated on my desk. Barry’s name flashed on the screen.

“What?” It came out more frustrated than pissed.

“Derek showed up at the building. He was escorted inside because we didn’t want a scene on the street, but he isn’t getting past the lobby.” He was one of my regular buyers. We had a typical relationship like I had with the rest of them. They paid, I delivered.

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