Page 25 of Tower

“Shit.” Daniel turned to Johnny. “Didn’t you put a man out there?”

“Yeah, in the gardens. You said she had the run of the house.”

“I don’t want her off the estate,” Peter stated. He should have informed the men he wanted more guards on her, wanted eyes on her while she was on the grounds. Catching her had been pure luck, but he would be more prepared in the future.

“What’s happening here?” Peter turned the topic to business. After spending the last half hour with Azalea, his cock needed the distraction.

“Amber and Annie have play sessions this afternoon, and Aubree’s off duty until you deal with her,” Daniel said.

Aubree. Right. Peter let out a heavy sigh. Dealing with errant women in the Annex had always given him a thrill. He enjoyed his job as disciplinarian of the house. But at the moment, it seemed more of a chore than a joy.

“She’ll keep,” Peter said. “What about the other girls? Are we having a slow week? Only two girls have play sessions?”

“I think some of the others are taking time off. You know, with Ash gone—”

“Cat’s away so mice play, that shit? Make sure we have enough girls on duty to handle the regulars. The others can take off. But make certain they actually take the time off. I want them listed as off duty, not just declining appointments.” Like any other place of employment, vacation was part of the benefit package, but Peter wouldn’t allow the girls to merely take undocumented days off.

“You got it.” Johnny nodded.

“What about Tower?” Daniel asked. “Do any of the girls there want to take a day here?”

Peter shook his head. “The two businesses stay separate. If they want to, they’ll have to come apply on their own. I won’t shift girls from here to there or there to here.” Peter had opened Tower on his own. It was not a Titon business, and it would remain completely independent of that brand.

“Are you going there tonight?” Daniel asked.

“Not sure yet.” Peter didn’t mention it depended completely on the behavior and attitude of the beautiful, naughty blond upstairs in his room. “What did you find out about Santos and Bellatrix?”

Johnny answered. “Santos is gone. Azalea’s house is empty. The other men who were staying there are gone, too. I think they’re spooked that their boss’s daughter was taken and they didn’t stop it.”

“I have a few feelers out about Bellatrix. So far, no one’s talking, but if she’s working with any of the families—and from the look of that house and how scared those men were, I’d say she has connections in some pretty high places—we’ll find something,” Daniel added.

“I want Santos found, and I want him brought here. I have questions for him.” Peter’s jaw ached from the tension the thought of the prick brought to him.

“We’ll find him,” Daniel promised.

“Maybe she worked with Samuel. Any chance she would be listed in one of those old records?” Johnny offered.

Peter shook his head. “What sort of accurate records do you think Samuel kept while he was kidnapping and selling women?”

“I’m just sayin’, he did keep some records. Maybe she’s in there if she worked with the families in the past. Maybe she worked with him.”

Not a bad point.

“The old record books are downstairs. Go through them, and let me know if you find anything. But Samuel used codes, too, so you can play super sleuth for a little while.”

“No problem.” Johnny grinned. He probably felt more powerful being given a job. Everyone worked their way up the ranks, legit business or not, and the Titon family wasn’t any different. Johnny was making his way.

“Why’s this woman so interesting to you, anyway?” Daniel probed. “I never even heard of her until the other night when we grabbed her daughter. Which brings me to the second question. Why did we grab Azalea?”

Peter narrowed his gaze. His motives weren’t up for discussion, and they sure as hell weren’t up for judgment from his men.

“My reasons are my business. Keeping this place running and safe is your business. Now, get to work.” Peter turned on his heel and made his way back to the main house. He wouldn’t explain his reasoning to the men on any given day, but at the moment, even if he wanted to, he couldn’t. He didn’t understand his actions any more than they did. He knew he had to get Azalea out of that house, and he could feel in his bones something wasn’t right with her mother.

“Peter?” a soft voice called to him before he reached the door.

“Aubree. You’re supposed to be in your apartment until I call for you.” He turned to face her. She had both hands clasped in front of her, and her hair had been straightened and laid flat over her shoulders. With a pink tint to her cheeks, she looked almost virginal.

“I know. It’s just I really need the extra shift at Sampson’s or Delilah’s, and Daniel said I can’t take any work until you’ve—well, until we’ve talked.”

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