Page 88 of All Your Hate

“Yes, and remember I can get you fired so quit being a little bitch. I need you to tell me about Lakeview.”

A sly smile tugs the corner of his mouth up. “I’m surprised you’ve never been. Thought that sort of place would have been right up your alley considering your reputation.”

“Can anyone go there?”

“Yeah as long as you got money, just turn up and pay for a room. By the hour of course.” He gives me a wink and I want to punch the smug look off his face.

“Who manages the place?”

He shrugs his shoulders. “Dunno. A fair few guys work there. All look like they’ve jumped straight off a prison van if you ask me. I certainly wouldn’t want to piss them off. Do you think Gregory knows he sold it to be a whorehouse?” He laughs like he’s enjoying my father’s fuck up way too much.

My father would never do such a thing if he knew that would be the outcome. He’s the most respectable person I know. His entire life has revolved around business. He got me a tutor when I was four so I could become just like him.

Ignoring Brad’s question, I say, “Thanks, man, you’ve been really helpful. I’ll make sure you get a nice bonus at the end of the year. Treat that lovely wife and all those kids of yours.”

His eyes widen as I call him out on his bullshit behavior and he huffs out a laugh before scurrying off.

On my way out I text Wynter for an update and she says she’ll be at least another hour. I could go sit with her, but this is the perfect opportunity to do some reconnaissance.

Lakeview is definitely not what the name suggests. Like Brad said, it doesn’t even have a view of the Lake. It’s actually a mile out from it, situated near the edge of the city. A gas station and a derelict cafe are the only other places nearby.

I asked Janine to send me everything we have on file again, but it’s still the same information. There’s no record of this place being sold. My father, our company, still owns it.

Theno vacancysign is lit, but there are only two cars parked up in the lot.

Pulling up away from them, I grab my gun from the glovebox and tuck it into my jacket. I don’t know if I’ll need it, but I can’t be too careful.

The check-in desk is empty as I walk by, so I head to the main building. Cigarette smoke blows from around the corner. Following it I find two women chatting as they have a smoke by the vending machines. Their clothes are ill-fitting and I can see the needle marks on their inner elbows. No doubt they work here.

“Afternoon ladies.” I casually stroll up to them.

The younger of the two startles and quickly grinds her cigarette out under her grubby trainer. The older one with dark hair stands straighter and stares me down as she takes a long drag. “If you want a room you need to talk to one of the guys.”

“The front desk was empty.”

“Ugh, seriously? They’re always fucking around,” she mutters to herself.

The younger girl looks terrified of me. She’s barely eighteen, by the looks of it. With messy blonde hair and pretty eyes that are way too sunken into her face. I clench my fists together to hold back my anger as I think of why she might be here.

“How many of you are here?”

She’s about to answer when the dark-haired woman steps in, “You a cop or something?”

“Do I look like a cop? I kinda have a reputation as an everyone’s man and like to know my options before I settle.”

“There’s no guys here, but plenty of girls to pick from.” She puts her smoke out and grabs a soda from the vending machine.

“How many?”

“Nine,” the blonde one says quietly. “No, eight. We lost another one this morning.” She hugs her arms tight around her center, a haunted look on her face.

“Lost?” I frown.

The dark-haired one places a hand on my shoulder and smiles up at me with nicotine-stained teeth. “She doesn’t mean that. One of the girls that lived here simply moved away. Come with me, I'll take you to a room and we can settle up later.”

I shrug her hand off and she scrunches her nose at me.

“No, let me talk to your boss,” I persist.

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