Page 99 of Dangerous Rhythm

Ken’s phone pinged. He looked at what came in.

“They found more footages of Sofia in Morrigan’s security footage.” He winked at Dean and Curtis. “You didn’t hear that.”

That meant his team probably had to hack into the club’s system to get the footage.

“She came to Morrigan’s every Thursday night, escorted by Sean Murphy through the back door. She mostly stayed off the public floor and went to the office area. No surveillance in that part of the club.”

“What day did you see Rocco and Sean?” Dean asked.

“It was a Thursday,” Curtis confirmed. “Sean said he didn’t touch her. It wasn’t him. He was just the errand boy who delivered Sofia to someone else.”

“So Sofia Stiletto has had rendezvous with a Murphy every Thursday night. How does this help us?” Dean demanded.

“It’s information,” Lina said calmly. “It could be the piece of information we need when we appeal to Tony Jr.”

“You’re gonna appeal to a crime boss?” Dean questioned sharply.

“Well, he’s not the boss yet. And from all the information we have, he doesn’t want to be a crime boss,” Lina said. “The thing is, we have all these pieces, but we don’t exactly know how they all fit.”

“How are we going to find out?” Dean asked.

“Why don’t we ask the people involved directly?” Curtis suggested. “They’re the only ones who can answer these questions. The answers could fire up the feud between the families again, which might make Serafina forget about me.”

“Unlikely,” Marcus muttered.

“Or it could push Tony Jr. to grab the reins from his mother and make her stop using me as a target practice,” Curtis finished.

“It’s reaching,” Marcus commented. “But what other options do we have?”

“Curtis stays in hiding,” Dean said.

“No. I’m taking my life back,” Curtis insisted. “I’ll march straight to Tony Jr. myself right now and—”

“And what?” Marcus looked at him sternly. “These people are not your fans, Curtis. They’re not gonna listen to you just because you’re a rock star.”

“Will they listen to me?” Dean suggested. “Another businessman?”

Lina’s gaze zoomed straight at Dean Rowland. Everyone’s did at his suggestion.

“No way in hell!” Curtis vehemently refused. “Rae will have my head if I involve you in this. This is not your fight, Dean. It’s mine.”

“Curtis, they might listen to someone like me,” Dean said.

“And get your good name smeared for a connection with dubious people because of me? You are not getting roped into this any further. You shouldn’t even be here. I appreciate you, brother, but you need to go back home to your pregnant wife and daughter.”

“I agree with Curtis on this, sir,” Marcus said to Dean.

Marcus was right. It would be bad for business if they got the CEO of their biggest client into this debacle.

Dean looked like he was ready to argue.

“We could imply Mr. Rowland’s interest in one of the Stilettos’ legitimate business,” Lina quickly intervened. “We, of course, don’t actually use his name. But it might get us a meeting we need.

“What Mr. Rowland said earlier got me thinking,” Lina added. “You said your friends got you and your wife onto neutral ground?”

“Yes, after we broke up and Rae wouldn’t give me the time of day,” Dean said. “My best friend Chris, and Rae’s best friend, Brandon, got us to Bali—separately, unaware of the other’s arrival. It took some negotiations, maneuvering, and old-fashioned groveling to get her to forgive me. Did that story spark something for you?”

“The sneakiness of your friends, yes.” Lina smiled. “We can do the same with Tony Jr., Connor Murphy, and Sophia Stiletto. I have a feeling the current generation of these two families need to have a conversation. If they won’t do it themselves, then let’s set it up for them.”

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