Page 7 of Bet On Me, Daddy

And Beckett really, really wanted that fucking map.

“Rumor also has it he’s specifically looking for a local firm. After Pinnacle fucked him, he’s decided he doesn’t trust ‘those snotty New England bastards’ anymore.”

“This just keeps getting better. But how the hell are we supposed to get a meeting with Preston Fucking Kingsley?”

Some of the excitement on Jonas’s face faded. “Ah, well, I was hoping you might know some people. Since you’re running with the Hollywood set, and all. Figured you might know someone who knows someone.”

That probably was true. Preston had just turned sixty last year and his party had been filled to the brim with A-Listers. But asking that of Ice felt a little too much like using their friendship for his own personal gain, and it left a bad taste in his mouth. “I’ll have to see what I can do.”

“Excellent.” Jonas checked his watch and grimaced. “Got a meeting with The Dragon, so I need to get going. Just wanted to tell you the good news in person, and away from any potential spies. The walls have ears and all that.”

‘The Dragon’ being Widow Carrigan, one of the first clients Beckett had ever brought in, with a reputation for watching over her investments like a dragon with its hoard. For years she’drefused to work with anyone but Beckett, until he’d brought Jonas on board and personally walked them through building a working relationship they both could both live with. As much as Jonas whined about it, Beckett had his suspicions they enjoyed each other’s company more than either was willing to let on.

Jonas left, and though Beckett had his own business to attend to, he took his time, draining what was left of his coffee while Ruby snuck little glances at him from the counter. Those sneaky looks, along with the knowledge that Preston Kingsley might finally be within his grasp, nearly had him whistling as he left the coffee shop.

A bright morning, indeed.

CHAPTER 3

RUBY

Standing outside Braden Elliott’s office, Ruby nervously shifted from foot to foot. No matter how many times she’d told herself she didn’t feel the least bit guilty over helping Lottie hide from her Daddy the night before, that little pit in her stomach had grown bigger and bigger with every passing hour since Beckett had issued his ultimatum.

She’d actually considered just not coming to the club at all tonight. After working two of her three usual jobs, she was down-to-the-bones exhausted and she would have been well within her rights to simply not show up. She’d even laid on her bed for a solid hour after she’d gotten home from her last run of the day at her third job, convincing herself she wasn’t going.

And yet, here she was, dressed in a dark red corset with a matching tulle skirt that showed off her cute satin panties—also matching—every time she bent over. It was her ‘come and get it’ outfit, which she had tried to tell herself didn’tmeananything as she’d wiggled her way into it in the club changing room.

She really, really sucked at lying to herself.

Bracing herself for what lay on the other side of Braden’s door, she lifted her fist and rapped three times in quick succession.

Please don’t be here, please don’t be here, please don’t be here.

“Come in.”

Fuck.

Plastering on a bright smile, she pushed open the door and poked her head in. “Do you have a minute?”

Braden looked up from the stack of papers in front of him and waved her in. “Ruby. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Um, well.” Even though a very large part of her wanted to turn around and run, she forced herself to walk forward and stand in front of his desk. “I need to tell you something. About last night.”

Leaning back in his chair, Braden raised an eyebrow. “I see. I certainly hope you aren’t here to tell me you were involved in the glitter fiasco.”

“No, Sir. Well...” Shit. Would he consider being an accomplice after the fact ‘involvement’? “That is to say, I didn’t help plan it or anything.”

Somehow that damn brow raised even higher. How the hell Lottie managed to hold her own against that look, Ruby would never know. It was taking everything she had not to squirm under his scrutiny.

“But?”

“But, um.” Oh, god. It had been so long since she’d been in a position where she had to actuallyconfessher sins, she’d forgotten how hard it could be. She hadn’t had anyone holding her accountable for her actions outside of a scene in years. “When you came by the bar, asking if I’d seen Lottie and I told you I’d seen her heading toward the private rooms, I sort of… lied.”

The corners of Braden’s lips twitched, just for a moment, before he cleared his throat and fixed her with a sternexpression. “And where, exactly, was Lottie hiding when you gave me this false information?”

“Behind the bar. I’m sorry, Sir, I didn’t really think it was a big deal at the time.”

“What changed your mind?”

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