Page 49 of Beautiful Scars

"Actually, yeah." Colt doesn't flinch. "Got that info on the club you asked for. Been there for over twenty years. Looks legit on the surface, but something wasn't adding up. So, I looked a little deeper. Tapped into their system and got a peek at their books. They're clean."

Z straightens, interest sparking in his eyes. "How clean?"

"Too clean." Colt swipes through several screens. "Perfect down to the penny for the past six years, and let me tell you, no business is that precise. Especially not a strip club dealing in cash and especially not in that part of town."

I watch Z's reaction more than the numbers. His brow is furrowed and I can see his mind working through what Colt is saying. Yep, something's definitely off. Z doesn't typically show this much interest in potential acquisitions. His focus is on the tactical, logistical side of our operation. He could care less about this side of things.

"Think the owner could be persuaded to sell?" I keep my tone casual.

Colt whistles low and soft. "It would cost. It's a solid business on the legit side. Place was packed last night. The guy's making a fortune."

"We should get eyes back in there." Z rolls his shoulders, a sign I've learned over the years means he's holding something back. "They're running some kind of side business through there."

"Could be worth a closer look," Colt adds, flopping down onto the leather couch and kicking his feet up. "We could always go back. Another night in the VIP might give us all the answers we need."

"Subtle, Colt." I arch an eyebrow at him. "That idea wouldn't have anything to do with that dancer I heard you couldn't take your hands off, right?"

His grin is shameless. "Jade? Man, she's something else." He sits up, suddenly animated. "It wasn't just me. Z, c'mon man. Back me up a little here. I know you'd love to go back and get another shot at that bartender."

I don't miss how Z's shoulders tense at the mention of the bartender, or how his eyes drop back to the blueprints without a lot of focus.

"I don't do strip clubs." The words come out harder than I intended. "If you think there's something worth investigating, take a team and go."

"Come on," Colt protests. "It's a nice place. You'd like it."

"I said no." The edge in my voice silences him. Only a slight over-reaction. I've never seen the point in strip clubs. Damn waste of money. Not that I'm above spending money for company. I've discovered over the years it's the easiest and best way to handle my needs. A simple transaction that doesn't mean anything.

Z sets down his coffee cup with deliberate care. "This isn't about the girls, Levi. If you're serious about getting us going here again, we need to start looking at already established operations we can get in to. It's easier and safer. You're looking at splitting up our team, cutting our man power in half until we can find more guys. It won't do us any good to fight for territory we can't defend. We need options like this."

Z's obviously given this more thought than I gave him credit for.

"That kind of accounting usually means someone's taking a lot of care tonotraise any red flags. It could be a good opportunity for us. But, we need to know what we're dealing with."

"And you need me there because...?"

"Because you're the best at reading people," Colt jumps in. "And because you're starting to look like a hermit, man. When's the last time you went anywhere that wasn't work-related?"

"Fine." I straighten from where I'm leaning against Z's desk. "One night. We go in, you get your intel, and we're done."

"I'll let Wolf and his guys know." Colt's face splits into a grin. "We're going back in." His voice is a little too triumphant.

"And I'll make the arrangements." Z is already reaching for his phone, but I catch the slight uptick at the corner of his mouth. "Same private room as last night?"

"Whatever." I head for the door, already regretting this decision. "I just want to make it clear that this is business."

"Of course." Z's voice follows me out. "I'll request the same girls. For consistency."

Consistency. Right.

I pause in the doorway, glancing back at my two closest friends. Colt's practically bouncing as he texts, probably already making plans with Jade. And Z? His expression is guarded as he makes the call, but his fingers drum against the desk anxiously. In all the years I've known him, it's something I've never seen him do before.

Something's definitely up. With both of them.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Sunny

Thephonebuzzes,vibratingacross the nightstand, and I groan, fumbling to answer it. Just seeing Benny’s name on the screen is enough to set my nerves on edge. He of all people should know that there's no way I'd be up this early. Can’t the man give me a break?

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