Page 2 of Wicked Attraction

“Good.” I walked up the stairs that led to level two and ordered another drink from a server walking by before searching for the woman of the hour. She was, of course, in the VIP area, looking proudly down at her hard work come to life.

“You don’t have to look so damn pleased with yourself, Ma.”

Sadie turned slowly at the sound of my voice, a knowing smile on her face. “I know I don’t have to, but I am pleased. Look at this. Just fucking look.”

“Yeah, I see it. And I never doubted that you could do it. That was never a fucking question. I just didn’t think it was necessary.”

“And that’s why I’m so pleased. Look around. We don’t just have gangsters and investment bankers in here spending their money tonight, Jasper. That guy runs the corner market, and I’m pretty sure I saw his girlfriend head up to see the male dancers.”

“Your point?”

“My point, smartass, is that it isn’t just big money dollars flowing into this place. It’s all the money. People in the Green Zone now have money to spend, and they’re spending it with us.”

I nodded reluctantly, willing to give her that. “Makes it easier to clean the cash.” I didn’t bother reminding her that more cash put a bigger target on the place for robbery, even if it was an Ashby joint.

Sadie glowered at me; her green eyes narrowed to a slit in a look I’d seen bring grown-ass men to their knees. As her son, I grew up on the receiving end of that look. It barely fazed me.

“What the fuck is going on, Jasper? This is a big night for all of us. It’s bad enough that Calvin isn’t here. You could at least pretend to be happy with the outcome.”

I shrugged off her angry question and the reminder that Calvin hadn’t shown up to celebrate the re-opening. “You want to run things again? Say so.”

“You run the shit, Jasper. You run it all. I’m just the face of the business, but no one is confused about who’s in charge, so I don’t know why the fuck you are.”

I sighed at her words because she was right, and she knew I knew it, but we were Irish, and we were Ashbys. Arguing and fighting were second nature to us.

“So, you and Thomas?” The last thing I wanted to think about was my mother fucking anyone. But at least Thomas was no stranger, and his loyalty wasn’t in question.

I indulged them in an apple cider toast to their success and hid a smile when Sadie, the toughest bitch in Nevada, paled at the notion of going out to talk to the press.

“Do I have to?”

“Yes.” Thomas and I answered at the same time. She rolled her eyes.

“Fine. Let’s go.” After dealing with Agent Beck of the FBI, Sadie was a little camera shy, which was a good thing. She was the face of the organization, of the family, but the press brought too much attention.

“Wait.” Thomas’ grip tightened around Sadie. “I spotted the ginger bitch in the club. She’s small and can get around virtually unnoticed, but I saw her a few times.”

I let out a low growl, annoyed because Beck was more trouble than she was worth. After everything that went down with the undercover priest and Bonnie, putting a bullet in her wasn’t an option. Although I thought about it often. I nodded and set down the champagne flute. “I’m on it.”

Addison Beck was smart. She was also a goddamn pain in my ass. Unfortunately, she had a lot of hate for the Ashby family, which meant we were all targets. The legitimate businesses, as well as the drugs, guns, whores, and everything else, were at risk because of her.

I wanted to tell her the truth about her father, Jack, but Sadie thought we should find another way to get rid of her. Can’t kill her and can’t tell her the truth, so what the fuck else is left?

I spotted those red curls at the bar, pink lips wrapped around a straw as she pretended she wasn’t a cop and wasn’t trying to find a way to catch us up in her web. I made my way over.

Pop. Pop.

Two shots rang out. I froze a split second before I started in the other direction, walking before I remembered Sadie was outside. My legs kicked into a full run.

“What the fuck was that?” I asked Evan who was at the door tonight, but I kept going before he could answer.

I saw some shit that made the blood drain from my face. Blood streamed down the side of Sadie’s face; her eyes lifeless as her knees buckled. Thomas held her in his arms, a devastated expression on his face.

Sadie had been shot.

“What the fuck?” Terry appeared at my side, chest heaving, eyes wide when they landed on Sadie. “Where did the shots come from?” He directed his question at Thomas.

Thomas shrugged. His eyes never left Sadie’s for one moment. “From the right, likely from the top of one of those buildings. Come on, babe. You’re tougher than this. No fucking bullet is going to take you out.”

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