Page 3 of Three Sweet Nothings (The Blindfold Club)

“Yeah.” She scowled, like she abruptly thought better of her answer. “No, he didn’t, actually. It doesn’t matter. That was years ago. After Dominic, I only worked at the club when Joseph needed help managing or if a sales assistant called in sick.”

“Wait a minute.” I pulled my shoulders back. “Joseph Monsato?”

Again, she nodded. “It was his club up until last year.”

Thoughts swam in my brain. I’d been the fifth wheel to Payton and Dominic’s dinners with Joseph and Noemi a half-dozen times. Payton had been a prostitute and Dominic was her john, so that made Joseph . . . her pimp? Good God, what was she going to tell me next? “Jesus. And Noemi? Is that how he met her?”

“Fuck, no. She’s the reason he gave up the club.”

In the onslaught of all the shocking information, my brain focused on the dumb stuff. I liked hanging out with Joseph. His dominating personality was one I admired, and there was something . . . intriguing about the way he was around his fiancée.

Not just intriguing, but fascinating. He seemed to have command over Noemi, but the smallest word or gesture from her could draw a huge reaction from him. As if he was always dialed in to what she was thinking and feeling. Being around them made me envious.

I wanted what they had.

But now? I felt like I had nothing in common with him. Joseph had sold sex. Fuck, he’d sold sex with my little sister, and yeah, even though she’d been willing, the idea made my fist tighten.

“I get that you need time,” Payton said, interrupting my anger, “but we don’t have it. Julius needs your help now.”

“Who?”

“My friend. He’s the club manager.”

I broke my gaze from Payton and stared at the tabletop marred with scratches. She wanted me to defend a pimp? I struggled. “Okay, putting all the personal shit to the side for a minute, how exactly is the FBI involved?”

“Earlier tonight I negotiated a deal between a woman and some asshole, and after I left the room, it went to shit. The guy tried to kill her, and he would have done it if Julius hadn’t stopped him.” Payton took a deep, preparing breath. “So, apparently, this woman, who I thought was my friend, is actually an undercover agent, and the asshole is a congressman. Or, he was. Don’t think they let you stay in office when you try to strangle the fucking life out of someone.”

“It was a sting operation to bring down the club?”

“No, I don’t think so. Regan—” A scowl crossed her face. “The agent has been working at the club for over a year.”

If that had been the goal, the feds wouldn’t need that much time to shut down the club. It meant the sting had been set up to trap someone else. The congressman? Maybe other high profile players in Chicago?

“Did you witness the assault?”

“Not in person, but Julius has video of the whole thing.”

Her eyes hinted at something and I understood instantly. “Julius has it. Not the FBI.”

“He’s smart.” She rose from her chair, forcing me to do the same. “He knows how valuable the video is.” Payton stepped closer. “Look, I know this is a lot to ask, but will you help him? Julius saved Regan’s life and called the ambulance, knowing it was going to destroy his club. He’s a good guy.”

My gaze fell to her hand, which gently gripped my arm.

“Please, Kyle.”

I’d failed Payton as a brother most of my life. I wasn’t going to do it anymore.

My voice was strong. “Of course. Where is he?”

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