Page 17 of Illyria

Montana clapped his hands together, smiling happily. “Agreed.”

Reaching for my purse, I followed him out of the penthouse.

When Montana said he was going to take me to lunch, I didn’t think it would be at the Gentleman’s Club. While I didn’t mind a little entertainment occasionally, this was an odd venue to eat at.

“Well, you fed me. We covered all polite society requirements. So, why am I here?” I asked, looking around the gaudy place.

Barney really needed to update the décor with the times.

“I want you to run this place.” Montana said flatly.

“You can’t be serious,” I said, leaning back in my chair, pushing my plate away from me. “The Gentleman’s Club? It’s a strip club, Montana. What the hell would I do with a strip club?”

“It’s not just a strip club.”

“I know Barney. He won’t sell. This place is his baby. So why don’t you cut the bullshit and tell me why I am really here?”

“Barney’s dead.”

“Excuse me?” I muttered, caught off guard, which wasn’t easy to do, but I’d give Montana props for throwing that at my feet. Looking around the place, I wondered who Barney pissed off this time.

Last I heard, he had his hands in a lot of pots.

Montana sighed, leaning forward, reaching for his glass of wine. “I’m going to lay it all out for you, Illyria. If you were anyone else, I wouldn’t but if you agree to do this, you’ll need to know the truth and what you would be getting yourself into. So here it goes. Barney’s been laundering cash through his club. He then funneled it to Benson Graves in West Virginia, who deposited it into an offshore account.”

I chuckled. “Benson Graves is dead. Your club killed him years ago.”

“He’s alive and well. Last known location was West Virginia.”

“Where your Tessa is from, correct?”

Since word spread of a woman from Montana’s past resurfaced, everyone has been clamoring for any information on her. From what I learned, she was a former piece that he kept on the side for years until she up and bolted on his ass. Not that I blamed her. Montana Stone wasn’t an easy man to be with. Not that I would know. I had enough common sense to keep him and his associates at arm’s length.

I learned a lot growing up, not only from my father, but also from my brothers. Certain men couldn’t be or just flat out refused to be contained. Too bad I didn’t apply the knowledge before I gave my heart to the worst of them.

“That’s right. Fucker watched my woman grow up. Even knew who her biological father was.”

“Snoopy, right?” I smirked at Montana’s shocked expression. “You’re not the only one who has eyes and ears to the ground, Montana. Continue.”

“We just learned that Benson was stealing from everyone.”

“Shocker,” I deadpanned. “That man did not discriminate. That’s why my father helped your father kill him. Guess someone dropped the ball and didn’t make sure the asshole was dead. You know a single shot to the head would ensure that, right?”

“Yeah,” he chuckled, then sobered. “It gets worse.”

“It always does. So, what has Benson done now?”

“He’s been compiling information.”

“Information on what?”

“He’s gathered information on all of us, Maxim and his crew, the Romano and Valentinetti Families, even information on my brother Kansas’ club, the Diamondbacks. Illyria, he knows that you and Maxim were seeing each other.”

I shifted in my seat, not liking where this conversation was going.

“There is nothing between me and that asshole. Not anymore.”

“Lie to me all you want, sweetheart, but you and I know the truth. I’ve never hidden the fact that Maxim is a friend. We talk. After the warehouse fiasco, he told me what we’ve all suspected, and I know what the bastard did. Not saying anything in that regard, but I am telling you that you are now on the radar.”

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