Page 41 of The Capo

“That’s how the fucker got off his crimes,” I snarled.

“Likely.”

“What am I missing with Delaney? Everyone has a dark side. She found herself in a kink club, maybe for the first time. Maybe not. Does she have a boyfriend, a master?”

He chuckled. “Not that I can tell and nothing in the major tabloids either. A buddy of mine in the industry told me that she likely has a morality clause in her contracts with some of the designers given all the shit they’ve had with other models.”

“Interesting.” That was another reason it had been important to taste freedom.

“She’s rarely photographed other than for her gigs, so I can’t be certain, but the chatter on the streets in LA is that she sticks to herself.”

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes. “Everyone has something to hide. Keep digging. Use all the contacts we have in Los Angeles to dig up some dirt. Check her mother too. And her roommate, Ginny Meadows. If what Delaney told me was true and the girl offered the invitation, then someone might have paid a pretty penny to lure Delaney to that club in particular.”

Rocco snorted. “Good point. I did find out Delaney’s mother got married and is off somewhere on a tropical island. Husband number three is also wealthy, very much so.”

Laughter was ready to bubble to the surface. For some reason, I suddenly had a blasting headache. I rolled the cool glass across my forehead. “Her mother is a real piece of work, a gold-diggingbitch in my opinion. I wonder if she bothered to tell Brandon about her nuptials, not that the man should give a fuck. So glad he finally got over her. Just keep digging. I don’t buy my beautiful doll is a clean-cut girl in the least.”

“O-kay,” he said, his tone indicating he was shocked I’d think of her as anything but a fresh-faced, stunning woman with her entire life ahead of her. I had to be practical. I had to think like a vice president of a major corporation and as a Capo. Anything less was unacceptable.

“And text me Quince’s number. From what Brandon told me, the man is hassling her to return, which could push her into doing it. Plus, if he has an alternative motive, getting her back there with no protection would be beneficial. That is not going to happen. She will do exactly as I say.”

“Already done, boss. I’ll relieve Daniel’s man in the morning. I should have more information by then.”

“Perfect.” I ended the call, now holding the phone to my head.

“How. Fucking. Dare. You.”

I opened my eyes, peering at Delaney. She stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at me with more hatred and venom than she had that morning. I swirled the drink in my glass, allowing her to fume. The more reasons she had to hate me, the better off we’d both be.

At least for now.

“I do what’s necessary in my line of work,” I told her, providing the same kind of harsh glare she was giving to me.

She took a single step closer, her chest rising and falling, which unfortunately drew my attention to her perky nipples all overagain. My mouth watered at the thought of sucking on one then the other. “You have no right to delve into my private life. None. What the fuck do you think I am, Francois, some chick paid off by the bad guy to hurt you or something? Oh, let me guess. You think I was an accomplice to my roommate’s and one of my best friends’ slaughter. Is that it? Or maybe it’s the other way around and she made certain I was being stalked before offering herself up as a sacrifice to the monster. Let me allow you in on the great big secret. I made that money sweating and freezing my ass off. And yes, dear old Daddy taught me about investments early, something I learned unlike the gold-digging mother I have. Right?”

She was daring me to respond while allowing me to realize she’d heard every word I’d said.

“Eavesdropping doesn’t look good on you, sweetheart. You might learn things you don’t really want to hear.” I took another swig of my drink, pushing the envelope with her.

“Secrets to hide? Maybe you’re right. I’m a closet Chunky Monkey ice cream eater. Yep. A spoon in the carton and I consume half of it in one sitting. What about you?” she threw out at me. “Oh, let me guess. You’ve killed so many men you lost count.”

“You went to a kink club, baby girl. Does that mean you enjoy pain, a powerful man?”

“Are you offering?”

“Maybe that’s exactly what you need.” She had a way of unnerving me to the point I was reacting in an entirely different way than I usually did, coming close to losing my cool around her. That surprised me as much as anything else.

She sucked in her breath, narrowing her eyes. Then she reacted without hesitation, taking a single long stride in my direction, cracking her palm across my face. “As I said, you motherfucking asshole. How. Dare. You. I’m not going to take this bullshit. Fuck you.”

“You already did that, sweetheart. From my vantage point, you sought me out. I’m curious as to why? You knew who I was.”

The flush creeping across her clenched jaw meant I was right. “You didn’t seem to mind.”

“No, you’re right. But it would never have occurred if I’d known who you were.”

“I don’t believe you. As far as how much money I have. If you think I earned the money by selling my body, you’d be right, but not in the way you’re thinking.”

“I’m not thinking anything but that you’re a savvy businesswoman.”

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