Page 67 of Heart of Stone (Dark Billionaires)

Saffron narrowed her eyes. “You’re disgusting.”

Rhys’s arm slid across the back of the sofa, precariously close to Saffron’s neck. “I’m just an admirer of the female form, Saf.”

Saffron’s expression indicated that she couldn’t have been more disgusted if a pile of shit had been flung at her face. “Do you not have your own home to fester in? It’s been a fortnight since the party and you’re still hanging around like a wet fart.”

“It’ll be lonely there without you.”

“And yet strangely enough, I prefer it here.”

“What did she say?” Kate asked Brax eagerly, cutting over Rhys and Saf’s snipes. “Is she okay?”

“She doesn’t say. Her text was simply an address followed by her name. And it’s not the same address as the brothel in which she was working that night. What did you say to her?”

“Oh,” Kate stalled, thinking back to their conversation in Warren’s car. “I can’t remember exactly.” All shecouldremember was her dress hanging off her, baring her arse to the arse end of London. “I presume I asked her if she’d seen Graves. Or if she knew of anyone who had.”

“So the address could conceivably be Graves’s location?” Saffron joined in.

Brax honed in on her. “You were imprisoned in his properties for years. Would you recognise the address?”

Saffron shook her head. “I never knew the addresses of where we were. We travelled in the back of a windowless van. I’d probably know it from the outside, but Graves never used a location for long, and they all started to look the same after a while.”

“So if he’s there…”

“He won’t be there for long.” Saf looked round at Kate for support. “But my sister worked belowdecks, Graves called it. In the laundry room or kitchen. It’s where I worked until I aged out.” She chewed her lip. “My sister could be there, Kate.”

Kate nodded eagerly. “Then it’s worth checking out, Brax. Right?”

“You met this woman for all of five minutes, Kate. And she’s a prostitute.”

“So was I!” Saf stated, her voice thick with outrage. “Half of Graves’s girls are working off debts and half are hooked on the drugs he supplies. None are there by fucking choice, Braxton! And just because a woman is a prostitute doesn’t mean she’s suddenly worthless. We’re still people.”

Brax’s hands rested on his hips, he took a deep breath, but—

“They’re right, Brax,” Rhys laid his hand across Saffron’s arm, sending a comforting smile her way. “Send a drone in first. There’s no need to go in guns blazing. Speak to Warren. He’ll agree with me, I’m sure. You’re a father, Brax. Imagine if it was your little girl in the hands of Graves. What would you be doing right now?”

Brax’s glare shrivelled Kate’s insides. “You know exactly what I’d be fucking doing.” He checked the phone again. “When’s Warren supposed to be back from Andover?”

“I’m not sure,” Kate said. “Not for a few hours at least.”

“How far away is this location?” Rhys queried.

“An hour.”

He nodded. “Then go and watch them for a while. Send out a drone or two first.”

“Aren’t they usually quite loud?” Kate asked. “One of the kids on the estate had a drone and everyone always knew when it went up.” Followed by several OAPs fear-mongering on social media about how it wasspying on them.

“Not the ones we have,” Brax replied, huffing a defeated breath down at his phone. “I’ve sent a message to Warren to get his approval.”

“Is mine not enough?” Rhys asked, his hands spread wide.

“No.”

Rhys touched his hand to his heart. “I thought we were friends. I’m truly offended, Brax.”

“I truly don’t give a shit.”

“Has he messaged you?” Saffron asked, her words muffled behind her hands.

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