Page 20 of Heart of Stone (Dark Billionaires)

She lifted her shoulders. “Not much. You’d been drinking and lost control of the car. You and him were the only ones to walk away.”

Walk away?Despite himself, he laughed. “Did he now? Funny that.”

“Why is that funny?”

“Because, kitten,” he began, pushing his chair back from the table and bending to undo his laces, “partof that story is true. The car hit a tree. Aaron died. But your father was driving the car, not me.”

“What?” Kate’s eyes were wide. “But the police…”

“The officer that was first on the scene accepted a bribe from your father. A man called William Graves. The bribe was some £50,000, if the statements from the Club are anything to go by. Your father took out a loan to cover it rather than go to prison.”

Kate’s eyes were fixed to his. “That was the loan that nearly bankrupted him. It sent our finances into freefall. He said it had been a big gambling win for one of his punters.”

“Just like he said Iwalkedaway from the accident.”

She looked at him questioningly, but he rolled up his trouser leg rather than explain it to her. A choked gasp left her as she went to her knees in front of him. Fabric tore somewhere in her dress, but she ignored it. “Your leg,” she cradled the prosthetic attached to what remained of his right leg. “Warren…”

“Your father drove drunk and killed his only son, leaving me a below-knee amputee, kitten.” Warren tried to ignore his body’s reaction to her kneeling at his feet in a tight lavender dress, the slits on her legs showing far too much. And somehow not nearly enough. “He bribed the police officer to say I was the one who was driving. I lost everything. My health. My future. My best friend. My kitten,” he stroked her cheek with a faint smile. “After I was released from prison, I started investigating your father. That was when I found out about the human trafficking.”

“I’m sorry, Warren.” Her eyes sparkled with tears as she stood.

“I’m not his only victim, kitten.” He pulled her up to stand between his spread thighs, their breath mingling. “I hate that he dragged you into this.”

“I worked for years to pay off the debt that put you in prison,” she choked. Her eyes were heavy with remembrance, taking on a glazed look. “Can I ask you something?”

He nodded. “Anything.”

“Did Aaron die instantly? Dad always said he did, but in light of…”

“He did,” Warren confirmed. “He was passed out before we hit the tree. He never woke up.” Aaron had been lying on the backseat, hurtling through the windscreen at the sudden impact.

Buzzing prompted him to take his phone out of his pocket. His heart jumped when he saw who was calling.

“Brax? Tell me you have something.”

Brax got straight to the point. “Charlton last saw Graves at a location in East London a month ago. I’ve texted you the location. Charlton reported that it was where he sourced some of the girls from.”

Sourced.He shared a disgusted look with Kate, who was near enough to hear Braxton’s every word.

“A brothel?”

“Seems to be,” Braxton replied.

“Was Graves running the brothel or was he merely a customer?” Warren put it on loudspeaker, opening up the address Braxton had sent.

“Neither. Apparently Graves takes a bribe from the brothel’s owner to ensure the police look the other way. Meaning he’s still got contacts in the Met.”

Warren’s brain whirred into action. “The frequency of the bribe being?”

“Charlton wasn’t sure. There was also a mention of a warehouse in Ruislip. He visited it on occasion.”

“I’m heading over to the brothel to investigate. I’ll take the security detail with me, but I want one of them stationed outside at all times. Hopefully Graves pays them another visit. Can you send some of Rhys’s back-up to check out the Ruislip warehouse?”

Brax ended the call with a brief, “Will do.”

Warren stood, taking Kate’s hand in his. “I’ll have one of the security team take you back to Rhys’s flat.”

The incredulous look she gave him was an immediate red flag. “No, you bloody well won’t. I’m coming with you.”

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