A Real Bad Boy(5)

"I'm so sorry to hear that." I cleared my throat.

"Thank you. They haven't been looking for investors until now, so I  thought it would be worth it. But the part of town it is in can get  seedy at night and I figured-" It felt like an excuse. Even as he said  it it felt like he was looking for a reason to justify my need.

He didn't need to do that. I was there because he paid me. It was as simple as that.

"That you needed me instead of one of the other bodyguards I have  assigned to you?" I asked. He might've been quick on the draw, but I was  quicker. He wanted me for a specific reason.

"Something about you tells me I can trust you, Zach. I don't know if  it's the way you look at everything, or if it's the fact that you  haven't once lied to me, but I want to keep a man by me that I trust.  Especially when I go into these situations." He had a point.

"That's exactly what I agreed to do," I admitted. "We taking this car?" I asked as I pointed to it and started walking.

"Yes."

The drive was quiet, quick, and before I knew it, we really were in the  seedy part of town. A club near Georgia State, a perfect place to  attract college kids, but it bordered on a dangerous neighborhood. The  kind I wouldn't frequent myself. I understood the need. There was too  much at stake.

"This the place?" I said as I looked up at Black Cat. The music spilled  out into the street and the neon red lights lit up the space around it. I  could only imagine the clientele to be college-aged and completely  naive.

"Yeah," he said as he got out of the car. It was like his entire  demeanor changed. The smooth talking Leo faded away and a new, harder  version came out. I could tell by the look in his eyes that this was  more than just acquiring a business. There had to be some other reason  he wanted this night club.

But it wasn't my place to question. It wasn't my place to make insights.  I was just there as protection. Muscle. I had to let it go.

That was always the thing that got me in trouble-my own mind. It was  what made me a good leader, but it fucked up the good soldier part. I  analyzed everything; I saw it, chewed on it, and figured it out. I asked  questions. It could certainly make life difficult.

I followed him past the line of people and into the club, the music and  lights even more intense inside. It was the kind of place that felt  repulsive to me, but I could see why a man like him would enjoy it. The  club scene had tiers and he and his fiancée would've been in the top  tier, away from the crowds and noise unless they wanted to engage in it.  He made a beeline for that area now, and I kept myself close. I didn't  expect anything to happen, but he called me specifically, so there  must've been some threat level.

Once we were behind a wall of glass that dimmed the lights and muffled the music, I let out a breath.

"I know how you feel. I never much cared for it myself," Leo said. "But it's full, which is a sign of good profit."

"Leo Chance." A young man walked up to him and reached out his hand. The  guy had to have been under thirty, just by looking at him. "I'm so glad  you could make it."

"Tommy, good to see you, man. When I found out that you were looking for  a partner, I couldn't help myself. I've been interested in this place  for a while. You know that."                       
       
           



       

"I do. Why don't we head up into my office and I'll pour you and your friend here a drink."

"This is Mr. Murdock, head of my personal security. Zach, this is Tommy  Carrington, one of the youngest entrepreneurs in Atlanta."

"Nice to meet you. Bourbon or Scotch?" Tommy asked.

"Scotch."

"Now there is a good man." He winked at me. "Leo?"

"Same."

We followed him in through a series of hallways until we were in his office.

"I won't lie, Leo. I put the word out hoping it would get your attention," Tommy admitted.

"Oh?" Leo asked. He seemed unsurprised.

"I've been wanting to discuss this with you for some time. There was no  right time to look for investors until now, but with the club looking to  expand, we could use some extra backing."

"I'll need my accountant to go over the numbers, but I think there is  good possibility here. Hope loved this place. Said it was one of the few  places that she felt safe in when she was in college, and the level of  care and attention to detail is apparent."

Tommy nodded. "Hope was a good woman. I was sorry to hear about her  death. You never expect something like that to happen, you know? Murder.  It makes no sense." He shook his head. "Did they ever find who did it?"

"No." Leo's lips clamped shut and he glared at Tommy, then away.

I had no idea she was murdered.

"Not even a lead?" I asked.

"Nothing. Said she was gunned down off campus. Coming home from this club. That's all I know." He looked angry.

"And you are sure you want to invest?" I prodded. This could get messy.

"This is one of the only places she enjoyed, and she was closer to  campus than she was here, so if anyone's security is to blame, it is  theirs." He was still angry and that was understandable, but he was  controlled.

"We've gone over this, Leo," Tommy sighed. "It's tough, and I wish I could've done anything to change it."

"We've said enough. Do you have the figures?" The discussion was closed.

"I do. I'll have them sent over first thing tomorrow. Now, can I  interest the two of you in joining our VIP room? We have a lot of high  class clientele who would love the chance to talk with Leo Chance."

"Not tonight, but once I look over the numbers and make my offer," Leo said.

He then stood. Thank you, we'll be heading out now."

He couldn't get out of there soon enough.

"What was that about?" I asked as soon as he got into the car.

"Someone murdered my Hope and I think it had something to do with the club."

"So you want to buy into it?" I asked. It didn't seem like a smart move  to me, but I wasn't the one grieving over my fiancée's death.

"I've been looking into it for over a year. I know someone in that inner  circle had something to do with it, but I have no idea who or why. I  want to get to the bottom of it. It's important to me. And I need your  help."

"That's what I'm here for."

Now this was starting to get interesting.





Chapter Four



Willow



I grinned up at my bookshelf. It was full and even looked like a real  professor's bookshelf. I'd seen enough of them in graduate school and  undergrad to know. I wanted to make sure I looked well read, that I was  somewhat impressive to these kids, even if only on a superficial level. I  wanted to give every impression that I knew what I was doing.

Even if I was only faking it. Twenty-six and a professor, it wasn't what  I imagined with my life, but I was glad it turned out this way.

I was glad I had the courage to walk away and start over.

I looked at the boxes at my feet. That was just the books. I needed to  make sure all the replicas and paintings I had went up as well.

I was going to be here for hours. I let out a long sigh and opened the box.

"I don't envy you," a deep voice said, and I turned quickly to face him.  My breath hitched when I saw him. It was Zach and he was staring down  at me. "It looks like you have a lot of work to do still."

A little part of me melted; a bigger part of me wanted to kick his ass  out of my office. He shouldn't have been there. It had been almost a  week since I last saw him. It was my place of work. He was stepping over  the line and he knew it. We both knew it.

"I do," I said as I pulled a vase out of the box and set it on my desk.  He left me in the middle of the party after dragging me away. After  kissing me and reminding me of all the things I was trying to forget. I  kept tightlipped as I looked at him, sure that my irritation was  obvious.                       
       
           



       

"I'm sorry I had to skip out the other night. It was an inopportune  moment," he said as he reached out for me and pulled me into him.

"So, are you leaving? The country, I mean. I hear you do that a lot." I  heard a lot of things at the party about him after he left. That he  worked as some kind of mercenary, that he was always in and out of the  country. That he was dangerous.

"I do leave often, but not this time. Got a gig in town. Thought I might  drop by and let you know that I'm going to be sticking around." He  grinned at me then dipped down his head to kiss me, but I pushed him  away. I wasn't going to get caught up in him. Not again. That was a  major mistake and I knew it.