"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.