She shook her head. “We’ve never met. But I’ve heard of him.”
I didn’t like her cryptic tone. “Spit it out, Ash. What do you know?”
“You said Andrew owed Flynn three hundred thousand dollars. Did either of them tell you how he came to owe that kind of money?”
“No. Flynn just said that Andrew owed him the money. I assumed it was a bad investment or something.”
Ash tapped the rim of her wine glass, her face thoughtful. “I’m going to tell you something, but you have to promise me you won’t freak out, drop your wine, and spill it all over my couch.”
“You’re scaring me.”
She paused a moment and then, “Flynn Campbell runs an illegal casino and brothel.”
It felt like I’d been punched in the throat. “What? How do you know that?”
“It’s well known in my social circle. Jack’s been—to the casino, anyway. I have no idea about the brothel, and I don’t want to know.”
“Your brother?” I murmured. “Your brother has been to the casino?”
She nodded, looking wary as she watched me.
“So you’re saying my brother owes Flynn money because… Oh God. It has to be the casino, right?”
“I—”
“But, how?” I cut her off. “How can Flynn get away with a casino and a brothel?”
“I imagine he has a few dirty politicians and cops in his back pocket. I wouldn’t be surprised if the dirty politicians and cops have been to the casino and brothel. You know, like a gesture of goodwill.”
I threw back the rest of my wine and immediately refilled my glass. Probably not the smartest idea in the world, but I was having trouble coping.
“So, why did you follow through with it?” Ash went on.
“Huh?”
“Why did you let Andrew all but trade you like a baseball card? You gave up a job you loved for a brother who has treated you badly your entire life. Why? Why did you do it? And why aren’t you more irate about it?”
“I was irate. In the moment, I guess. I tried not to think too much about it. And I didn’t do it for Andrew,” I said. “I did it for Flynn. And for myself.”
“Explain.”
“Flynn and I have our own deal,” I said evasively. “I can’t get into it, but there’s nothing sexual about it. He didn’t exploit me. As for Andrew… I figured if I did this, bailed him out, then I wouldn’t feel bad about never giving him anything ever again, for not feeling bad that there’s this emotional distance between us. He may be my family, but he’s dead to me, Ash. He’s never loved me the way a brother should. And yet…”
“And yet you feel like you owe him something. For at least being there when your parents died.”
I shrugged. “I know it doesn’t make sense. But, yeah. If I got him out of this, I figured I could cut him out of my life and not feel guilty about it.”
“It makes sense. In a strange sort of way.”
I drank some more wine.
A brothel and a casino.
Holy shit!
Chapter 7
When I left Ash’s apartment a few hours later, I was still revved up—and a little tipsy. I wanted to speak to Flynn, but when I called his cell, it rolled to voicemail. In my hyper state of anger, I stomped all the way to The Rex Hotel.
