Page 26 of Wild Escape

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

That gave me plenty of leeway.

Jack hustled across the parking lot and exchanged high-fives with the rockers. Daphne had drawn all eyes, and they were still staring at us in the Porsche, asking Jack questions.

I put the car in gear, pulled out of the parking lot, and headed up to Oyster Avenue.

"So where does Dane like to hang out?"

Daphne shrugged.

"Don't give me that. You hung out with the guy for years. You know exactly where he is. You're holding out on me.”

"I'm not holding out on you!"

"The two of you got busted for shoplifting when you were 19. You've been committing crimes with him for long enough to know a lot about the man.”

"I know he's an asshole.”

With the top down, the wind swirled, blowing her long, fiery hair. The amber sun angled toward the horizon, casting a warm glow on her flawless skin.

"I know a couple of places that Dane likes to go to unwind. I wouldn’t be surprised if he stops in and has a drink. You know, like comfort food.”

"Where?"

"Do me a favor, and I'll tell you.”

I gave her the side eye as I drove. "I've already done you a huge favor. Your ass would be sitting in a 6x8 right now if it wasn't for me. And you’re going right back there if you don't start making yourself useful."

"Honey, I can make myself plenty useful," she said in a sultry tone. “Not like you're ever going to find out.”

"My patience is running thin.”

"I'd like to see my mom. I haven't seen her in a while. It won't take long, 15 minutes. She's in the Serenity Shores nursing home. She's got nobody else. Nobody to come and visit her. I just want to check on her and make sure she's okay and that they're not abusing her in that place. You know how these people are. I’ve seen those videos of elderly people getting abused, and it's just sickening.”

I gave her a look. She knew how to tug at the heartstrings. "If you're lying to me, or you try anything funny, I swear to God you're going right back."

She raised her hands innocently. "Why would I screw this deal up?"

"Because $30 million is a lot of money.”

"What good is it if I'm on the run for the rest of my life?”

She had a point. But even with our deal, there was no guarantee she wouldn't do time. It was contingent upon the capture of Dane and Brock. If that didn't happen, she was out of luck.

I found a place to park on Oyster Avenue, helped Daphne out of the car, and escorted her to Forbidden Fruit. A flash of the badge got us inside without a cover. I was no stranger to this place, for professional reasons, of course.

Steamy music pumped, and spotlights slashed the foggy air. Delightful vixens pranced around on stage, spurring lustful desires. Fueled by testosterone and whiskey, men burned through their paychecks as delicious sirens teased and titillated.

I spotted Jacko, leaning against the bar. I escorted Daphne to him.

He was a classic New York kind of guy with dark hair, dark eyes, and a slick suit. He’d escaped the madness of the Big Apple and had been down here running the strip club for years.

With a handshake and a smile, he said, "What brings you in today?" His eyes didn't stay on me long, if at all. He drank in Daphne's form. She fit in around here. "And who is this? I could turn you into a star."

Daphne smirked. "I'm already a star."

In her own way, she was.