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“He could.” Bastian nodded in agreement. “But then he’d have to deal with those wanting to take business away from him. This way, they’re distracted.”
Garrick frowned. “Shit is always going to run in the underbelly of a city, I suppose.” It didn’t have to be that way, but Garrick was no optimist. Monsters came in every form. He was proof of it.
Bastian grabbed his phone from his suit jacket and scowled at the screen. “Fuck.”
“Something wrong?” Garrick got up from his desk to pour himself another drink.
“Message from home,” Bastian grumbled while tapping on his phone.
Garrick brought a second drink back to his desk for Bastian and placed it on the desk next to the computer screen. The security system flickered to life when he brushed the mousepad, and something on the footage of the bar caught his eye.
“I gotta make a call,” Bastian muttered and got up from the chair, walking toward the corner of the room.
“No problem.” Garrick picked up his desk phone and hit the button for the bar. On the screen, he watched Barnaby reach under the bar top and pick up the call.
“Yeah, boss?”
“Why is that girl here again?” Garrick all but growled as he enlarged the screen even further. The redhead from the other night was back at the bar, standing on her damn toes and looking around.
“Which girl?” Barnaby glanced around him. “There’s a few dozen within eyesight.”
“The redhead.” Garrick snapped. It wasn’t Barnaby’s fault, but that didn’t matter. If that girl was back looking for Ares again, he wasn’t sure he’d stop himself from doing something he had no right doing.
“Oh. You’re not gonna like it.” Barnaby looked up at the security camera with a shake of his head.
“Did you check the clubs downtown?” Bastian’s question came from the corner. “She couldn’t have gone far. Check the—hold on a second.”
“Did she ask for him by name?” Garrick asked, moving over slightly as Bastian leaned over his shoulder.
“She did,” Barnaby answered.
“Why the fuck is she here?” Bastian asked at the same time.
“Hold on.” Garrick turned toward Bastian. “You know her?” He tapped the screen where the redhead slowly brought her drink to her mouth as she continued to survey the area.
“Yes.” Bastian bought his phone back up to his ear. “Never mind. I know where she is. I’ll take care of it from here.”
“Barnaby, if she tries to leave, stop her.”
“You got it.” Barnaby gave a thumbs up to the camera and hung up the phone.
“You’ve met her?” Bastian asked, taking a step back.
“Yeah. The other night. How do you know her?” Garrick asked, surprised by the protectiveness that washed over him.
“That’s Ariella Trident. Henry’s youngest daughter.” Bastian stated, shaking his head. “She’s supposed to be at home. She’s supposed to meet her fiancé tomorrow for lunch.”
“Her fiancé?” Nope. That word did not settle well with Garrick. That girl had no business being anyone’s fiancé.
Bastian expanded. “Henry’s set on her marrying Chad Faulkins. She’s supposed to be meeting him for lunch tomorrow.”
“Does she know that?” Garrick grunted.
“No, Henry didn’t want her to find a way out of the meeting.”
Henry sounded as much of a controlling ass as his uncle had been. Samuel had always butted into everyone’s life, dictating how much of the business they were allowed to participate in or who they could do outside business with. And when it came to his son, Ash, he’d been an even bigger dick.
“If she’s marrying Chad Faulkins, why is she here trying to meet up with Ares Morgan?” Garrick jerked a thumb at the screen.
