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“Another drink, sir?” the lover asked, his tone stiff and chilly.
“No,” Collin told him without softening the rejection. “That will be all. Don’t disturb us again.”
It might have been kinder to slap him. As it was, the lover boy offered no reaction at all before he inclined his head and withdrew. The same could not be said for Collin. He made such a point ofnottracking him with his gaze it screamed for the effort.
“Savannah Acres,” Collin continued abruptly. “He has a house there. Another on Tortola. He used to have a place on St. John, but he doesn’t return to any U.S. territories.”
I nodded. “Anything else?”
“His wife.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“She’s filed for divorce.”
Ah.
“Another reason to relocate his assets.”
“She knows his codes—I can reach out to her.”
“No.” If she was getting out. Let her get out. If Voss didn’t cooperate, she’d be a widow and have all the assets regardless. “I’ll take care of it.”
Collin said nothing, his moody gaze on his food and finally he began to cut into the steak. The arrival of the Reeds kept me in the club longer than I planned, but I kept a mental tally of who they engaged with and who they avoided. Loverboy lingered near the dining room.
Maybe he could be discreet, not that there was any evidence of it in his current behavior. “Do you need me to deal with him?”
“I will handle it.” For the first time since I noticed the issue with his lover, Collin’s tone took a distinctly unfriendly note. “Thank you.”
I nodded. “If that changes, let me know.” Otherwise, I would stay out of it. Meal finished, I rose and took care of paying for it. Collin glared, but I ignored him. This counted as a business meal. The path Collin took across the club to leave shouldered the attention. I skipped the dog and pony show, following a waitress out through a staff entrance then strolling down the hall.
The manager’s office was open so I settled at his desk and did a quick scan of the staff for the day, then found Loverboy’s name. His address didn’t take much longer. The gardeners who were having a coffee and a smoke near the staff gazebo paused at my approach.
Only Duerte took off his hat when I held out the hundred dollar bill. “Obrigado, Mr. Cavendish.”
I lifted my chin and continued toward the staff parking lot. The car I’d driven to the club wouldn’t have been allowed in the valet. As it was, the only reason they hadn’t removed it from the staff lot was Duerte’s employee badge in the window.
He had a truck he preferred to drive, but he was also content to walk to work. I’d asked for his spot today. He provided. I shed the jacket and tie before I climbed into the driver’s side.
Ninety minutes and a change of clothes later, I let myself into Loverboy’s apartment. Fifteenth floor, the elevator was old and the security was pathetic. The place itself was clean, understated, and he was definitely not living beyond his means. A couple of expensive presents sat in his top drawer next to the bed.
Diamond cufflinks were not this man’s style. Collin needed to choose better gifts. Then again, they were being kept and not sold on an auction site. So maybe he appreciated them even if he couldn’t wear them. I spent the rest of the day waiting.
Loverboy arrived home just after seven. The slam of the door echoed through the place. There was a measured, and controlled, agitation to his movements. He put up groceries, stalked into the bedroom, showered and changed. When he exited, he was dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt.
Settling in for the night.
He was also not alone.
The person who followed him, came in while he showered. That one just waited until Loverboy took a seat on the sofa. In the dark of the apartment, Loverboy didn’t move or say anything. He just stared down at his phone.
If not for the soft, almost inaudible gasp of tears, I would have wondered if he was just waiting for the assassin. Another painful sniff, this one far more agonized. Finally, he put his phone to his ear.
“I don’t know…what I did.” The man’s words were uneven, but he was fighting for control and showing a great deal more of it than he had at the club. “I know I spoke out of turn. I didn’t realize he was your cousin and I was being an ass.” He cleared his throat. “Just… maybe give us another chance? I will be better. I promise.”
The silence elongated.
Then… “I miss you.”
