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I nod. “Actually—” I press my lips together, thinking. “I have an idea. If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to follow up on it and get back to you if it actually does have the potential I think it might.”
There’s a low muttering around the table—I know most of the men present aren’t going to be too keen on the idea of letting me go rogue with an idea without having run it by them first—but at the end of the day, Theo’s approval is all I really need. Anything else just keeps the peace a little better.
What I’m thinking is that the woman at the Ashen Rose might be able to tell me something.
Deep down, I know I’m looking for a reason to see her again. Business would be theonlyway I’d ever get in there, or be able to get any time with her. And deep down, I know with just as much certainty that it’s absolute insanity that I’m this hung up on a girl that I saw for just a part of a night, whose name I don’t know.
Hell, even if I went to see her at the club, I won’t know her real name. I know enough to know how that works.
But I remember Matvei walking away with her, and I know how men that arrogant work. He might have run his mouth in that room, bragging to her, assuming that none of it would get outside of the club. Maybe even assuming that she doesn’t like Nikolai, that she resents working for him. There’s no telling what might have been said in that room. And if I get a chance to talk to her, I might be able to get some information. Depending on how Matvei treated her, she might even be eager to give me something that could hurt him.
If shereallydoesn’t like him, I might be able to get her working for us. Sending men in to infiltrate the organization and keep an eye out is one thing—there’s information that can be gathered that way, things that can be picked up on, but it’s a slow and dangerous business.
Putting someone we can trust in his bed is a whole other matter.
I feel that sharp pang of jealousy again even as I think it, that burning coal of anger deep in my gut at the idea of his hands on her—any man that isn’t me, butespeciallyhim—and I push it down just as quickly. I don’t know what sort of spell this woman manages to cast over men to have me wanting to punch anyone who comes near her, but it’s absolutely ludicrous. I’m smarter than that, and if I’m going to pull this off, I need to behave like it.
If this works, I know Theo will be impressed.
“I trust your judgment, Finn,” Theo says, cutting off the grumbling around the table. “If you think this idea of yours has merit, then follow the lead and let me know if it plays out.”
I nod. “I appreciate the trust.” I do, more than I can express, especially here. “I’ll know pretty quickly if it’s going to play out the way I hope.”
When the meeting is over, following more discussion of Matvei’s movements around the city and some other business on the table, I wait for the Kings to leave before I glance at Nikolai, who is finishing up a conversation with Theo. “I’ve got a favor to ask, if you don’t mind,” I tell him, trying not to let the awkwardness of my request show in my tone.
Nikolai glances at me as Theo ends the call. “What is it?”
“I was at the Ashen Rose a few nights ago. I’ve got a friend who had one of those guest passes you hand out now and then.” I run a hand through my hair. It’s awkward asking for entry into a sex club, no matter what the reasoning is. “I was wondering—”
Nikolai smirks. “You want to get in again? I’m guessing you can’t afford a full membership.”
He doesn’t say it like he’s being an asshole, exactly—more just like he’s stating the obvious. I’m not offended—no one can afford a membership to that place unless they’re stupidly wealthy—but I do feel a little heat creeping up my neck as I nod. Part of me wants to just go ahead and say why it is that I want to stop in, but I bite it back.
Theo has put a hell of a lot of trust in me, having me watch his seat and run things while he’s in Dublin with Marika. I want to prove that I’m worthy of that trust, that he didn’t make a mistake. Chasing a dead-end instead of doing things the more conventional way isn’t, in my mind, a good way to earn that trust if it proves to be nothing. But if I’m right, and the woman will be able to help, he’ll be pleased. If I’m wrong, then it won’t matter, and I can let it go.
That means letting Nikolai continue to think I just want a night at the club to get laid, though.
“The girls are expensive.” Nikolai raises an eyebrow. “I’m not trying to insult you. Just letting you know that getting in doesn’t guarantee you a session with anyone. You’ll have to figure that out yourself. Or—” he shrugs. “Have a drink and enjoy the scenery, I suppose. Just don’t hassle the girls. Not that you would,” he adds. “But it bears saying.”
“Of course.” I wait for a moment, before he nods.
“I’ll give you a three-night pass,” he says finally. “Maybe it’ll help me earn back a little more of that goodwill with Theo, waiving the membership fee for you for a few nights. I’m sure you’ve earned it.” He gives me a grin and a wink, then gathers his things, leaving me alone in the meeting room.
It takes me a while to shrug off the embarrassment—the entire ride home, actually. I tell myself that it’s for work and that it doesn’t matter what Nikolai thinks as long as I’m successful in my mission. If this woman is able to help, it might even save some lives—we won’t have to send any of our men into a potentially dangerous situation to pretend to be a part of the organization.
I don’t have any plans for the night, so once I’m home, I get in the shower and decide to head over to the Ashen Rose after dinner.I should follow this lead as soon as possible,I tell myself as I get dressed.Nothing to do with being eager to see her.
I haven’t lied to myself this thoroughly in a while.
Truthfully, I spend more time getting ready to go out to the Ashen Rose than I should. I’ve never been the type to wear a suit anywhere except a wedding or a funeral—and the latter depends on who the funeral is for—so instead I put on dark jeans, a light grey t-shirt and throw on my leather jacket, running a handful of some powdered hair product that I rarely use through my hair, giving it some messy texture. I trim my beard so it’s short and neat, giving my appearance a thrice-over, and then shake my head at my reflection in the mirror.
“It’s not like you’re going out on a fucking date, you moron,” I growl at it, and then turn away, grabbing my keys off of the side table by the door as I head out.
The Ashen Rose is different from any other place I’ve been. There’s no line to get in, no crowd inside, no loud music spilling out onto the sidewalks. There are two huge bouncers at the front door who take my name, relaying it to someone inside, and then they nod.
“Go on in, Mr. O’Sullivan.”
I walk in through the heavy wooden door, down a wide hallway with a gleaming wooden floor, to the hostess-style desk at the end in front of a second set of double doors. It strongly resembles a hotel lobby and concierge desk. “Mr. O’Sullivan?” the pretty blonde woman behind it asks me, dressed in what looks more like business attire than lingerie, except for the lace bustier beneath her blazer. When I nod, she offers me a polite smile. “You have a three-night admission pass to the Ashen Rose. Please check in here each night that you choose to visit us. Your pass comes with two complimentary drinks, as always. If you wish to book a session with one of our girls, you can see me or Dana on the main floor.”
