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At the same time Della says, “I wouldn’t bother if I were you. He has some members’ club thing on Fridays. It’s why I thought I’d be safe to come back today.”
I sit up. “Private members’ club?”
Kylian growls. “What the fuck does that have to do with—”
“Potentially nothing,” I interrupt, reaching for my phone. “Potentially everything. Stay quiet for a second. I need to check something.”
Kylian is still glaring as I scroll through the numbers in my cell phone, locate the one I need, and press dial.
A man with a cultured tone answers on the third ring. “Wentworth Residence, how may I help you?”
“I was hoping to speak with Byron about an important business matter,” I say.
Rune raises a blond brow while Kylian and Della scowl, probably thinking I’m wasting my time.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Wentworth is not at home. Would you like to leave a message?”
“No.” I hang up and, placing my cell phone on the desk, I turn to Della. “What do you know of this private members’ club?”
Kylian drops into the seat beside mine. “Cian, that has nothing to do with—”
“Lawrence couldn’t have been the one to sell Everleigh, which means his father must have. Both are out on a Friday evening. And alphas in the city are preying on omegas. Put all those things together, and it makes me wonder whether it isn’t only the Wentworths involved.”
“He might be at home and just doesn’t want to speak to you,” Della says, glancing at my cell phone
“He could,” I agree, “but that number I called goes right to his personal secretary. Few people in the city have it. Byron would have spoken to me, if only to find out who I was and what I wanted.”
The benefit of owning a billion-dollar company. You get private numbers from people who rarely give their numbers out. Mostly, soyoucan dothema favor rather than the reverse.
“You think this private club could be a mask for something more depraved,” Rune says slowly.
“It could be,” I say. “It might not be, but it’s a start. We know Lawrence isn’t at home. Now we know his father isn’t either. Who else isn’t at home on a Friday evening?”
Kylian’s frown returns. “I hope you’re not suggesting we spend the rest of the day calling rich alphas in the city?”
“Wait, what do you mean alphas in the city are preying on omegas?” Della straightens.
I meet Della’s eyes. “Everleigh was raised by a beta woman who used suppressants to delay Everleigh’s perfuming until Lawrence returned from his European vacation. No sooner he’s back in the city than he’s collecting a newly perfumed omega from the woman who owns a house outright she shouldn’t be able to afford.”
I turn to look at them one by one.
“Everleigh came from somewhere before someone gave her to Anna Jackson to raise. Whatever is going on here sounds like a trading ring, and it makes me wonder how many other families are involved,” I conclude. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
Kylian curses.
I focus on Della. “Do you know the name of this club Lawrence goes to?”
Della shakes her head. “He never said, or at least, none of the other staff overheard anything. I thought they must be the sort of stale, musty, rich bitch members’ clubs all the families go to.”
I lean toward her. “What did you say?”
She leans away, her gaze turning wary. “Uh, just that he belonged to—”
“The sort of stale, musty, rich bitch members’ clubs all the families go to,” I repeat. “That’s what you said.”
I turn to Rune. He’s staring at me, and he’s looking alert. He’s seen—or guessed—that I’ve just figured out something important. And I think I have. Something that might tell us where Everleigh is or how we might track her.
“What do you need?” he asks.
