Her Trust : A Dark Syndicate Romance, page 3
I follow behind him as we walk back into the club. I would put Stuart in his early to mid-fifties, although his dark hair has yet to show any grey. He keeps it cut short at the side but slightly longer on top like a hardened military man in a gritty movie. He’s tall but I still have a couple inches on him, and it’s clear from his build that he works out. Following behind him, I see the gun in the waistband of his jeans, no attempt made to conceal it.
“I don’t think she likes me,” I say, trying to make conversation.
His smile is amused. “Don’t take it personally, lad. She doesn’t like anyone.”
I snort. “Quit with the lad shit. I’m nearly forty years old, hardly a lad.”
“Everyone is lad or lass to me, saves me having to learn names. Get used to it, I willnae be changing.”
“Even the boss? She’s lass to you?”
He stops walking and eyes me curiously. “I’ve known Annika since she was wee, I’ve been with her since she took over from her father, and not everyone was too pleased about a woman sitting in his seat. She’s done amazing things and I’ve been at her side for all of it. We respect each other. That means I can call her lass, Anni, or anything else. And she fires me a couple of times a week, but we still respect each other and I’m still here. I’ve earnt the relationship I have with her and it dinnae come easy. If I can give you any advice, it’s this. She won’t trust ye, assume she never will. But Annika Wolfe is the finest woman on this earth, aside from my dear wife, of course, and you want to earn her trust. You want to do good by her because if you do, she’ll do good by you. I put my neck out for you, lad. There’s no way I’d have put a fucking cop in for a job with her, but I saw something in ye and I think you’ll be a good fit here. If you fuck it up, you’ll be putting my position on the line, too, and then we’ll have real problems, ye ken?”
“Is that a threat?”
“Aye,” he says without malice or hesitation.
“I’ll bear that in mind.” I lift my chin even as I worry that I’m in over my head. He nods once and resumes walking down the hallway.
Wolfe’s office must be sound proofed as it had been perfectly silent inside but in the darkened hall, the thumping bass of the club pulses through the corridor. It grows louder and louder as we approach the main floor and through a heavy black curtain to emerge into the purplish-blue light of the club. The music isn’t too loud, but the bass is uncomfortably cranked up. On several raised platforms, girls dance around polished silver poles wearing nothing but sparkling panties and huge platform heels. Customers sit at small round tables watching the show, some have girls on their laps, some are receiving lap dances, and across the room I see a girl leading a suited man through an identical curtain to the one we’ve just come through.
Stuart takes me on a tour, introducing me to everyone we see, proving he is full of shit. The man knows everybody’s names. He’s friendly with them all, asks about people’s families, hobbies, or health and they all greet him as a friend. We’re at the bar, grabbing a drink (sodas as Stuart is very clear in his instruction not to drink while on the job) when he turns to me.
“We’ll need to fill out some paperwork, I’ll need all your details and everything to get ye on the books.”
I can’t help the little huff of a laugh that escapes me.
“What?” he asks.
“It’s just all so…official,” I wave my hand around as I search for the right word.
He raises a quizzical brow at me. “It is official. What, you think we’re all handed cash under a table when there’s some available for us? Annika Wolfe is one of the wealthiest people in the city. She owns several profitable and prestigious businesses in the Capital and employs over a thousand people.”
I feel a little stupid because, yes, I had thought exactly that. That we would be working in some seedy hovel. Admittedly we are in a strip club, I’m sure some would consider that seedy, but I’ve been to several strip clubs in my lifetime and I can confidently say, this is the nicest one. It’s clean and expensive looking, the girls are all immaculate and stunningly beautiful.
“Yeah, I guess I didn’t know what to expect. Sorry, man, I’m a bit nervous if I’m honest,” I say, playing my part.
“Aye?”
“When I was fired from the force, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t get another job and I’m really fucking grateful to have this one. But I feel like an ex-cop isn’t going to be too well received, you know?”
His face softens slightly, and he offers me half a smile. “Aye, you might find some are surprised to learn about your past but the boss’ word is final. If she says you’re on the team, you’re on the team. Everyone will get on board.” He claps me on the shoulder before giving it a squeeze.
I nod and sip my fizzy water. I hate fizzy water. “So, what details do you need from me?”
“Just the usual; contact details, emergency contact, home address, bank details…”
“I can give you my current address, but I won’t have one as of next week.”
He looks at me questioningly.
I shrug. “I had to give up my place since I lost my job and couldn’t guarantee I’d have rent money until I had another job.”
“You didn’t have savings?”
“Believe it or not, the force doesn’t pay overly well,” I chuckle, and he smiles.
“That won’t be a problem here. In the meantime…” He looks over to the barman, “Hey, Den. C’mere.” The young bartender heads over with a smile. “Ye got room at your place?”
I feel my cheeks flush. Is Stuart trying to get me to intrude into some poor unsuspecting bartender’s home? “Oh, you know, that’s really not necessary.” I try to protest.
“It’s a company property, Annika keeps some available for staff to use if needed.”
“Yeah,” Den sighs. “Pipe burst at my place and six flats were affected, we all had to find somewhere else for six whole fucking weeks while the building management company fixes it. If we didn’t have the use of the company properties, I’d be stuck in some crappy hotel.”
I frown and look to Stuart. “She just keeps properties empty in case someone might need them?”
He chuckles. “They’re rarely empty. I just happened to have caught the end of a discussion and heard that the guy who was in the other bedroom in Den’s temporary place has recently moved out. You can take his room.”
Den smiles kindly with a nod. It seems too good to be true. My scepticism must show on my face because Den tries to reassure me. “It’s a nice place with two ensuites so you don’t have to share a bathroom. It’s just five minutes away too, so you’ll be close to work.”
I blow out a breath and figure I might as well go all in. “That would be great, thanks.”
“Great.” Stuart beams. “I’ll get Diamond to arrange it.”
“Diamond?”
“Ah, I’ve not introduced you to Diamond yet, she’s Annika’s assistant.”
“And her name is Diamond?” That cannot be an actual name.
“Her name is Dianne, and some might tell you that she’s called Diamond because that was her stage name when she worked here. But let me set you straight; she’s called Diamond because she’s hard as fuck.”
I don’t have time to respond to that when a sweet feminine voice calls out to me. “Javier?”
I swivel round to find a familiar brunette strutting toward me with her chemically enhanced lips stretched into an enthusiastic smile. My nameless hook-up from last night approaches wearing a bejewelled bikini and pink rhinestone encrusted platform heels. I blink, gormless and panicking slightly. Immediately, I start running through our interaction and wonder what I told her. I shouldn’t worry, I never give women any more information than is necessary.
“Uh…hi,” I stutter and she laughs.
“Ye know each other?” Stuart gestures between us and I find myself trying to come up with an answer, but she answers for me with a shrug.
“We fucked.” She turns to the bartender, completely unbothered by my presence. “Denny, can you do me a whiskey sour for table three, please?”
“Sure, you want me to bring it over?”
She leans on the bar, sticking her arse out and squeezing her fake tits together. “Nah, he likes it when I serve him,” she purrs with a wink.
Den laughs and gets to making the concoction.
“What an incredible waste of whisky,” Stuart mumbles next to me. “So, you two date or was it more a friends with benefits type situation?” he asks Nameless over my head and I panic again.
She laughs lyrically. “Aw Stu, you’re cute. We only met last night!”
The Scot shakes his head and grunts. “I don’t get you young people.”
“We can’t all meet the loves of our lives at fifteen and marry them right out of school.” Her face falls serious. “How is Lorraine?”
He nods. “Doing okay.”
“Will you be here tomorrow? I’ll bake some cookies for you to take home for her.”
“She’d love that. You know I love your cookies.” He smacks his lips as though he can already taste them.
“They’re not for you, Stu!” She slaps his arm, but her smile is wide. It’s bizarre to witness this whole exchange when she’s in a thong and bra.
She turns her attention to me. “So, you’re the new bodyguard?”
I nod.
She leans in to talk just to me. “You want to know my name yet?”
I glare at her as she takes obvious enjoyment from my discomfort.
“Candy,” Den places a tumbler down in front of her. “One whisky sour for your friend at table three.”
“Candy?” I ask her quietly with a quizzical brow.
“That’s right, gorgeous. And it’s not even a stage name. I gotta go work it, but if you ever need a proper induction, feel free to come look for me.” She smirks as she walks away, heading to an older guy in an ill-fitting suit who pulls her onto his waiting lap as she places his drink down.
I watch her laugh and trail her nails under his open collar as he grips her bare waist. She looks like she is having as much of a good time as he is, but I wonder how much of that is an act. I can’t claim to have any particular feelings for Candy but still, seeing her be groped and gawked at for a living irks me. Looking at the girls around the room, I wonder how they all ended up here.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Stuart says.
“Nothing interesting.” I shrug.
“There’s no room for jealousy here, lad,” he says jerking his chin toward Candy as her head is thrown back on a laugh.
I can’t help but chuckle. “I’m not jealous. I didn’t even know her name until now. Don’t worry about me, I won’t be getting possessive over sweet Candy any time soon.”
He nods with a grunt but still seems perplexed by the concept of casual sex with a stranger. I’m not lying but I still decide here and now that I will not be indulging during my time as an honorary Talon. I’m going to have to keep my wits about me and definitely not let my dick rule my brain, which will be difficult working from a strip club. Temptation is all around.
A flash of colour from the far corner of the room draws my attention. Annika stands tall with her hands in her pockets, surveying her domain like a Queen. Her eyes graze over the patrons before landing on me, narrowing a fraction. I notice for the first time that her lips naturally turn down slightly giving her a resting sad look, if it wasn’t for the hard calculation in her eyes, that is. She doesn’t hold my stare, looking back to her customers with a hard set to her jaw, but I can’t take my eyes off her. That’s why I notice the moment she sees something that captures her attention. She glares in the direction of the table Candy is at then starts making her way over. I don’t know her well, but I’d say by the fire in her expression that she isn’t going for a friendly chat.
Because I want to hear the conversation, all in the name of recon, I elbow Stuart from where he was talking to Den. “Is that something we should be involved in?”
He looks to where Annika is striding over to the table, her eyes set on a young guy in jeans and a t-shirt. “Shit,” he curses under his breath and starts following her, so I follow him.
We reach the table just as Annika does and I’m half expecting her to berate the guy she’s scowling at for not following the dress code as he’s the only one not wearing a suit, but she reaches over and snatches something from his hand.
“Hey!” The guy stands, trying to take his phone back. “That’s mine, give it back, bitch.”
She doesn’t move to hand it back and she doesn’t react to his hissing beyond looking down her slender nose at him. When he goes to swipe the phone from her again my reflexes jump, reaching for his shoulder and squeezing his collarbone enough to halt his movements and for him to wince. Annika takes the opportunity to grab the man’s hand and press his thumb to the screen before he even understands what’s happening. The screen lights up to show it on camera mode.
“Any recording or photography in my club is strictly prohibited,” she speaks with the same steady calm as she had in her office.
The guy in my grip just sneers at her. “Oh, my bad.”
She gives him a calculating once over, something darkening in her glare.
“I’ll take my phone back now,” he grinds out through gritted teeth.
Annika flicks her wrist, passing the phone to Stuart over her shoulder. “Destroy this.”
“You can’t take my fucking phone!” The guy jerks in my hold but I just tighten my grip and keep him at least an arm’s length from Annika. Because she’s my boss. Not because the way he’s looking at her, face red with anger and lips turned down in disgust and definitely ready to attack if Stuart and I weren’t flanking her.
“I think you’ll find I already have,” she says with an air of boredom. “My question is, why are you here?”
“Booze and titties. Why are you here?” He doesn’t try to take a step closer, but he cranes his neck until the veins bulge, trying to get in her face. This arsehole is pissing me off. I’m about ready to literally kick him out the door, but my new boss isn’t put off by his aggression. She steps forward so she is only a couple of inches from him, I squeeze him again in warning until his knee buckles slightly in his attempt to escape me.
“You know exactly why I’m here. You know exactly who I am. There are rules in this city, Kukri, and penalties for breaking them. You’re either overly bold, or overly stupid.”
I’m a little confused. She called him Kukri, as in the Kukris, another crime syndicate that predominantly operates in the Southeast of the city. I don’t know what the rules are that she’s referring to and I find myself curious.
When the Kukri says nothing more, she continues. “I think we should have a chat in private. Stuart will take you to a waiting room where you will wait until I am ready to see you.”
Without further prompt, Stuart grabs the man’s upper arm, yanking him towards the back office. It seems like he’s going to fight for a moment but without a care in the world for the other patrons seeing him, Stuart pulls his gun and pokes into the small of the other man’s back.
As they walk away, Annika turns to me, her expression unreadable. “Be ready to leave in fifteen minutes, you’ll need to familiarise yourself with my home too.”
Then she’s gone.
4
ANNIKA
Isit in the back of the car from the club to my home. I always do but today it’s because Javier takes the front passenger seat. I don’t speak. Again, that is nothing new, I’m not much of a chatter. Javier doesn’t make small talk either, looking out of the window as we make the short journey. We pull up to the gate and the guard at the security hut dips to glance in the car, his eyes snagging on Javier for only a moment before he nods at Stuart and opens the cast iron gate to let us through.
It's dark, nearly midnight, but the house still looks impressive, lit up from the outside with warm uplighting from floodlights hidden behind the evergreens framing the columned entry way. I’ve never felt anything for this house, it was my father’s, so it became mine. I have no happy memories or sentimental passion for the property. It’s aesthetically pleasing, I suppose. White façade with black tiled roof and black framed windows, simple topiary of spherical bushes along the width of the house, and rose bushes surround the circular driveway. I’ve never given it much thought before, but now I find myself wondering what impression of me the house gives.
The gravel crunches under the tyres and the mechanical whirring of the garage door seems louder than normal somehow. As soon as we pull to a stop, I’m out of the car and heading to the house through the internal door. Not wanting to wade in whatever is making me feel awkward and uncomfortable anymore. The house is lit lowly, never completely dark, so I make my way to the kitchen and have finished a glass of water before Stuart and Harvey walk in.
“I know it’s late, but you officially work twenty-four hours a day now.” Stuart’s talking as he walks in and helps himself to one of the sickly energy drinks he keeps in my fridge. “I’ll show you around the house and take you home, then rest up as she’ll expect you here early tomorrow.”
“Please, do talk about me as though I’m not here,” I grumble, my back to them as I put my glass by the sink. Turning back to Stuart I say, “You go home. I’ll show Harvey around and send him home in a cab.”
Both men look surprised by my order. I’m slightly startled myself.
I soften my tone slightly as I continue. “Get home to your wife, I am fully capable of doing a tour of my own house.”
Stuart crosses his thick arms over his chest, his lips twitching in amusement. “Where’s the cleaning closet?”
I blink at him. I have a cleaning closet? “Why would Harvey need to know that?”
“When he wants to join Lee and I in throwing a ball around and ends up having to sweep up the remains of a very expensive looking vase before you find out.” His face is straight, and I can’t tell if he’s joking or not. I have no attachment to anything in the communal areas of this house, I probably wouldn’t notice if they had broken something.
