I followed Romeo’s lead, trying to play my part as best I could without wanting to punch this careered criminal in the throat. I was going to be a buyer. And while the thought made me feel like I wanted to vomit up my dinner, it was the only way we might somehow be able to get some kind of information out of this fucking sociopath.

The club that Isiah owned had people lined up outside and down the block. It was obviously a popular place.

“Looks like he throws good parties,” I commented as we moved past the line, toward an alley at the side of the building.

“It’s not the parties people come here for,” Romeo commented quietly, keeping his eyes straight ahead. “It’s the cheap drugs and the girls.”

It was like his words went in my ears and turned to ice. The chill starting at the base of my neck and traveling all the way down my spine caused my body to shudder. I already didn’t like this fucking place, but Romeo, he was in his element. This was his playground, and I realized that the moment we stepped up to the back door of the building and the two guards who were there almost lost their jaws to the floor for a moment. They coughed and cleared their throat awkwardly, each of them looking at the other as if they would know what they should say.

Romeo just narrowed his eyes and folded his arms. “Can one of you dipshits get Isiah on the phone? I have some business to discuss with him.”

The biggest guy, who looked like he was the most in control quickly dug around in his pocket, pulling out his cell phone and hitting one single button before putting it to his ear. “Sir, I have Romeo here asking to see you.”

I tried not to shift nervously on my feet, trusting my little brother not to get us into a situation with one of the notoriously vile guys in the state. I knew what this bastard was capable of. We’d lost a brother because of him, and the dodgy fucking deals he was trying to make. I needed to keep a straight head, though, if I was going to help Romeo get the info he needed.

“He will see you now, follow me.”

I stepped forward behind Romeo, but before I could get through the doorway, a palm slammed against my chest. One of the guards was eyeing me with a sneer, obviously, now my brother had passed he’d found his balls.

Romeo spun around, his eyes flashing.

He opened his mouth to let them have it, but I quickly cut him off. “You better get your dirty fucking hand off me before I remove it from your body,” I threatened, not moving my head but just my eyes so I could see the bald-headed, ugly looking little shit.

I couldn’t let Romeo protect me. Because then I’d just look like a little bitch, not like a rich bastard looking to buy a house mouse.

Baldy suddenly looked a little nervous, like he wasn’t sure whether he should take me seriously or not. The fact I was with Romeo gave me instant street creds—I can’t say that my brother would hang out with guys who liked to just play golf and hang out at the country club.

“You got any weapons?” Baldy finally asked, withdrawing his hand from my chest.

I snorted. “You think I’m gonna walk in here unarmed with all you stupid fuckers trying to prove you’ve got bigger balls than the average bulldog?” I saw Romeo clench his jaw like he was either trying to stop himself from telling me to shut the fuck up or trying to hold back a laugh. When Baldy didn’t respond, just looked at me like he wasn’t sure if I was speaking English, I finally put him out of his misery. “Yes, I have a gun, dipshit. No, I’m not giving it to you.”

“I’ll vouch for him,” Romeo interrupted. “My friend here has a lot of enemies. I’m sure Isiah would hate to lose a sale just because he takes precautions to protect himself.”

I rolled my shoulders, all three guards continuing to observe me, scrutinizing me—the way I was dressed, the way I was holding myself, anything that might make them suspicious.

“Fine,” Baldy grated, finally stepping aside but keeping his eyes narrowed on me. “Kero will take you upstairs.”

I stepped inside the building behind Romeo. “You’re gonna fuck this up if you don’t keep your smart mouth to a minimum,” Romeo hissed under his breath as we followed some bodybuilding looking guy with tribal tattoos all up his arms and neck toward a private elevator.

The bassy music within the club vibrated through my body, the constant thud was enough to almost drive you fucking crazy. The sound was so low and so deep you could feel it right in your gut. And when there was no music over the top to disguise it, it became irritating and torturous.

“Don’t judge my character choices,” I whispered. “I figure men who buy women are up themselves jackasses with small cocks, so that’s what I’ll embody.”

“At least you don’t have to pretend with the small cock part.”

“I’m not opposed to telling Isiah I’m your gay lover,” I threatened with a growl, knowing Romeo would have to go along with whatever story I spouted.

He shook his head. “We’re gonna die, aren’t we?”

Mr. Tattoos held the elevator doors for us as we climbed inside, turning to face them as they closed, obviously not threatened by us given I could have shot him, or stabbed him, or anything by now.

When the doors finally dinged open again, I realized why. He stepped out, holding the door as at least five semi-automatic weapons were pointed directly at our heads, ready to watch them explode like fucking watermelons. My body tensed, but Romeo was the definition of ‘who gives a fuck.’

“Romeo,” a booming voice exclaimed.

Slowly the guns stepped backward.

There was a broad smile on Isiah’s face, and his arms were held open like he was welcoming home an old friend or a member of the family. With his dark hair slicked back and his perfectly pressed suit, he reminded me of one Angelo Moretti or one of Blizzard’s Old Lady Rose’s family—the Italian mafia.

I knew this guy wasn’t though. He didn’t have those connections. He was just a rich bastard who found joy in the pain of others. Especially by the sounds of it, women. I had to fight my natural instincts which wanted to walk right up to him and punch him in the fucking throat and then cut his dick off. Instead, I followed Romeo out of the elevator with my shoulders back, trying to act casual. As casual as you can be when you’ve entered the lion’s cage at feeding time.

“Isiah,” Romeo greeted, taking his hand in a strong and confident shake.

Isiah beamed down at my brother like he was a long, lost friend, which made me feel slightly uneasy.

How close were these two?

Was there something that Romeo wasn’t telling me?

Nerves started to swirl in my stomach, questions shooting around my head, and my muscles suddenly feeling like they were preparing to run.

No.

I needed to fucking trust him. This was his world, this was his home. He knew what he was doing. I’d grown to realize that with Romeo, it was all about putting on a mask and being whoever you needed to be to get through whatever situation you are in. I’d watched him so easily speak about killing Isiah with his bare hands on the way here, to smiling and greeting him like they played poker together once a week and traded stories about their underworld accomplishments. He chose to play a part, and that’s exactly what I needed to do myself.

I was here to help him find Eliza. I promised I’d do that, and me freaking out right now wouldn’t do either of us any fucking good.

“Isiah, this is my friend, Cooper,” Romeo spoke up, drawing my attention as he held his hand out indicating me.

I pushed my shoulder back and lifted my chin, stepping forward. “Heard a lot about you,” I noted, trying to act nonchalant.

His eyes moved over me.

We’d decided not to go with a suit, and stick with jeans and a button-down shirt. I felt more comfortable that way, and more like I could just be a badass version of myself rather than some stupid ass businessman.

“I heard you had a smart mouth with one of my guys downstairs,” Isiah noted, tilting his head slightly as if he was waiting to see if I would stand by what I said or drop my balls and apologize and try to suck up.

It was a test.

I knew it was and by the way Romeo’s finger was twitching. He knew it was too.

“Baldy tattled on me because I was mean to him?” I laughed. “Seriously?”

There were a few seconds where all I could hear was my heartbeat in my ears. I was pretty sure everyone in that fucking room could hear it, and it was going to be the last sound before five semi-automatic machine guns riddled me with fucking bullets.

Then Isiah cracked a smile. “You know, Romeo, you could learn a lot from your friend here.” Isiah grinned, stepping up beside me and patting me on the back. “You need not to take life so seriously. Come on, let’s have a drink, then we can discuss business.”

Isiah and a couple of his men lead us into another room. It was pristine—so much so that I wondered whether it was all just for show.

One of the bodyguards moved over to a small sidebar while we made ourselves at home on a couple of large leather armchairs which appeared like they were straight out of a sixties gangster movie.

We were there for less than a couple seconds before Isiah—not the type of man to fuck around—got straight to business. “What can I do for you tonight?”

The guard popped open some cupboards and pulled out three short glasses and some scotch. Even from here I could tell it was the expensive kind. The kind that you couldn’t buy in any store, the kind that came straight from the brewer.

“Cooper’s looking for someone,” Romeo explained, nodding to me to continue.

I reached into my back pocket and pulled out an old photo Romeo had managed to dig up. “I’m looking for a young girl that I heard you bought a couple years ago,” I told him, reaching out and handing him the picture. Eliza was pretty. That was really the only word I had to describe her because she just looked so damn innocent. I felt wrong using anything more than that. “She was promised to me, and the asshole sold her out from under me before I could get her.”

Isiah’s eyes were narrowed on the photo, his lips pursed. He took the glass of scotch offered to him while he continued to examine the photo. He lowered it as he took a sip of his drink. “I’d like to know how you knew she was sold to me.”

We didn’t.

We were guessing.

A glass was placed in my hand, and I tightened my fingers around it.

I wasn’t a part of his circle. I wasn’t meant to know anything. Especially not which girls he’d bought, or the fact he’d bought them at all. I fought the urge to nervously clear my throat. Instead, forcing myself to take a large drink of scotch. It burned all the way down but cleared the airways free.

“Because the asshole owed me, and next thing I know he’s telling me she’s done a fucking runner. I believed that bastard, too, until recently.”

Isiah raised his brow, he was curious, believing my story.

“Romeo helped me hunt him down, finally,” I continued. “Was sick of him getting away with shit, undercutting my business, and living life like he was a fucking king. So before I blew the bastard up, he admitted he’d sold her to you before I could get to her. Wanted to make some money out of her rather than just give her up for free.”

He looked down at the photo again, as if lost in it for a moment.

Romeo was a mask of relaxation, but his eyes watched Isiah like a fucking hawk.

“She was offered to me anonymously,” Isiah finally spoke up, and I tried not to flinch when I realized we’d gotten it right. “It was an online bid. I won. Transferred the money. Got an address. I sent someone to pick her up, but the buyer wasn’t there. Just this girl, in the boot of a car.”

I rolled my shoulders, making sure to be obvious about it. As far as he was concerned, I wanted this bitch. I felt like I deserved this bitch and that I was cheated.

He obviously had no idea who she was. Or who had sold her to him.

“You know where she is or not?” Isiah stared back at me, moving his jaw back and forth. “I don’t give a shit what you want for her, I’ll fucking pay it. I just want what belongs to me.”

It was hard to tell what was going on in his head. I didn’t know if he knew where she was and was just trying to squeeze me for whatever I fucking had, or if he was wondering how he could do this and make money out of it by screwing me over. The way his eyes often moved to Romeo told me that he was taking my brother’s place in this into consideration. There was a certain level of respect there which I was trying to ignore.

I didn’t want to know what Romeo had done to earn that kind of shit from a man like him.

A man who basically had no boundaries or hard limits.

“I will look into it,” Isiah finally admitted before throwing back the last bit of scotch in his glass and holding it up for someone to refill. The look in his eyes was deep and intense and slowly began to transform into a smile which pulled at the corner of his mouth. “I don’t suppose I could interest you in buying something else?”

I shrugged casually. “I could be tempted… but only if you deliver the girl.”

The sparkle in his eye disturbed me. He quickly reached for a remote which was situated on the small glass top side table to his right. With one press of a button, things on the wall across from us began to shift and move. Two panels slid back to reveal a television.

“I always deliver, Mr. Cooper, don’t you worry about that. So how about we take a look through the club, and you can tell me what you might like.”

I didn’t fucking like this. So I looked over at Romeo, ready to get the fuck out of there.

I didn’t want to point out any girls, knowing they would most likely be this predator’s next targets. The gleeful way his face lit up at the prospect of picking out some girl from a crowd like they were just cattle and I’m looking for a good rump steak, had my temper flaring.

“Personally, I’ve had my eyes on the two in the corner at the bar,” Isiah leered, just short of licking his lips like he was eyeing up a juicy steak. “The short one especially. A lot of men would go for her. You know the type, the child fetish thing they have going on.”

I don’t think I’d ever wanted to kill a man more in my life than I did in that moment.

“While we appreciate it, I need to get Cooper to the airport,” Romeo interrupted, placing his untouched drink down on the coffee table in front of us and getting to his feet. “He flew in especially to meet with you, but his men will start to get a little itchy if I don’t deliver him back to his jet soon.”

The way Romeo spoke it was like I almost believed what he was saying, and I knew it was a fucking lie. He never faltered or wavered, his tone always so flat, so sure. But just as I was getting to my feet and placing my drink down, I saw a look on his face that definitely wasn’t controlled. It was only a second. A brief flash of shock. Then it was gone.

I wasn’t sure if Isiah had seen it, but I couldn’t help but follow my brothers gaze, wondering what it was that would make him break his strong exterior and essentially look like what I could only describe as… scared.

The television on the wall was separated into nine different screens. Each one focused on a different part of Isiah’s club downstairs. Everything looked normal, like just any other club—one that didn’t prey on young women. But when my eyes reached the bottom corner, my heart dropped, and I clenched my fist, ready to fucking fight my way out of here.

She wasn’t in Arizona at school.

She was in Isiah’s fucking club.

Meyah.

Yeah, my fucking Meyah.