Brutal Winter

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: WINTER

The club is busy.

I can’t say I’m surprised..

Amarie watches me closely from across the club. When she spots me watching her back, she gives a wave but something about it is off. I pull my brows together before turning back to my table and getting the orders for the drink.

When I turn back around, heading for the bar, I realize Amarie is nowhere to be found. I give another look, but no she's definitely not in the room anymore. I press my lips together, dropping my order off at the bar. I wait impatiently for David to complete it, tapping my fingers against the bar. When he brings my drinks back, I give a quick thank you before hustling to my table.

Amarie is still my sole suspect. But I don’t have anything concrete proving that she is or isn’t the rat. Which is a problem because the time Giovanni gave me to give him something real on Amarie is running down. I don't have any leads on the rat but Amarie is definitely still on my suspect list and her disappearing in the middle of a shift... it's unlike her. I drop the drinks off to my table, thankful when they don't need anything else. I return my tray to the side of the bar, placing it there temporarily before moving to the door leading to the back.

I turn down the hall, pausing when I get to a door I've seen a few of the employees head into it. They call it the private rooms. I've never dared to actually go inside, knowing nothing good could be going on. But whatever it is, it isn't exactly a secret considering that all the staff seem to know about it. I take a deep breath before pushing the door open and walking inside. I take in the long hall, noticing the string of doors that line it.

Fuck, its almost like I'm in the matrix.

I hesitate as I walk up to the first door, hearing a soft sound that I can't quite make out. I debate for a moment before slowly twisting the knob and pushing the door open. My mouth drops open as I find Angie naked. She's pushed up against the wall by a man and she's giving moans exaggerated enough to rival a porn star. I blink in shock, continuing to watch as the man kisses her neck. There's a bed off to the side and a nightstand holds a hold pack of condoms and lube. A dim pink light falls across the room.

Angie's bored gaze roams around the room before stopping on me. Her brows pull together, her lips twisting into a frown. She blinks before shaking her head hastily and her hand comes out behind the man, shooing me out.

I don't need more motivation, shutting the door as quietly as I opened it.

So this is what the back rooms are, a whole damn brothel.

Well, shit.

I shake my head, looking at the row of rooms and wondering how many of them are occupied.

I rub my arm, quickly moving out of the hall. Was Amarie in one of those rooms?

No, I don't think so. I've only seen her go back to them a few times and never more than once a week. She went earlier in the week, so she has to be elsewhere. I move down the exterior hall and I make my way to the door that leads to the alley, my heart pounding in my chest as I remember what happened the last time I went outside of it.

I take a deep breath before pushing it open and the second I do, I hear Amarie's familiar voice. I don't step all the way out, leaving a crack in the door instead. Peering outside, I find Amarie with her back to me. She's standing in front of a man who's wearing a dark jacket. He's slightly taller than her.

"We agreed on ten grand," Amarie says, her voice hard.

"No, five down, the other five upon completion," the man says and I can hear the nerves in his voice.

"Who do you think you're dealing with? Some amateur? Give me my ten grand now or get to fucking walking cause you’re wasting my time." Her French accent is deeper, her words sharp.

"Fuck, I'm just the middle man,"

"Who has my ten grand on him already, so you better pull it out right now before I lose my temper." Amarie's voice is so hard that it has goosebumps covering my arms.

The man doesn't say anything for a few beats before I hear him let out a curse. And then he's going into his pocket, pulling out a roll of money. "Fine, here's the ten grand."

"And you let your guy know if he doesn't have the five grand after completion, I'll be taking it out on his head and yours."

The man gives a frantic nod. "Okay, just have it done by-"

"It'll be done when I have it done," she cuts him off.

The man doesn't say anything for a moment before he gives her a nod and then he's turning, quickly leaving the alleyway.

Amarie remains where she is and I watch as she shoves the money into her leather coat. A moment later, I hear the flick of a lighter and smoke tendrils float in the air. "I know you're there," she says, startling me.

I try to take a step back, but she's already turning around, peering at the small crack in the door. "Might as well come out now," she says. A cigarette is between her fingers and she brings it to her lips as she waits patiently.

I debate hurrying back into the club but something tells me she'll catch me before I make it back inside. I've watched her the last couple of months and I've learned that she's fast, watchful, her mind sharp. She probably already knows it's me who's lurking.