part0032

I raise an eyebrow. “Always.”

“It’s kind of, well…” she turns to me. “Am I allowed to say I find it boring?”

I can’t help but laugh. She’s so refreshing, because I know there is probably no one else at this event who would say that out loud. I’m about to agree when I feel someone come up on the other side of me. Somehow, I know this is it and slowly turn, only to be wrong. “Lila,” I say. “I thought you left.” This could complicate matters a bit, and I quickly brainstorm different ways to send her away when she shakes her head.

“I’m sorry,” she says, and I notice the same look of regret in her eyes I saw before. It confuses me. She usually is so confident and in love with life. “My dear, please come with me. You need to talk to someone.”

The reality of the situation hits me like a punch in the chest. Lila. Sweet, loving, considerate Lila. “No,” I whisper. “Please say this isn’t your doing.”

“I don’t understand,” Claire says from beside me. “It’s you?”

Not answering directly, Lila holds out her hand to me. “Please don’t make this difficult. Just come with me.”

I simply cannot believe it, but I take her hand to let her lead me away. Claire holds onto my arm. “Wait. Not without me.”

“Claire—” I start, but she shakes her head. Determination is clear in her eyes.

“If you go, I go. We’re a team.”

I look to Lila. “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” she says, but Claire will have none of it.

“Either I go with you right now, or I scream my head off and see what happens next.”

Her threat is real, I know it. Lila sighs. “If you insist,” she says. “But please hurry. We don’t have much time.”

We move as a group down a narrow, less conspicuous hallway with a few lesser-known paintings only to come to a door built into the wall. Unless a person is looking closely, it is undetectable in order to maintain the aesthetics of the gallery. Lila moves a small panel aside and keys in a code to unlock the door which opens inward. I pause, holding her hand so she must wait. “I can help you fix whatever it is making you do this,” I tell her. My heart is breaking that she has anything to do with deceiving any of us.

“Actually, maybe you can do just that,” a woman’s voice calls from inside the private room. My curiosity piqued, I look over Lila’s shoulder to see a small workroom. Boxes line one wall and a table with a stool sits at the center. A woman I’ve never met stands behind it although I do know her by reputation, and it is not a good one. She is taller than I realized, with dark hair to her shoulders, and a gorgeous face. She could easily have been a movie star or at least a model, but no, she is anything but that. Seeing my glare, she smiles broadly giving her face a sexy but sinister look. “Please, come in. No sense making a scene in the hallway.”

I stride past Lila, leaving the other two women in my wake. Whatever bullshit is going on, I’m going to shut it down right now. “Georgia DeLane,” I growl. “Why does this not surprise me? Or an even better question, how the hell did you get into this gala? No one in this town would lower themselves to inviting you.”

Color rises to the woman’s cheeks. My comments struck home, although there is nothing but truth behind it. Georgia is possibly as rich as I am, yet her money doesn’t come from honest work, but rather from the blood and tears of people she crushed on her way to the top. Extortion, smuggling, even rumors of assassin for hire. Her involvement in the Dark Web underworld makes complete sense. It is exactly where someone like her belongs. The question is . . . how is Lila mixed up in it?

Claire and Lila come in behind me. “Close the door, Lila,” Georgia growls, far less cordial. “Let’s move this along.”

“Yes, let's,” I agree reaching into my jacket for the Bitcoin information. I see my adversary stiffen as if she thinks I am reaching for a weapon, and I laugh. “Relax. I'm not the criminal here. Where are the diamonds?” There is nothing visible on the table which would be big enough to hold as many gems as I've been advised to expect.

Georgia barks a laugh. “Oh, there are no diamonds. That is not what this is about. No, it was just to draw another of you out.”

Furrowing my brow in confusion, I glance at Lila, but she won't meet my eye. Instead, Claire moves closer to me to lay a hand on my shoulder. “I think you should explain,” she says, and I can tell from her tone she's not a fan of Georgia DeLane even though they just met. Her instinct is right not to trust the woman. She clearly has an agenda we are not privy to at the moment.

Georgia tilts her head regarding Claire, and the hungry look in her eyes makes the hair on the back of my neck rise in response. I clench and unclench my fists knowing she somehow trapped Lila and now has the audacity to eye my woman. Unfortunately, my response seems only to amuse Georgia and her smile widens. “Claire Hathaway,” she coos. “A pleasure. Your dress is incredible, but the “come fuck me” stilettos really make it work.”

“Shut your fucking mouth,” I growl. “Just tell me why I’m here if it’s not to buy diamonds.”

“Fine,” Georgia says with a wave of her hand. “There will be time for fun and games later.” I don’t care for the sound of that but keep quiet. I want things to move along. “I want in the club.”

I glance at Lila. The club is a secret, and the fact Georgia DeLane knows about it at all is not good. “Oh, yes,” Georgia says. “Your sweet friend let it slip one night after an especially good orgasm. Seems she thought she could trust me.” My heart aches as I watch shame cross my friend’s face. I believe Georgia though. It was under similar circumstances Lila recruited me for the club all those years before.

“Not on your life,” I say without even bothering to look at the woman. The idea is so preposterous I would laugh under other circumstances. Our circle is based on trust and mutual admiration. We are each honest, respected businesswomen. The black-market world of Georgia DeLane is as far from our code as a person can get. “I'm shocked you'd even dare to ask.”

A dark look crosses Georgia’s face. “Why did you have to be the one to answer my offer? You’re such an arrogant bitch.” As she says it, I realize she doesn’t know who else is in the club. She is using Lila as bait, and I look at my friend.

“You wouldn’t tell her who we are,” I murmur with renewed admiration. “So, she is using this desperate ploy to lure us out.” I have to laugh. Zena, Kris, Chloe, and the others were extra careful in making their inquiries on the Dark Web just in case this was a trap. They were so right.

Lila finally looks up. “I'm so sorry. I was a fool.” My heart goes out to her, and clearly, Claire feels it too as she crosses to her and puts an arm around her shoulders.

“You are a victim, nothing else,” she says shooting daggers at Georgia. The woman chuckles, and I hate the sound of it.

She looks at me. “Wherever did you find her?” she asks. “Absolutely exquisite. And I saw you at the table. During the performance, you fucked her, didn’t you?”

I don't think but instead, react and dive across the table to choke the evil woman standing there. She blocks me easily. A lifetime of crime has taught her well. Even enraged, I am a poor challenge. As she wraps a hand around my throat and forces me against the wall, I see more than anger in her eyes. There is jealousy. She wants what I have—respect, friends, allies, love. This is what she thinks the club will bring her. Things she will never have on her own and clearly hopes to take by force.

“Last chance,” she hisses in my face. “Extend an invitation and sponsor me, or else.”

For a fleeting moment, I think she is threatening to kill me, but then the reality of the situation hits me. She doesn't want me dead. I am her possible in, and there are things she can do that will hurt me more. Letting me go, I choke for air but reach for her to stop what I know is about to happen. Georgia brushes me aside and knocks on a different door, which no doubt leads to the greater warehouse supporting the museum. A man dressed as a security officer opens it. “Yes, ma'am?” he asks, and I know he has been bought off if he is not an imposter all together.

Georgia waves in my direction. “Escort her out to the main group. She is ready to leave for the night.”

The man nods and glances at where Claire and Lila stand together. “And these two?”

I watch with my heart in my throat as Georgia takes a silenced handgun from inside her jacket. “They are coming with me.” She throws me a wink. “I’m in the mood for a threesome.”