Page 33 of Surrender

I sit at my desk, but I know he's the man in charge here. Head of the Colombian mafia in DC, I'm asking him the favor.

"I have a problem."

He twirls his finger in a 'go on' motion.

"I won't waste either of our time. We have a new employee who is important to me. Her mother and stepfather are pieces of shit - involved in drugs and alcohol. One of their friends attacked her the other day in front of my club and I can't have that happen again."

He nods in understanding. If rumors can be trusted, he recently found himself a woman so he must be sympathetic to the need to keep our women safe.

"I would be forever in your debt if you could find out any information about them and make sure they don't bother The Envelope or us again."

He nods silently again.

"What can you give me to get started?"

"The stepdad’s name is Gary Lawson. Woman's name is Mary Lawson. I don't know about their friends."

He nods again. "I'll put the word out. If they try to buy from us, I'll take care of them."

"I don't want them killed... just... a message sent to leave us alone. You know?"

He nods again, a man of few words.

He stands, shakes my hand and I wonder if that's enough. Enlisting the underbelly of the city to protect Serenity may not be the best way to go about it, but I'll use any tool I have to make sure she's safe from now on. And that her pathetic excuse for parents can never touch her again.

Chapter twenty

Serenity

At work a week later, Madame approaches the bar where I'm waiting for drinks to be made and Declan's sitting at the stool next to me. We haven't explored each other any more, but I feel as if we're both waiting the other one out. We've talked about our mutual attraction. We had that moment in the hallway where we learned that I am, in fact, a sexual person, but we haven't crossed any more physical lines.

We sleep in the same bed together every night, but we never touch. I've imagined all of the ways I want him, all of the things I want to do with him, but it's like we're at an impasse, neither one of us willing to take the next step. We wake up every morning together, go for a run, have breakfast, work in his office for a few hours before Joseph drives us to the club.

It's a comfortable routine.

Madame Kline steps up between us, drawing our attention.

"It seems we have a problem." She looks between Declan and I, indicating me, too. I set the drinks on the tray and turn to give her my full attention.

She's speaking to Declan when she talks, though. "You know that site that I watch?" He nods. "Serenity popped up on it last night."

Declan tenses.

"Site?"

"I monitor a list of missing persons and compare it against a list of trafficked women on the dark web. If I find matches, I have a friend who can do more research, that we then provide to the police. The police department monitors these lists, too, but they don't have the manpower to keep on top of it all...and they have to follow legal channels where my...friend...doesn't."

I glance between them, noting Declan's frown.

"So, what does that mean?" I ask.

"It means your parents likely filed a missing person report with the local PD. They're trying to flush you out."

"They tried to get at you at the club, but when that didn't work, they had to try something else," Declan adds. I wait for the anger, for the outrage I'd expect from him, but it doesn't come. He's tense and unhappy, but not angry.

"So, what do we do?"

Madame raps her knuckles on the bar top. "Let me know if I can do anything to help," she says before leaving.

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