Page 40 of Graveyards & Greed

After the funeral service, Marlowe Salazar grasped my forearm and leaned in as mourners slowly filed out of the chapel. “The funeral arrangements were flawless.”

I kept my face somber and neutral. “Thank you. He seemed well-loved, and again, I’m sorry for your loss.”

He stepped a little closer. “My offer still stands. I’d like to call you next week and take you to dinner to show my gratitude. Have you been to Michel Roux?”

He was handsome, charming, and had a suave demeanor. Michel Roux was also the best French restaurant in Vegas.

But he wasn’t Drakos.

If he’d asked me before that first night at Titties, I probably would’ve said yes. The realization that I’d been drawn to Drakos from the beginning startled me.

Smiling regretfully, I took a small step back. “Truly, thank you for the invitation.”

Marlowe inclined his head. “I understand. If you change your mind in the future, and we’re both… unencumbered, please reach out.”

I nodded and moved to the side as an elderly man came over to speak with him. Turning toward the funeral home entrance, I recognized Luna’s old bodyguard, Milo Carlson, standing there watching me and scanning the crowd. Milo worked for Drakos and his partners, and he was a retired FBI agent.

I methodically worked my way over. “Hello, Milo, I take it you’re feeling better. Are you providing security for the Salazars?” Milo had been shot not long ago, and he still looked a little peaked. Mourners were filing past us, and I nodded to several.

“Hello, Sylvie. No, I’m not here for the Salazars.”

I didn’t like Milo on principle. When we first met, he took exception to my last name and I still resented him for it. Leaning in, I murmured out of the side of my mouth, “Then whoareyou here for?”

“You. I take it Drakos didn’t tell you,” he sighed.

When the last of the mourners filed past, I turned to him, annoyed and intrigued. “No, he didn’t. Why does he think I need a bodyguard?”

Milo scanned the surroundings. “Ivan hacked the OutKast’s clubhouse security feed a few days ago. There have been some developments.”

My heart lurched. I hoped and prayed they hadn’t found anything significant. “Do you know what it is?”

Milo glanced around. “We can talk on the way back to the loft.”

“Got it. I need to get back to work. Nice suit—you blend in well.”

After the graveside service and internment, Marlowe approached me again. He didn’t waste any time getting to the point. “Besides being beautiful, you seem to be an intelligent, competent woman who cares about the families you assist. So, I feel compelled to warn you. Drakos holds a membership to an exclusive and highly erotic club in town. I recognize that telling you this serves my own interests, but I also don’t want to see you get hurt or make any life-altering decisions without all the facts.”

I studied Marlowe as I digested his words. I already knew most of what he’d told me, but not about the club. “Thank you for the warning. You have a nice family, and Ezra told me your grandfather was a good man. I think you must be too.”

He smiled humorlessly. “He was. I, however, am not. It’s been a pleasure working with you, Ms. Spade.”

As I headed back to my office, I reflected on what Marlowe told me. I had heard rumors about some of the partners, but the thought of Drakos visiting that club and visualizing what occurred there made jealousy—and a few other emotions—twist inside me.

When I walked into the funeral home, I heard voices in Ezra’s office. Callum stood in front of Ezra’s desk with his arms folded, and Kilian sat in one of the visitor chairs.

Callum usually didn’t get involved with the day-to-day issues, but after Declan got shot, I wasn’t surprised to see him.

He turned to me when I walked in. “There was another drive-by shooting at Motorheads last night by OutKast. They shot up their storefront.”

Ezra gazed at me. “Do you know why they’d be targeting us, or Motorheads?”

“Not that I can think of,” I lied.

“Drakos Creed and his partners are part owners of Motorheads, and Drakos works in the shop sometimes,” Kilian murmured as he stared down at his phone. My stomach clenched, and I wondered where they were going with this.

Callum folded his arms. “The same MC tried to take out Declan in front of the fucking compound the other day.”

Why were they looking at me suspiciously? Did they know? “That’s a weird coincidence.”

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