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Peter rolled his eyes and shut his door. “I’ll call you later. If you get actual confirmation about the bomb, we can celebrate.”

Reggie laughed. “Go tie someone up.”

Peter grinned. “I wish. It’s not a party, just a tour of the place.”

He approached the front door and looked around for potential security issues. It didn’t take him long to spot three things he wanted to fix. Before he could tug on the handle, the door flew open, and he jumped back to keep it from hitting him.

A woman with a mess of red curls on top of her head and another with bright purple hair came out giggling.

“Ladies.” He nodded in their direction as he held the door. Turning, he watched them walk across the parking lot to a cab that had just pulled in. The two women kissed tenderly before the woman with the purple hair slid into the cab and the redhead made her way back toward the club. He held the door open for her.

“I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Darci.” She stuck her hand out to him and he smiled.

“I’m Peter. I don’t make it to many parties and when I do, they’re at Gage’s house.”

Darci grinned. “I usually go to Edith’s house. At least now we have a home for everyone.” She waved at the lobby.

“Speaking of Gage, could you tell me where he is?”

“Probably in his office. Are you the hunky security expert he promised us?”

Peter raised an eyebrow. “I suppose I might be. It was lovely to meet you, Darci. Tell your girlfriend it’s a bad idea to call a cab out to this place. The wrong cabbie will spill everything he sees to a tabloid for the right price.”

Darci’s eyes went wide. “I never even considered that. So how do you propose people get here if they don’t have cars?”

Peter shrugged. “Not my problem, but I’m sure Gage will think of something. Excuse me.”

He left the redhead standing in the hall, but it wasn’t her face that stuck with him while he searched for Gage’s office. Instead, he couldn’t stop thinking about the woman he’d seen get into the cab. The one Darci had kissed. Something about her had made him want to get in his car and follow her cab.

“Mercer. It’s about time you got here. What do you think?”

Peter shut Gage’s door and dropped onto the sofa. “I think you’re made of money and you could have done better. You need more lights out front, a bouncer at the entrance, and you need a more secure door.”

Gage laughed and sat in his chair. “I don’t want a bouncer, but we will put some kind of security out there. This isn’t a nightclub and membership is exclusive. But I like the feel of this place and the back lot is perfect for outdoor play.”

“Oh sure, open people up to being photographed by drone cameras.”

“You’re such a party pooper, man. But I see your point. If Boomer will ever stop going undercover, I can get him to whip up some kind of signal jammer that would prevent that kind of thing. Maybe I’ll give Lance Moss in Chicago a call.”

“The tech genius with the pretty face?”

Gage grinned. “That’s the one.”

Peter gave him a thumbs up. “Let’s talk about the cabs and how people get out here. I understand that you’ll never be able to keep this place completely under wraps, but there has to be another way besides strangers bringing our members.”

Gage leaned forward. “Our members? Does that mean you’re in?”

Peter waved a dismissive hand at him. “Stop. You know I’m in. I just won’t be present as often as you.”

Gage pumped his fist in the air. “Consider yourself our head of security. There’s a parking lot about a mile up the road. What if I buy a couple of vehicles and we create a pickup point there? People who don’t drive here in their own cars can get picked up from the parking lot and be brought here by one of our own.”

Peter nodded. “That’s a much better solution.”

Gage grew serious. “How are you, Peter? I know you watch the news.”

He looked at the ceiling. He really didn’t want to talk about this, but his friend meant well, so he drew in a deep breath. “I’m fine. It was a shock to see her in a Prime Time spot knowing what I do about her. Mom had an earful for me when I called to check on her last week, but otherwise, she seemed to be fine. Dad wants to sue her again.”

Gage put his hands behind his head and stretched. “I’m surprised they gave her a show of her own. The story she wrote on Pam isn’t the only one she’s ever written that’s hurt people.”

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