Page 3 of Keep Him Like Secrets

“That’s… incredibly insulting. I pull in more than the two of them combined. We can even throw in Coal and Cage for good measure. I out-earn all of them. Put together.”

“It’s one of the few times when your sex works in your favor, I guess. No one has linked you to the family in any official way.”

“I’m always around, though.”

“So are a lot of women.”

“I’m not gonna pretend to be someone’s escort.”

“I’m not asking you to. I’m saying you need to keep doing what you’re doing. Keep your head low, your hands clean. I don’t want you getting linked to the family. At least not until the ink is dry for the nightclub. Don’t wanna spook Soren. But once the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed, it won’t matter as much anymore.”

“Wait, does Soren not know who I am?”

“He’s… not asking.”

“Am I supposed to not say?”

“Look, you don’t lie. If he asks, you can’t lie. But if he doesn’t ask, you don’t need to volunteer information.”

“But he knows you’re funneling your money through me and into the club?”

“Jesus,” Serano said when Renzo exhaled hard.

“Wait, he has no idea? You’re going to funnel money into his club without telling him?”

“No, actually. I’m not. You are.”

“Okay. Right. But I’m gonna be doing that under his nose?”

“Right.”

“Why would he want a partner? If he has a bunch of nightclubs, wouldn’t he be rich enough to do it without me?”

“Because I—soon to be you—am the only person who owns a building that would, for one, be suitable for a nightclub. And, for two, has a liquor license and falls into the 500 and 200 foot rules that an establishment that is open that late and serves liquor has to adhere to.”

“Did you do that on purpose?”

“No. I took it as payment for some pretty substantial debt owed to us. I’ve been sitting on it for years. It’s a shithole. But if he wants to spend his money fixing it up, that’s on him.”

“So I’m just some random woman who happens to own the exact building he wants?”

“Pretty much.”

“And what do I do for a living?”

“Babe, am I supposed to hold your hand through all this? Figure it out. And don’t fuck it up.”

“Fine.” My chin jerked up, angry at being chastised, but knowing I had to toe the line. “And what are they here for then?” I waved over at the other two men.

“They work for you. Don’t imagine Soren is going to demand to know their titles and salary.”

“But why do I need them?”

“We should bottle that charm of yours and sell it,” Bass said, shaking his head.

“Look. I’ll level with you here. I don’t know much about this Soren guy. He’s got his shit locked down tight. Until I know shit is safe, I want to know you’re not alone in this.”

I wanted to gripe about not needing babysitters, to demand to know if—if the roles were reversed—he would feel the need to send Bass or Serano in with a bodyguard.

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