Page 6 of Dark Passion

Ryan had said to me that was how he’d met Jay, because he wore a suit and had an expensive car, but he couldn’t pay his bills until I hired him as the manager of this bar, and now I might have to get rid of him. I downed another drink.

Those two were costing me, and the only way to stop it was to get rid of them, but I didn’t want to do it even though I needed to, and now I needed them more than they knew. I stared into the mirror, poured another shot of liquor, and got up my courage to see Julian.

When I glanced up, I was in my office and sleeping off my drink. I had to have a clear head before I saw Julian and challenged him.

The door opened. “What do you want, Jay?”

“The workmen are finished with the cleanup, and if you come with me, you will see and smell there’s no scent of smoke anywhere. I don’t know how they did it, but it’s done, and Ryan put in the claim online too.” He offered me a smile and tucked his hands into his tight jeans, as if that would satisfy me. It would for the moment.

“That was simple, and I don’t know why he didn’t do it sooner.” I glared at him. Always throwing Ryan under the bus, but I did know despite Jay’s flirting and roving eyes, and wayward dick, he did love Ryan as much as an oversexed man could.

Standing and looking at my suit coat hanging in my closet, I stretched. “How did I get in here—”

“I told you it was too early to drink.” I cut my eyes in Jay’s direction. He smiled, “And now for the good news. We tracked the dogs to this address.” He pulled out his phone and showed me. “After the last ordeal with Sam and he was calm when Cole returned, the vet was able to plant a tracker.” When he showed me on his phone, it led straight to Julian’s mansion. Jay glared up at me with curious and suspicious eyes. “You know this place?”

When I turned away and became mute, I suspected Jay had his answer to his question.

“I have to go.”

“It’s late and I ordered you something to eat. You know you should have something in your stomach.” He turned, “I’ll get the food now.” Jay didn’t wait for me to refuse it, he anticipated I needed to eat before I left to confront Julian. Of course, he didn’t know about Julian I suspected, but then Julian and I weren’t a secret if someone listened to the gossip in this city. And Jay was a dude who traveled in gossip, and he got that from sleeping with different men of different backgrounds.

When Jay brought my food into my office, someone was standing behind him. Jay glanced at me, made a gesture with his head, and placed the tray on the desk. I got a view of Mason looking over and smiling. “I guess you know this dude.” Jay smirked and on leaving my office, his eyes roamed over Mason, then licked his lips in passing so close to him they could have hand-fucked each other.

“I told you he knows me. We were best friends years ago.” I gave Mason a warm smile and glanced over to see that Mason looked hungry by the way his Adam’s apple moved, because he appeared to swallow and my suspicion had been proven when his eyes left mine, and remained on the corned beef sandwich on rye bread, some pickles, and a glass of Coca-Cola.

“Sit down, Mason. I shoved the platter in front of him, and turned to Jay. “Bring me another sandwich for Mason and me. A drink, and some pickles for both of us.” Jay didn’t say a word. He smiled at us and headed out.

Chapter 5

Daniel

“Ithought I’d see youthis evening. But here you are.” Mason glanced down at his watch with one hand, and held half a sandwich in the other, then sipped the drink.

“I don’t know what you call this evening, but it’s 8:45 p.m. Close to nine.” I jumped up.It’s that late?I hurried to the restroom, shaved as I talked to Mason who appeared busy with his dinner.

“Why haven’t you changed?”

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