Page 26 of The Reluctant Siren
Tears pooled in Miranda’s eyes. “She is?”
Harlow nodded. “She would do anything to take it back. Youneed to understand that this is not normal. I believe this place is a front fordrug dealers, and they’re going to ask you to do something that they will useagainst you.”
Miranda went still. “I already owe them money. I didn’t meanto. Phil offered to buy my uniform and pay my rent when I was behind. I wasgoing to pay him back, but he didn’t mention he was charging interest. I owemore than I borrowed.”
“That’s not legal,” Harlow said. “I’ve got some friends whoare lawyers, and they can go over it. I think you’ll find your mother willlikely pay him off if it means you’re out of here. She just wants you safe.”
There were other problems. If this was an organization evenslightly like Hamilton’s, they would care more about the potential for Mirandato go to the authorities than they would the money, but she would deal withthat problem another time.
It probably wasn’t what she thought it was. After all,Daisy’s father had taken care of the situation.
So why was the organization still running?
There was something going on here. Something she didn’tunderstand. But she was going to.
“I think they might come after my mom if I leave.” Mirandasniffled. “I don’t think I can. You don’t understand what they’re like.”
“I do. Miranda, I don’t think this is my first encounterwith this group. If I’m right, they used to work in LA, and they were recentlycaught here, though I think the big guys flew under the radar.”
“Are you talking about what happened to the cartel?”Miranda’s voice went low. “There was talk of a cartel supplying some of theclubs with party favors, as they called them. I had to serve them when theycame in for meetings. That was when I knew we were in trouble, but then thisprivate investigator was looking to track down a wayward boyfriend. He was oneof the guys who worked upstairs. The PI caught him in the middle of a deal, andall hell broke loose for a couple of months.”
“She wasn’t a PI.” Harlow fought back a growl. “She was myreceptionist. It was her first day. Yes, I know about that situation, but Ithink the ties go deeper. I think it would be best if we moved you somewherethey can’t find you. Do you want out?”
Miranda nodded. “I want out. I’m so scared to stay here, butI don’t want them to hurt my mom.”
“She’ll go with you. I talked to her about what might happenif you were in too deep, and she’ll do anything,” Harlow explained. “I have tomake some arrangements. When is your next shift?”
“Tomorrow. I have to work every day. And I’m supposed to dosomething new tomorrow afternoon. I’m doing something Phil calls a run. He saidit’s important that I do it right. I’m supposed to drop something off at anaddress downtown before I come into work. Harlow, I’m worried it might beillegal.”
Oh, it was totally illegal, and she was going to have towork some magic. “If you do that, they will have proof that you’re involved incrimes. They will use that to make you do whatever they want. They targetedyou, and this is the position they’ve been working to put you in. We need tomove you tonight.”
She looked like a deer in the headlights. “Tonight?”
Harlow nodded. “Yes. You are going to work the rest of yourshift like nothing happened. Then you’re going to go home and I will meet youthere, and we’ll move you and your mom tonight. Lucky for me a mentor of minehas a couple of safe houses, and he loves to help so he can hold it overeveryone’s head. From there we’ll figure it out, but you cannot go on that runtomorrow. It’s imperative they don’t get blackmail material on you.”
Miranda wrapped her arms around her chest as thoughself-soothing. “I have to go back out there?”
“I need a couple of hours,” she replied. “You can do this.Forget everything and do your job. If Phil asks about tomorrow, tell him you’reready. Pretend like nothing happened. You talked to me and I’m cool with itnow. You think my Master and I might become regulars. Can you keep ittogether?”
She took a long breath. “Yeah. Yes, I can. If my mom can puteverything on the line for me, then I can put a smile on my face for a coupleof hours.”
Harlow slid her phone from its hiding place under her clingyshirt. There hadn’t been a rule about no cell phones, but she didn’t want tomake it obvious. “Put your address in. I’ll be there when you get off.”
“I usually make it home by two a.m. I don’t have much topack. I can be ready quickly,” Miranda assured her, and she added her addressand phone number. “You’ll be there?”
“I will be there,” Harlow promised. “And I’ll contact yourmom and have her ready to go. It’s going to be okay. When you’re safe, mypartner and I will start looking into how this club works and who’s in charge.If we can get enough to go to the police, we will. Until then you need to laylow.”
“I’ll help you with that. I know some things.” She looked tothe door again. “I know some people who might be helpful for you to talk to.”
Ruby was going to be thrilled. She lived for this kind ofshit. She was going to get to hack systems and play chicken with mobsters. Shewouldn’t care that they weren’t going to get paid for this. She would do it forthe fun. And that’s how Harlow used her trust fund. To keep them afloat whilethey did good work. She took the phone back from Miranda. “My Dom and I aregoing to stay for another hour or so and then we’ll leave. I’ll get everythingready and be at your place at two. Pack light and don’t tell anyone.”
Miranda wiped away a tear. “I’m going to see my mom.”
This was why she did it. This feeling that she was doingsomething worthwhile kept her going. She wasn’t some useless rich bitch. Shehad a purpose. Harlow reached for Miranda’s hand, squeezing it. “You are. Youare going to be okay.”
Miranda sniffled and checked herself in the mirror. “I’llsee you soon.”
She turned and walked out.
