Page 73 of The Professional
“Diaz?” Conall frowned. “She’s a lot of things, but breaking the law doesn’t seem like her MO. Why would she offer them drugs?”
“Because if you can’t fight someone through the system, what’s the next best thing to do?” Sloan asked, his voice deep and angry.
“Destroy them from the inside,” Rourke answered. It was a technique the Killough Company often used when violence or threats didn’t work. Rourke put the method into effect a few times himself. “Do you think she mixed the coke with dangerous shit?”
“That’s my guess.” Sloan cursed quietly. “I underestimated her.”
“But she’s only killed one of us so far. How does that help her?” Forrest asked.
Rourke wondered that too. “Baby, I need you to be honest with me. Who else has been taking drugs?”
Forrest hesitated.
“If you don’t tell us, they could end up dead,” Conall said.
He groaned. “Fine. I know Ryder’s been taking some from Alice, and so has Sonny. Krystal too. Maybe Harley, but I’m not sure about him. He likes to talk it up, but he very rarely follows through with things. Jagger tried for the first time a few months ago. I don’t know if he bought any more.”
Rourke breathed through a fiery anger that swelled in his chest. There were too many, and each one had disobeyed his rules and now he looked like a fool in front of his boss.Fuck. How did he let this happen?
Conall nodded. “I’ll ask some questions.” He leaned up on his tip toes and kissed Sloan on the lips. “Be back soon.”
Sloan slapped him on the ass as a goodbye.
When the door closed, Rourke bowed his head. “I’m sorry, sir, I should have known more of my professionals were taking drugs.”
“Maybe.” Sloan’s voice lowered and he crossed his arms. “But this isn’t on you. Whores are tricky, always have been. Their profession goes hand in hand with drugs. We just need to be harder on them.” His mouth twisted.
Rourke forced back a wince. They had no idea what they’d done by breaking the rules. Sloan would give orders, and Rourke had no choice but to obey. Being kicked out was the least of their problems now.
Sloan gestured at them, eyebrows raised. “Do you want to tell me what this is?”
Forrest chewed on his bottom lip, and glanced at Rourke.
Rourke took charge. Sloan would always react better if it came from him anyway. “Forrest and I have been… having sex.”
“And?” Sloan’s drawled out the word.
“And I care about him, sir. Forrest’s love for his job has declined and—”
“No.” The word came out sharp, and Forrest flinched beside Rourke. “Forrest has signed a contract, he will not be leaving us until it’s completed. He’s our highest earner. If you want to fuck, that’s up to you, but he will continue his services with the Virtue.”
Rourke shoved down the urge to argue. That would get him killed and buried beside the bodies of men he’d killed for Sloan. “Yes, sir.”
Forrest stood before Rourke could drag him back and straightened. “With all due respect, Mr. Killough, I’ve given this company five years of my life, and I’ve never once complained. I slept with all kinds of clients, and I’ve given the Virtue a good reputation. I’ve never asked for anything difficult from this company before, not until now. And Rourke has done things for you—”
Rourke shot to his feet and grabbed Forrest in warning. Unfortunately his hold was too tight, and Forrest flinched. “Sorry,” he said this to Forrest before turning toward Sloan, whose expression turned dangerous.
“What has Rourke done for me, Forrest?” Sloan growled.
Rourke’s gut dropped. “Sir—”
“I didn’t ask you, Rourke,” Sloan interrupted, his jaw tight. His ice cold eyes would make even the strongest man’s knees shake. “I asked Forrest.”
Everything in Rourke screamed for Forrest to apologize, to figure out a way to get out of the danger they were currently in, but there was nothing he could do. For once, he was defenseless, and he fucking hated it. He couldn’t protect Forrest.
Forrest inhaled and shifted to stand beside Rourke. “He couldn’t tell me much. He barely told me anything at all, but I know about his father, how Rourke killed him for you. And I know Rourke did questionable things for the company, things other people didn’t want to do. Doesn’t he deserve to be happy, Mr. Killough?”
Sloan was frozen for too long, and Rourke held his breath, ready to fight and defend Forrest if needed, but then Sloan exhaled. “You’re right, he does deserve to be happy, but he knew the consequences of wanting to be happy with a whore. Until your contract is completed, you will stay as a professional in the Exotic Virtue, am I clear?”
