Page 94 of Tristano

Killian raises his chin. “That’s my second in command, Conor. He set up a meeting for us.”

Conor stares me down as we approach. I want to squirm under his scrutiny, but I pretend like it doesn’t bother me.

“Tristano’s girl.” Killian nods.

“Serena.”

“Conor.” He turns toward Killian. “They are waiting.”

We head inside with Conor in the lead and head up a dark stairway. Coming to a stop on the second floor, he knocks on a door and it swings open. Walking into the unknown frays on my nerves. It goes against all the training I’ve ever had, but I follow the guys inside. Putting my trust in them that they won’t lead me into a bad situation.

“What’s the meaning of this O’Reilly?” a man demands.

“Last I checked, we ain’t in your territory so you shouldn’t be meddlin’ in our business…unless things at home are shit and you’re lookin’ for a side piece,” another says.

“I can promise you, I am more than satisfied with my wife,” Killian says.

Both men scoff.

“Get on with it. You’re wasting our time,” a third says coolly.

I scan the room as they talk and take a mental picture of the five new men in front of me, wishing I could run background checks on them.

“You know about the missing women,” Killian says diplomatically.

“Ain’t my problem,” one man says.

A man leaning against the window grunts. “They got my best girl. Lost me a lot of money that she hadn’t paid out when they took her.”

“Rumor has it, it’s about to ramp up. We’re closing in on them. I want you all to talk to your girls and warn them,” Killian tells them.

“Sounds like you want us to lose out on money,” one on the couch says as he puffs on a cigar.

A man leaning against the wall with his arms crossed lifts his chin toward me. “Who’s the girl?”

“One of mine and not for sale,” Killian says with heat in his tone.

“I didn’t think you dealt in the skin game.” The man by the window chuckles.

“I’m not. Look, back on topic. Tell your girls or don’t. Some of the women are being grabbed off the street and others we think are getting in the cars willingly. They don’t discriminate with size or skin color,” Killian says, getting back on track.

“Time to go, boss,” Conor says, nodding toward me.

I reach for the door and step out into the hall. Conor and Killian step out, and once again, Conor takes his place in front of Killian.

Pausing, I look back into the room full of pimps. “If you really cared about your girls, or hell, your bottom dollar, you would listen to him,” I say before I close the door.

Killian shoots me a look as we start walking down the stairs but doesn’t say anything. Once outside, I take a deep breath.

“Fucking cheap cigars. Now we’re going to smell like shit for the rest of the night,” Conor mutters.

“Have someone to impress, do you?” I quip.

Killian chuckles as Conor shoots me a dirty look.

“Sorry,” I say, holding up my hands. “What next?”

“We walk down the street. Warn the girls ourselves and tell them to spread the word. We won’t get them all but…”

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