Ah. That I understood, and he was right. Matt usually was decent about cooperating with the guards—at least he had been since Bailey’s second kidnapping attempt. So if the idea hadn’t come from Matt, then it came from Bailey and they were both lying, which meant she didn’t want me to know. Or she didn’t want extra hearing ears at Naveah, and neither idea sat well with me.
I sighed. “Just do your job, and guard them both. Let them proceed how they want.”
“Are you sure?”
No, I wasn’t sure. And no, I didn’t want this to happen. But if something was going on with Bailey, I did what I always did. I watched, and I loved, and I would try to keep her safe until I had to swoop in myself.
“Yeah.” My words came out clipped, because fuck, I wasn’t happy about this new development. “I have to go, but keep me updated on their movements.”
“Will do, boss.”
The call ended. I put my phone back in my pocket and got out of my SUV.
Josh and Scott both stepped forward.
“Everything’s ready.”
Scott added, “Everyone is here, too.”
“Harden made the trip okay?”
Josh nodded. “He did. He’s the only one inside. Said he didn’t dare try and get any more of his men with him.” He paused a beat, sharing a look with Scott. “Your guest is prepped.”
Good. Finally. It was time.
On that note, I went inside.
I looked at Harden. He lowered his head, a greeting. I returned the gesture, then I went forward. In the middle of the warehouse was a lone man, strapped to a chair. He wasgagged and blindfolded. I stepped forward and took the blindfold off.
Bailey wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.
“Hello, brother.”
SEVENTEEN
Bailey
Octavo was a dark club. That’s the best way to describe it.
The outside was nondescript. It was a black building with a red neon light that said the name of the club in simple lettering. A single silver door. A bouncer. A red velvet rope that sectioned off the line waiting to get inside.
When we pulled up, we went to the head of the line.
Fitz got out. The doorman saw him and nodded. The velvet rope was already being lifted as we were getting out, and with Matt leading the way, we went inside. Fitz trailed. Matt’s guards weren’t far behind. There was a black bar set up as soon as we stepped inside, with red neon lights highlighting the bottom of the bar. That was the theme of the entire place.
Black.
Red neon color.
There were silver disco balls set up in the hallway, but as soon as we got a drink from the first bar, Matt’s guards were inside and waiting for us. A woman came down from a back hallway, clad in a black leather top and pants. They molded to her form. She wore black stilettos and her hair was slicked back. She looked like an assassin.
She led us through a back hallway.
Each door we passed was a solid black door.
Small crystal disco balls hung from the ceiling, the only light in the hallway. The walls were covered in black velvet drapery.
We kept winding around the building, at a slight incline, until she came to a door and opened it.