58. Victor

Chapter fifty-eight

Victor

“ V alentine,” I answer on the first ring.

“This is Julian.”

I lean back in my office chair, staring at the reports on my desk. An uneasy feeling settles in my gut that I can’t quite place.

“Hey, Julian. How are things going?” I ask to be polite, but I want to get down to business.

“Doing good. Though I’m considering murdering my brother.” I hear Connor say something in the background. “I am against murder if the person’s name isn’t Connor,” Julian says. A door shuts in the background. “I can’t wait until he’s released to do physical activity. He is getting on my last fucking nerve.” I chuckle and shake my head. “I was calling to see if you and Liv are available to come over tomorrow afternoon. Bailey and I moved into our new office building. It still needs some work, but it’s a big enough space for all of us to meet.”

I’m already nodding before he finishes. “I’ll double check with Olivia, but yes, I’m sure we’ll be able to make it. We’ll stop by as soon as she gets off work,” I tell him. As soon as I hang up with him, my phone is ringing again. Leo’s name pops up on my phone. “What’s going on, Leo?” I begin stacking my papers.

“He’s staying at that house again,” he says.

The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. “I knew he didn’t sell that house.”

After what Lincoln and Ansley said at Connor’s house, it made me think about the house Donovan and Margaret would stay in when they would come up here. I’m sure that’s when he first started putting feelers out for this town. There was a house he bought on the lake that Margaret and Olivia loved.

They’d go to the lake while Donovan would do god knows what. I asked him about that house once during one of our lunches and he said he sold it. The hurt in Olivia’s eyes was evident, but she never said anything. I wonder if he knew Lincoln and Ansley’s parents. If he did use them, then when they either decided they couldn’t do it anymore or they were no longer useful, he probably got rid of them.

“Alright, Leo. Thanks for finding out. Did you see anything else?” I stand from my chair and put the papers in their appropriate place.

“There’s a woman he’s been talking to a lot. She used to have blonde hair, but she recently dyed it red. I don’t recognize her, but I’ll keep digging.”

After hanging up with Leo, I’m tempted to go get a drink, but I want to be alert just in case Olivia calls me. There’s a knock on my office door, so I answer it since I’m standing right in front of it. Malachi is standing there and he looks pissed.

“What’s going on?” I ask him as I hold the door open for him to come in.

“Do you know who Alice Brighton is?” he practically spits. I rack my brain. The name Brighton sounds familiar.

“No. Should I?” I stand by the door as he stalks back and forth in front of my desk. He clenches and unclenches his hands.

“She’s in bed with Donovan. Not literally.” He pauses. “Fuck, maybe literally. The girls he’s getting off the streets? He works with her and takes them to some fucking auction to sell them there against their will.” He scowls, the tendons in his neck protruding.

“At an auction?” Bec said Donovan’s guys tried to take her. Was she going to be taken to an auction? Does she know anything about that? “Do you know where these auctions are held?”

He shakes his head. “They’re put on by some secret society. I just found out and came straight here. One of The Outsiders was involved.” He sits on the couch in my office, puts his elbows on his knees, and places his head in his hands. My heart sinks.

I sit in a chair across from him. “Who?”

He shakes his head without lifting it. “It’s best if you don’t know. I got rid of him,” he says.

I scoff. “So, you didn’t just find out.”

He lifts his head and arches an eyebrow at me. “I found out today and came to tell you as soon as I got rid of the problem.”

I nod in understanding. The less I know, the better. “I’ll talk to Arden. He’s always able to find out things that others can’t find out. Or sometimes he just knows,” I say. “Besides that, he can get in and out of places without being detected.”

Malachi wipes his hands down his pants and stands. “I’ve heard the rumors about Arden, but I’ve seen his reflection in mirrors.” As I stand, I laugh, not commenting one way or another. “I have to get back to the clubhouse. There’s someone I need to check on.”

“You could have just called,” I tell him as I open my office door and follow him out into the pub.

He shakes his head. “I needed to clear my head. I needed the ride. See ya later.” Malachi walks out and I breathe in deeply as my mind reels with this new information.

I wonder if Alice Brighton is the same woman Leo has been seeing with Donovan. Grabbing my phone out of my pocket to call him, it begins ringing and Olivia’s name pops up. I smile and swipe on the green answer button.

“Hello, treasure.”

“Hi,” she whispers.

I can tell she’s not okay right away. “What’s wrong?” I ask her.

“I got another bouquet.” Her voice is so quiet I have to strain to hear her. My phone strains under the tightening of my fist.

“I’m on my way. Are Lincoln and Caroline with you?” I ask her.

“Yes, and James.” She’s being very short with her answers and I know it’s because she’s trying to keep herself together.

“I’ll be there soon,” I promise before telling her bye. I tell Lee I’m leaving, then call Leo to let him know what happened. After that, I call Lane and he answers on the first ring.

“What the fuck?” I ask him immediately.

“Sir, I’m following him back to the flower shop,” he answers right away.

“Why didn’t you stop him before he entered the building?” The pub is three blocks away from Olivia, so I’ll be there in just a few minutes.

“I was keeping an eye on the van to see if Donovan or one his guys was close,” Lane says.

“Alright. See if you can find out anything. We’re having a meeting tonight.” I call Arden right away.