Chapter 8

Helena

I movethrough the deserted club, making my way down the dim back hallway. The DeLux is still hours away from opening to the nocturnal crowds that flock here daily. But sleep has evaded me these past nights—my thoughts consumed by visions of jet-black hair and kind yet passionate soft-brown eyes. Raphael plagues my waking moments and haunts my dreams, no matter how I try to banish him from my mind.

So tonight, like the past sleepless nights, I figure I may as well put the time to good use, balancing ledgers in the quiet office. Even mundane work is preferable to lying restless in bed, longing for the angel who manages to ignite forbidden desires deep within my core. Perhaps if I can just focus on numbers and logic, I can drown out the ache that pulses through me at the memory of his touch.

Dark woods and leather furnishings exude masculine elegance, more akin to a CEO’s corner office than the devil’s lair. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves dominate the far wall, expensive crystal decanters winking from the built-in bar.

I make my way past Lucifer’s imposing antique desk, towards the subtle outline along the paneled wall that belies a hidden safe. Eve’s words echo in my mind as I approach it—this unassuming fa?ade contains perhaps the club’s most vital secrets.

My hand instinctively goes to the place beneath my blouse, where Lucifer’s ornate iron key hangs from its silver chain. I’ve kept it constantly close since Eve entrusted it to me, this precious token granting access to the DeLux’s most confidential information.

With care, I fit the antique key into the lock and give it a slow clockwise turn until I hear the mechanism disengage with a soft thunk. The heavy door swings open silently on oiled hinges, revealing a narrow space carved into the wall’s thickness.

The dim glow from the desk lamp barely illuminates the safe’s contents. Squinting, I make out sturdy ledger books arranged neatly on metal shelves, decades of records documenting every dollar that’s flowed through this business—legal and otherwise.

Eve said it was these books that first raised red flags for her about financial discrepancies. Now to see what secrets they might surrender under my forensic eye...

I lift down the most recent ledger, laying it open atop the broad mahogany desk. Flipping through the pages, columns of tiny black numbers march in meticulous order. Lucifer may be the devil, but even he respects the irrefutable logic of well-kept accounts.

Settling into Lucifer’s imposing wingback chair, I begin scanning the budgets and figures carefully, searching for any clue that might explain the anomalies Eve noticed. The numbers start to swim before my eyes as I turn page after page, fruitlessly seeking the elusive money trail like a map to buried treasure.

After nearly an hour hunched over the massive book, frustration mounts. I’m no closer to unraveling this knotted financial web. If anything, the puzzle only seems to grow more convoluted the deeper I dig.

Leaning back with a sigh, I press the heels of my hands to dry eyes. There must be something I’m missing, some pattern lurking just out of sight. I glare down at the inscrutable columns, willing them to divulge their secrets.

As I reach for the crystal tumbler of whiskey left out on the desk, a flash of color catches my eye—the edge of a paper stuck haphazardly from the ledger’s spine. Frowning, I tug it free and unfold the rumpled sheet covered in columns of handwritten calculations.

The numbers here are much smaller, showing transfers of a few hundred dollars. I flip through the ledger to verify against the official records—none of these transactions appear in the books, completely off the books. Strange...

I smooth out the paper across the desk, scanning the details sharply. The back-of-the-napkin math tracks payments to an account I don’t recognize, some entity called “Red Creek Holdings”. Thousands of dollars siphoned away bit by bit, all meticulously documented in black ink.

Icy dread trickles down my spine as the enormity hits me—this is indisputable proof of systematic embezzlement from my family’s business. Someone has been bleeding the DeLux dry right under our noses, covering their tracks all the while.

Hands shaking, I reach for the ledger book to cross-check the official accounts again. As I turn to the section for this quarter, several ragged edges catch my eye—the bottom corner of multiple pages has been torn out in one block, records vanished.

Unmitigated fury surges through me at this willful destruction of vital documents, clearly meant to disguise the thefts. When I get my hands on whoever desecrated these books, Uncle Luci’s punishment will seem merciful in comparison!

Mind racing, I snap photos of the suspicious note and damaged ledger with my phone. Although this is concrete evidence of criminal malfeasance, I hesitate to involve Lucifer in accusations without ironclad proof.

My priority is tracking down the missing ledger pages to get the complete record. I carefully return the book to its shelf inside the safe, stowing the damning note in my pocket. After relocking the safe, I turn to go, thoughts swirling with plans.

Sudden movement in the shadowed doorway makes me gasp, body tensing. I’m not alone. Squaring my shoulders, I stand tall and fix the looming figure with a piercing look. “Reveal yourself,” I demand coolly. Fear is a weakness I cannot afford to show, no matter the unseen threat.

A familiar gravelly voice emerges from the darkness as the interloper steps forward into the weak light. “Apologies for startling you. I thought you could use some assistance.”

My pulse spikes again for wholly different reasons as I take in the broad figure now before me, impeccably suited and collected. Kane. Lucifer’s cunning head of security operations, and a known merciless demon.

“Everything is under control, thank you,” I reply crisply, keeping my tone from betraying a thing. I make to sweep past him towards the doors, but Kane sidesteps into my path, ignoring my incensed glare.

“Please, have a seat,” he directs, infuriatingly calm as he gestures to the chair I just vacated. “I believe this conversation is overdue between us.”

Simmering frustration wars with intrigue inside me. I despise Kane’s arrogant presumption, and yet... perhaps he aims to share information about the thefts? Against my better judgment, curiosity wins out. I retake my seat slowly, spine rigid.

Kane settles his imposing frame into the opposite chair, steepled fingers pressing to his chin as he regards me with unreadable garnet eyes.

When Kane remains silent, content watching me with unnerving intensity, my patience frays. “Well?” I bite out sharply. “You claimed to have valuable insights to share. I’m still waiting to hear them.”

One corner of his mouth curves in a humorless smile. “Direct and pragmatic, just as described. I can see why Lucifer relies on you these days.” His gaze bores into mine. “And therein lies the heart of the matter.”

I fight to keep confusion from my face at his cryptic remark. Before I can demand clarification, he continues on casually.

“It’s no secret your uncle’s judgment has been... compromised of late. He sees threats where none exist, and ignores those simmering right under his nose.”

My hackles raise instantly at the insult to Lucifer. “You overstep yourself,” I snap, half-rising from my seat. Kane’s sharp gesture makes me freeze.

“Poor choice of words, my apologies. Allow me to explain my concerns properly.” His placating tone does little to soothe my ruffled temper, but I retake my seat, watching him warily. Let’s see where this line of discussion leads.

Kane spreads his hands, the picture of forthright sincerity. “For decades now, Lucifer has relied on the same financial advisor, Dom Uphir—you know of him, yes?” At my curt nod, he continues. “By all accounts, Uphir’s dedication has never wavered. But what if loyalty blinded your uncle to malfeasance?”

My eyes narrow, thoughts racing as I process his implied accusation. Could Lucifer’s trusted advisor truly be behind the missing ledgers, the damning money trails?

Seeing he has my full attention, Kane presses on, intense as a circling shark. “Consider—Uphir’s role grants him unrestricted access to accounts, full discretion on transactions. Any irregularity could be easily dismissed as his usual obscure methods.”

I keep my face impassive, but his arguments spark doubt in my whirling mind. What Kane suggests is possible, however improbable it first seemed. And yet...

“You propose a significant theory,” I state carefully. “But proof remains lacking so far. Why not take your suspicions directly to Lucifer?”

At that, Kane smiles without humor. “Let’s simply say I prefer a more... delicate approach in this matter.”

The implication hits me fully then. As head of security, Kane likely suspects many within these walls. But even he dares not bring such accusations about Lucifer’s inner circle directly unless fully proven.

Unless, perhaps, they came from the boss’ beloved niece instead...

I turn this over silently as Kane looks on, calculating. I still don’t fully trust his motives, but if Uphir truly has betrayed us, that takes priority over petty disputes with Kane. Our clan must stand united against outside threats.

At long last, I nod slowly. “Very well. I will seek proof to confirm or refute these claims about Dom Uphir. And if your suspicions prove warranted...”

I trail off meaningfully, letting Kane fill in the rest—that I will present the evidence to Lucifer and recommend appropriate judgment. For good or ill, the axe will fall where it may, even on old loyalists. No one steals from the Morningstars unpunished.

Seeming to take my statement as a binding agreement, Kane rises smoothly, adjusting his cuffs. “Most prudent course of action. I look forward to witnessing these affairs reach a satisfactory resolution.” His smile looks almost sincere, but the predator still lurks inside those reptilian eyes.

With a respectful tip of his head, he turns for the door, pausing at the threshold. “And Helena—you may rely on my absolute confidentiality regarding our discussion. Lucifer need never know my small part.”

The words come heavy with significance. I merely nod in return. His cooperation will not soon be forgotten, whether or not his intelligence proves legitimate. Kane has wedged himself firmly into these delicate family matters, and I must now work around the scheming snake.

After Kane departs, I sag back into the chair, energy depleted. I passed this first real test, demonstrating cunning to match Lucifer’s infamous associate. Now time will tell if an alliance with the devil brings the justice I seek, or simply more snakes aiming to strike.