The Price of Winning: London Calling Book Four (17 page)

She picked it up and tapped it against her palm as she walked over to the small writing desk in one corner of the room.

Her decision was made.

She dropped the letter in the waste can then left her quarters, head held high without looking back.

***

Later that afternoon Bas sat at the desk in his office at Club Hobart. In front of him lay his notebook containing all the plans for the upcoming visit by the Russians.
 

His trip to Moscow had been fruitful in terms of contacts. It was a city rife with corruption and vice. Even places as distinguished as the Bolshoi weren’t above the stain of depravity.
 

He tapped a name on his list. It had been that man who’d provided Bas with tickets to Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet. It had been an exclusive event with an elite guest list. Politicians, celebrities, and businesspeople had rubbed shoulders alongside criminals and gang leaders.

He’d been horrified to learn that the whispers regarding the ballet were fact. For years there had been rumors about sexual favors being demanded in return for prime positions within the troupe. On the day he and Madeleine arrived in Moscow, he’d met with a former prima donna. She’d confirmed his suspicions, calling the Bolshoi a glorified bordello.
 

Sebastian had seen red. He and Angeline had been investigating the European sex trade for years. He had his own reasons for despising the Russian faction, but they were bolstered by what he’d found.

With the tip of one finger, he circled the list in his notebook. He couldn’t invite them all, but he swore he’d get to them, every last one of them. He picked up a pen and jotted the date in the margin of a fresh page. Maybe it wasn’t too late to include one or two more that he’d previously crossed off.

There was a brief knock then the door to his office opened. Startled, his pen skittered across the paper, marking a jagged line.

He swore. Why did he keep forgetting to lock the damn door?

Angeline walked in. Surprised, he closed his notebook and folded his hands over it.

“Angeline. To what do I owe the pleasure?” She rarely came to Club Hobart.
 

She crossed the room to sit down in one of the armchairs facing him, her purse tucked neatly in her lap. She crossed her ankles beneath the chair.
 

Sebastian raised his eyebrows. She had an uncanny knack for making him feel younger than his years.
 

“I’m sorry to show up unannounced, but it couldn’t wait.”
 

Her posture was painfully upright. Sebastian started to worry.
 

“I want you to cancel the poker tourney.” She uttered the words baldly.
 

“What?” His head jerked back. “You know I can’t do that. Why would I want to?”

She leaned in, hand on one knee. “Because it’s too dangerous. I’m afraid you’ve become reckless.” She studied him, her lips pressed together. “We made rules, Sebastian. Club Hobart was never supposed to be used as a direct front for criminal activity. Its use was passive, only intended to fund our work while possibly exposing new targets. You’ve invited the Russians to come here for
three days
.” She paused, raising her chin. “Don’t you think it’s possible they might figure out the common denominator among the guest list?”

“They might have, but I’ve edited the list, inviting people completely unrelated to who we’re after.” There went his plan to try to capture more predators. He made a mental note to leave the list as it was. “Everything will be fine, I promise.”

“Then why are you sending Dominic and Natalie away? If there’s no cause for concern, then surely they could stay? Provide some sort of backup?”

He huffed out a breath. “Martin would skin me alive if Natalie came within thirty feet of these men. You know that.”

“Exactly.” She jabbed a finger into the air between them. “Exactly. In your eagerness to rush this, you’ve forgotten exactly what kind of people we’re dealing with.”

Sebastian’s entire body felt warm. He rubbed at his chest, worrying an old scar. “With respect, you’re out of line.” He exhaled a long breath. He owed her an explanation. He leaned forward, intent. “I don’t need to be reminded of the type of people they are, Angeline.” He pulled at his collar, exposing his collarbone and three of the round cigarette burns that scarred him. “It was Russian child traffickers that kidnapped me when I was ten.”

She gasped, sitting back in her seat. Briefly, she pressed a hand over her mouth then lowered it back to her lap.
 

Long moments ticked by while she processed what he said.

She shifted in her chair, tugging at her Chanel jacket. “So this is personal.”
 

Sebastian vehemently shook his head. “No.” He drummed his fingers on the leather top of his desk. “
Yes
. But it’s not emotional. My kidnappers were never caught, but these aren’t the same people.
I know that
.”

She tilted her head. “I’m not sure I follow what the purpose is of this tournament. I’m simply not getting it.” She frowned. “Why would you put yourself and your business at risk this way? What do you hope to gain?”
 

This was it, the question he’d feared.
 

He and Angeline went back years now. He simply couldn’t lie to her, not about something so important.

“I hope to gain their trust. Three days with the people I’ve invited should make them feel comfortable with me. I’m hoping they let down their guards. You know how difficult it’s been to get anywhere with this group.”
 

Angeline tugged at her necklace, looking out the window behind Sebastian’s left shoulder. “You want to infiltrate a Russian sex-trafficking ring.” Her voice was quiet. “Do I have that right?”

Sebastian bit back an automatic denial. He would
not
lie to her. “Yes.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Only to get information. Then I’m out.”

She cocked her head, bending forward. “If they found out, they could
kill
you.” She turned her head, looking away. “Or someone close to you.”

He rushed to defend his plan. “No, I’ve thought of all that. As you know, Natalie and Martin will go to Austria—to a nice spa I’ve booked.” He waved his hand in Angeline’s direction. “I was going to call you tonight, ask if you would do me the favor of hosting Madeleine on Jersey.”
 

“Does she know? What you’re doing?”
 

Sebastian opened his mouth then closed it again, unsure of what to say. With one finger he traced the design in the embossed leather blotter.

“Bas?” Angeline tapped her nail on the desk, swinging his attention back to her. “Don’t you think she’d want to know?”

Obviously, Angeline had figured out that he and Madeleine were involved. The woman missed nothing.

He sighed. “She’s doing so much better. The last thing I want to do is cause her a setback. There’s no need to inflict undue worry on her. By the time she gets back, everyone will be gone, and she’ll be none the wiser.”

Angeline was slowly shaking her head back and forth. “I think your thirst for vengeance is clouding your judgment.” She smoothed a hand over her hair. “It could cost you, Bas. Trust me, I know.”

Sebastian slumped back in his chair. “I do trust you. And you need to do the same with me. I’m not going to do anything that would harm a single hair on Madeleine’s head.” He felt a curious tightness in his chest. He rubbed the spot just over his heart. “You knew about the kidnapping when I was ten.”
 

Angeline nodded.

“What I never told you was that I wasn’t taken alone. I lost someone very close to me.”

“No, I never knew that.” She stopped, visibly swallowing. “I’m so sorry, Sebastian. More than I can say.”

“Thank you. I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad. I’m saying it so you know I’d never risk anyone I cared about.”

She nodded again, unusually quiet. “I’m leaving to return to Jersey early tomorrow. I’ll prepare Madeleine’s room.” She rose, smoothing her skirt. “Be careful, Sebastian.”

He escorted her to the door, closing it softly behind her.

Now he just needed to think of something to tell Madeleine.

***

Phone in hand, Angeline stood in the lobby of Dominic’s Canary Wharf building, tapping in a text.

I’m downstairs.
 

She’d wasted no time leaving Club Hobart to get across town. She’d phoned him in the taxi, confirming that he was in.
 

The elevator pinged, and he came walking out, brow creased, with phone in hand.
 

“Hey,” he said. “What brings you to London?”

“We need to talk. Privately.” She indicated the elevator with a tilt of her head. “Shall we?”

They rode upstairs in silence. He held open the door to his home for her, waving her inside. “Natalie and I were just having a drink on the terrace. Would you like some wine?”

She accepted a glass of perfectly chilled Chardonnay.
 

She looked around, taking in the size and scale of the condo. Tall ceilings ensured the space was light and airy. Windows lined one wall. Natalie came through the door leading to the terrace.

“Hello, Angeline. I see Dom poured you some wine, but would you like anything to eat? It’s no bother, just a phone call away.” She waved to the wall-mounted unit that rang downstairs.
 

Angeline shook her head. “No, but thank you.”
 

Natalie led the way to the living area. “Please, have a seat.” She arranged herself on a low, mid-century leather couch with a button-tufted back. “Is it okay for me to stay? Otherwise, I can step in the other room.”

Angeline followed suit, taking a chair situated ninety degrees to Natalie’s left. She clasped her wine glass, holding it aloft. “I’m here to discuss Bas, as he pertains to me and Dominic.” She knew Natalie was Sebastian’s director of operations. “Although, what I’m going to tell you does involve Club Hobart.”

Dominic strolled over, handing Natalie her wine. He sat down beside her, one hand resting lightly on her knee.

“You can speak freely, Angeline. I don’t keep secrets from Nat.”

Angeline nodded, satisfied. “I’m about to ruin the vacation you have planned.” She took a sip of her wine. “Sebastian booked you into a spa to keep you both out of the club while he hosts a variety of Russian businessmen who we know to be involved in Russia’s sex trade.” She turned her attention to Dominic. “If you recall, we confronted him months ago.”

Dominic shifted forward, setting his wine onto a marble-topped coffee table. “I remember,” he said. “I thought he agreed to call it off, think of another way. We said we’d all put our heads to it. I just figured he’d decided against the idea.”

“I remember this too.” Natalie joined the conversation. “It was months ago, but he put together a list of prominent businessmen and asked me to scout whether they’d have interest in a Three Card Poker tournament at Club Hobart. I gave him the information I gathered but never heard any more from him.” She shrugged, facing her palms upward. “I don’t see how he’s gone forward with arranging something this big without my knowledge.”

“I have no idea how, but apparently he has,” Angeline said. “And to satisfy our concerns for safety, he’s simply arranged for you both to be out of town. Apparently, I’ll be hosting Madeleine on Jersey. He has it all stitched up.”

Dominic flopped back on the couch, one arm splayed along its back behind Natalie. “I’ll be damned. He suckered us.”

Angeline nodded.
 

“What should we do?” The question came from Natalie. She rose to walk back to the kitchen island where the wine sat chilling in a bucket. She grabbed the bottle, heedlessly dripping water on the floor. She gestured with it toward Dominic. “I told you he shouldn’t be underestimated. And it looks like I was guilty of it too. I can’t believe he’s kept this from me. He’s inviting rapists to the club.”

Dominic cracked his neck. “The man needs to have the shit beat out of him.” He looked directly at Angeline. “Knowing you, you have a plan?”

Angeline held her glass out to receive a refill. “I do, but I need to talk it through.”

Natalie sat. Dominic draped an arm around her after topping up Angeline’s glass. “Okay, shoot.”

“First off, you should know a little about Sebastian. It isn’t that he’s normally so reckless. But this is personal for him.” She closed her eyes briefly. “Natalie, you might know this since you’re British, but it was a long time ago. You’d have been young.” Angeline hoped she was doing the right thing. She knew how terrible it could be when the past reared its head. “Sebastian was kidnapped when he was ten.” A collective gasp came from Natalie and Dom. “He was taken by Russians involved in child trafficking. They weren’t trying to keep him, just earn a ransom. They got away with it.”

She wouldn’t mention the part where he hadn’t been alone. Surely, that was Sebastian’s story to tell if he wanted. As it was, she was certain there was far more to the tale than he’d shared.

“His judgment is impaired. He thinks he’s doing the right thing, helping children by busting up the ring.”

“He’s right,” Natalie interjected.
 

“Yes, he is. But he’s not being safe. He’s going at it alone, like a vigilante. He’s convinced himself everything will be fine as long as he gets the people he cares about out of the picture.” Angeline exhaled a long breath. A part of her recognized herself from all those years ago. “But these men aren’t only involved in pornography and prostitution. They sell children as sex slaves. They’ll murder someone to avoid being caught.”

Dominic tipped his head back to look upward. “So we let him think we’ve left but we stay?” He shook his head. “I don’t want Natalie anywhere near this.”

“Hey, I can think for myself.” She looked between Angeline and Dom. Her lips quirked. “I don’t want to be anywhere near this.”

Dominic squeezed her shoulder. “Good girl. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to think straight knowing you were within fifty miles of this mess. I’d be distracted.”