Part 16 (2/2)

”Because I had to do a deal with a very bad man. Do you remember all the men who were with Dominic the night we took Violet back? There was one man who swore to tell everything he knew. None of us or the police listened. I've been to see him. He's British and was deported back to his own country. I went to see him.” Tate explained everything in detail. ”His name is Dane Wood. From everything he's told me, Eugene and Dominic had a deal. Together they would export and import women to be sold on the black market. He can link the two together.”

”Black and Green? Are you f.u.c.king serious?” Sean asked.

”Doesn't matter about their last names.”

”What does Dane want in the process?” Stephen asked. He would pay a great deal to see Eugene off the streets.

”He wants out of prison. Dane said he didn't change one prison for another. His family owned Dominic a debt. Dane paid it with his service. With his boss gone, his service is over,” Tate said.

”We can't get him out of jail,” James said. ”He's a criminal.”

”A criminal with a lot of information and evidence, which is what we don't have.” Stephen ran his fingers through his hair. ”I'll make the call. You get in touch with Dane and have everything set up soon. I'll get my lawyer to him. You've got to make sure he'll talk.”

”There is another catch,” Tate said.

”What?”

”He wants in on the club. A complete new life. His old life will end with him being a.s.sumed dead or something like that. No one from his old life knows about him. He doesn't want to go back to England.” Tate continued explaining all the details.

”I can't guarantee that.”

”You don't know the full extent of what this guy knows. He could be a huge help to our own government as well as added protection over here. He's a big man with a h.e.l.l of a lot of power. My best guess as to why he's waited this long is because he'd been waiting for the right people to get in touch with him.”

Everything Tate said made sense. Stephen knew he'd have to do a deal. ”Call him. We'll get this sorted out. Remind him this could take a few months. None of us are judges or lawyers, but we'll get everything paid so he gets a decent hearing and whatever else he needs.”

”There is no way we could work to have a criminal transferred. We don't have that kind of power,” James said.

”We don't have that kind of power, but my contacts who were after Dominic will want whatever information this Dane has to help bring down other criminals. They'll make a deal. It will take time and will require a guarantee that he'll be watched. Sean and I can provide that,” Lucas said.

”I don't like it, but at this moment that's our only option,” Tate said.

They all nodded in agreement. There was nothing else they could do. Everyone left the office apart from James.

”Do you have any f.u.c.king clue what you're doing?” James asked the moment the door closed giving them privacy.

”I'm doing what needs to be done. We can't take Eugene down. We don't know where he is or what he's doing. This is our only shot.” Stephen stood up to leave the office.

”You're talking about housing a criminal!”

”I'm talking about saving the f.u.c.king club and protecting my woman. I don't give a s.h.i.+t about anything else. If you've got a better idea I'm all ears, but until you do, I'm taking the criminal.” He slammed out of the office to see Ursula waiting for him. Violet was leaving with Cadeon.

James walked out of the office. He ignored Stephen and went straight to Ursula. ”You're a lovely girl. Please, keep an eye on this one.” Then he walked out.

”Are you ready to leave?”

”Yes.”

The drive home was quiet, and when they walked inside Stephen went straight to his office. He phoned his lawyer giving him a run-down of all the problems happening with the club. His lawyer sounded p.i.s.sed with the instructions, but he agreed to sort it out. After some time, Stephen shut down the computer and took a small drink of whiskey before making his way upstairs. The light in the bedroom was off. Ursula lay in the bed. He didn't know if she was asleep or not.

He threw his clothes to the floor getting in behind her. ”I love you,” he said.

”I love you, too.”

Stephen wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. There was nothing he wouldn't do to keep her safe.

”Make love to me, Stephen.”

Turning her to him, he kissed her deeply. For the rest of the night he loved her body showing her with more than words how much he loved her.

Chapter Seventeen.

Over the next few days Ursula spent as much time at Possession as possible. She liked the comfort it provided. Also, she didn't have to stay at home while Stephen went to the club. Most of the time Violet sat in one area waiting for Cadeon, but Ursula liked exploring every area of the club. All the rooms were a mystery to her. The staff opened up to her about the running of the club. She liked being at the club while Stephen went about his business. After they'd made love a few nights ago, he'd told her everything that was happening at the club. She had learned a great deal about the problems.

All she wanted to do was help him the best way she could. He liked her presence, and it helped him deal with everything. There were a lot of discussions with several men entering his office. James stopped by to see her, but Sean and Lucas spent a great deal of time with her. The other men who frequented the club left her alone. She liked knowing she'd have peace and quiet.

Her family were excited about her engagement. Ruby was nervous about her marrying so young. She knew the moment her mother came to town she'd be instructed to take a pregnancy test. Ursula smiled at the thought. Stephen hadn't known she was on birth control. When she'd told him she was, he'd asked her to stop taking it. She didn't want to start a family straight away. Spending time with the man she loved meant more to her than anything else.

Lucas stopped near where she stood waiting for Stephen outside his office. He began talking, and soon she was hanging onto his every word as he told a joke. When it got to the punch line Ursula couldn't help but chuckle. He always made her laugh, and she found him charming.

”I'd better go inside and see what the damage is.”

”He's been in a good mood,” she said.

A picture fell out of his back pocket. She reached out for it.

”Lucas, wait.” She picked up the photo. He turned to her. ”You dropped this.” She gave him the photo.

”Thanks,” he said, taking it from her. She noticed he hesitated a few moments while staring down at the picture. ”It's my sister. She's, erm, she's not with us anymore, but I like to keep a picture of her with me.” He showed her the woman in the photo. Ursula frowned. She recognised her.

”I know her.”

Sean walked into the hall before Lucas had a chance to talk. ”What are you looking at?” He saw the photo. Lucas pushed him out of the way.

”What do you mean you've seen her?” He moved closer. She knew something was wrong.

”I thought I'd seen her, but if you said she's gone then it can't be her,” Ursula said. Lucas looked frightened.

”When did you see her?” Lucas asked.

”Wait, what's going on?” Sean tried to move Lucas out of the way.

”She knows where Isabella is.”

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