Bind (Manhattan Lux Book 1): Manhattan Lux Read online

  “Don’t say it.” Wyatt warned.

  Jinx narrowed her eyes. “Cowboy.”

  “Oh damn, that nickname’s gonna stick isn’t it?”

  “Looks like it,” Aiko interjected.

  “Oh well, what can I say. Violent women turn me on.”

  “Violent women—” Jinx began.

  “Goodness,” said a voice behind her. “The atmosphere in here is laden with ginger spice and sexual tension. Quick, someone open a window.”

  “Bryce!” Wyatt’s face lit up when he spotted the man, and when Jinx turned to get a look at him, she recognized him right away. Bryce Harrington, bestselling fiction author, looked just like his head shots. She knew he and Jack were friends, but she’d never met the man in person before.

  Lumbersexual, that was the word her sister had used to describe him. And Jinx had to admit he did kind of look like that, a lumberjack in a suit, rocking a man-bun and a face full of carefully cultivated scruff.

  “What a beard.” Aiko leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Thick and glossy and artfully groomed, like a prize winning dog or a bonsai tree.”

  Jinx stifled a laugh and observed the men, watching the three of them chat and clap each other on the backs. A band of bros.

  “What a delicious trio,” Aiko whispered again. “Which flavor is your favorite?”

  “Oh stop,” Jinx hissed back. “Have some professionalism.”

  “C’mon. Pick one.”

  Jinx twisted her mouth to hide her smile and then filled it with a forkful of basil chicken. She stole another glance as the men talked, deep in conversation now. Serious. Manly. Each of them in their own way. Jack, with his fancy suit and four-hundred dollar haircut was definitely hot, but too stuffy for her. Bryce—that sun-kissed bronze mane was impressive when he let it out of the bun, but long-haired guys had never really turned her on, even one that had a way with words.

  Her gaze shifted to Wyatt. Blue eyes, great build, straight nose, and bold jawline, now those were things she’d always liked. But he was kind of goofy. That, combined with the blond hair? It was like he was a giant toddler.

  “Choose,” Aiko insisted.

  “Why?” Jinx turned to her. “Are you planning on seducing one of them?”

  “Nope.” Aiko popped a dumpling in her mouth. “Just curious. If you had to choose one, which would it be? Your taste in men is so hard to pin down.”

  “No it’s not, I like—” What did she like? Huh. She wasn’t quite sure. Her love life had been rather dry of late. Boring. That’s how she’d describe the kind of guys she’d been dating. Nice. Sweet even. Dependable, polite, and dead fucking boring.

  “What?” asked Aiko. “What do you like?”

  “You know…I don’t think I even know anymore.”

  “Well it’s time to find out.” Wyatt’s voice boomed across the table.

  “W-what?” Jinx stammered.

  “What this is all about. Why we’re here. Ya know, the cloak and dagger etcetera.” Wyatt waggled his eyebrows and did some swoopy magician-ish movements with his hands.

  Jinx pressed a hand to her chest. For a second she’d thought he’d overheard her conversation with Aiko, but no, he was just being…a toddler.

  “Jack?” said Wyatt, gesturing to his cousin. “You want to explain?”

  “It’s complicated.” Jack sighed. “The matter is delicate and involves not only Glow, but Bryce as well. Because of this I’d rather not get the police involved. So Calvert Consulting will be handling everything,” Jack explained, referring to the New York firm he’d built from the ground up into one of the most successful and influential in the city.

  It was partly due to Calvert Consulting’s success that Glow had been a hotspot since it first opened its doors. Everyone in the city knew that if Jack Calvert had a hand in something, it was golden. As a consequence, Glow wasn’t just a place to have a good time and dance; business deals, careers, relationships and more were both created and destroyed in Glow’s VIP booths.

  “So what does that mean?” asked Jinx. “Everything?”

  “Whatever is needed,” said Jack. “When a client has a need for something a little…special, I handpick a group to satisfy that need. This situation is very special, so this group,” he gestured to the others at the table, “we’ve been working on it for some time now. Aiko, Wyatt, Malcolm, and myself.”

  “Working on what?” Jinx asked again as the men at the table exchanged looks. Silent communications—of what, she had no idea—but whatever it was, she was tired of it. “What about Bryce? Is he the client or—”

  “It’s complicated,” said Bryce, his jaw set hard.

  “Alright that’s it,” Jinx said. “Enough dicking around. Lay it out Jack, all of it. If I’m going to be involved, which it sounds like I am, then just spit it out. I’m a fucking grown-up, I can handle myself, I can keep a secret, and I can damn well go find a job somewhere else if you don’t start explaining in three…two…one—”

  “Somebody hacked Calvert Consulting’s network,” Aiko said in a rush. “Months ago, and they’re still doing it. They think we have no idea, obviously, but we do, and we’ve been watching them, well, on the network I mean, tracking the breaches, trying to figure out what’s going on.”

  “And who’s behind it,” added Jack.

  “Okay,” said Jinx, flashing her sister a look. “I’m not sure if I should be angry that you’ve obviously been keeping a major secret from me or happy that somebody finally busted out with some truth.”

  “Probably both,” said Aiko with a shrug.

  “Probably.” Jinx pointed at Bryce. “More truth please. What’s all this got to do with him? And the first person to say “It’s complicated”, gets punched.”

  “I’ve been working for him too,” Wyatt explained. “After I left the SEALs—”

  Jinx interrupted. “Oh so you’re really a SEAL then? That’s not another lie?”

  “Former,” said Wyatt. “Yeah, look.” He held up his hand. “Got the commemorative ring and everything.”

  “Happy Meal prize?” Jinx said.

  “Ha ha.”

  “Wyatt worked for me as private security when he left the SEALs,” Bryce said. “And thank God he did. He was the only one I could turn to when Daisy went missing.”

  “Daisy?” Jinx asked. “We had a Daisy that worked at the club. Why do I get the feeling—”

  “That’s her. My step-sister,” Bryce confirmed. “She’s…troubled. Drugs and several other issues.”

  “I suspected she had substance problems, but I didn’t know she was missing. I’m sorry. She stopped showing up for her shift. I assumed she’d moved on, found something more suited to her.”

  “You’re being diplomatic,” Bryce said. “That’s kind of you. Daisy is a nightmare, I know it. She and I are not close, never have been. Still, she’s family and it’s not like her to go off the grid this long.”

  “Yeah, usually she manages to pop up every two weeks, at least, to hit you up for cash,” Wyatt grumbled.

  “Wyatt,” Jack said, sighing.

  “No it’s fine,” Bryce interrupted. “He’s absolutely right. I’m afraid I haven’t always handled things with Daisy as well as I could have. I’m sure some of the blame for her…life choices…probably lies with me. I appreciate you giving her a chance Jack. I’m sorry she blew it, and I hope to hell that Wyatt’s wrong, that Daisy didn’t have anything to do with this.”

  “You have nothing to apologize for,” Jack shook his head. “And I really don’t think Daisy’s involved.”

  “I do,” Wyatt said solemnly. “Besides, we have her on tape.”

  “What we have on tape could be misleading. The timing could just be a coincidence,” Jack argued.

  “I don’t believe in coincidences.” Wyatt shook his head. “No, she’s involved somehow and I’m going to find out who was helping her. Who, what, when, why—”

  “And how,” said Jinx. “Yeah that’s what I really want t
o know. How the fuck did she manage it?”

  Jinx felt her breathing quicken, heard the pitch of her voice get a little higher, a little too loud. But she was angry dammit. Who did this Daisy chick think she was? It was cute that Bryce had thanked Jack for giving her a chance, because he really hadn’t done much had he? It was Jinx who’d interviewed her and then gave her the job at Jack’s request although she wasn’t exactly qualified, even for a junior cocktail waitress position. Glow paid well, trained, and even had a work/study program, for staff who wanted to go back to school. Giving Daisy a job had meant not giving one to someone else. Someone who, in light of today’s revelations, probably would’ve been way more deserving.

  “Jack may own Glow,” Jinx continued, “but it’s my responsibility.”

  “It’s your passion,” Jack interjected. “And I’m grateful for it. It wouldn’t be the success it is without your leadership.”

  She shot him a thin smile. It was the first he’d said as much all day, and it was nice to hear, even if she was still annoyed at him for keeping all of this from her to begin with.

  Wait…Wyatt had said “Who.” Realization suddenly dawned. Who was helping her?

  “You thought it was me!” Jinx said, wide eyed, a new flash of anger crackling up her spine. “You thought I was the breach. That’s why all the subterfuge and the break in and the interview today…and all of it. Oh my God.”

  “Ding ding ding!” said Aiko with a grin. “And the prize goes to—”

  “You knew about this!” Jinx reeled on her sister. “You knew and didn’t tell them I was innocent, or tell me that they suspected—”

  “Oh stop. Of course no one thought it was you. ” Aiko reached for her water glass, found it empty, and then strained across the table to snag Jack’s and drain it.

  “Hey,” Jack complained. Aiko shrugged at him and crunched ice.

  “No one ever thought it was you, Jinx.” Wyatt’s voice was quiet, apologetic.

  “Then, someone close to me,” Jinx said, speaking aloud what must have been their next assumption. She felt sick. “Somebody at the club other than Daisy. Someone with access. Which could only be someone I trust. Someone who’s deceiving me.”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re right,” Jinx said, trying to keep tremor out of her voice. “Fuck. You’re right. But Jack, the staff at Glow…you know…we’re a tribe, a family.”

  A silence fell over the table. Forks were set down and solemnity set in.

  “Somebody’s not,” said Aiko. “Somebody is a traitor with a capital T.

  “Holy actual fuck,” Jinx said. “I cannot for the life of me think of who it could be. Jesus!” She slammed her hand down on the table in frustration. “What is going on?”

  Wyatt’s hand snaked across the table, found hers, and squeezed.

  “That’s what I’m going to find out,” he said. Blue eyes met hers, and held. “And you’re going to help me.”

  Chapter Four

  Lunch ran long. Wyatt understood. Jinx had questions. Lots and lots of questions. Angry questions mostly. But hey, he’d be pissed too if he’d just found out there was a fox in his henhouse. Or, wait, was that the right phrase for it?

  Whatever, some kind of sneaky animal metaphor always seemed to apply in situations like these. Pick one.

  Damn, his knee was aching like a motherfucker, and all his patience for this conversation was just about used up. He needed to get out of this cramped booth and stretch, and move all these civilians on to the next phase of the plan. Nobody ever caught the bad guy sipping plum wine and nom-ing on crispy beef.

  “Listen, let’s wrap this up, if that’s alright. I’d like to squeeze a nap in before the club opens tonight.”

  “You’re starting tonight?” Jinx asked.

  “No time like the present. And you guys are genuinely in need of a new head of security. Seeing as the old one was fired last night.”

  “Oh my God.” Jinx clamped a hand over her mouth, and right away Wyatt knew where her head had jumped. She thought she’d missed yet another traitor in her midst, that last night’s drama had been more of the same bad business as today’s.

  Wyatt waved at her, trying to fan that idea out of her head.

  “Jack,” she said, ignoring Wyatt’s flapping. “If you tell me Damon was yet another employee that was involved in all of this I’ll scream. And then I’ll fire myself for you.”

  Well shit.

  “No,” Jack said. “Turns out, he’s a horrible human being, but not our breach. Damon beat up his girlfriend two nights ago. There was a warrant out for him. Aiko spotted it.

  Aiko nodded. “I’ve got alerts set up for that sort of thing.”

  “As soon as she told me I got in touch with NYPD and he was picked up outside on his way home, so that we could avoid a scene and the press that goes with it.”

  “You didn’t tell me,” Jinx said.

  “I’m telling you now.”

  “Fine.” Jinx sighed. “What do we do? What’s next?”

  Wyatt stood up from the table and walked a few feet away, giving his legs a bit of a shake as he went, hoping he could just walk it off. Ow. Not likely.

  “C’mon,” he grumbled. Stepping into the restaurant’s back hallway, he turned and held the door open just as Jinx followed him through. “I told you guys. It’s nap time.”

  Jinx mumbled something under her breath as she brushed past him.

  “What was that?” Wyatt shot a hand out, stopping her with a quick pinch and pull on the fabric of her jacket.

  “I said you’re a toddler,” she replied over her shoulder.

  “Aw…now that’s just mean.”

  “Hey, if the Huggies fit, man,” Aiko quipped as she joined them.

  “I don’t wear pull-ups!” Wyatt called as they walked ahead of him, passing through the busy restaurant and out onto the street where Malcolm was waiting by Jack’s Bentley.

  “Ladies I’m offended,” he said when he caught up with them. “I’m strictly an Underoos man. Batman. Twenty-four seven, three-sixty-five.”

  “Ewwww.” Jinx looked up at him, shielding her eyes from the bright afternoon sun. “You should wash those things occasionally.”

  Malcolm held the door open for her, and Jinx climbed inside the car, leaving Wyatt on the sidewalk biting back a smile.

  She’s coming around, he thought. Calvert charm for the win.

  “Hey,” he said, climbing in the car after her. “You’re right. Tonight…I’ll go commando.”

  Jack had taken a taxi to an afternoon appointment, generously allowing Malcolm to drive Aiko, Jinx and Wyatt back to Calvert Tower. The building was host not only to Glow, but also several floors of luxury apartments that counted as some of the city’s most coveted living spaces. As employees of Calvert Inc, Jinx and Aiko shared one such apartment, a major perk of having a mogul for a boss. Apparently Wyatt was now a beneficiary of those perks as well, because Malcolm had informed them during the drive that Wyatt’s things had been moved from his tiny room at Bryce’s place to an apartment at Calvert Tower.

  Aiko pushed the button for the fourth floor as the rest of them filed into the lobby elevator, and then turned to Wyatt and stood on tiptoes to reach up and muss his hair. “Poor wittle tyke,” she said. “You’re just pooped aren’t ya?”

  “Knock it off.” Wyatt swatted her hand away.

  “Well don’t worry, we’ll get you that nap real soon.”

  The elevator door opened, and Aiko led them down the hallway towards the apartment the sisters shared.

  “Did you hit the button for the wrong floor?” Jinx asked, wondering why on earth they were now walking toward her own apartment.

  “He’s staying here,” Aiko said, and Jinx tensed up. “In the unit next to ours.”

  The tension released. That made a little more sense, sort of. But—

  “That unit’s empty?” Jinx asked.

  “Yeah the tenant just moved to LA.” Aiko fished out a set of keys from
her purse and handed them to Malcolm so that he could open the door. “Jack asked me to save it for Wyatt. I had it cleaned and furnished this week. So it’s all ready.”

  Malcolm threw open the door to the apartment, and a rush of stale air whooshed over them. The interior was dark, barren of furniture, and freezing cold. Alone in the center of the hardwood floor sat a single khaki duffle bag.

  “My stuff!” Wyatt exclaimed, heading for the bag.

  “Well,” said Aiko. “This is quite the fuckup. Now I get to fire people.” She disappeared down a hallway and called back to them. “Thermostat appears to be busted. Thinks it’s a toasty 75 in here and…” her voice got louder as she returned, “it’s obviously not. Well no biggie. Grab your shit Wyatt, you’re staying with us.”

  Shit. No, that’s not cool at all.

  “I don’t want to put y’all out,” Wyatt said, picking up his bag.

  Jinx nodded. She totally agreed with that. The giant grinning toddler should go right back to Bryce’s. That was the obvious choice here.

  “Nonsense.” Aiko waved him off, and ushered everyone towards the door. “You need to be here, remember? In the building? For the purposes of sneakery and investigation?”

  “True.” He nodded. “Still, I feel bad. Maybe I can crash downstairs? Got a sofa in one of the offices?”

  “That’s a great idea!” Jinx said. “There’s one in the break room, you can use that. And there’s a gym right next door to Glow. They’ve got showers—”

  “No!” Aiko closed the apartment door, locked it, took Wyatt’s duffle from him, and headed down the hallway. “We’ve got a perfectly good spare room with its own full bath.”

  “Aiko, he doesn’t mind,” Jinx protested.

  “Don’t be stupid. He’s staying with us.” Aiko dropped Wyatt’s bag in front of apartment 401A and then headed for the bank of elevators with Malcolm.

  “Where are you going?” Jinx chased after her sister. If Aiko thought Jinx was going to play hostess to this guy alone, she was crazy.