Auctioned Mates Revenge
Chapter 38

Matt's POV

I adjusted my cuffs and turned to Grace.

"Grace," I said. "Come with me."

She nodded. I went to the office to grab the file and a few others filled with documents. I'd been preparing for Mordecai's visit and handed the stack to her.

"You won't have to do anything but observe and hand me the dark blue file when prompted. Play the scene as you feel it."

Grace took the file and nodded, squaring her shoulders and putting on a demure smile.

She'd been around Mordecai before, but the glimmer of fear in her eyes made me wonder if there was more to Mordecai's visit than Club Heaven.

I led her to the front foyer where Mordecai was looking around as if he was curious. I knew better.

He wanted information. He might not have told Ben about my actions here in Midnight, but he would soon.

It would be good to start driving a wedge between them as soon as possible.

"Alpha Mordecai," I greeted. He turned and gave me a bright smile.

His eyes jumped to Grace and turned heated. I could almost feel her fear and apprehension, but she didn't flinch or try to escape. Maybe she believed me, or maybe she was just conditioned to follow orders. He took my hand and shook it firmly, "Oh, don't stand on ceremony, little Matt! I've known you since you were a kid."

He looked at me with annoyed fondness, "You've gotten even bigger since the last time I saw you! What's your secret?"

Mordecai was a big man already, broad-shouldered and covered in enough muscle that he could break a man's neck easily, but we were nearly eye to eye now.

I smirked, "Wolfsbane whiskey and dividends."

He cackled, "Atta boy! Poor form not to let me know you were coming!"

I chuckled and withdrew my hand, "I didn't want you to roll out the welcome wagon. Come on back. What brings you here?"

I led him past the demolished bar and dust curtains. Grace trailed just behind me and on the other side away from Mordecai though he seemed to be trying to walk closer to her.

His eyes widened and his eyebrows shot up when I looked back at him.

"Mind the dust and stray nails."

Mordecai eyed the edge of the dust curtains warily.

"When it came through the pipelines that you'd bought Club Heaven I was surprised. I didn't realize old Benny was going into entertainment."

"He indulges more than most, so I don't think he'd have a future in keeping his business and pleasure separate."

Mordecai laughed, "Ah, I guess not. I'm surprised another Sonia hasn't popped up!"

Sonia played dumb, but she knew enough to make sure Ben's eyes never wandered. Whether that was because she was a talented mistress or a cunning blackmailer, I didn't care.

We reached one of the completed parlors I had them working on in preparation for Mordecai's visit. In place of the tacky decorations, I'd placed tasteful art and plush lounge couches.

It could just as easily be a cigar parlor as a themed s*x room due to the dark, tasteful furniture.

Mordecai let out a low whistle, "Is this the direction you're going in?"

"People like luxury," I said and sank onto one of the couches. "It's more believable that you have it if you show it with class."

Mordecai chuckled, "Can't say I missed the purple. I won't keep you long. Seems like you've got your work ahead of you. I noticed you registered Club Heaven under your profile here instead of a Warhammer property."

"I like to keep my business separate from Ben's."

"Oh?" Mordecai said, lightly, but the tension in his posture gave him away. "You're his eldest son. From what the news reports say, it seems like all of your business is Warhammer business."

He hadn't been expecting that or he didn't believe me. Either way, he was suspicious. It seemed like Ben had been keeping secrets from his old pal. Maybe he suspected Ben of cutting him short on a deal of some sort. If I played my cards right, Mordecai would tell me everything I needed to know to break their relationship. He was a greedy fucker, and if there was one thing he was sure of, it was that I knew how to make money.

I smirked, "Come on then, Mordecai. Don't you know better than to trust anything Ben says on the news?"

His eyes narrowed just a bit with knowing interest and curiosity. His eyes trailed across my face the way they always did when he was thinking of my mother.

This son of a bitch knew the truth about my mother's death and why she was put in the mental hospital.

A bolt of rage went through me. Ben told a lot of lies on television, but I hadn't expected Mordecai to know how many and how often. I made a note to figure out what else he knew for sure before I killed him.

"Hm, well, I won't interfere with father-son business where I don't have to. So long as you pay your taxes and don't cause a fuss here, I don't mind keeping your secret."

I laughed, "Thanks for it I'll be sure to pay you back."

Mordecai's gaze drifted, "Still, I'd prefer Club Heaven's staff to remain in Midnight employment."

He smirked, "Cindy and the others, how much do you want to surrender their employment contracts?"

I heard Grace's heart start to beat in double time. I heard her hands tighten just a bit on the folders in her hands. She was terrified.

I'd have to ask Owen how long he'd been with Mordecai and ask Grace what else she knew about them.

"How much are you offering?"

"Let's start with... fifty grand for Cindy and ten a piece for the others." He smirked, "Cindy's a well-known face in the upper circles, well-loved."

I just bet she was. Mordecai wanted Grace so badly he was showing his hands willfully. This was a good thing for my purposes

Especially if he got pissed off enough to make a mistake I could capitalize.

For now, I just needed him out before Grace slipped into an episode like Renda had.

Did Grace count objects and sob or was it something worse than that?

"Fifty, hm?" I hummed, pretending to think about it. "I don't think so."

Mordecai lifted an eyebrow, "Sixty?"

I shook my head, "You see, Cindy has proven more useful, more lucrative to me as an assistant to keep the others in line and cooperative. She was Felix's bottom."

Mordecai's jaw shifted a bit with agitation. Bottom, meaning the lead prostitute in charge of others, was how several women who had been used for various on-the-street promotions referred to Grace.

I learned back in school that the right jargon opened more doors than money did sometimes.

It was enough to let Mordecai know that I knew Grace's worth was more than monetary and I wouldn't be giving her up easily.

"I was told businesses should offer... goodwill, and since I'm making a bit of a wave, I have a gift for you and a proposition."

Mordecai frowned as I lifted his hand. Grace slipped the blue folder into my hand without a sound and I set it on the table. "The gift."

Mordecai looked down at the folder.

"And the proposition?"

"Sinner's Haven. Give it to me and I'll make it lucrative."

Mordecai's eyes narrowed and he picked up the folder as I relaxed watching his face.

"I know what you're used to dealing with, so think on it," I watched his eyes grow hard as he read through the documents. "Goodwill and all that."

Mordecai closed the folder, "I will."

I stood, "Should I walk you out?"

"I think I can find my way," he said, his voice tense as he stood, "We'll be in touch, Matt... You should come to the house for dinner."

"I'll look for an invite from Steven."

He nodded sharply and left the parlor without even glancing back.

I counted it as a victory. When I was certain he was gone, I took Grace's hand and made her walk around the couch and sit down. She was pale and shaking, wrapping her arms around herself. I took off my jacket and put it over her shoulders. "Are you okay?"

She shuddered and nodded, "I-I'm fine."

"How long has he wanted you?"

"He was the last customer I had before Felix pulled me off the floor."

I sighed, "If being in his presence is too much-"

"No," she said. Her voice was cold. "I just wasn't prepared. I'm fine. It's better this way."

I eyed her as she stared coldly at the table, "He's mad. He'll make a mistake soon."

I smiled, "So glad we'll agree. I won't ask what happened... I can only promise that I won't leave you alone with him if I can help it."

Grace nodded, "Thanks."