Savvy Negotiator (Untraceable Succubus Book 2) Read online

  “I feel the same which is why I never give attention to the others. They’re looking for someone to take them away from this place and give them everything. You already take care of that yourself and just want the fun like I do.”

  “Amen to that.” I tapped my glass to his and finished the drink. “I do need to get going and finish unpacking.”

  “Unpacking?”

  “I just flew in today.”

  “Where were you?”

  “Europe with a friend,” I told him, knowing he would read between the lines. “He was thinking of keeping me, and instead I’m staying at his condo for as long as I want while he cools his heels a bit.”

  “I see. You are a woman of mystery then.”

  “Isn’t that the best type?”

  “Indeed.” He finished his drink, and we went back inside. There was something that made me curious about this guy. It wasn’t that he irked me but… Something. He was definitely worth getting closer to if for no other reason than he could introduce me around to people who might hire high class hookers and get me in there.

  “Will I see you tomorrow?”

  “If you’re dancing, I will stop in,” he promised. “May I walk you to your car?”

  “To see my license plate?” I teased, wanting to hear his answer.

  He blinked at me a moment but then chuckled. “Do you get a lot of stalkers?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes, I suppose you would. No, that is not my thing, and I would see it anyways Friday.”

  “Right, let me change the schedule, and then of course you can walk me.” I knocked on the door of the office and went in when he called out for me… To find one of the dancers giving the owner a blow job.

  She looked mortified that the new girl was seeing it, ducking her head.

  “She willing?” I asked him as I went over to the clipboard with the schedule.

  “Very,” he answered. “All my women are.”

  “Good thing I made it clear that I’ll work for you but won’t be your woman,” I muttered under my breath, unsure if he could hear me or not and not sure I cared. This place was horrible, and I had no idea how I was going to manage without major shit going down. I switched Friday and Saturday and headed out, him barely noting and enjoying his blow job.

  “Suck harder,” he demanded as I left. Wow, that was just… Wow.

  I met up with David and let him walk me out, thanking him for the drink. He promised to check with the guy hosting the party and give me his number tomorrow once he’d cleared it.

  “Tomorrow then.” I slid into my car, and he closed the door, stepping back as I started it up and letting me pull away. I picked up food on the way home and ate it while checking my updated packet. Lewis had already handled a few needed steps for me which I appreciated. Mainly where hookers worked in Denver and a list of safe portals to use around there because it would be supremely stupid to bring my car there or leave some real trail.

  I stuffed my face and changed before drawing a portal in the locked office. I made sure I had the right everything in my bag, including my stun gun, and activated the portal to the first location.

  And found the right place a few minutes later.

  It took me a few more minutes to figure out the slang and terms as I listened in on others. It was almost hysterical that pot was legal in so few states in the US, but in Colorado they used pot terms, strains, and edibles as code for what they offered.

  “Headband” was code for oral sex. Duh.

  “Strawberry Cough” was for half and half or half oral and sex finish. Made sense.

  “Cherry Pie” was code for vaginal sex in the car. Good one.

  “Harlequin” was code for sex at another location, like they were sweeping you away to take you home. Cute.

  “White Rhino” was anal sex. Not sure how that worked but okay.

  “Alaskan Thunder Fuck” was up for fetish and kinky stuff. Well, that one was just obvious compared to the others! Part of me wondered if they named strains of pot with the hope they could get laid like that.

  I also learned most of the prices and honestly, pot was more expensive than a blow job around there, and a part time job would have been better. Safer. It was hard not to shake my head. Heavenly Entertainment had brothels in countries where that was legal.

  And they didn’t get paid twenty fucking bucks for a damn blow job or forty for sex. If I ever paid for sex, I would certainly think I got what I paid for and would not touch someone who charged forty bucks.

  A car pulled up by me where I was playing with my phone and acting like I was waiting for a ride.

  “You need a lift?” a deep voice asked me after the window rolled down.

  “I’m good.”

  “Yeah? I’m looking for some Harlequin or maybe some Alaskan Thunder Fuck. You know where I can get some?”

  I had a second to think of what that was and moved closer. Yeah, a guy who shot people would definitely want a new location or something kinky. Good way to sort out those who’d want just a blow job in their car. I leaned over and moved my arms on the door. “It’s good quality, and I charge for it.”

  I met hazel eyes that belonged to an average looking guy. He wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t great. He could however be a very nice feed if he wasn’t a murderer. He gave a slow nod. “Two hundred?”

  “Fine, but depends on what kind of Alaskan Thunder Fuck you want,” I warned. He nodded again, and I got in the car when he unlocked it. “Where?”

  “Hotel a block or two away. I already have a room,” he said quietly as we pulled away.

  I nodded that was fine since that was still close to the portal and I was in hooker boots. He glanced over and got a really good view of the girls in the clubbing dress I wore that was ridiculously low cut in the front. I had a jacket over it, but it gave enough of an idea when I had it open to entice anyone.

  “I’ve not seen you before,” he muttered as he stopped at a light before it changed color and we moved along.

  “I’m new to the area. Thought I’d check out the scene tonight and get caught up,” I replied, mostly so he didn’t worry someone had warned me off certain people. Everyone liked to find the newb who didn’t know the score yet. I bit back a groan as his desire hit me. He wanted me so, so badly. I was so hungry it was distracting.

  He parked at a shit motel, and we got out. I let him lead me to the room, and once we were inside, I pushed him up against the wall and kissed him.

  “Wait, the money,” he said between kisses, hurrying to lock the door too.

  I slid off my jacket and set it on a chair with my purse. “You want the boots on or off?”

  “Whatever.”

  That was odd. If a man was paying for sex, he was normally pretty specific. Which meant it was time to interrogate him. I moved closer as he pulled out the money from his back pocket. I pushed him hard enough so he plopped on the bed before straddling his lap. I kissed him again, his desire to bang me hitting me hard as his hands moved over my ass.

  “How do you want to play?” I asked as I nibbled his ear.

  “However you want.”

  Odd but he didn’t want to hurt me, so what was this guy’s deal? He mentioned the money again, so I took it from him, tossing it over on the table before whispering options in his ear.

  While he put handcuffs on me behind me back.

  Fuck. A cop.

  He smirked at me when I leaned back. “You’re under arrest.”

  “No, I’m not,” I sighed as I slid off of his lap. Then as he watched as I moved my arms under my legs and brought my hands in front of me before using a pin from my hair to get out of the cuffs in about two seconds.

  “Hey, yeah, you are,” he argued as he stood.

  “Settle down,” I grumbled as I went over to my bag.

  He stood and in a flash had a gun in his hand that he’d hidden in the back of his pants and pointed it at me. Wow, I was missing shit being so hungry because I hadn’t even checked him. Idiot
.

  “I’m going to show you ID,” I told him.

  “Slowly,” he agreed after a moment. “Open the purse and reach in with two fingers to get it.”

  I nodded and did what he said, pulling out the ID I needed and promising to give Lewis a fat kiss for making sure he updated the array of everything I had. I handed it over to the officer and kept my hands up.

  He cursed when he saw what it was. “You’re a PI? Who are you working for?”

  “You know I can’t say that,” I told him as I lowered my hands. “I can tell you I’m looking into the murders.”

  He slowly nodded and handed back the ID. “I didn’t think any of the victims’ families had the cash for that.”

  “Hypothetically it could be the family of someone who was murdered because someone thought they were a stripper but she was only friends with one and went clubbing with the woman.” I shrugged when he shot me a look that was a bit unbelievable. “You’re shocked people with money do strange things? Please, I get hired for the craziest shit.” I held out my hand for his ID.

  “What?” he asked, looking me over.

  “Stop acting like you might get laid,” I drawled when his gaze stayed too long on my chest. “I’m looking for a killer, and you broke out handcuffs. I’m checking.”

  “Right,” he muttered, tucking his gun into the back of his jeans again before pulling out his badge and handing it over.

  “Sergeant Christian Badin, Denver PD,” I read, checking closely before handing it back. “So you’re vice?” I sighed when he nodded, going for my stuff. “Great, I get two seconds to figure out the lingo, and neither of us get what we want.”

  “Wait, we might be able to help each other,” he said as he hurried to beat me to the door.

  And that was when my night went from bust to worse. I knew what that meant, and the look in his eyes confirmed it. “I’m not here to bust prostitutes.”

  “Right, but you could help our operation.”

  I nodded. “Yes, I could, but that doesn’t help my investigation,” I drawled. There was a reason I stayed far away from cops and police normally, and one of them was because they tended to use whoever they could however they could and didn’t worry about what they messed up.

  “I could still take you in. You took the money,” he muttered, wincing at whatever he saw on my face. “But I won’t. I get it. I can give you some professional courtesy.”

  “If I help you, right? So you don’t have any woman in vice willing to play this role, so why not use me?” I felt steam practically come out of my ears when he shrugged with a smirk. “I’m trying to help bust someone who’s murdered five women, and you’re hassling me to help you bust hookers or Johns? Are you kidding me?”

  At least he had a brain because even he seemed to realize that was a horrible deal. “What if we talk to whoever’s on that case? Maybe we can figure some sort of team up. You lure in the Johns where we’ve got a room wired up, and we can try and catch a killer.”

  “You’d need me for testifying, no,” I immediately answered, shoving him away from the door.

  “Wait, most are just pleas,” he argued as he grabbed my arm.

  “I’m not getting on video and blowing my cover,” I snapped as I looked from his hand to his face. “Your hand’s about to get broken.”

  He instantly let go. “Audio could be enough. You could get in on the case files. There’s a lot they’re not releasing to the press.”

  That made me freeze. I could get it from hacking, but now that I was on the police radar, they’d wonder how I got it. And this guy was dying to have me help him, which meant he wasn’t going to let this go. I mean, it was bad, and here he had a great view of my chest, and all he desired was impressing the brass and making some great busts.

  “Maybe,” I finally answered. “Depends on what you bring to the table. I might even help you bust some pimps, as this could be some warning about people on their turf.”

  “Yeah, I hadn’t thought about that,” he admitted. “I guessed we’d get a call from homicide since they just got all the files and figured it was the same guy.”

  “No matter which way this goes, you hassle me or blow my cover and I will fuck you up along with my attorneys, you get me?” I warned, glad when he nodded, knowing he was telling the truth. I reached in my purse and grabbed a pen, writing my new number on his hand. “You call me when you’ve got an idea and with the lead on the murder investigation, and I’ll meet you.”

  “What cover are you protecting?” he checked.

  I sighed, naming the club I’d gotten the job at. His eyes went wide, and I could only imagine what he wanted to bust them on there. “No. I’ve got other balls in the air. That’s off limits, nonnegotiable. I’ve got a private party I’m working next Friday too, and all of that is off limits.” I held up my hand when he opened his mouth to argue. “If I get any whiff of prostitution or anything illegal, I will tell you. Right now I’m checking lead ins only.”

  “Fine, yeah, I get you,” he agreed after a moment. “Just because they’re in the circles of people who might hire high end hookers doesn’t mean they do it, and we’re not trying to smear people.”

  “Exactly. I’m looking into a bit of a private, different matter while I’m in this spot, as I don’t have just one case at a time as you don’t. So you tail me or any of that crap, I will tear off your nuts. Now take me back. Apparently my night is over.”

  “You’ve gotten in deeper than we can get anyone,” he comforted.

  I rolled my eyes. “Because officers don’t get trained in dance, gymnastics, and yoga enough to wow them enough to not care if you don’t take your clothes off. You guys go in and don’t allow the extras others do, and you can’t make up for it. I can, and it’s obvious why I don’t stand for crap.”

  “You really know how to dance?” he checked as we left the room. He gave me an appraising look when I snorted. “I’d like to see that.”

  “I just bet you would, cowboy. I felt how hard your dick was,” I reminded him. I went back to his car, muttering he better act like a happy, happy guy who’d just gotten his world rocked when he dropped me off.

  He did fine since it wasn’t exactly the time to be doing cartwheels to stay under the radar. I was going to head for the portal when I realized how bad that would look if I just took one and then left. I waited for the people who were around me to cycle and new ones to come back before heading around the corner for a car that pulled up and switching my glamour when I was out of sight. Then I doubled back and headed for the portal.

  The second I went through I changed back and pulled out my phone. Lewis answered on the third ring.

  “We have a serious fucking problem,” I warned him.

  “Yeah as opposed to those easy pitches we normally get to hit out of the ballpark?” he muttered, sounding half asleep.

  “First John I went with was a vice cop, so you’re awesome for updating my PI ID, but you gotta beef it up under the new name.”

  “Shit, and now he wants you to do his work, right?”

  “Yeah, but he’s offering a possible friend in the lead whoever on the murders. I think I need a second me,” I admitted as I sat down at my desk chair and took off the boots. “The shifts are four hours at the club. Fine. I’ve already also got a private party gig. Fine. But now working hooker leads with vice wanting to use me? How am I ever going to check out other angles?”

  “You’re going to need someone to tag out when you crash,” he agreed. “How did a cop get you?”

  I sighed heavily, rubbing my hand over my head. “He got a gun past me too. I was so fucking hungry I was sloppy. In my defense, that is the most fucked up luck it’s the first one and minutes after I just figure out the lingo. I mean, come on.”

  “Shit, that’s rough.”

  “Ask Kiera if she can get me a buffet Sunday night. I need to feed and fast and a lot. This club is bad. Like I walked in on a dancer blowing the owner and him telling me he gets that from
all his women which he calls his dancers.”

  “Fuck,” he groaned with feeling.

  “Yeah, and you’re not me,” I grumbled.

  “Well, Dylan Hammond called again, and I spoke with him this time,” he told me. “And he doesn’t seem the stalker type. Apparently there were some severely pissed off security from the club you fired, and they started shit with the new guys, saying they already took care of you. They obviously didn’t, but he was worried and just wanted confirmation you were safe since he couldn’t stay and find out more.”

  Something in his tone made me raise an eyebrow. “How long did you guys chat?”

  “Not long, but he’s sweet.”

  “Yeah, he’s your type,” I admitted. “Huge, gruff, but really a teddy bear.”

  “Sexy?”

  “Very.”

  “Introduce me.”

  I snorted. “Call him back and see if he can get to the club for my buffet and see how fast there is a hole in the nearest wall of him running. He’s a bear shifter.”

  “Oh, ouch. Yeah, possessive so isn’t sexy, but I’m not a lust demon so he wouldn’t have to share me. My buffets are literally buffets I just feast at with the humans. Yours are a bit more… Complicated.”

  He had no idea. Most at the company didn’t know what I was, assuming lust given what I did, but others like Lewis believed the cover. However, the truth was so much more… Complicated.

  “I’ll handle it with Kiera and your bear, and we’ll figure out a plan for another you,” he told me with a yawn. “I updated your packet with the list of clubs you’re going to want to check out. What else?”

  “Beef up my PI ID,” I reminded him. “Maybe get a good name attorney I’ve used or something. I’ve already brought that threat into play when he mentioned he could still bring me in or like he’d fuck with my cover. I want that locked and loaded.”

  “Done. Get some sleep, and we’ll handle it while you do, I promise.”

  “You always do,” I praised. We clarified a few others things and then hung up. I crawled into bed a few minutes later, completely starving.

  And not for food. Shit.