Hold Close (Biker Daddy Bodyguards #2) - Sue Brown Page 0,32

work for me. But he always wanted to open a place of his own.”

“You don’t seem that fussed about the competition,” Dominic observed.

“You don’t seem that fussed about Monaghan’s,” Louis shot back.

“Touché.” Dominic grinned although his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Although I wouldn’t say Monaghan’s is competition.”

Louis sighed. “I’ve been in the game for twenty years and owned this club for ten. I’ve seen a lot of new clubs come and go. I know which ones will survive and which will fold from the minute I walk in there. Remember Sparkle?”

Sparkle had been the big thing the previous year. Everyone on the club scene had raved about the place. Louis had been there five minutes, long enough to know it wouldn’t last and sure enough, six months later the club closed, owing a lot of money. They’d asked him for help but didn’t want the training he’d offered. His longevity in the club scene was there for a reason.

“How do you know?” Dominic asked.

Louis had a feeling Dominic knew the answer, because he ran one of the most successful security firms on the west coast.

“My staff takes an extensive training course in working for me. When they leave they’ve got qualifications they can take elsewhere. So I’m interested in the level of service I get in the new clubs. New and shiny only lasts until the next new and shiny comes along. What lasts is repeat business. My customers know the service they’ll get in Romero.”

“And Bernie’s?” Dominic asked. “Will they last?”

“I think so. Trey’s remembered the training I gave him.”

“He could be trying to get rid of the competition,” Craig suggested.

Louis gave a short laugh. “He’s not up to Romero’s standard yet, but he’s getting there. I’d say at the moment the Peacock is my closest competitor.”

Dominic frowned. “I know that name. Why do I know that name?”

While he tapped at his tablet, Louis took the opportunity to lean into Craig, needing the support.

“I’ve got you,” Craig whispered in his ear, his breath warm.

Dominic made a loud ‘aha’ noise. “That’s why I know the name. Strada tried to assault Connolly outside the Peacock. That’s when Connolly threw his sorry ass out and got us in as security.”

“Who runs the Peacock?” Craig asked.

Dominic looked at his notes. “Two brothers. Max and Jem Peacock. They inherited it from their parents. It’s one of the oldest clubs in town.”

Craig raised an eyebrow. “Jem?”

“It’s a nickname,” Louis supplied. “I think his real name is Jeremy.”

“You know them?”

“I know Jem. He’s a boy too.”

Craig made a noise in the back of his throat and Louis sat up so he could look at Craig’s face.

“You know him?” Louis asked.

“We’ve met,” Craig said.

His suspicions raised, Louis fixed his gaze on Craig. “Met how?”

Craig

From Louis’s piercing gaze, he knew he was going to have to answer this very carefully. They’d both been in the local scene a long time and couldn’t help tripping over each other’s former partners.

“Jem was in training with Graham, who asked me to do some sessions with him because he was older. I was training too. I did one, maybe two, but we didn’t click. Jem found a new Daddy soon after. I don’t think I’ve seen him since then.”

Louis relaxed, and Craig breathed once again. He noticed the smirk on Dominic’s face. Bastard.

“He’s a bit younger than me,” Louis said.

“Would they have any connection with Strada?” Dominic asked.

Craig shrugged. “I’ve no idea.”

“Same here,” Louis said, “but I’ve been out of the scene for a long time.”

“I’ll make an appointment to meet with them,” Dominic said.

“Why don’t Craig and I go?” Louis suggested.

Craig narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“You get to check out potential suspects, and I check on the competition.”

Louis’s voice was as bland as could be, and Craig didn’t believe him for a moment.

Uh-huh.

Craig leaned forward and whispered in Louis’s ear, “You don’t have to piss around me to stake your claim, boy.”

“Don’t I?” Louis muttered.

“I’m only yours.”

Louis looked away, but Craig could see the pleased smile tugging at his lips. His boy liked the validation.

“If you two have finished, I’m going back to the office.” Dominic got to his feet and rolled his shoulders. “You can poke about at the Peacock. I don’t think they’re top of our list of suspects. But you take a full team with you.”

“Maybe it’s an old employee,” Louis suggested. “I’ve had to fire more than a few.”

Dominic nodded. “Your assistant gave me a list of ex-employees. We’re going through it now. Most of them don’t