Chain of Lust (11 page)

Gabe was a self-made billionaire. He’d started from nothing, working his ass off to flip the first property he’d managed into a profitable venture, and had built his empire from there. He had also been voted this year’s most eligible bachelor, on account that he’d reached the pinnacle of his success at quite a young age. It didn’t hurt that Gabe was easy on the eyes.

Okay, Gabe was hot.

Like, smoking hot.

He and his brothers, Alexandre and Renaud, were the talk of the town. There must have been some good genes in the Larousse family because they were all devastatingly handsome. Cat wasn’t a gal who used that type of hyperbolic shit in her vocabulary, but the brothers were really gorgeous. They all stood over six feet tall, with signature coppery-blond hair, broad shoulders, tapered waists, and long legs. They could have passed as GQ models. And, armed with deep pockets, they were chick magnets. Too bad they were all socially tight-assed—it would take gallons of prune juice to clear up their plumbing. None of the brothers liked reporters, the media, or people like Cat. If they got a whiff that a nosy PI had invaded their personal playground, she would see her ass thrown to the kerb in a blink of an eye.

She tried to be inconspicuous as the club attendant seated her at a table near the bar. His gaze was still hovering over her chest. She sighed inwardly. It was as if he’d never seen natural D cups before. But who was she to judge about men and their obsession with breasts? The compulsion was deep, as if it were coded into men’s DNA.

She ordered a gin and tonic and threw the attendant the sweetest smile she could manage. She hoped he’d be distracted enough not to ask why she was here in the first place. The gentlemen’s club, Rococo Country, was a private establishment catering to members only, a watering hole in which wealthy businessmen in the upper crust of society could socialise, kiss ass, and plot on how to make themselves even richer. She told the attendant in black livery that she was here to meet her lawyer. He was going to be suspicious when her lawyer never arrived.

In the meantime, her target, Gabriel Larousse, stood in the billiards room about twenty yards from where she sat. He was leisurely chalking his cue. His gaze was fixed on the white, red and yellow balls strewn across the table as if they were his mortal enemies. He tapped the cue ball with the precision of a sniper, scattering the other balls into the pockets.

Cat didn’t know much about pool, but that had been pretty impressive. Gabe seemed like one of those people who treated everything as if it were a challenge to conquer. Maybe that was why he was a successful businessman.

As she’d suspected, one of Gabe’s brothers was with him. Alexandre Larousse, Gabe’s second—or Gabe’s
shadow
, as people nicknamed him—was leaning by the wainscoted wall, talking in hushed tones on his cell phone. Gabe never went anywhere in public without one of his brothers. Alex and Ren, both younger than Gabe, were very protective—like capos to the don. One didn’t just flounce up to Gabe without Alex’s or Ren’s approval. If Alex or Ren didn’t like what they saw, one couldn’t get within ten feet of Gabriel Larousse without risking one’s neck.

Luckily, she wasn’t here to talk to the big guy today. She was just stalking him. Observing what he was like in the flesh. The media had painted him as an enigmatic young god. Rumour had it he was a dangerous man to have as an enemy, and yet some vouched for him as a child-loving philanthropist. No one had ever figured out what kind of man Gabe really was.

Aside from the fact that he was fucking hot.

The club attendant came over with her order. She murmured her thanks and batted her eyelashes, flirting a bit.

The man looked happy with the attention. “If I may ask, what would be the name of the gentleman you’re waiting for?” He drew himself straight, as if to make himself taller than he really was. “So I can direct the gentleman straight to your table, madam.”

“Jackson,” Cat lied smoothly. “Marvin Jackson.”

He inclined his head in a perfect gesture. He withdrew in silence. His eyes weren’t straying to her boobs any more.

Good riddance.

She sipped from her glass while furtively spying on Gabe. He wasn’t dressed in his usual tailored Brioni suit. He was wearing a white shirt with sleeves folded to his elbows and a pair of crisply pressed, black Armani slacks. No tie. No suit jacket. The black, casual Bruno Magli loafers on his feet must be the real thing, unlike the knock-offs she had bought for her ex-boyfriend as a birthday present a long time ago.

Since Gabe had sent all the balls into the pockets, he set up a new rack. He stalked around the table like a predator hunting its prey before he leant forward and took a shot. Loud taps filled the billiards room as he sent the different coloured balls scattering across the green baize.

Cat took another sip of the gin and tonic and fished out a small journal from her purse. She leafed through it, looking for her notes on Gabriel. Particularly her interview with her client, Judith Rossi.

On October fourth, fourteen years ago, Judith and her brother Cameron had gone to South Africa for a safari vacation. They’d met Gabriel Larousse and his friend, Oliver Duval, both students from the University of Cape Town, at a local cafe. The four quickly became friends and planned a trip to the Kruger National Park. Since Judith and her brother were trust-fund kids, they’d been allergic to hardship and had wanted their travel arrangements to be as comfortable as possible. Judith had booked expensive accommodation in Kingston Camp, a colonial game lodge in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. The camp had offered dangerous game hunting as one of its main attractions.

On the fateful afternoon of October fifteenth, the four of them had coursed along with the park ranger, Nisi, on a dry creek in an open vehicle. They’d spotted a warthog. The party didn’t have a hunting licence, but Cameron had been hell-bent on killing something that day. He’d pulled out an antique Colt he’d purchased from a fellow lodger and shot the warthog. Instead of killing the overgrown male boar, though, Cameron had only pissed the warthog off. It had charged in their direction and managed to topple the vehicle. The five of them had scampered for cover and become separated.

As the evening had approached, Judith had reunited with Oliver and Nisi, but they had lost contact with Gabriel and her brother. Oliver had broken his arm and wrist in the accident. Nisi had only scraped his knee. They’d spent the night in the wilderness before the other rangers had rescued them in the morning.

Back in the camp, Judith had immediately faced bad news. Cameron had died from an accidental gunshot wound during the time they had been separated. Gabriel had been with him when it had happened. Judith had been devastated. Only when she’d come back to America with Cameron’s body had she realised that her brother’s death hadn’t been an accident. Cameron had been murdered.

Joseph Hearne, a doctor who’d served as Rossi’s private physician at that time, had voiced his concern over Cameron’s gunshot wound before the wake. Cameron’s death couldn’t possibly have been caused in a self-inflicted accident. Judging from the entrance and exit wounds and the trajectory of the bullet, the deed must have been done by somebody shooting Cameron at close range.

Armed with the new evidence, Judith had gone to the police to report the incident. Unfortunately, on the way there, Judith and Dr Hearne had been involved in a twenty-car pile-up, which had resulted in Dr Hearne’s instant death. Judith herself had become trapped in the burning car. She’d suffered extensive second- and third-degree burns that had landed her in a three-week coma. When she’d regained her consciousness, Cameron had already been cremated, Dr Hearne was dead, the evidence had been destroyed in the accident, and her family was stricken with grief.

It had taken Judith five long years to pull herself together. Her family had been torn apart by the tragedy and deep in her heart she harboured suspicions that Gabriel was the one responsible for her brother’s death. The park ranger, Nisi, had been with her the night she and Cameron had been separated. Oliver had been injured—he couldn’t possibly have been the one who had committed the murder. Judith insisted that Gabriel must have been the cold-blooded killer.

Cat took another long drag from her drink while she spied on her target. Gabe was in the middle of a serious discussion with Alex. A sliver of light from the low-hanging lamp above the pool table illuminated his youthful face. He didn’t look thirty-five at all. More like in his late twenties. Her heart gave a quick stir. Gabe was a really good-looking man. The photos she’d seen in the magazines and tabloids didn’t do him any justice.

Could that soft-spoken, handsome man be the killer who’d murdered Cameron Rossi fourteen years ago?

It was hard to believe Gabriel was capable of that heinous crime.

He hadn’t had any motive to kill Cameron that Cat knew of.

Jon had told Cat that people committed crimes for three main reasons—love, money or revenge. Gabriel hadn’t profited from Cameron’s death. The two had been good friends at the time. And there had been no love interest rivalry between them. Gabriel was as straight as a flagpole, so the chance that he and Cameron had been lovers was slim.

So what could have been Gabriel’s motive for plucking the Colt from Cameron’s hand and shooting him execution-style the night everybody had got separated?

Cat closed her journal. This case was the hardest one she’d ever taken. Somehow, she wasn’t sure if she could solve it, but she wanted to keep the agency running in Jon’s memory. And, if she was successful, the payment from Rossi would keep this business afloat for another year.

“Excuse me, miss.”

Cat startled. Blood drained from her face when she noticed Alexandre Larousse was standing next to her.
How did he sneak up on me like that? Is it time for me to hit the kerb already?

Instead of throwing her out of the club, Alex carefully set a glass of wine down in front of her. “Courtesy of my brother, Gabriel. He wondered if you would be interested in joining him?”

What?

The neurons in her brain short-circuited. Her gaze cut to the man in question. Gabriel Larousse watched her with a smile hovering at the corner of his lips. His expression was a mixture of amusement and curiosity.

Oh God, what should I do?
Cat panicked for a moment.

She could chicken out and decline the invitation.

But I’m a fucking private investigator, damn it, even though I’m a rookie. This could be a golden opportunity to get close to my target and dig as much dirt on him as I can.

“Miss?” Alex asked. “What say you?”

“I…uhm. Why?” She wanted to kick herself after she’d blurted that one out. Why couldn’t she have said something smart and elegant like the heroines in noir flicks?

Alex’s face was a mask of impassiveness. He didn’t look as snappish as he was rumoured to be. Alex’s gaze skittered briefly over her face, her body, the journal, and the purse in her lap. “It’s obvious you are waiting for someone—a member of the club. This establishment isn’t open to the public. And, while you’re waiting, my brother wishes to appease your boredom with a game of pool.”

“Oh. I can’t play pool.”

“Then perhaps simple conversation would do.” Alex offered a smile and his hand.

She blinked. “Your brother won’t take no for an answer, will he?”

The smile tightened.

Cat guessed she knew the answer. She shoved the journal back into her purse and took Alex’s proffered hand. She shuffled along, trying to keep up with Alex’s long strides. His grip was firm, as though he didn’t want her to bail out before he could deliver her safely to his brother.

The billiards room was spacious and rather dark. The ambiance was mysterious. Seductive. The walls were plastered in dark wainscots with several antique-looking sconces dimly lighting the place. The thick scent of expensive cigars cloyed the air. Spicy clove, too. The smell of men. Rich, powerful men. And her ill-thinking bravado had dragged her into their lair. She felt like Goldilocks in a bear’s house.

Gabriel took her hand from Alex’s and kissed it like a true gentleman. Was he usually this charming? The media often portrayed him as an introverted man who bordered on being antisocial. The Gabriel before her wasn’t like that at all. His smile seemed genuinely warm and somehow…flirty. Which was weird, because the words ‘flirty’ and ‘Gabriel Larousse’ usually didn’t belong in the same sentence. Alex simply nodded and walked away.

“I’m Gabriel. It’s so kind of you to take up my invitation, Miss…”

“Catherine. But everybody calls me Cat.”

“Hmm. I’d prefer to call you Kitty.” A low chuckle erupted.

His deep, dulcet tones sent shivers down her spine.
Whoa.
She’d never met a man with such enthralling sexual appeal. She would have fanned herself if Gabriel hadn’t been standing in front of her.

“Catherine.” Her name rolled off his tongue like something made out of sugar and chocolate, incredibly sexy and hedonistic. “May I buy you a drink?”

“But you just sent me a glass of wine.” She nodded in the direction of her table.

“You didn’t touch it. I’m assuming you’re not particularly fond of Chianti.”

“I’m fine, thank you. Getting me drunk won’t get you anywhere, you know?”

Another rich peal of laughter burst out.

She laughed with him just to be polite. Anxiety crept in, despite the naughty urge that made her want to lick him as if he were her favourite sundae.
Why did he invite me over here? Does he know who I really am?

“So.” Gabriel’s eyes brightened. They were a light hazel with flecks of gold. “May I be privy to this lucky gentleman’s name?”

It took her a few seconds to comprehend what he meant. Gabriel must have guessed she would be meeting someone. The imaginary lawyer who would never show up. And since this was a gentlemen’s club, women rarely popped in here unless they were invited.

“Marvin Jackson. He’s my father’s lawyer. Told me to meet him here to discuss a few things.”

“Marvin Jackson,” Gabriel echoed, looking thoughtful. “I don’t believe I’ve ever met him. And here I thought I knew everybody in this place.”