Read Rebel's Desire (Iron Portal Paranormal Romance Series) (Iron Portal Series Book 4) for Free Online

to ignore gave way to a sob. “It’s…it’s my fault she’s gone.”
    Harvey cursed under his breath.
    Exhaling a puff of smoke, Verla stepped over and put a hand on Keely’s shoulder. “Like it was your fault you got mugged on your way home from the bank by an angry mob of self-righteous protesters? Bastards. ”
    Harvey spat out a short burst of brown spit then took another drag of his cigarette. Guess if you wanted a nicotine hit, you might as well go all in. She wouldn’t be surprised if he were chewing a piece of nicotine gum, too.
    “There’s something going on over at Aphrodistic,” he said. “Something very hush-hush.”
    Keely’s breath hitched. “What kind of something? Why do you think it could involve Becca?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know for sure. One of my regulars is a bartender there. But given that a few other Talents have gone missing after talking to Reaux—attractive young women like your sister—I’m just guessing it’s related.”
    “There have been others?” she asked, her eyes widening. “Who?”
    “You know that girl who works at the coffee place?”
    There were dozens of coffee shops and carts in the District, but she had a pretty good idea who he meant. “You mean Hanna from Circus Coffee?”
    Hanna, a former dancer who quit to have her son, was a popular bikini barista. Word would get out on social media that she was working the coffee cart that day, and within minutes there’d be a long line. Suddenly every male in the area, and some females, needed a caffeine fix. An old man on a video ad for Circus Coffee proclaimed he goes there to get a drink from Hanna because it’s the biggest thrill of his day.
    “That’s the one,” Harvey said. “I was talking to Yvonne—”
    “The woman who owns the cart?” Verla interrupted.
    “Yeah, Yvonne. That’s her. I ran into her this morning when I was out walking Fritz. Turns out Hanna missed her shift yesterday. A few customers saw her talking the night before to Davin Reaux.”
    “Okay, so Hanna’s missing, too,” Keely said impatiently. “But can we focus on what your bartender friend told you?”
    “Apparently they’re getting ready for some big private event over there. The whole place will be shutting down to get ready for it.”
    Verla examined her cuticles. “They gonna bleach it out from top to bottom?”
    “Private event?” Keely asked. She didn’t like the sound of that. “What kind of private event?”
    Harvey shrugged. “My friend doesn’t know many details. Just that a bunch of VIPs will be in attendance.”
    “What kind of a VIP,” Verla said with air quotes, “goes to an event at Aphrodistic?”
    Harvey flicked an ash from his cigarette. “Apparently some heavy hitters. My client thought there were going to be a few professional athletes, politicians. Maybe a rock star or two. All the staff has to sign NDAs. And they’ve let a bunch of people go.”
    Keely chewed on her lip. But what did this all have to do with Becca? She’d heard about establishments that catered to the rich and famous, only hiring beautiful people to work there. Women who had a certain look…and certain measurements.
    The door to the alley opened and the receptionist poked her head out. “Steve is waiting for you, Verla. Are you—?”
    “Oh, shit, yeah,” she said, stubbing out her cigarette. “Tell him I’m coming.”
    Harvey held the door open for them.
    Keely started to follow Verla back inside when her phone rang.
    “I’ll be right in,” she told them.
    She pulled the phone from her pocket, glanced at the screen, and her heart nearly stopped.
    It was Becca.
----
    B y the time Toryn and Sean arrived back in New Seattle, the sun had already dipped below the Olympic Mountains to the west, leaving in its wake a thin, gray light. Rush hour was nearly over, most of the commuters having left for home on earlier trains and ferries. For the most part, the sidewalks were scattered with well-dressed and well-behaved