Blackmail by A.L. Simpson Read Free Book Online Page A

to get this lovely girl out of this dump. One way or another, she was going to move away from this hellhole.
    Avery slid into a chair opposite him.
    “Did you happen to remember anything after I left last night?” Gabe asked.
    She shook her head. “No, sorry.”
    “Don't be.” He paused and took a large gulp of water. “I've been doing some thinking. How hard would it be for you to go back to the club?”
    “As a guest? I can't, it's men only.”
    “As a, umm ……. stripper.”
    Avery jumped up sending her chair crashing to the floor. “What?”
    “We need to get someone inside asking questions. You won't arouse suspicion like one of our female officers.”
    She paced the floor.
    Gabe rose and stopped her with his hand on her shoulder. “Calm down. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to.”
    Avery gazed up at his face. Tears filled her eyes. She wanted so badly to help him but just couldn’t. “I can't Gabe. I…I... I felt so …. dirty and defiled.” Tears spilled from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
    He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and gently patted the tears away before pulling her into his arms. She rested her head on his chest. His body jolted with passion. Her hair smelled of violets as he placed a kiss to the top of her head.
    “I'm sorry,” she sobbed.
    He positioned her away from him and gazed at her tear sodden face. “We will find some other way. Go and freshen your face and I'll take you for lunch. Is there somewhere special you like to go?”
    “I love Sophia and Carlos' restaurant uptown. It's called La Torina but you mustn't tell them about where or how I live. Sophia would have kittens and want to help. I don't want to impose on her. Please, promise.”
    “I promise. My car is out front so as soon as you are ready we'll head up there.”
    Avery slipped off to the bathroom where she washed her face and freshened her make-up. Gabe smiled as she re-entered the room.
    “Ready?”
    “Yes, thank you.”
    He captured her hand in his and led her out to the car. 
    ****
    Sophia loved Gabe on sight and, the feelings were mutual much to Avery's delight. He kept his word and didn't mention what was going on in her life. The meal was delicious as usual but Avery was pre-occupied with thoughts about making Marty pay for the murder she knew he had committed.
    Sophia refused to allow Gabe to pay the bill so on the way out he slipped a fifty into the tips jar.
    Again he clasped her hand as they crossed the road to the carpark.
    “Did you enjoy the Cannelloni? It's Sophia's specialty.”
    “Very much. I could get used to eating her cooking and I would easily become a male version of an Italian mama.”
    The tinkle of Avery's laugh made him stop and glance at her. The sound was as gorgeous as the woman herself. He smiled down at her. “I could listen to you laugh for hours. It's the most beautiful sound.”
    Avery felt heated blood rush to her cheeks as he held the door open and helped her into the car. “Thank you.”
    Gabe slipped the key into the lock of her apartment door and ushered her in.
    “Drink?” she asked.
    “Just water then come and sit down. I want to ask you something.”
    Avery's heart dropped to her feet, she hated refusing what he asked. She set the glass before him and sat down.
    “Hear me out before you say no. Okay?”
    She nodded.
    “I want to take you back to mom and dad’s so you have somewhere safe to stay. They have a big five-bedroom house on the beachfront at Randle and there's only the two of them.” He held up his hand when she opened her mouth to protest. “They would be happy to have you and once things settle down, dad will be able to help you find work.”
    “How?”
    “How what? How can dad help you find work?”
    “Yes.”
    “Dad is a retired Police Chief. He has a lot of contacts and sooner or later we will get this Marty, Vince and his accomplices and shut down the club. He will also get the pictures pulled.”
    “Oh, I can't