“So when the police weren’t getting anything you went undercover and got a job at the club. What were you hoping to find? Did Elise mention someone in particular? Was she seeing someone from the club?”

Sloane’s pretty face flashed red, her head dropped, and with that, I lost her eyes.

“I don’t know what I thought I’d find,” she admitted. “Or how I was going to find it. I was stupid—”

“Hey,” I interrupted her. “Look at me, sweetness.”

Sweetness.

Fucking shit. As soon as I said the word, Lorenzo’s description of his girl came to mind and threatened to choke me.

How many girls did the fucker have? And where was he getting them? Seeing as Elise was in her thirties and a member of the club I couldn’t imagine she was a virgin, which made me wonder if Lorenzo had a stable of women or if there was someone else in the club who’d taken a liking to Elise. Or maybe her disappearance had nothing to do with Club Joi and she was snatched off the street—unfortunately, a plausible scenario.

Sloane’s gaze slowly lifted. The desperation dancing in her eyes made everything come clear. Why she believed me so quickly when I told her who I really was and why she hadn’t questioned me further. Sloane had simply taken my word for it because she was desperate.

Desperate, tired, and out of options.

“You wanting to find your friend is not stupid. You going to great lengths to get information isn’t stupid. It wasn’t safe but it isn’t stupid.” I paused to swallow down my thoughts on her bitch ass friends in favor of broaching a more important topic. “You didn’t answer—did Elise ever mention anyone at the club who gave her a bad feeling?”

“No. As you know, there’s an ironclad NDA. She never mentioned anyone by name and she never said if anyone gave her a bad feeling or was bothering her.” Sloane straightened, a new kind of fierceness took over her body language and she leaned in. “Elise is a good person. She likes what she likes. She hates the dating scene. Guy after guy screwing her over, lying about wanting a relationship when really all he wanted was sex. Guys cheating. She’d had enough but she’s social, she enjoys sex, she wanted a place where she could be herself and be safe while doing it, so she joined the club.”

It was interesting that Sloane spoke about Elise in the present tense. Elise likes, not liked. What was not interesting was that she thought I was a dick who’d judge someone for their sexual preferences.

“I think you’re aware and understand I don’t get off on anything Club Joi offers. But that doesn’t mean I pass judgment on those who do. I could give a fuck what consenting adults do. What I care about is exploitation, that’s why I’m there. And up until last night, I was struggling to find evidence that the club wasn’t exactly what it claimed to be—a safe place for adults to act out their fantasies. So what I’m telling you is, your speech about Elise being a good person was unnecessary. But to add, even if she wasn’t a good person, Takeback would still do everything in our power to find her. Now, tell me—have you ever been alone with Lorenzo?”