Cara put down her coffee and rubbed at her temples. “I’m pissed off, Vik. It means someone is in my business, taking from me, taking from Ivan. I don’t like it.”

Only close friends called me Vik.

I looked at the figures. “And you’ve had no new people?”

“No. None. I haven’t hired anyone in a year, at least.” She sighed and sat back. “The problem I have is the security cameras, they’re all in the rooms. I don’t have them in our private business. You know that.”

“So whoever it is, they’re either taking it from the private rooms or up front. You ever thought the girls are giving it away for free?”

She shook her head. “I have to protect them. You know that. I’ve got guards there. Payment is always secured before any business takes place. You know my rules.”

I did. “I’ll take this to Ivan. He’ll look into it.”

“Tell him I’m on his side. That I’ll deal with it.” Cara sat back. “So, now that business is out of the way. Tell me how your wife is doing.”

I rolled my eyes. “Not happening.”

“Oh please, you’re being an asshole, aren’t you? I think I can see it now. You probably don’t even see your wife.”

I thought about how she spoke to me in the shower. Aurora had been different then. She’d been filled with fire, passion, and pain. I recognized all three. They were emotions I could relate to.

Staring at Cara, I know she’d understand, but when it came to my wife, I didn’t understand her.

“This is not a topic of conversation.”

Cara ran her finger along her chin, assessing me. I’d never fucked her. A lot of men had, but me and Cara, we weren’t inclined that way.

“You know I met her at the wedding,” Cara said.

“You did.”

“She … seemed nice. Terrified, which is a given. She was being given to you, but I also heard what people were saying about her. What they were calling her.”

“I heard as well.”

“Yeah, but does your wife know what you did to those people?” Cara asked. “Is she aware that you put a blade in a man’s throat because they called her a fat cow?”

“No one disrespects my wife,” I said.

“Which again, I find so intriguing. For a man who claims not to care, you seem to do a whole lot of caring.”

“Are we done here?” I asked.

She chuckled. “We are, for now.” She stood up and held out her hand.

I shook it and then we embraced.

“Take care of yourself, Vik. Don’t be a stranger.”

“Let me know if you have any more findings about this.” I held the file she’d given me, and she agreed.

She left and I paid the bill, leaving a healthy tip.

I turned on my heel and left the restaurant. After heading to my office, which was located at one of our casinos, I sat down and went through the figures. Cara’s notes were along the side, and I could see she was trying to work out the problem.