Page 45 of A Raven Repents

“Not every meeting is about you, Giles.” He swung his cane toward the stairs.

“Thank God for that.”

“I’ll pour us some brandy,” Ash said as he headed for the bar.

“It’s good to see you, Patrick.” Giles shook his hand.

“Married, huh?”

“It would seem so.”

“And causing trouble.”

Giles nodded slowly. “You heard about that, did you?”

“Of course. We have no secrets in our group.”

“So I’m learning.” He pulled out his chair and sat. “Well, since you weren’t here when I said it to everyone else, I am sorry.”

Patrick patted his shoulder. “I heard that too. I’m just glad it’s you this time, and not me.”

“Have you taken money out of the safe?”

“No. I got a woman out of Maison Rouge and brought her home rather than here. Ash was not pleased with me.”

Giles chuckled. “Well, that worked out in the end, didn’t it?”

“I dare say yours will too.”

He wouldn’t have thought so just a few days ago, but now? Everything was different. Perhaps it would work out for them, as well.

Allister joined them at the table, drink already in hand. He didn’t usually join them for these meetings. “I’m glad you’re here, Allister. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you since… the other night. He is still alive, right?”

“Of course he is. That’s what you requested. How is your wife doing?”

Giles nodded. “She’s well. Fully recovered. And hopefully, I’ve made amends well enough that she won’t be running away from me again.”

“Good.” He gave a single nod.

“And what about her father? What did you do to him?”

“Broke both of his thumbs.” He took a sip of his whisky. “Makes it harder for him to hold cards.”

“You’re slightly terrifying. Do you know that?”

“That’s why we’re glad to have him on our team,” Ash said as he sat down. He pushed Giles’ brandy across the table. “Now, let’s get to business, shall we?”

He set his cane on top of the table and Patrick pulled out his usual coin. Giles leaned over to Fitz who sat beside him. “Do you ever feel like we’re missing our props?” Fitz chuckled, but Ash raised an impatient brow. Apparently, this was not that sort of meeting.

“Apologies,” Giles said quietly, settling his hands into his lap.

“I want to talk about an investment opportunity that we have. I know you have all trusted me with investing when and where I see fit, but this is something bigger, and I will need unanimous agreement before moving forward.” He paused and took a deep breath. “I don’t know if this one will bring us any money or just cost us, but if we’d like it, I have negotiated terms for us to purchase the building that houses Maison Rouge.”

Silence fell around the table, except the rattling of Patrick’s coin growing faster and faster until he placed his hand over it. “What are your plans for it?” he asked. “Because I know you’re not suggesting we’ll be running a brothel.”

“If I’m honest, I don’t know exactly. But anything we turn it into will be better than what it is now. Long term, I have even loftier goals than that, and I think it will come in handy. I want to get the women out of Auburn Ridge and shut it down permanently.”

“I’m in,” Fitz growled.