Hound: A Dark Romance Fox and the Hound Retelling (Ever After Book 4) Read online

  Jackson cocked his head. “No. One of my guys knows a few of his crew; they worked together a long time ago. He made introductions.”

  “You don’t fall under my authority,” Ashland said. “This family isn’t like what it used to be. My father kept everyone on tight leashes.”

  Jackson knew that fact well enough, his own father having been run out of town because he wanted too big of a piece of the Titon family. Second sons weren’t important to Samuel Titon. Thankfully, his son saw things better.

  “I don’t want to go into business with anyone that’s not clean with you, that’s all,” Jackson said.

  “Like you said. I broke all ties with the families.” Ash leaned forward. “But I don’t want him thinking he’s doing business with the Titon family. He’s doing business with Jackson Titon only.”

  Jackson’s jaw tightened. “Of course.”

  “Don’t get pissed,” Peter interjected. “It’s not that we don’t see you as a Titon, because you are. Blood is blood. But Jansen might see this as a way to get Ash or myself back in the game.”

  “There’s one more thing.” Jackson wanted to jump away from the subject of family ties. He was family, and Ash had never treated him other than that, but there was still a bitterness to it all. Samuel hadn’t allowed Jackson’s father to work in any of the Titon businesses as punishment for trying to strike out on his own, forcing him from Kassel.

  Samuel’s death had ended the coldness between the branches of the family, but by that time Jackson’s own father had been on his deathbed. It had taken years for Jackson to feel ready to move his life back to Kassel.

  “Okay, what is it?” Ash prompted.

  “I want to buy in to the Annex.” Jackson stared directly at Ash.

  Peter shifted in his chair.

  “Buy in?” Ash rose from his desk.

  “Yeah. I don’t want a partnership or anything like that, but I want a piece of it. I’m willing to invest.” Jackson leaned back in his chair.

  “And how does that look to Jansen and other people you do business with?” Ash asked.

  “It looks like nothing. My distribution business has nothing to do with Titon family business, like you said.”

  The door to the office opened, drawing everyone’s attention.

  “Daniel.” Ash’s jaw tensed. “What the hell?”

  “Ash, I demand you take care of this right away.” An older gentleman pushed Ash’s man out of his way and barged into the office.

  “Stanley.” Ash waved Daniel away. “You don’t just barge into my office.”

  “I understand,” Stanley said, though he had no indications of actual remorse. “But one of your girls robbed me, and I demand you do something about it!” His voice boomed and his face reddened.

  Ash raised his left eyebrow and stepped toward the intruder. As Peter stood from his chair, Jackson did the same. Whatever this fucker thought he was going to accomplish pushing his way into Ash’s office, was probably not going to happen.

  “First of all, lower your fucking voice. My kids are upstairs napping, and I won’t let you wake them up.” Ash’s voice mellowed into a deep tenor. “Second of all, my girls don’t need to rob anyone. So what the hell are you talking about?”

  Ash’s two toddler sons probably were taking a nap, but their rooms were too far away to hear anything happening in Ash’s office. Considering the sorts of people he dealt with daily, he would never allow the boys to be in earshot of his conversations or other activities.

  “Last month,” Stanley started after a large huff, “I contracted one of your girls for the evening after meeting her at a catalogue party.”

  Ash maintained a bland expression, but Jackson could see the irritation in his eyes. Stanley needed to get to the heart of the issue quickly.

  “Go on,” Peter urged him.

  “We met twice outside of the Annex, during which the last time she accessed my bank account and wiped clean one of my savings accounts.” His voice rose toward the end of his explanation, but he clamped his mouth shut probably to stop himself from raging again.

  “Who’s the girl?” Peter stepped closer to them.

  “Her name was Foxy Lady,” Stanley explained. “She never gave me her real name.”

  “Foxy Lady?” Jackson asked with some levity. None of the girls he’d met the night before used stage names.

  The scar over Peter’s left eye stretched as he raised his brow. “We don’t have any girls here by that name.”

  “That’s the name she gave.” Stanley dug out his phone from his inside pocket.

  “The girls here don’t use stage names, Stanley. And if they did, they wouldn’t be so cheesy,” Peter assured him.

  “I have a photo.” Stanley slipped his finger over the screen several times.

  “How do you have a picture?” Ash demanded. “We don’t allow pictures in the Annex. You know that. Your phone shouldn’t have even been in there.”

  Stanley looked up from the screen, a slight panic danced in his eyes. “I know. I know. I didn’t take the picture. She did with her phone, and then she sent it to me. So I would have her contact information.” He explained, swiping faster through his phone.

  “The girls aren’t allowed camera phones when they’re working and sure as hell not during a party.” Peter stepped closer, his hand outstretched for the phone.

  “Here.” Stanley flipped the phone around to show them but held it back so Peter wouldn’t take it.

  A light ignited in Jackson’s chest at the sight on the screen. Dark wavy hair framed her face. Burnt red lipstick covered her plump lips. She was smiling in the photo, with little crinkles around the edges of her deep brown eyes. It almost made him grin in return.

  “She’s not one of ours,” Peter said firmly. “You met her here?”

  “Yes. Here at the party three weeks ago,” Stanley said.

  “How much did she steal?” Ash asked.

  “Two hundred grand, Ash.” He gave Ashland a pointed look.

  Ash stared at the phone for a long moment. “She’s not one of mine, Stanley.”

  “I met her here. I don’t give a fuck if she’s contracted with you or not. I came here for a night of fun, and now I have a zeroed-out bank account.”

  “And you blame me?” Ash demanded with a hard tone.

  “Like I said, I met her here.” Stanley shoved the phone back into his jacket.

  “Have you tried contacting her since you found your account empty?” Jackson asked.

  “Of course.” Stanley nodded. “The number is disconnected.”

  “Where did you meet her outside of here?” Jackson continued.

  “At a motel downtown.”

  “How did she manage to get into your account?”

  Stanley’s cheeks reddened. “She went into the bank and closed it.”

  “She closed the account?”

  “Yes. I had the account in my daughter’s name as primary holder – it was her college fund account. This…woman, walked in with my daughter’s information and closed the account.”

  Jackson wiped his mouth to cover the grin playing on his lips. Sly little fox.

  “What would you like us to do, Stanley? You obviously gave her access to things she needed in order to do such a thing.”

  “I want my money back,” he demanded. “If this is the sort of thing that can happen to a man coming to the Annex for a good time, I’m not sure it’s a safe place to play any longer.”

  Ash sighed. If word got around town that theft happened under his careful watch, it would hurt business. A lot. Right now, Ash was the only man in town who offered the sort of women he did with as much protection for the girls as the customer. If people began to suspect they could be victims of forgery and thievery while satisfying their thirst for the wicked, the waitlist to be invited to the parties would dry up.

  “We’ll find her,” Jackson spoke up, causing Ash and Peter to whip their heads to the side to stare at him. “You’ll get your money back.”

  Stanley’s posture relaxed. “That’s what I want to hear.”

  “We’ll need some time, but we will track her down. If you could just send any photographs you have of her that would help.” Jackson took a card from his wallet and handed it to him. “Just forward them to my phone.”

  “I’ll do that right now.” Stanley retrieved his phone and started tapping on his phone, swiping through the photographs. The rest of them watched as he repeated the process half a dozen times. Did they have a fucking photoshoot?

  “I’ll call you once we have something.” Ashland gestured toward the door.

  “I hope that’s sooner rather than later. I don’t want to have this conversation with my wife.” He gave a curt nod then stalked out of the office, letting the door slam on his way out.

  After a moment of silence, Ash turned his questioning stare on Jackson.

  “I know her,” Jackson said after letting several silent seconds tick by. “Knew her, actually.”

  “Oh?” Peter folded his arms over his chest.

  “Her name is Keagan Foxx. I met her a few years ago.”

  “You dated this woman?” Ash’s eyes widened.

  Jackson laughed. “I wouldn’t call what we did dating.”

  Ash’s jaw tensed beneath his thick beard. With his shoulder-length hair and the jagged scar along his cheek, he looked as beastly as his reputation made him out to be, but Jackson hadn’t been afraid of his older cousin since they were kids.

  “She lives in Kassel?” Peter interjected before Ash could respond.

  “She did when I knew her. On the north side, at the border.”

  “If I remember correctly, hunting is something you were good at,” Ash muttered. For a time that Jackson worked directly for his father, he had the job of tracking down people who didn’t want to be found. He hadn’t let anyone get past him. Every man who needed hunting down had been found.

  “Give me a few days.” Jackson pulled his phone out and swiped it to life. Stanley’s messages came through. “I’ll find her and the money.”

  Ash gave a short nod. “You do that, and we’ll talk about you buying in shares in the Annex.” Ash offered his hand.

  He’d get to hunt down Keagan Foxx, and he’d get everything he came home for. It was a win-win for him.

  Jackson shook his cousin’s hand.

  “Consider it done.”

  Chapter 3

  Keagan snagged a glass of champagne from a passing tray and sank deeper into the room, away from the loud commotion of celebratory cheers. She found a comfortable spot near the patio doors where she could keep an eye on her mark, but blend into the background.

  Apparently, a crash in a major stock brought cause for celebration to this particular group. The workers who lost jobs, health insurance, and any sort of financial security would probably disagree. She shoved the ire over the injustice of it down and drowned her irritation with the overly sweet champagne.

  The past two years had taught her more than any book in school could have. Those who held small amounts of power were hungry for more, and they’d eat anything that had what they wanted. It was this level of gluttony that gave her such an easy way to earn a living.

  Taking another small sip of her drink, she watched Mr. Potier throw his head back with another of his forced laughs. He slapped the arm of the man he was conversing with and shook his head while adding another quip to the conversation. Whatever they were talking about, Keagan wished they’d hurry up. She needed to get Herald Potier, owner of Potier Finer Brews, away from the crowd, and to a more private venue.

  Although, she’d managed to have a short conversation with him earlier, she hadn’t made any progress since. There wasn’t need for concern yet, he would finish his circle around the room with his jokes and pleasantries, but then he’d be back at the bar. And that’s when she would move closer to him.

  “That’s an awfully serious face for such a festive party.” The deep voice sounded behind her.

  Taking the interruption in stride, she plastered on a flirtatious smile and turned. Potier still had a short way to go before he made his way to the bar for his final drink of the night. She could placate this man then send him on his way. But when her gaze met with the man behind the voice, her throat clenched.

  “Jackson.” She breathed out his name and gripped the glass tighter as it began to slip from her grasp. Jackson Titon, a faded memory from a previous life, stood before her.

  He blended well into the scenery with his well-tailored suit, his dirty blonde hair slicked back stylishly from his face, and his confident posture. His grayish-blue eyes held her captive for a long moment.

  “Keagan. I was right, it is you.” He flashed a wide grin – the same one she had found mesmerizing when they first met. His deep dimple was buried beneath a thick beard now, but her reaction was the same.

  She blinked a few times, breaking the spell. Mr. Potier would be headed her way soon, and the likes of Jackson would likely scare him away.

  “What brings you here tonight?” She turned slightly to be able to keep Potier in her sideview. A few kind words, and she’d shoo Jackson away.

  “I was just about to ask you the same question,” he said, moving closer to her.

  She sipped her drink, turning her attention back to the main crowd of the room.

  “I don’t remember you this quiet,” he commented.

  “I’m sorry, I was lost in a thought.” She caught a glimpse of Potier moving toward another group, his glass nearing empty. He would be downing the rest soon then head toward the bar soon. At that point, she needed to be there to meet him.

  “It was nice to see you again…” She took a step toward the bar but was stilled when he placed his hand on her arm.

  “Don’t run off so fast.” It wasn’t a flirtatious request, but rather a deep-rooted demand.

  “I really do need to go—” Her words dried on her tongue with the stern look he pinned on her.

  “I just need a second, Foxy Lady.”

  She froze.

  “Careful you don’t spill your drink.” His grin widened.

  She tried to tug free of his grip, but he was holding her too firmly.

  “Jackson, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I really do need to go.” She glanced at the bar where Potier was moving toward the bartender waving his empty glass in the air. If she didn’t get there in time, she’d miss her chance. Without a direct introduction, the only way she would get close enough to him was a chance meeting. The exact sort she’d spent the better half of a month arranging to happen right now.

  The bastard took his work seriously. He rarely socialized in public, and getting a meeting with him was damn impossible. Every angle she’d tried to get near him had failed. The party was her way in, and Jackson was ruining it.

  “I’m sure you do,” Jackson said.

  Potier moved into her line of sight of the bar.

  “Whatever you have planned for the evening isn’t going to happen.”

  She shot her gaze up to his. “What do you want?” Better to get the conversation over with so she could make her move.

  “For starters, I’m going to need the money you stole from Stanley McKinnley; then I’m going to need you to come back to Kassel with me.” He brushed her hair from her shoulder and leaned into her ear. “I have some questions for you, and my cousin’s interested as well.”

  She jerked away from him, spilling some of her champagne in the process.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about. But I have to go.” She spun around and headed toward the bar quickly, before he could grab hold of her again. But when she approached the bar, Potier was nowhere to be seen. She searched the crowded party and spotted his stark white hair just as he sauntered out of the room.

  Fuck.

  “Oh, did you miss your mark?” Jackson slid up beside her at the bar, resting his elbow on the edge and gazing at her with faux sympathy.

  She tensed her jaw and slammed the champagne flute onto the bar.

  “Can I get you something else?” the bartender asked, picking up the glass and wiping away the spilled droplets.

  “She’ll have a glass of white wine,” Jackson answered for her.

  With her hands balled into fists, she turned her anger on him. “You bastard.” She kept her voice low, but the couple walking past them glanced her way. “I don’t know what you’re really doing here or what you think you know about anything, but you just fucked up everything! I don’t know when I’ll get this chance again.”

  He grabbed her arm, pulling her toward him an inch and lowered his mouth until it was a scarce breath from her ear. “I know you stole two hundred grand from old Stanley, and you used my cousin’s Annex party to do it,” he said in a low growl that sent a familiar tingle down her spine.

  Okay, so he knew what had happened between her and Stanley at the Annex, but that didn’t give him the right to fuck up her job tonight. She could have gotten important information from Potier, and a few dollars if she’d played him right. Now she’d have to go back to square one and find a way to get to him again.

  “How does that have anything to do with you?” she asked, attempting to tug free. The man had a grip like a damn hound dog.

  “You used my cousin’s business, snuck into his party, pretended to be one of his employees, and now one of his customers is threatening to warn others about attending the catalogue parties. That has everything to do with me,” he explained, leveling her with a piercing glare. Those damn blueish-gray eyes still sent shivers through her body, even after all the years spreading out between their last tryst.

  “What do you want? A refund?” She gave up on fighting his grip and curled her lips. If she got annoyed enough, maybe he’d just shove her away.

  He gave a joyless chuckle. “First, you’re going to give back the fucking money, and second, you’re going to sit down with me and Ash and explain exactly how you got into his party.”

  That wasn’t going to happen. She hadn’t just waltzed into the catalogue party; Ash kept his security team tight. The party was basically a locked down event. It had taken planning and some help to get around the security. There was no fucking way she was turning on any member of the Jansen family. Snitches didn’t merely get stitches when they turned on the family.