𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝟏𝟖+

35. business

GABRIEL DALTON

✥

As soon as Poppy left my house–which I was reluctant for her to go–I started digging for information about her past. I'm not proud of it, especially doing it behind her back but I can't stop myself. Whoever hurt her, put their hands on her, mutilated her body so that she's constantly reminded everyday... I'm going to fucking find them and I don't care what it takes.

I Google her name and remember when Lonzo said that she sent someone down in court, she had information on them. I search for everything online but since the court case was over a few years ago, it's nearly impossible to find anything. It's like the entire case has been wiped from public view.

My teeth clamp down on my bottom lip and I lean back in the chair, swiping my finger over my chin. I could ask Ray for more details but I know he'll turn around and tell Lonzo, even if I ask him not to.

I don't want Lonzo getting anymore suspicious, not when I know about some of the trauma Poppy went through. I can't stand the thought of him tearing her to the ground and making her feel like nothing.

Something uneasy sets in my gut and I'm determined to find out more. I keep looking through endless articles and clips from the court case, from what I can see she was a witness of a robbery gone wrong, resulting in a murder.

Did she give evidence against and now they've come back for her?

"Shit," I curse to myself as I stare at my wall.

It makes sense. It makes so much sense. What if the person she sent away to prison was part of a gang? This might be the favour that she said she has to pay off.

A big debt. A life for a life.

My eyes close and I press my hand to my forehead, letting a sigh drop from my lips.

How on earth am I meant to get around this?

I know Poppy too well, if I press I might risk pushing her away. I have no idea if her home life is truly safe, if the people there are the ones that are harming her?

From my memory I run the address I've dropped her at through the search engine and look for what pops up. Poppy mentioned she lives in a house share so I don't know exactly what I'm looking for–something–anything.

My phone buzzes on the table beside me and I snap myself from the computer screen. Zane's name pops up and I answer the call before holding it to my ear. "Hey, man," I huff before twirling in the chair. "Everything good?"

"Hey," his voice sounds tired. "I'm closing the club tonight."

I furrow my brows. "Why?"

"I've got something important happening at the club instead, a business deal and I need it to be free of people," he explains.

"So shit is about to go down," I place my ankle over my knee. "You need me to be there?"

Zane pauses for a moment. "No, I'll be fine. Take the night off, you deserve it."

My eyes widen in surprise. "The night off? Oh, I am so blessed."

"Don't make me regret this," his stern voice makes me smirk.

"Of course not. Hey, could you do me a favour before?"

I hear him exhale a long breath. "What?"

"Could you send me any documents you have on Poppy?"

The line goes silent and I tilt my head back to the chair, glancing up at the ceiling. "Are you serious, Gabriel?"

"I'm not going crazy stalker on her ass, if that's what you're thinking," I rush before he gets the wrong idea. "I'm worried about her. Truly worried about her and I need to know if she's safe, if she's okay. She's a damn closed book and I don't want to lose her before I even have her."