Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
The last person I expected to see in my dad’s suite was John. I’m not sure why I’m surprised. We are here for his wedding after all. I was hoping to get some time alone with my dad, though.
“Lailani, I’m so glad you could make it,” John says, standing and kissing each of my cheeks.
“Of course, wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I tell him.
“I hear we have something more in common than your father now.” John sits back down on the sofa, appearing relaxed and carefree.
“We do?” I ask him.
“You’re dating my future son-in-law?” John questions.
“Dating is a strong term. I barely know him,” I lie.
“Oh, I thought your father said…”
“My dad is a hopeless romantic, who wants me to settle down and have kids. It’s wishful thinking on his part.
Trust me, John, you probably know your future son-in-law better than I do.
” I give my dad a look, hoping he gets the message to downplay my relationship with Sammie. “When do I get to meet the bride?”
“She’s busy glamourizing herself, or something like that. Said I can’t see her until the ceremony.” John glances towards my dad now. “We do need to get our suits from the tailor, though. You ready?”
“Sure am.” Dad stands before turning to me. “You want to tag along, Lailani?”
“Let the kid have some fun. We are in Vegas after all, and the last thing she wants to do is hang out with a couple of old-timers.”
John clearly doesn’t want me going with them. Interesting.
“I actually have to get my dress,” I say. I don’t. I already had a dress sent over to my room. What I need to do is figure out what the hell John is up to. “I’ll meet you back here at two?”
“Sounds good. See you soon.” Dad kisses my cheek and follows John out of the suite.
Something is up. I wonder if Sammie has spoken to his mother this morning? Maybe I should find out where she’s staying and check in. Make sure she’s okay. There was something odd about the way John didn’t want to talk about her.
I can find out her room number. I just need my laptop.
Walking out of my dad’s suite, I head into the one next to it, where I threw my bag down before going up to Sammie’s apartment last night. I know the moment I walk in that I’m not alone.
One thing about mafia men, they like their cologne and don’t realize it’s usually a dead giveaway. Reaching behind my back, I pull out one of the guns Sammie gave me, suddenly thankful for him showing me his freaking lair. Then I put my phone to my ear and pretend to take a call.
“Hey, Charlotte, I’m just stopping to change. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
I don’t know how many guys are here or when they’re going to make themselves known. If they think I’m distracted by my phone, they won’t be as on alert, though.
“I know. I can’t wait for you to see my dress,” I say while walking into the bedroom. One hand on my phone, the other firmly wrapped around the pistol just inside my jacket.
I hear footsteps behind me and count them in my head—one, two, three, four—while focusing on the rhythm of the steps. There’s only one person. They only sent one guy for me? I’m insulted.
“I know! You were so right. Red is definitely my color,” I say, spinning around. My arm straightens so that the barrel of my gun is aimed directly at some asshole who thinks he can get the better of me, and I pull the trigger.
A shocked gasp escapes the guy before he starts falling. The bullet tore right through the middle of his chest. But he’s still alive.
I walk over to him and press my gun to his forehead. “Who sent you?”
“F… fuck you,” he spits, blood spurting up out of his mouth.
“Wrong answer, asshole,” I tell him before pulling the trigger again. This bullet goes through the center of his eyes.
I fire one more round into his chest for good measure. Then I step back to watch as blood pools around him. Fuck. Day one and I’m already creating a mess in Sammie’s casino. I should call him. Or I can just get this cleaned up and tell him about it afterwards.
That seems like a much better solution. He has enough to worry about today without me being one of those things.
I open my message thread with Emmanuel.
Me:
Suite 789, clean up needed. Don’t tell Sammie.
E:
You okay?
Me:
I’m fine.
A few minutes later, there’s a knock at my door. I peek through the peephole and see Emmanuel. I tug at the knob and hold the door open, waiting for him to step inside before shutting it.
“He was lying in wait for me,” I say when Emmanuel spots the body on the floor.
“Only one?” he asks.
“Yep.”
“Pfft, well, clearly they don’t know who you are. That’s a good thing,” he says.
“I think John has done something to Sammie’s mother,” I tell him. “He was in my father’s suite, acting cagey when I brought up meeting his new bride.”
“He’s a dirty cop, Lailani. He’s always cagey.”
“I should have let him get the drop on me. Take me to their meetup spot. I could have found out what they’re planning.”
Why do I think of these things after the fact?
“Don’t ever let anyone get the fucking drop on you, Lai,” Emmanuel growls. “I’ll get some guys to sort this out. Is there a reason we’re not telling your fiancé about this?”
“Fiancé? Funny, I don’t see a ring, do you?” I hold out my left hand.
Emmanuel smirks. “According to Sammie, you’re engaged.”
“He’s a dreamer. And I don’t want him worrying about me today. He has enough to deal with. I can handle whatever they throw at me,” I explain.
“I’ll have Paz nearby.”
“I don’t need a babysitter or a bodyguard.” I laugh.
“I know,” Emmanuel says but that’s all he says. Which means Paz will still be nearby. “What are your movements for the rest of the day?”
“I was going to find out what room Sammie’s mother was in and check on her. Then I have an appointment at the salon.”
“The salon?” E lifts a questioning brow at me.
“I have a wedding to attend.” I smile. “And I want to look my best.”
“Pretty sure you could wear a paper bag, and he wouldn’t care.”
“Probably, but I have a dress just to be safe. And heels,” I say. “I’m going to take these things up to Sammie’s apartment and then check up on Miss Russo.”
“I’ll see to Miss Russo. You go to your salon appointment.
You do look like you just rolled out of bed.
” Emmanuel bends down and digs through the dead guy’s pockets.
He takes his phone and wallet. I don’t need to look at either of those things to know this is one of Santiago’s men.
The tattoo of a lion’s head on his head tells me already.
“Thanks.” I scowl at E.
“Anytime.” He walks out of the room, leaving me with the dead guy.
As soon as I collect all my things, I head up to Sammie’s apartment. I know that Emmanuel said he’d check on his mother, but I need to check on her myself. I need to call my dad too. Tell him to watch his back.
I pick up my phone and press on his name in my contacts. It rings out, so I send a message.
Me:
Dad, call me when you get a moment.
He’s probably busy either drinking at a bar or trying on the suit. Or John is going to do something and use my father against me. Now that he knows I have a connection to Sammie, I wouldn’t put it past him. Shit.
I quickly open my laptop, log into the cell phone tracker app I had installed, and track my dad’s phone.
Seconds later, the little dot on the screen is telling me he’s still in this casino.
I log into the CCTV system next and scan the different floors, starting with the main one. He’s here somewhere.
After fifteen minutes of searching, I finally spot him. He’s in a men’s suit shop in the mall department. I relax a little. I’m being paranoid. He’s fine.
Satisfied that my father is okay, I pull up the casino’s guest registry and find what room Miss Russo is staying in. There are no cameras inside the suites. But after scanning the ones in the hall on her floor, I spot three of Sammie’s goons hanging around trying and failing to blend in.
I shake my head and laugh. This is going to be fun. It’s like taking candy from a baby. Too fucking easy.