King of Pain (Lords of Las Vegas #5)

Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Luke

“Vegas,” she says it on a sigh. Like it makes her sad, but relieved too. We both need to go back. Me for the sake of my family, her for the big career she has planned.

Gently, I wade toward the shore, the phone stops its incessant ring. I fully stand, setting her on the ground just as it starts again.

Picking up my pants, I pull out the phone and accept the call. “Hello?”

“Thank fucking God,” Mason rumbles in my ear. I don’t want to worry about pleasantries now though.

“Roman? He good?”

“Good,” Mason answers.

I nearly wilt to the ground. “How?”

“The vision-impaired girl. She brought him in. Helped him escape.” He isn’t the only man who got a meaningful assist from a woman.

I turn to Kate as she gasps.

“Maddie?” I ask. But it reminds me I have an audience. Pulling the microphone away from my mouth I lean in and kiss her lips.

“She’s fine. And Roman too,” Mason says.

Still naked, I work my way up the bank in three quick jumps.

“The permits?”

He clears his throat. “We’re working on them.”

I run a hand through my hair and then turn my head to the side, cracking my neck. That is a fucking relief that Mason is cleaning up my mess. Then again, what’s new? “What do you need from me?”

“Guerriero? Is he on your tail?”

“Pretty sure I lost Gorilla yesterday. Now we’re in the middle of nowhere, at a family friend’s cabin in southern Colorado that no one can trace to either of us.”

Mason laughs, sounding relieved. “You always were a scrappy fuck. But let me just double check one detail. Who is the other person in the we you just mentioned?”

Mason never misses a detail. “Name’s Kate.”

“Vincent’s date.”

“How the fuck do you know that?”

“Maddie. The vision-impaired girl.” He says, like he’s busy thinking other things. “I hear Kate’s in med school. She patch you up all right?”

“Fit as a fiddle.”

“Good. So no additional medical care required?” I look at the phone for a second before I answer.

“No. Our biggest problem is being short on money. And time.”

“I can wire you some,” Mason says. “No problem.”

“I’ve got enough to get back to Vegas.” My muscles are twitching, ready for action. “Unless you can send the helicopter?”

Mason is silent, not answering my question. “You really think that you lost him? Gorilla?”

“Yeah.”

“In that case, I might want you to stay put.”

“What?” I rumble into the phone.

Kate is slowly picking her way up the bank. I take a step toward her and reach out my hand to her, pulling her up. As soon as she’s on solid ground, I’m making my way to the porch. I don’t know what Mason’s got in mind, but Kate can’t stay here at the cabin.

“We raided the Vendettis’ house and they’re under arrest.”

I stop again, halfway up the porch. “Are you fucking serious?”

“Suspected murder,” he whispers into the phone. “Of you.”

“Shit.”

“You can’t just resurface, not now, Luke. You being gone… that gives us a unique opportunity. If I can keep them in prison, at least until I clear the permits, then we’ll be able to clean up this mess.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I see the problem. I need to do this for my family. I fuck up so much. This is the one time they need me. “All right, but Kate’s got to go back tomorrow.”

Mason cuts me off. “She can’t, Luke.”

I grimace, staring at the phone. “Why not?”

“Think about it. One, she’d be in danger. Two, if they find her and question her, she’d give away the whole ruse. It’s best if she stays with you.”

My gut twists into knots.

I have to do this for Mason. I should say no for Kate.

Her skin glows in the moonlight as she makes her way to me. Maybe it’s not so bad.

It’s just a summer internship.

“Mason. I can’t fuck with her life like that.”

“You’re not fucking with her life. The Vendettis did that.”

He’s not wrong but still… “I like her. She’s?—”

“Safest with you.” Mason cuts me off. “Luke. I’ll try my damnedest to push the permits through tomorrow. But if I don’t… There is no choice here. We need to keep the Vendettis in jail for everyone’s safety and I need you to stay put. Please.”

I let out a long breath. I can’t say no. “All right. We’ll stay.”

“Thank you,” Mason lets out a long breath. “Are you near the San Juan National Forest?”

“Yeah.”

“There is a bank I can wire money to in Durango. It’s close enough for you to drive but far enough away…”

“No one will find us.” I run a hand through my hair as Kate comes up the steps.

We’re both naked and I turn, pulling her against me. She’s cold, and wrapping an arm around her middle, I pull her close, pressing her skin to mine as I drop a kiss on her shoulder. She nuzzles into my chest as guilt eats at my stomach.

She’s the last person I want to hurt.

Part of me was worried it would come to this. Maybe that’s why I never told her who I am. What my family does.

We are a giant Vegas machine, and we crush everyone who gets in our way.

Even beautiful little doctors with shiny brown hair and soulful eyes.

“I’ll have the package for you first thing tomorrow morning,” Mason says. “I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Yeah,” I say and then I hang up, my other arm wrapping around Kate. Was she worried about being with a bad guy?

I might be the worst. “We should get some sleep,” I murmur into her shoulder. “I’ve got to head out early tomorrow morning.”

“For what?”

“My family is wiring us money.”

“We’re not going back to Vegas tomorrow?” She stiffens in my arms, her breath catching.

The lie I’m about to tell sits bitter on my tongue. “The Italians are turning Vegas upside down looking for us.”

She cries out, pulling back. “But… my internship!”

“I’m sorry, Kate. I don’t think it’s safe.”

She shakes her head, her hair brushing all over my skin. “But, Luke, you don’t understand. This is my chance. I’ve waited forever. Beat out thousands of candidates. I can’t not show up on the first day!”

My eyes close. “Baby girl…”

I hear the soft sob, and I know she’s crying. I tighten my grip, crushing her against my chest, wanting to take the words back. Wanting to promise to drive her back to the city tomorrow. I want to promise her the world. Instead, I hold my tongue.

Because I owe Mason everything.

So instead, I just let her cry out her tears into my shoulder as they soak my skin. I run my hand over her hair, settling my hand over the small of her back. I’m going to hell.

I’ve heard everything she’s said about her mother. The string of men. I know what she’s trying to escape. The life she’s attempting to build for herself that will bury her past hurts deep.

We understand each other.

I don’t think I’ve felt that kind of connection with another person for a very long time.

I’ve been trying to escape myself too. The man who can barely read. The least valuable cog in the Kincaid wheel. Only, there is no easy way out of this.

And Kate… she’s not escaping herself either. A date with one bum, Vincent Vendetti, a ride with another—me—and her future is about to be crushed.