Chapter 26
GEORGIE
“Wow, this place looks like it’s out of a spy movie.”
The high-tech security room at the Avernus was right next to the shooting range and gym we’d been training in.
All the walls were covered in screens, each one depicting a different view of all areas of the casino—gaming tables, slot machines, restaurants, auditoriums, elevators.
Nash nodded at the security people seated at the computers and pressed a hand to my lower back to lead me into a conference room.
I’d woken up alone this morning. I wished I could have woken up in his arms.
I wanted him. Badly.
I knew I should be solely focused on my revenge, but I couldn’t ignore the feelings I had for him. This wasn’t just a childhood crush anymore. I had strong, deep feelings for Nash.
That scared me.
Just like my breakdown last night had. I’d known there was a lot of grief locked inside me. But seeing that Snyder was hurting another woman like he had Viv had just knocked things loose.
That, and knowing Nash would be there to hold me. Keep me steady.
What would I do when this was over? When I had to leave?
“Good morning, Georgie.” Bastian strode in, wearing another tailored suit that looked expensive. He must have a large collection of them.
“Hi.” Embarrassment briefly flickered through me. He’d witnessed me breaking down last night, but he didn’t mention it or act any differently.
The conference room walls were also fully covered in screens.
These ones, however, were all filled with images of Snyder and his men.
My stomach did a sickening turn. Just looking at him made me feel nauseated.
In addition, there were also pictures of the Red Neon, his ostentatious Tuscan-style mansion, him at parties.
I also saw lots of what looked like financial statements.
“This is everything my team has pulled together on Snyder.” Bastian swiped at one of the screens and more data appeared. “We’ve been going over it and planning.”
I dropped into one of the chairs. A picture of Shandy appeared on one screen. I stared at her. That poor woman.
I needed to save her before she ended up like Viv.
“Her real name is Beth Davis,” Bastian said softly. “She’s from a small town in Minnesota.”
God. Another young woman in over her head and dazzled by Snyder’s bullshit. The final screen displayed several pictures of other women, as well.
“Who are they?”
Beside me, Nash stiffened. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Nash.” I touched his hand, then rose. I needed to know. I looked at a very young, beautiful blonde who reminded me of Viv. I touched the screen and swiped.
The next picture showed the woman in a bathtub, her hand dangling over the side, her skin a sickly white.
I sucked in a sharp breath and spun. I knew she was dead. “Tell me.”
Nash released a breath. “Viv wasn’t the first.”
I’d suspected as much, but actually seeing the proof that another innocent woman had died sent a cutting pain slicing through me. It hurt so badly. “How many? How many has he killed?”
“We found five others over the last four years,” Bastian said, his tone somber.
“Oh, God.” I dropped back into the chair. Nash shifted and knelt beside me. He grabbed my limp hand in his.
“Georgie—”
“We have to stop him,” I whispered furiously. “We can’t just keep waiting.” Resolve filled me. “He has to be stopped.”
Nash nodded. “He does.”
“Okay.” I took a deep breath, trying to get a handle on my roiling emotions.
“We’ll all comb through the intel we have,” Bastian said. “We need to find a way to get to Snyder and his men. Somewhere where we can take them down safely, without any collateral damage.”
I swallowed. Nash pushed the laptop toward me.
“I’m also scouring his financials.” Bastian’s smile was scary. “I’m going to start dismantling his businesses.”
I suspected having Bastian as an enemy was not a good thing.
I made myself focus on the laptop and pored over the information.
When I saw just how much money Snyder made, I felt sick.
There were more pictures of him, at parties and events with celebrities and local personalities.
Hell, in one he was winning some kind of local award.
He didn’t have a care in the world.
My jaw tightened.
Nash’s hand pressed to the back of my neck and squeezed. “Relax.”
“It’s hard when I see this…evil man living the high life, making all this money, and doing whatever he wants, no matter who he hurts. Do you know that he ran another club out of business?” I stabbed a finger at the information on the screen. “All because they opened up a block away from his club.”
Nash watched me steadily.
“And one family-run supplier tried to sue him for shortchanging their payments, but he forced them into bankruptcy. He’s rotten to the core.”
Nash’s fingers rubbed soothingly. “I told you, we’re going to stop him. Soon, he won’t be able to hurt anyone else.”
Bastian called him over. With a nod, Nash moved to the other end of the table. I watched the pair of them. Elegant, stylish Bastian and rough, tough Nash. I focused on him. The blue light from the screens highlighted the dips and planes of his face.
Knowing I had him on my side made everything better.
Don’t get attached, Georgie.
He’d walked away from me once before, and he had a good life here in Vegas.
I sucked in a breath. I knew that life could change in an instant. I knew how it felt to have the people you loved, on whom you depended, wrenched away.
God. I swallowed. I could so, so easily fall for him.
And if he left or was taken away, it would be a loss I wouldn’t survive. My heart was already cracked and held together by delicate threads.
I wasn’t sure I could handle any more heartache and loss.
I focused back on the laptop, but the screen was just a blur. I needed my full attention on Dean Snyder.
Some information caught my gaze. “It says here Snyder is having a special event at his club tonight. Supposedly raising money for charity.” I rolled my eyes. “There’s going to be a special performance by Shandy.” I looked up at them. “We’ve got to go. We’ve got to protect her.”
The men traded a glance.
Nash nodded his head. “We might be able to find out more information. Talk to some of the staff. Find out more about Snyder’s movements.”
Bastian crossed his arms and nodded. “It’s not a bad idea. I’d like to see Snyder up close and personal, myself.”
Nash’s gaze pinned me like a laser. “You’re going to stay here.”
I rose and pressed my hands to the table. “Not a chance in hell.”
“He could recognize you.”
“I’ve been in there before. I’ll wear a wig and a disguise. He won’t expect me to be there.”
“Georgie,” Nash growled.
“I’m coming. Besides, I’ll have several former assassins by my side. I’m safer with you than anywhere else.”
Bastian cleared his throat. “She has a point.”
“Fuck,” was Nash’s only response.