51. Cian
Cian
I ’m at the compound with my men, going over some revenue numbers.
Wolfe’s worried that one of our gambling den dealers has sticky fingers.
What he’s been reporting versus the amount of traffic the place gets isn’t adding up.
I hate it when someone in my employ gets greedy. That’s when things turn messy.
“Besides the numbers being off, do we have any proof of who’s doing the stealing?” I ask. Throwing around accusations without solid proof puts everyone on edge.
Brendan speaks up. “I checked the security cameras. Somehow the one in the office, that’s supposed to show the safe, has been moved so that’s now a blind spot.
I’ve fixed it. I also installed a hidden camera on the opposite wall, and on the main floor pointed at his station. We’ll have that proof soon enough.”
“Good,” I grunt.
“The footage we do have reveals that some of the men have been bringing women in there to fuck.” Brendan pulls out his phone. “I took screenshots of their faces.”
I glance at Wolfe. “Find out exactly who, and remind them of the rules. They want to screw someone, get a damn hotel room. We’re running a gambling den, not a brothel.”
Wolfe says, “We should also change the lo?—”
My phone chimes with the sound I set for notifications from Ravenna. Holding up a hand, I pause the conversation, and read her text.
Ravenna
I have to work late tonight. See you later. We need to stop by Gin and Blake’s place. His birthday party’s tonight. xox
I frown at my phone. What’s keeping her at work? Did something unexpected come up, or does her new job have less defined hours than her previous position?
And I’d forgotten about that birthday party. Blake Baron doesn’t strike me as the type of man who celebrates his birthday, or has parties. But his wife sure is. Now that they’re back together.
Cian
I’m working late too. Have some business to sort out at the compound. See you at home later.
I sign off with a kissy face emoji. She hearts my reply. My heartbeat thumps faster as warmth spreads through my chest. I suppress the smile on my lips as I look back at my men.
“Wolfe, continue with what you were talking about,” I say, just as my phone pings again.
Unknown
This is Devlin. Your wife’s running away with me tonight. She’s had enough of your shit. Don’t try to stop us.
My heart stops. Rage and shock crash through me like a thunder storm. I stand up so fast my chair topples over and crashes to the floor.
What the fuck? This can’t be real. I blink, but the message remains.
Ravenna just sent me a text saying she’ll see me later. Nothing in her tone sounded off. She sent me exes and ohs. We’ve been good together lately.
My brain rapidly tries to make sense of what’s happening.
Getting this text from Devlin is completely out of the blue. Ravenna’s not running away with him. She’s mine. I’m sure he’s a lying snake.
He’ll find out soon enough who he’s fucking with, and regret it. I want that piece of shit as far away from my wife as possible.
Marching out of the room, I bring up Ravenna’s number and press the call button. It rings.
“Come on, pick up,” I mutter.
It rings again, and again.
I desperately need to hear her voice. She might be in danger. What if she refuses to go with him? Will he take her by force?
I’m not waiting around to find out.
With a curse, I sprint from the building to the garage that houses the majority of my vehicles. This time, as I go to rescue her, I choose the Ducati. Straddling the black beast, I bring the engine to life and peel out of the garage.
I try her number a couple more times, but she doesn’t answer.
Then I call Kody. He doesn’t answer either.
I try Finn. Same thing.
What the fuck is going on? Where is everybody?
I speed up, running a red light as horns blare and drivers curse. But they don’t matter.
I hope to fuck I’m not too late.