Chapter 15
Fifteen
Maeve
T he wedding ceremony is a very simple gathering. An Elvis Presley tribute artist marries the happy couple. The ceremony was private, but now the party has moved to one of the many banquet halls, attracting wedding crashers. It’s embarrassing but arousal coats my inner thigh as I walk. I had to get some space from Nick or I was going to start shamelessly rubbing against him like a cat.
I get a drink and chat with Britney for a bit at the bar that’s outside the banquet hall. Then I wander over to check out some of the slot machines. It’s nice having a break from everyone for a minute. Plus, I can’t come to Las Vegas and not play the slots at least once. As I sit down at one of the machines, I turn my turn and make eye-contact with a handsome gentleman. I smile and insert my coin. The lights flash and bright music plays, but no luck.
“Had any luck with the machines?” It’s the man I’d made eye-contact with. I shake my head and he gives a good humor chuckle. “Well, I’m about to leave and I thought I’d give it one last shot. If I place my coin in here, will you stay and press the button? Maybe it’ll give us both good luck?”
Eh, why not? What have I got to lose. I shrug and give him a nod. He takes my drink from my hand. “Here. Let me help and hold this.”
I press the button and watch in fascination as the digital screen again flashes colors and plays music. However, we don’t win anything. “Sorry. Looks like I didn’t bring you any luck.”
I take my drink back from him, but something’s off. The way his eyes are watching me gives me an uneasy feeling. I can’t focus any more on him because Nick is charging toward us with a murderous glare. Shit. I should’ve known he would be the over-the-top jealous type. His alpha male tendencies are starting to annoy me.
“What’s wrong?” the guy asks.
He must feel the danger because he turns around right as Nick is behind him. It happens in slow motion. The guards come and form a circle around us. With deathly calm movements, Nick takes the man by the head and breaks his neck. Before anyone can register the murder, body guards appear and take the body away. I stare in horror and look around to see if anyone else witnessed that or if they even care.
“Too much to drink that one. He’s passed out.” Nick loudly states.
“Some people can’t handle Vegas.” A man chuckles.
Shock. I’m paralyzed with shock. Nick opens his mouth, but I hold up my hand. “Stay away from me. Just because this is your club doesn’t give you the right to murder people.”
Tears threaten to spill out of my eyes. How could he? And with such finesse and control. That wasn’t his first time doing that. He’s evidently deadly with his hands.
Hands that were all over my body hours ago. I rush to the bathroom to empty my stomach. I have to get to Tristan. Alert him of what happened. I’ll be safe with my cousin. Hopefully, I don’t bring danger to him, but if anyone can handle it, it’s him. When I peek out of the bathroom door, Nick – no Nicholas – is standing there waiting. Since he’s a sociopath, he doesn’t get to be called Nick anymore.
“You can come out, or I’ll come in there and get you myself.”
For fear of me bringing him into someone else’s path to be murdered, I step out. He takes me by the shoulders, but I cringe and try to pull free from his touch.
“Why are you being so cold toward me?”
Is he serious? “You killed a man.”
“Yes. I’ve killed a lot of men.”
“That’s a big red flag.”
“You know I love red. And I don’t regret it. I’ll kill every single person who tries to hurt you.”
I want to scream. “We were talking! He didn’t hurt me.”
“He roofied your drink. I watched the fucker do it. Wanna go watch the security footage?”
That revelation knocks the wind out of me. How could I have been so trusting? That man drugged my drink while I was distracted. I feel sick all over again. I start to flee, but Nicholas isn’t having it. He blocks my path. His words are harsh as he speaks.
“I gave him more than he deserved. His death was quick. When, believe me, what someone like him had in mind for you, it wouldn’t have been quick. So you tell me, who’s the real monster in this scenario?”
“You could’ve gotten the police. Security.”
“Not risking it. Besides, we knew he was a piece of shit and have evidence. Kill the fucker and be done.”
This is messed up. I can’t do this. He takes my hand and doesn’t loosen his hold for me to pull away.
“If I asked you not to kill again, would you?”
Nicholas tilts his head at me and seethes, “I’m not asking you to change?”
“I’m not killing people.”
“It wouldn’t bother me if you did.”
“Murder is serious,” I plead.
“Yeah, it ends a lot of problems.”
“Stop. Let me go. I can’t do this.”
He pulls me to him and wraps both arms around me. “Hey, calm down. I’m still the same guy.”
“I don’t want to be with a murderer.” I push against his chest.
“How about if I don’t kill anyone in front of you again? I won’t talk about it. It’ll be like I don’t do it.”
“But you don’t have to in the first place!”
“Yes, I do. In my world, in my line of work, sometimes a motherfucker has to be put down. I can do things the hard way and only do it as a last resort. Even though I can usually predict the ones that I’d be ahead killing right away.”
He’s not going to let me go. Of course he isn’t because he’s a monster. He murdered someone in public like it was nothing. I wrap my arms around him and hug him. “This is giving me a headache. Can we have this conversation over cake?”
“So you can go back in the banquet hall and tell Tristan?”
Dammit. He saw right through me. Nicholas shrugs and goes ahead and leads me back to the reception. As soon as I see Tristan, I scream his name. Nicholas groans behind me but releases me.
“Maeve, what is it?”
I throw myself into my cousin’s arms. “He killed him. Nicholas Deschamps is dangerous, Tristan. He’s a sociopath.”
“Who’d he kill?”
“Well…” I don’t want to tell Tristan that I wasn’t paying attention again and could’ve been drugged. “This guy and I were playing the slot machine. Nicholas said he saw him put something in my drink. So he broke his neck. In the center of the casino. ”
Tristan rubs his temples. “Maeve. You let someone hold your drink? Come on!”
“Let’s focus on the murder part of the story.”
“I’m glad he killed him, but I wish it hadn’t been in front of you.”
What? Tristan isn’t the least bit phased other than the drugging my drink part. Tristan isn’t in the underground world as much as Nicholas. No. They’re completely different types of men. My cousin would never…Or would he? Has he?
“Tristan? Have you killed before?”
He sighs and gives me a pained expression. “We try to protect you from this part of our world. I have. Sometimes, it’s the only way.” He growls in frustration. “Fucking Deschamps.”
Nicholas approaches with a smug grin. “I have video footage if you need it.”
“What are you doing here?” I hiss and stand closer to Tristan.
“Funny you’re not afraid of him when our body count is probably the same.”
“I doubt mine’s that high. You were Cleric’s henchman,” Tristan tells him.
“Maeve, can I speak to you?” he asks me.
“No. The deal’s completed. Stay away from me.”
Tristan wraps a protective arm around me. “You carried out your part. I’ll do the same. And thank you for protecting Maeve. I’m indebted to you.”
I almost break my own neck with how fast I turn to look at Tristan. “No, you’re not!”
“He saved you,” Tristan tells me.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to cash in that favor, yet.” Nicholas winks at me and then turns his back on us.
“Tristan. Are you leaving tonight?”
“Yes.”
Thank goodness he has a private plane. Tonight I’m getting away from The Red Chateau.