Episode 61
Episode 61
The Queen of Las Vegas
MADAM ALANA
“ Hola Se?ora Toussaint. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?” Diego Salazar asked in his smooth Spanish accent. The man was terrifying in person but also quite the charmer.
“ Bonjour , Se?or Salazar. I do believe I need your help.” I glanced at Rhodes, Maia, and then my beloved Christophe as I held my phone pressed to my ear.
“I am intrigued. It is not every day the La Reina de Las Vegas calls for my assistance,” he chuckled.
The Queen of Las Vegas.
I’d heard the title before but had never given it much thought. Being the queen of something came with many disadvantages such as suddenly being threatened by an unknown source.
“Unfortunately, this is not a friendly call. It seems some of your people have been threatening me and one of my candidates.”
“That is simply impossible, cari?o . I make it my business to know all the comings and goings of the big players in my region. There has been no such request on you or your clientele. If I had an issue with you Se?ora Toussiant, I would give you the respect you have earned and come directly to you.”
“I appreciate that, Se?or Salazar. I, too, have a fondness for you and our mutual friends. However, a threat has been levied against me and my client, Maia Fields. Her studio apartment was burglarized, trashed, and a frightening threat painted on her wall. I received a letter by courier on the same night with a similar threatening message. Some of my acquaintances have tracked the burglars back to individuals in your employ.”
“The name Maia Fields does sound familiar; let me check my books. Please do me the honor of holding a moment while I review my files.”
“Of course. Merci .”
“What’s going on?” Rhodes grumbled.
Christophe came to my side and looped an arm around my waist. “You okay, chérie ?”
I nodded and quickly gave them an update of where I was at with my call. The three of them waited patiently as I sipped on my espresso.
A few minutes passed before Diego came back on the line.
“I apologize for keeping you. A request for my particular services was made on Maia Fields. The three members of my team that were assigned have not reported back and are presumed to have gone missing. Are you confirming at this time that Se?orita Fields is under your protection?” The way he asked the question was smooth as silk, even though the situation was dire, an uncomfortable juxtaposition I didn’t prefer to work within.
“ Oui . And she is also under the protection of the Las Vegas Hounds. Her studio is over the garage of one of their members.”
“? Maldito infierno !” he cursed in Spanish, which I believed meant something akin to fucking hell . “That tells me what I need to know about my missing men. The Hounds are notorious for making people disappear.” Diego cleared his throat. “ Se?ora Toussaint, I would never have given the order had my client provided full intel on the target. Usually, I have my men spend a couple days looking into the mark. We did a background check, which showed there was nothing of special interest, nor anything that would suggest she was one of yours or The Hounds. However, the request was a twenty-four-hour turnaround and for a high payout. I deeply apologize for this grievous error and will rectify the situation. Starting with owing you a marker.”
“Darling, I do not want a marker. I want the name of the individual who made the order. Lest you forget, I also received a threatening message at my hotel in Las Vegas on the same night.”
“That was not me, or anyone from my organization. I will pledge my life on it.” I believed him. There was no reason for a man like Diego Salazar to lie to me. But that also meant another person or group was involved.
“Then whomever ordered the target on Maia is playing both of us against one another, specifically targeting one of my girls who happens to be connected to the Las Vegas Hounds. Then couriering threats to my hotel. They could be attempting some type of a coup.”
“I’ll take care of it,” he hissed, and the sound was so terrifying I knew I didn’t want to push him too far.
“ Se?or Salazar, I do appreciate your willingness to handle the situation, and I know you are very capable of such things. Nevertheless, I have an angry husband, a terrified candidate, her furious, wealthy fiancé, and the entire Las Vegas Hounds motorcycle club seeking retribution and confirmation that Maia and I are safe. I’m sure you can understand how volatile things are on our side. What would be most helpful, chéri , would be the name of the individual who made the request. Then I will be happily on my way, no marker owed, and be able to satisfy the needs of the powerful forces on my end.”
“ Alana ,” Diego breathed my first name with such fiery intent I had to put my hand over my rapidly beating heart as I paid close attention. “This woman is connected to a very powerful individual. You do not want to be on that man’s radar. His network extends everywhere. His reach is unparalleled. He’s extremely dangerous.”
“Diego,” I pressed, showing the same intimacy he’d shown me, something we were new to having. “I’m already on his radar based on the threat I received.”
“Alana,” he barked in a rough tone that made me catch my breath. “Let. Me. Handle. This.” He enunciated each word on what could only be described as a growl.
“That is asking a lot,” I whispered, suddenly feeling cornered and rather uncertain.
Christophe tightened his hold around my waist, and I crossed my arm over my body and covered his hand with my own, needing that connection.
“Give me forty-eight hours to look into this and report back. I will send out a notification to all my contacts and staff that Alana Toussaint and Maia Fields are not to be touched, and to notify me immediately if anyone hears otherwise. If someone so much as disturbs a hair on your beautiful head, Madam , it will guarantee them a painful, drawn-out death. As of this moment, you and Ms. Fields have the full backing, resources, and protection of the West Coast Latin Mafia.”
“That is very generous of you, Se?or Salazar. I accept your request for more time and look forward to hearing from you in a couple days. Au revoir, ” I agreed and hung up.
“What did he say?” Maia asked, her big brown eyes wide and full of fear.
“He is looking into the matter. Apparently, the person who made the request to harm you is so powerful and fearsome he doesn’t want any of us involved.”
“That’s bullshit!” Rhodes complained.
“I agree, Alana. It is your right to know who has a problem with you and Maia. I’m surprised Diego responded the way he did. I thought he held us in higher esteem,” Christophe said while plucking at his bottom lip thoughtfully.
“Honestly, Christo, I think that is why he didn’t share more. If this individual is as bad as he claimed, perhaps it’s best we allow him to figure out how to respond. In the meantime, we have been given his protection as well.”
“Great,” Maia mumbled. “Somehow I’ve gotten myself connected to not only the mafia, but some bigger criminal? Jesus. Whose Cheerios did I piss in to earn this kind of retribution? I’ve been racking my brain. The only people that hate me are technically related to me and live nowhere near Nevada.”
I sat down in the kitchen chair next to her and reached for her hand. “I’m sorry, darling. I fear this situation somehow has more to do with your connection to me than anything you may have done.”
Christophe placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “Between the new security guards, the motorcycle club, and Diego’s men, you’re both covered. We haven’t received any additional threats at this time. I think we’re safe here in France, far away from Las Vegas.”
I nodded and sighed. “I agree. Diego will update us in a couple days. For now, we live life as usual but stay vigilant.”
“Maia, do you want to go get showered and changed or stay here?” Rhodes asked. “You’ve had a lot to deal with. You don’t have to go out. Emily is going to be down soon, and if I know my girl, she’s going to have ants in her pants about finally getting to go shopping.”
Maia smiled gently. “I’m good to go, but thank you for asking. I’ll be ready in fifteen.” She got up and walked out of the room.
Rhodes watched her go, his eyes shimmering with affection and maybe the slightest hint of desire. I smirked and stared at him until he finally looked at me. His cheeks instantly turned pink as I caught him checking out his fiancée.
“She’s amazing.” He shook his head, clearly frustrated. “The woman gets burglarized, threatened, has to get on a plane and fly to France where she has a terrible flashback of her past, finds out a stranger is after her, one that is so terrifying even Diego Salazar won’t share what he knows…and now, she’s putting on a brave face in order to go shopping with my daughter.”
He let out a long, deep sigh as he ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t deserve someone like her. I should help her and her family and set her free, but damned if I’m going to do the right thing. I want that woman desperately . I want to heal her wounds and soothe her soul. I want to hold her so close no one can ever harm her again. What the hell is wrong with me?” He squeezed his eyes shut and breathed through his nose, nostrils flaring. “I can’t stand that she has to live her life in fear. She’s had enough of that to fill an Olympic sized pool.”
“Then it’s up to you to make sure she feels protected and safe, chéri . I can see how much she already looks to you for comfort and support. Keep giving it to her until she knows you’re not going to ever stop giving it to her.”
“She’s scared stiff, Alana. Possibly in ways I’ll never be able to understand. Her past…” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he looked down and away. “She’s had it rough.”
“And you’re going to show her a new life. One with joy, safety, trust, and most of all love.”
His gaze snapped to meet mine. “I never said I loved her.”
My lips twisted as I tried to hold back my laughter. Christo, on the other hand, had no such luck. He laughed heartily as he walked over to the coffee pot and poured himself another cup.
“Darling Rhodes, you don’t have to say it. Your feelings for the young woman are written across every worry line on your face.” I smiled.
“Alana, don’t put ideas in her head or mine. I feel a great deal for Maia, but we’re taking things slow. Getting to know one another better.”
“Have you bedded her?” I asked point blank. With others I wouldn’t be so crass, but Rhodes was like a sibling to me. One who was drowning in water that was only five feet deep. All he had to do was trust that the ground beneath his feet was there, and he’d be fine. More than fine, he’d be perfectly safe.
“Do I look like the type that kisses and tells?”
“I suggest taking her to your bed for more than just sleep. Then perhaps you won’t feel so out of sorts.”
“Ha, ha, very funny. I’m going to go get ready. I’m assuming you’ll be ready in, oh, five hours.” He gestured to my robe and pajama set and lack of makeup.
I sipped the remainder of my espresso. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be ready when the time is right,” I assured him.
“Oh yeah? And when will that be? Never!” he called out playfully over his shoulder as he left the kitchen.
“Whenever I want.” I hummed, set my dishware in the sink and started up the back stairs to the main bedroom. “You coming, mon couer, or are you staying home to paint today?”
“And miss Rhodes doting on his daughter and fiancée with you there to micromanage? Never!” he breathed, a note of amusement in his tone.
“The day will be interesting to say the least,” I agreed. However, in the back of my mind I was still thinking about what Diego said.
“You do not want to be on that man’s radar. His network extends everywhere. His reach is unparalleled. He’s extremely dangerous.”
I couldn’t help wondering how far this person’s network could possibly reach.
Was France far enough away?