8. Cole #3
She needed to find her feet, spread her wings. She needed some young guy her age with no baggage. Who didn’t beat people up, or kill with few regrets, and could actually smile without making an effort.
Shit, I hated the fucker already.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out. There was a message from Nash.
“Everything okay?” She looked at me, concern on her face.
“Yeah. Nash asked us to meet him at the security office.”
She crumpled up the empty wrapper from her hot dog. “So everything isn’t okay.”
“He’s looking for Ava-Jane and the women.”
Her eyes widened and she stood. “Then let’s see what he’s found.”
I led her out of the food court and to a private elevator. Once inside, I pressed my palm to the scanner. It beeped and we headed down.
“There are underground levels?” she asked.
“Yeah. Security is all downstairs, along with a gym and training area.” And holding rooms, when the casino needed them.
The doors opened and I pressed my hand to the small of her back. My hand looked huge against her.
The security room was dark, with the walls covered in screens. They all displayed security footage of different parts of the casinos: the gambling floor, restaurants, auditoriums, elevators, and corridors. Several of the security team sat at computers.
Nash and Bastian were talking near a glass wall at the back. Beyond them were a conference room and the offices. Nash waved us into his office.
“Lili, you met Nash and Bastian earlier.”
“Hi, again,” she said.
“Glad you’re okay, Lili,” Bastian said.
“I like your casino.”
I knew women considered Bastian handsome and charming. He always wore slick clothes, and had a smile at the ready. He was nothing like me, and right then, I fucking hated her looking at him with a smile on her face.
“I’m glad to hear that.” Bastian smiled down at her. “I hope you get to enjoy more of it.”
“Cole said you got married.”
Bastian’s smile turned to full wattage. “I did. Best decision I ever made.”
“And he did just that,” a tart, female voice said. “Decided. He didn’t even ask me, just set up the wedding and had me show up, thinking it was a date.”
Bastian’s new wife, Lark, strode in. She was tiny, fierce, and deadly. Her hair was the color of the darkest part of the night, and she didn’t look like an assassin. A smiling Georgie was one step behind her.
“Lili, this is Lark…well, I guess it’s Lark Thorne now,” I said.
The tiny assassin grinned. “It is.”
Bastian claimed his wife, kissing her, then tucking her under his arm. I was well aware just how dangerous she was. Her small form hid a lot.
Georgie stopped beside Nash and he hooked an arm around her shoulders. Her blonde hair was a contrast to his darker looks. “Lili, I’m Georgie. I work here at the Avernus.”
“It’s nice to meet you all.” Lili smiled. “And thank you for the clothes. I wore them until Cole took me shopping.”
“Cole willingly went shopping?” Nash’s eyebrows winged up.
Georgie elbowed him. “You are so welcome, Lili. Believe me, I know all about being in a tough situation. That’s how I ended up here.”
“Really?” Lili said.
Nash ran a hand down Georgie’s back.
The blonde smiled. “I’ll save that story for another day, when we can grab a cocktail.”
“Oh,” Lili looked surprised. “That would be nice.”
“Unfortunately, we have less pleasant news to discuss right now.” Bastian sat on the edge of Nash’s desk.
“Did you find Ava-Jane?” Lili asked, face turning serious. “She’s my friend and she’s only nineteen.
“There was no sign of her at the house where you were held,” Nash said quietly.
Lili’s shoulders slumped.
“We got some security footage from a neighbor’s doorbell camera down the street,” he continued. “It showed a blonde woman being put in a sedan and driven off, shortly before Cole and I arrived.”
“She said…there were others. Three other women. She said that no one gets out. That they’re taken to parties and the fights.”
I stiffened. Fuck. I heard Bastian utter a low curse.
“Goodyear is behind this,” I clipped out. “Another fucking crime to add to his long list. I want him on the line for this.”
Nash nodded. “We’ll keep digging and pull the evidence together. First priority is finding the women and rescuing them. My guess, they have more than one location where they’re keeping any women they traffic.”
Fuck, I wanted to slam my fist into Goodyear’s face.
I sensed Lili watching me. I forced myself to keep a grip on my shit.
“What’s Ava-Jane’s full name?” Nash asked.
“Ava-Jane Jones. Her father is Bronco Jones, the fighter.”
“Did she mention the names of the other women?”
Lili shook her head.
“I’m putting my team to work on this,” Nash said. “We’ll find your friend.”
“Thank you.”
“I want Lili to rest the rest of the day,” I said. “Alessio’s bringing her car and stuff over later.”
“Lili, it isn’t safe for you to leave the Avernus, or be on your own,” Bastian warned. “You need to stay with Cole or one of us.”
She licked her lips. “I understand, and I appreciate you helping me.” Her gaze met mine. “So very much.”
She looked surprised we were helping her and I hated that.
“Let’s get back to my villa. You can nap or watch a movie or something.”
And I’d work out how the hell I was going to keep my hands off her.