Chapter 15 Nash
NASH
My arms crossed over my chest, I watched Bastian, Cole, Landon, and Alessio stalk into my villa like they owned the place.
Well, technically Bastian did, I guess.
“How is she?” Landon asked.
“Sore. She’s napping.” It was late afternoon now, and I’d bullied Georgie into eating again and taking some meds. We’d watched some TV, but she’d been tired and had started falling asleep.
I’d tucked her into my bed and then I’d watched her sleep for a while, spending time counting the freckles sprinkled over her nose. I got the impression she hadn’t had a good sleep for a long time.
That would be changing.
“I’ll check on her before I leave.” Landon set his medical bag down, then sat on a stool at my kitchen island. Cole leaned against the counter. Bastian sat on the couch, while Alessio stood. The guy wasn’t good at relaxing or switching off.
“I’ve got the security team digging into Snyder,” Bastian said. “He owns the Red Neon nightclub. That’s his main business. He does a few record deals and has a DJ business with a fleet of DJs that he hires out for events.”
“All aboveboard?” I asked.
“Mostly. He deals with some shady people. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s laundering money for some clients. He’s never been charged with anything, but he certainly does business with people known to bend the rules. He also owns a lot of real estate, including a big mansion in Summerlin.”
I frowned. I’d been hoping for more.
“He also has a pattern of abusing women,” Bastian added, voice sharp.
I tensed, and the others did, too.
Alessio’s gaze sharpened, burning black.
“Like he did to Georgie’s sister Viv,” I said.
Bastian nodded, distaste on his face. “The fucker uses the same play every time. He likes to play the big man. Lures them into his club, puts them in the spotlight, promises them a record deal. Then he throws cash around, spoils them, seduces them, puts them on a pedestal.”
“Love bombing,” Landon said.
“What?” I frowned.
“It’s over-the-top lavishing of attention, gifts, and flattery on someone. To manipulate and influence them.”
Bastian leaned forward. “That’s exactly it. Once he has them hooked and isolated from their friends and family, he shows his real colors.”
“Georgie said he started sharing Viv with his men, clients.” My lip curled. “He also videoed it.” The sick fuck.
Bastian nodded. “Looks like he also gets them hooked on drugs. He’s all about control.”
“Classic abusive asshole,” Landon said.
“He has money, and power and control over their careers,” I added. “Viv ODed. She was found dead in an alley. Georgie says Snyder killed her.”
“It’s likely,” Bastian said. “But you’ll never prove it. He’ll have evidence that she was a drug addict. No doubt he’ll earnestly show that he tried to help her.”
I let out a growl. “His right-hand guy beat the shit out of Georgie. Twice.”
Bastian made a sound. “Frank Bruno. Ex-boxer and a nasty piece of work.”
“I’ve seen him around the underground fights,” Cole said. “He likes to use his fists.”
A hot ball lodged in my chest. “Georgie tried to save her sister. Last night, she tried to kill Snyder and Bruno. One of the other guards jumped her and Bruno beat her again.”
“She’s lucky she’s alive,” Landon said.
My gut cramped. If I hadn’t woken up…
If I hadn’t checked on her…
She could’ve died, and I wouldn’t have known. I tasted bile. I reminded myself that she was safe in my bed.
“You killed one of Synder’s men,” Bastian said.
“Mark Zanotti. Nice shot, by the way. Single T-zone shot between the eyes. He had a long record of assault and rape charges against several ex-girlfriends. We scrubbed all the CCTV. There’s no record of you or Georgie being there.
My source at LVMPD said Snyder claimed it was just a random shooting. ”
I grunted. He wouldn’t want the police looking too closely. “I had Theo bring her stuff over. She was staying at this seedy motel off the Strip.” Theo had told me he wouldn’t let his dog sleep there, and he’d seen two drug deals going down in the parking lot while he’d been there.
Bastian leaned back against my couch, but I could tell he wasn’t relaxed. Not one little bit. “Your Georgie’s sister isn’t the only one.”
My head jerked. “Come again?”
“I looked back a few years. Five of his singers that he was fucking are dead.”
“Five,” I whispered.
Bastian nodded, rage in his eyes. “Three ODs, one drowned in the bathtub, and another hanged herself.”
“Jesus,” Landon said.
Alessio said nothing, just prowled the edge of my living room. A muscle in Cole’s jaw ticked.
“And the cops ignored it?” I asked.
“They haven’t linked him to it.” Bastian spread his hands. “They just see ODs and suicides.”
“Bullshit.” The word was like a bullet. “Fine.” I sliced a hand through the air. “If the law won’t stop him, I will.”
“You want to go unsanctioned?” Bastian lifted a brow.
“Hell, yeah. I’ll stop him.”
“We will,” Landon said. “You’re not in this alone. Georgie is yours, and you’re ours.”
I looked at them all. “I want Bruno, as well.”
Bastian nodded.
“No,” a female voice said. “They’re mine to kill.”
I jerked around. Georgie stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe. She was only wearing one of my T-shirts, which thankfully swamped her and came to mid-thigh.
I closed the distance between us. “You shouldn’t be out of bed.” Something in me twisted. I didn’t want anyone seeing those bare legs but me.
She took a step forward, wobbled. I grabbed her arm, and thankfully she leaned on me. The bruises around her eye were darker, lots of black and purple. I locked my rage down.
She looked at the others. Her gaze moved to Landon.
“I know you.” Her brow creased, like she was fighting to remember.
“Landon,” he said.
“He treated you last night,” I said.
“I remember your voice. Thank you.”
“Georgie, this is Landon Bradshaw. Bastian Thorne is the one on the couch.”
Bastian inclined his head.
“Alessio Rossi.” I nodded my head. “And Cole Black.”
Alessio dipped his chin and Cole nodded.
“These are your friends?” she asked.
“Most of the time.”
Bastian snorted.
“Snyder is my problem.” Georgie lifted her chin. “He killed my sister. He’s evil.”
I saw my friends look at her, felt their anger at her injuries.
“I’ll take care of it,” I told her.
“No.” There was a spark in her eyes. “I want to. I want revenge. I want to take him down.”
I felt rage vibrating from inside her.
“I’ll help you,” Landon said.
She blinked. “But you’re a doctor.”
He shot her a faint smile. “Most of the time.”
I touched her shoulder, fingers curling around the delicate joint. “Before, years ago, we were all…something different.”
She blinked. “What were you? You were all in the military?”
“Not exactly.” I drew in a breath. “We’re all good at killing.”
An unreadable look crossed her face. “I don’t understand.”
“We were all trained to take out our targets.”
Now understanding moved through her eyes. She glanced at the others before focusing back on my face. “Assassins?” she whispered.
I stayed silent.
“This is why you didn’t come home?”
I stiffened, waiting for her to back away, to gasp, to look at me in horror.
But there was no horror on her face. Her gaze stayed locked on mine, then she pressed her palm to my chest.
“Nash…”
“I’ll help, too,” Alessio said.
Georgie blinked. “You don’t even know me.”
“I’m in, as well,” Cole added.
Bastian shrugged a shoulder. “I’m not missing out on the fun.”
Dammit. Big hazel eyes locked on my face. I cupped her cheek. “We’ll help you.”