37. Chapter 37
Victor
“Thank you, gentlemen,” Matteo says, standing as Owen concludes the final meeting of the summit.
It’s been a productive session considering how tense everything was when we first got started.
My father was even cordial to Danny Trentini by the time it was all over, and he and Grace seem to have developed a bond of some kind that I didn’t expect.
In the end, we agreed to use our resources and keep all families informed as we work to drive the Russians back into hiding, while avoiding as much bloodshed as possible in Las Vegas.
We couldn’t get anyone to agree to avoid outright murder in their own territories, but everyone finally agreed that Las Vegas should remain neutral.
“It will be good to be working with you instead of against you,” Jamie Bowden says.
As I’m opening my mouth to agree, a shrill alarm sounds, and everyone goes stock still as Owen holds up a hand and pulls out a tablet.
“Let me investigate. No one leaves this room,” he shouts.
As he’s heading for the door, his fingers are tapping furiously against the screen. Then he swears and stops what he’s doing.
“Fuck.”
“What is it?” I ask, knowing that this room is a tinderbox and the smallest setback could be the spark that turns it into an all-out war.
“Get Ami,” he says quietly.
My stomach twists. “Why do we need a doctor?” Luke asks.
“Someone just got shot in the parking lot.”
Everyone moves for their weapons, but thankfully they remain in our possession.
“He’s one of ours,” Owen quickly adds. “I don’t think this has anything to do with today. We just need to contain the scene before authorities get called.”
“I’m coming with you,” Luke’s cousin says.
That prompts a debate about who all should join Owen.
“One from each organization. Quickly,” Owen snaps as he steps into the hall.
Six men fall into line behind him. Matteo, Luke, and Hunter stay behind, but I follow Owen.
Samuel Carter and Tobias Hunt are rushing through the kitchen carrying Jacob’s bleeding body when we burst through the door.
“Put him on the prep table.”
“Tyson will fucking love that,” Owen mutters.
Dr. Singh rushes into the room followed by Liliana and Grace.
“Get back to my office,” I order.
But Lili is staring at Jacob as he bleeds all over the table.
“Grace, please, take Lili back to my office or to one of the empty suites. We need as few people here as possible.”
“I’m not leaving,” Lili snaps.
There isn’t time to argue. Amarjit is jumping into action, shouting orders to get towels and other supplies.
Soon she’s covered in blood, moving frantically, but a moment later she stops and crawls up onto the table with Jacob, gathering him into her arms. “No,” she cries. “Please, no.”
Then she goes still. “He’s gone,” she whispers. “There’s nothing I can do.”
Lili gasps and stumbles backwards. Grace takes the opportunity to catch her by the arm and steer her out of the room. Bless her.
“How did this happen? Do we have the shooter on camera?” Someone asks.
“I’m looking now,” Owen says as he swipes at his tablet. “Someone needs to get out to the parking lot and start cleaning up the blood. We can’t fucking have the cops here.”
“What triggered the alarms?”
“Who was this man?”
“Why was he in the parking lot?”
The questions come fast from our summit guests. I don’t blame them, but I can tell it’s grating on Owen.
“Will everyone just calm the fuck down and let me work?” Owen shouts. “I want everyone back in the conference room except for Victor, Carter, Tobias, and the good doctor.”
Everyone grumbles, but files out towards the conference room. Meanwhile, Amarjit has squared her shoulders and is slowly lowering Jacob’s body flat onto the table. She stands and stares down at her blood-soaked clothing.
“What do you need from me?”
“Your clothes. Everything. You understand why we can’t go to the police, right?”
She nods. “I knew enough about him to understand that. No real details, but I was privy to his line of work.”
I go to the supply closet in the kitchen and pull out gloves and a bunch of trash bags. Then direct her to a spot near a drain in the floor.
“Everything will have to go in the trash bags. I’ll turn my back.”
Samuel and Tobias are already stripping the bloody clothes off their bodies as well.
As the clothes are going into bags, Grace slips back into the kitchen carrying a stack of towels and several pairs of silk pajamas we provide VIP guests.
“Thought these might come in handy,” she murmurs before backing out.
“Grace,” I call, stopping her. “Thank you,” I say when she turns to look back at me. “Keep Lili away from this, please.”
“Yes, Sir,” she murmurs. “I pulled my phone out of the lockers if you need me for anything.”
“The shot came from somewhere outside our surveillance window,” Owen says when Grace is gone. “I’m going to have to find other ways to sort out what happened.”
“Did we ever find out who his mark was that had the voice recorder?”
“Do you have a knife?” Ami asks.
I turn and stare at her. “What for?”
“Jacob had an insurance policy embedded in his shoulder. I can dig it out for you if you want me to.”
Owen raises an eyebrow. “What kind of policy?”
She shakes her head. “I have no idea. He just told me it was there if anything ever happened to him. I also have a key to his safe-deposit box.”
Tobias produces a knife from the pocket of the pants he was wearing and hands it to her. She stands there in just her bra and panties and feels around Jacob’s shoulder before making a small incision.
I’ve seen a lot of gory things in my life, but watching her emotionless expression as she slips her fingers into his lifeless flesh is something different. I’ve always known she was a strong woman, but now I get the feeling she’s seen some things.
The item she pulls from his shoulder is the tiniest microchip I’ve ever seen. Owen holds out a small plastic bag for her to drop it into.
“We have to spray you down before you can get to a real shower, and you’ll have to lose the undergarments as well.”
“It’s fine. You don’t want to get his blood everywhere. I get it.”
“I can have Grace or one of the others come in…”
She holds up a hand and cuts me off. “Please. I’m not squeamish or shy, Mr. Serrano.”
The formality of using my last name is almost chilling.
As she strips off the rest of her clothes, I wrap my shoes in two small trash bags, then step towards her so I can grab the sprayer from the industrial sink.
I turn the water on warm and point it at her.
It takes several minutes to rinse all the blood off her because it got everywhere, including her hair.
Tobias insists on spraying himself down after letting me rinse his hands. I grab two of the towels and a pair of pajamas and hand them to Amarjit. When she’s wrapped in the towels, I lead her to one of the suites where she can shower and change. “We’ll get you better clothes as soon as we can.”
“Don’t worry about it. Can I stay in here until you’re ready for me?”
“Of course. And Ami?”
She looks at me with a blank look on her face.
“I’m really sorry about Jacob.”
“Something tells me if this hadn’t happened, you would have killed him yourself. He told me in veiled terms why you were mad at him.”
“It was before I knew her, but it still pisses me off.”
“Maybe that anger should be directed towards the man who hired him.”
I let out a huff of a laugh. “Believe me, it is.”
I leave her alone and return to the blood-soaked kitchen just in time for Tyson to arrive.
“What the hell did you fuckers do to my kitchen?”
Lili
The door to the suite Grace led me to an hour ago, bursts open, and Victor stalks toward me curled up on the bed. “Are you OK, Spitfire?” he asks as he sheds his jacket, shoulder holster, and tie, then crawls onto the bed and pulls me into his arms.
“I am so fucking conflicted,” I whisper. “I’m so sad for Dr. Singh, but I would be lying if I didn’t say I feel safer knowing Jacob is dead after what he did to me.”
He brushes hair out of my face and presses a kiss to my forehead. “That’s understandable. Don’t feel guilty for those conflicting feelings. Both can be true at the same time.”
“It’s just making me think about Phineas.”
He stiffens. “What about him?”
“I… I want him dead,” I whisper. The words horrify me, but they’re the God’s honest truth. I want my husband dead, and I don’t care if Victor knows it.
“That can be arranged,” he murmurs.
“It’s not fair of me to ask you to do that.”
“Sweetheart, despite my reputation, there are very few people in my life who I’ve enjoyed killing. But that bastard will definitely be one of them.”
I shudder against him.
“Can I see him?”
“You want to see him again?”
I nod against Victor’s chest. “I have some things to say.”
He’s still and quiet for a long time before he kisses me again and sits up. “I can arrange it. You’ll be well protected the entire time, so there’s no need to be frightened while you’re there.”
“Thank you, Vic,” I whisper. “Where’s Grace?”
“With Zara and Skylar. I wanted to check on you first. Do you want her here?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. I don’t like upsetting her.”
“She would want to comfort you.”
I smile as I wipe my face and sit up. “I know. She’s such a delight. You’re lucky to have her.”
Victor frowns at me. “We’re lucky, Liliana. She wants both of us in her life.”
I grimace. “And I want to be in both of your lives as well. I’m just worried that I bring too much drama with me.”
“Let us be part of that decision, please,” he whispers.
I’m not used to this tender side of Victor, but I like it. I snuggle close to him again. “How’s the cleanup out there?”
“Rough. But Samuel and Tobias are taking the lead on it. Making the body disappear. Dr. Singh understands why. She knew more about her partner’s illicit activities than she let on. She even knew he had a memory card in his shoulder with names, dates, and payment information for all of his jobs.”
I sit up and stare at him. “Even the one he got the voice recorder from?”
Victor drags a hand through his hair. “I honestly don’t know yet. Owen is swamped with trying to find footage of the shooter.”
My heart rate ramps up. “Was it another sniper?”
Victor stares at me. “Yes. I’m sorry it’s starting to look that way.”
“Does Trinity know?”
“Not yet, but Hunter is aware, so he’ll tell her when he thinks it’s the right time.”
That makes me roll my eyes. “Because you men have such an excellent track record of telling your partners things they need to know.”
Victor chuckles and kisses my forehead. “I guess I deserved that.”
“When can I see Phineas? I’m ready to put him behind me, but I need to see him one more time before I can do that. Then you can do what you want with him.”
Victor stands. “I should go check on things out there. If it’s safe, I’ll take you tomorrow.”
As the door closes, I try to imagine what it will be like to confront my husband, knowing it will likely be the last time I see him alive.