Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The next morning I stand only half listening at our morning meeting.
My teeth grind, hearing the voices of the men around me as Maverick rattles off assignments for the day.
I paced the penthouse for hours, failing miserably to outrun the noise and smelling her everywhere.
Eventually, I stopped trying to cage the demons, and let them feed.
Ashlynn’s face flashed behind my eyes again. Paled. Stunned. The moment I said it, the moment it landed. The moment I let her walk away. I’ve let it happen before, but this time felt different. Heavier.
You don’t hate me. You hate that you don’t.
I watched it carve through her and the betrayal bloom. At herself. And at me. She thought I disappeared and even though it was never true, it broke something in her.
I broke something in her.
We’ve been on a carousel since the night I found her again a little over a year ago.
Spinning in the same circle while I waited for her to step off with me.
I never expected it to slam violently to a stop, throwing both of us on our asses.
When I give her my hand to lift her up, will she even take it? Or will she walk away for good?
I crack my neck at the thought of her refusing and running for good.
I’ll never let that happen.
A hand lands on my shoulder, and I debate cutting it off of whoever it belongs to. Glaring at it for a second too long, I lift my eyes to meet Maverick’s, his face unreadable.
“Incoming,” he whispers and nods behind me. Turning, I see Parker storming in our direction. Head held high, shoulders drawn back and flexing her fingers. Glancing over at him, his expressionless face tells me he isn’t surprised.
Neither am I.
“Sweetheart, what are you doing here?” He asks as she approaches.
“Not here for you,” she tells him. “I’m here for you,” she barks, narrowing her eyes on me. Before coming to a stop, she lands a sharp right hook across my face.
The pit grows silent.
I roll with the hit. Flexing my jaw, my gaze slides over to where she stands shaking out her hand.
Damnit, she’s got an arm on her.
“What the fuck happened?” She demands.
“I don’t know what you mean, babe.”
“Karson,” Maverick warns.
“Don’t fucking babe me right now, Karson. I don’t know what’s going on with you and Ashlynn. But what I do know is she’s currently on my couch and hasn’t said a fucking word since she showed up this morning.”
Fucking fucking fuuuuccckk.
“I fucking vouched for you. Told her you’re not that bad.
I don’t know what you did, but fix it or I’ll drop you where you fucking stand.
” It isn’t a threat, it’s a promise. “Don’t make me look like a liar.
” She levels me with a glare, then pushes past me.
Grabbing him by the collar, she gives Maverick a furious kiss, then leaves without giving me a chance to speak.
“What,” Maverick questions carefully, “did you do?”
I’ll fix it. There is no other option. I know my terror, and I know she’s hurt. But I also know there’s no way she’s going to let me get away with it either.
“Made Ashlynn realize something she never wanted to admit.”
He slaps me on the back twice then squeezes my shoulder.
“Good. Now fix it before my wife buries you in the mountains and makes me help.”
I nod. Looking around the room, everyone watches me carefully. “If you all like your eyes where they are, I suggest we get back to the meeting.”
They continue their side bar conversations, waiting for Maverick to speak again.
“Alright,” he starts. “Show times over. I need four more bodies in Rapture until further notice.” Everyone watches him as he searches the room.
“Declan, Levi, Owen and Kellen.”
The four men step forward, ready. All four in their late twenties, but all of them have prior experience in the casino scene. They came in with some of the men Michael knew from the east coast.
“Come with us to the booth. The rest of you, have a good shift.” He turns without waiting.
They follow him silently to the surveillance booth, Cole and I behind them.
They file into the room, boots heavy against the floor.
The space is already too small, adding four more bodies makes the air feel thinner.
Slater and Jeremy turn in their seats, nodding in welcome at each of the newcomers.
Declan posts up against the back wall, arms crossed, eyes already scanning the monitors. Levi leans forward, hands braced on the desk, jaw tense like he’s holding in questions he's not sure he should ask. Owen stays quiet, observant, shoulders loose but alert.
Kellen doesn’t move much at all. He watches. Not the screens, but the five of us.
Interesting.
Maverick steps into the center, his commanding presence settling over the room.
“As you know, four people have gone missing from this casino since the grand opening.” Slater draws everyone’s attention to the footage from the parking garage the day that girl went missing.
“Now it’s five. We believe Rapture is a hunting ground,” Maverick continues. “I want constant watch, rotating coverage and zero blind spots. If someone sneezes wrong, I want to know before they reach for a tissue.”
They huff in quiet understanding.
I move forward to the wall of monitors, forcing my attention there instead of where it keeps trying to escape to. Instead of a loft across town. Instead of copper hair and defiant blue eyes.
Focus.
Maverick starts assigning zones, and Slater walks them through the layout, camera angles, access points and emergency exits. They listen. They learn. Kellen asks questions, but not too many. Just enough.
“Who has override?”
“Are there any blind spots?”
Efficient. Useful. I like him.
“Anything else?” Mav asks, met with silence.
Good.
“The club opens at six, last call is at two,” he explains. “Go home, get some rest. Meet us back here around four.”
They all nod in understanding then turn to leave. I feel the machine tightening. Safer, more controlled. Better, and still…something under my skin refuses to settle.
“Hold up,” I say. My voice isn’t loud, it doesn't need to be. Their steps halt, and the room goes silent. Even the hum of the computers feels like it lowers its volume.
I turn slowly. Declan’s posture locks. Levi straightens. Owen lifts his chin. Kellen doesn't move, but he’s listening.
“You’re not just watching over a gaming floor,” I say, voice even. “You’re guarding people who don’t know they’re targets.” They exchange a few looks, surprised but understanding.
“If something feels off, it is,” I continue. “I don’t care if it looks harmless. If it doesn't sit right, you handle it.” I step forward, crossing my arms over my chest. “If you hesitate, you lose.”
No one breathes. Slater watches me intently. Jeremy nods. Maverick flanks me on my right, and Cole to my left. I let the silence stretch, let them feel it.
“Rapture is a damn circus on a slow night. If you get lazy, it turns into a graveyard.”
Levi nods once, sharp.
Owen murmurs a quiet “Understood.”
Declan studies everyone else in the room's reaction, nodding when he sees this isn’t a joke. My eyes slide to Kellen who holds my stare. Not challenging, measuring.
“Good,” I say finally. “Then don’t make me find you.”
That ends the meeting. The men move, leaving the five of us alone in the booth. Maverick claps my shoulder as the door closes, voice low.
“Feel better?”
“No,” I answer honestly. Because the one person I want locked away from all of this isn't in this room.