Lili
Walking beside Cole through the Avernus, I tried to act normal.
As normal as I could, when every cell in my body was still vibrating. And my panties were still damp.
Cole had gone down on me, pinned me to a desk, and totally rocked my world. I still felt like I was in a happy daze. One I never wanted to stop feeling.
We were walking toward the elevators and every brush of his arm against mine, every time he pressed his hand to my back, I wanted to melt into a puddle.
No, scratch that, I wanted to climb him like a tree. Well, that, or tear his clothes off and touch him. Put my mouth on him the same way he’d done to me.
I shivered. It was as though electricity was zinging through my veins.
He pressed the button for the elevator, and I shifted on my feet. I’d never been sex-obsessed before. I’d never crushed on boys or celebrities, but I sure was now. On a gruff, rugged former assassin with callused hands and scars.
“Lili, are you okay?”
I looked up at him. “Yes.”
“You seem restless.” The elevator opened, and he pressed his palm to the small of my back and nudged me inside.
I almost moaned. I wanted him to pin me to the elevator wall and…I cleared my throat and knew I was blushing. “I’m fine.”
His brow creased as he studied me.
My gaze wandered. Down that scar on his cheek, that I really wanted to trace and lick, then to his mouth. God, I knew exactly what he could do with his mouth.
He made a low sound as the elevator started its descent. “Quit looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want to get naked.”
I licked my lips. “I can’t help it.”
He closed his eyes and looked like he was struggling. Then his eyes opened. What I saw in the blue depths made my nipples harden.
“Cole…”
The elevator slowed and the doors opened. He shook his head, then took my hand.
The security office ahead was a hive of activity. I spotted Lark talking with a few people, leaning over a screen as they studied something. I guessed there was a lot of work involved to maintaining the security at a casino.
The small woman looked up and gave me a wave. With a tentative smile, I waved back.
“Hey, guys.” Nash appeared. The bearded man was scowling and held a mug of coffee in one hand. “Come into the conference room.”
As we stepped inside, my orgasm-addled brain instantly cleared. Printed photos of women lay on the table. They looked like photos from parties.
Nash hitched a hip on the corner of the table. “Lili, we pulled the files of women who’ve gone missing recently, and cross-refenced them with some surveillance pictures we have from places Goodyear frequents.”
“Like the fight ring,” I said.
He nodded. “Are any of these women Ava-Jane?”
I made myself look at the women. They were all very beautiful. There was no particular type, some were white, some were Black, some had blonde hair and other had brown. Except for one thing. They were all very young.
God, was Goodyear hurting all of these young women? Were they trapped somewhere, with no hope of getting out? I knew how that felt, that bitter hopelessness.
“Lili, take a deep breath.” Cole’s hand touched the back of my neck and squeezed.
I pulled in a ragged breath. That firm touch was all I needed. It steadied me.
Then my gaze snagged on the photo at the end of the row.
A gorgeous, leggy blonde in a tiny blue sequined dress. Her face was in profile, but I could see the heavy makeup and the sad look on her face.
I grabbed it. “That’s her. That’s Ava-Jane.”
“I ran her details. Ava-Jane Jones. Nineteen years old. She’s from Spring Valley. Mother reported her missing almost three months ago. She went to a modeling job on the Strip and never came home.”
“I should have done something,” I whispered. “I should have known she wouldn’t just stop answering my messages.”
Nash cocked his head. “This isn’t on you, Lili.”
I clamped my lips together, emotions running through me. Ava-Jane had been trapped long enough for the hopes and dreams in her eyes to die.
Suddenly, I was tugged around and Cole pulled me against his chest. I buried my face in his shirt and when his big arms closed around me, I just held on for dear life.
“You know where Ava-Jane’s being held?” Cole asked.
“No.” I heard the frustration in Nash’s voice.
“Working on it. I’m trying to dig up any properties Goodyear owns that he might be using for this.
He owns a shitload, and not all of them are owned by Goodyear Industries.
They’re funneled through trusts and dummy companies he’s set up.
We’ll find it, but it’s going to take time. ”
Time during which Ava-Jane and the other women would suffer.
I lifted my head. “Any more word on Bronco and Gloria’s murders?”
Nash shrugged. “Police are investigating. My sources say they don’t have much to go on.”
“I should give a statement.”
“No,” Cole said. “You are laying low.”
“But Bronco and Gloria deserve justice.”
“We’ll get it for them.” His eyes darkened in a way that made me want to shiver. “Goodyear is going down, one way or another.”
There was a knock at the door and Georgie appeared. The blonde was wearing a pair of wide-legged black pants, a fitted, button-down shirt in deep green, and a snazzy belt. She looked stylish and professional. “You guys finished with the serious stuff?”
“For now,” Nash said. “You here to see me?”
She winked at him. “I always want to see you, handsome, but I actually wanted Lili.”
“Me?”
Georgie smiled. “Yes. I wanted to tell you that I’ve booked a table for dinner tonight at Dis Pater the Italian restaurant here at the Avernus. It’s one of the best in Vegas. We’re going to drink some cocktails and eat some good food.”
“Oh, I…” It didn’t seem right to have a good time when I knew Ava-Jane and other women were out there, somewhere, alone and being abused.
Georgie took my hand. “I get it. It’s hard to focus on the good stuff when you’re wading through the bad stuff, but believe me, you need the good to get through it. It’s the life preserver that keeps you afloat.”
Her gaze clung to mine, and I realized she understood what I was going through. I really needed her to share her story with me.
“Lark and Bastian are coming too,” she continued. “I’ll attempt to pry Landon from his clinic, and corner Alessio and Rafe as well.” She pulled a face. “Alessio is particularly slippery at avoiding social gatherings.”
“I…dinner sounds nice. I haven’t had many fancy dinners before.”
“Excellent. Dress up. A girl always needs an excuse to put her heels on. Now, I’d better get back to work.” She blew a kiss at her man, then breezed out.
“I guess we have dinner plans,” I said.
Cole lifted his chin. “Nash, keep us posted.”
“You know I will.”
I finished putting on some makeup and straightened.
I had to admit that I loved this new dress.
It was purple and made from a soft, silky fabric that floated around my body.
It wasn’t super revealing. It had a high neckline, but a classy keyhole cut out that showed a hint of cleavage, and cute cap sleeves.
I swung my hips. The best thing was the way the fabric of the skirt swished around my body.
It floated like some sort of princess dress.
I’d left my hair down, and done the best I could with my makeup. Makeup wasn’t really my thing.
Mostly, I was still thinking about Ava-Jane. Here I was going out for a nice dinner, while my friend was trapped.
“Hello?”
Georgie’s voice made me jolt.
Spinning, I headed out to the living room.
Cole had gone to do something with Landon, so Nash was sitting on the couch, tapping away on a tablet. Georgie strode in, looking a million bucks in a little black dress that hugged her body. Her blonde hair was in an updo, with tendrils falling around her face.
Nash rose, his entire face changing. “You look gorgeous, beautiful.”
Georgie’s face softened and she went up on her toes to kiss her man.
Then, keeping his girlfriend close, Nash looked at me. “You look great too, Lili.”
With a little laugh, I swished my skirt. “Thanks. This is the prettiest dress I’ve ever owned.”
“You didn’t have a nice dress for prom?” Georgie asked.
“I didn’t go to prom.” I shrugged. “My dad wouldn’t buy me a dress. Really, asking a boxing coach to go dress shopping is like asking a penguin to visit the Sahara.”
Georgie’s smile slipped.
Ugh, I didn’t want to ruin a nice night by talking about my father.
“Everyone ready?” Lark strode in like she owned the place. Her small, fit body was wrapped in a sparkly, red dress with one shoulder bared. Every time she moved, it gleamed. It showed off her toned arms and legs.
“I’m ready,” I said.
Lark’s gaze ran over me. “That dress is hot, Lili. It suits you. Cole will swallow his tongue.”
Heat singed my cheeks. I hoped Cole liked it.
Georgie and Lark kept up the chatter as Nash walked us over to the Avernus.
“Lili, how do you feel about pizza and pasta?” Georgie asked.
“Who doesn’t like them?”
“Then you’ll love Dis Pater. The restaurant is named after the Roman god of the underworld. Did you know that Avernus is a volcanic lake in Italy, said to be an entrance to the Underworld?”
“Cole told me.”
Lark laughed. “My gorgeous former assassin has named everything after Underworld references.”
A few moments later, we were walking into Dis Pater.
My mouth dropped open. The ceiling was a series of cool arches, and the floor was black, polished marble. Green vines climbed the walls and ceiling, and were intertwined with fairy lights.
Georgie slipped her arm through mine and tugged me along. The restaurant was packed, all the tables filled with guests.
There was a large table set on one shadowed side of the restaurant, with amazing lanterns in the center. The table was partly cordoned off from the rest of the restaurant by potted plants and a cool wooden divider.
Cole, Landon, Rafe, and Bastian were already there. Clearly Alessio had dodged Georgie. Bastian rose and snagged his wife.
I looked right at Cole. He was staring at me, his beer half raised to his mouth.