In the Shadows (Metahuman Files Book 3)

by Hailey Turner

  Once everyone was ready, Sean led the way through the sealed jetway to the airport. Bright lights illuminated the way to the crowded interior, with locals and tourists alike coming and going. It didn’t matter the hour of the day; people arrived from all over the world to test Lady Luck beneath the neon lights of the Strip. In the shade of the biodome, the holographic projections always glowed brightly.

  Alexei kept pace with Sean, letting the other three guide them through the crowd. They followed the arrows on the holoscreens directing them to Baggage Claim, the ground crew having outdone themselves by getting the bags there in record time. Alexei stood beside Sean while Trevor hauled their luggage off the conveyer belt. His eyes skimmed over the crowd of people undulating around multiple baggage carousels.

  Adrian had wanted to provide them with a personal driver, but Alexei had nixed that idea before Sean could agree to it. After New Miami, and the demanding way Adrian’s personal security acted, he wasn’t willing to be at their beck and call. It may not be in keeping with the social status they were pretending to inhabit, but it was well within Alexei’s cover, and Sean hadn’t fought him on it.

  Once all the luggage was procured, they headed to the passenger pickup area outside rather than detouring for the raised maglev train platform. The rental car building was located on the other side of the parking garage tower, but like in New Miami, they had door-to-door service set-up by the MDF.

  The exit to the street consisted of two layers of doors to ensure the air-conditioned interior of the airport was never overwhelmed by the outside heat. Alexei narrowed his eyes against the oppressive, dry heat that greeted them as they stepped outside. Sweat immediately broke out on his brow and between his shoulder blades beneath the short-sleeved button-down shirt he wore. The air burned his lungs when he breathed it in, unused to the desert after nearly a year of being absent from the worn-down wildernesses left in the world.

  Like every field agent, Alexei kept up with his training to remain in top shape in the field. He dedicated himself to a more rigorous level of physical training than was strictly required by the MDF for personal reasons, but which Jamie had no problem adapting to the team’s training. Jamie didn’t let his team slack, and Alexei and Kyle were used to staying in fighting shape for Strike Force, used to going the distance. So as much as the hot air was uncomfortable, the heat was something Alexei could ignore with long practice.

  Annabelle caught sight of their ride first—another SUV delivered by an MDF agent—and led everyone over to the spot with single-minded determination. The agent handed the code-keys to Annabelle without a word before disappearing into the crowd. It didn’t take long for them to load up the vehicle and climb inside the air-conditioned interior.

  Annabelle got behind the wheel while Madison took the front passenger seat so she could lay claim to the music streams. She swiped through options on the control screen embedded in the dash and Alexei resigned himself to a ride full of pop music. Trevor climbed into the far back seat and Alexei took the one beside Sean in the middle. He closed the door with a firm tug before yanking his seatbelt into place.

  “Everyone set?” Annabelle asked as she started the engine.

  “Yeah,” Trevor answered from the back.

  She pulled away from the curb and headed for the exit. Madison brought up the GPS and plugged in the address for Olympus, the casino owned and operated by Adrian. Getting into Las Vegas required them to merge into the five-lane road funneling itself beneath the shade of overhangs to the underground tunnel. Alexei could see it up ahead, the way the road dipped into the ground beneath an arched tunnel entrance. Holoscreens were projected above each lane, flashing the speed limit along with a reminder to turn on their headlights.

  “Looks like Adrian is stuck in a business meeting, but Chloe will meet us when we arrive,” Sean said while looking at his tablet. Alexei craned his neck around to look at the message.

  “Is not good business practice to not meet us,” Alexei muttered under his breath, remembering the comment Adrian had made to him back in New Miami.

  “At least try to be nice to his wife.”

  Alexei shrugged, stretching out his long legs as much as he could behind the driver’s seat. His height of six feet, one and a half inches usually meant he never quite had enough room in vehicles or on airplanes. It was one of the reasons he liked Jamie’s private jets so much; he had more room to stretch out.

  Sean glanced at him sidelong. “Alexei.”

  “Fine, is fine. Will be nice,” he grumbled.

  “One hundred dollars says you insult someone within the first twenty-four hours,” Madison said.

  “Twelve hours, same amount,” Annabelle swiftly replied.

  “Only twelve?” Trevor asked with a chuckle. “I give him through dinner and I’ll double your amount.”

  “Do you guys bet on everything?” Sean sighed.

  “We’re Marines,” Madison said cheerfully. “Of course we fucking do.”

  Their laughter followed them into the tunnel, the protective shading on the windshield rapidly fading to compensate for the brightly lit tunnel. Now that sunlight was no longer burning down on them, the world looked a little clearer.

  Alexei had never been to Las Vegas before. Hell, the first time he’d ever been on an airplane was when he immigrated to America. If he hadn’t joined the Army, he probably never would have traveled so much. His family had been working-class poor when he’d grown up before clawing their way to the lower rungs of the middle class through sheer hard work. They didn’t have funds back then to take a family vacation.

  Alexei ignored the holographic adverts embedded in the tunnel’s smooth gray walls as they drove. Traffic slowed a little when they came to the section of the tunnel that funneled each lane into a fully enclosed area capable of holding half a dozen cars in each section. A double layer of gates that sealed tightly shut in timed intervals, set on either end, ensured that the hard-fought-for temperate environment beneath the biodome didn’t escape through the tunnel linking Las Vegas with the airport. For that reason, it was always a bottleneck.

  When they finally left the tunnel behind them, merging onto I-15 heading north, the world was a shade darker. It had nothing to do with the polarized tint layered in the SUVs windows and everything to do with the biodome rising high above Las Vegas. Alexei peered through the windshield, amazed at how strange the sprawling city looked in perpetual shade.

  It wasn’t night-dark, more as if he viewed it through dark sunglasses. The dome above was a darker blue than the sky they’d flown through on their way west. The difference was startling, and Alexei couldn’t stop staring. He only managed to pry his attention away from it when Annabelle drove off the highway and onto South Las Vegas Boulevard. The towering, neon-bright casinos of the Strip glowed against the dim daylight.

  Many had gone through a dozen different iterations over the decades, and still one or two were the classic mainstays that had never changed their trademarked names. Where once signs and statues had graced the front of the casinos lining the Strip, now three-dimensional holographic images filled the space in ever-changing designs. Due to the biodome, aerial traffic was illegal within Las Vegas, but aerial pedestrian walkways linked casinos in dizzying spirals. Alexei eyed the maze-like structures as Annabelle drove them to their final destination.

  Olympus was located midway down the Strip, on the right-hand side of the street. A porte cochère jutted out toward the boulevard to receive guests, the Greek columns holding it up made of gold-veined white marble that practically glowed in the shade. Annabelle took a sharp right onto the drive leading to Olympus, braking to a gentle stop behind another car in line for the valet.

  The casino workers were quick at their jobs, and it took less than a minute for them to pull into the shade of the overhang and park in a VIP spot, giving up the code-keys to the valet. Alexei undid his seatbelt and opened the SUV door without waiting for someone to open it for him. He got out, noticing immediately th
at the temperature outside was dry and warm, but not overwhelmingly hot. Nothing like the choking, swampy feel of New Miami or Washington, D.C. in the height of summer.

  Sean slipped out behind him, squinting a little as his eyes adjusted to being outside. “Chloe said someone would escort us to her.”

  Gone was his normal accent, replaced with the Brooklyn one he’d cultivated for the cover. Alexei didn’t like it all that much. He much preferred Sean’s original way of speaking.

  “Am hungry,” Alexei said.

  “You ate on the flight over.”

  “Still hungry. Don’t casinos have buffet?”

  “Yes, but you can eat later.”

  Just the thought of unlimited food was enough to make Alexei’s stomach growl. He ignored it in favor of tracking the people heading their way. The number of workers scurrying to assist them told Alexei the Wolcotts had probably warned their employees to keep an eye out for Sean and Alexei. The man in the neat black suit who greeted them on the red carpet stretching from the drive to the casino front doors definitely didn’t work in valet services.

  “Mr. Miller, Mr. Dvorkin, allow me to welcome you to Olympus,” he said with a too-big smile and a booming voice. “My name is Javier, and I’m the general manager of this wonderful establishment. Mrs. Wolcott is waiting for you inside.”

  “Thank you. We’ll see her now,” Sean replied for them all.

  A trio of bellhops stacked their luggage on a hovercart, guiding it down the red carpet to the wide front entrance. Javier escorted them into Olympus at a steady pace, promising them a decadent stay and offering up their choice of amenities. Alexei perked up about the room service.

  “Can get anything sent up?” he asked as one of the five pairs of plas-glass front doors slid open for them.

  “Anything your heart desires,” Javier promised.

  “Can get lunch sent up? Now?”

  “Whatever you want.”

  “Do a spread, chef’s choice,” Sean interrupted, already scanning the foyer of the casino. “Enough for ten people.”

  If Javier thought that might be too much food for only five people, he didn’t question the order. He turned his head slightly, lowering his voice as he instructed someone on the other side of the line to bring lunch to their suite. Alexei took a moment to look around, taking everything in.

  The white, gold-veined marble motif was duplicated inside the casino. More pillars lined the edge of the large, circular foyer that opened up on either side to the massive ground floor gambling and retail areas. The lighting was a bit dimmer in the gambling area, but Alexei could easily make out the three-dimensional holographic pictures and vids erupting over the slot machines as people played. Conversation and laughter blended together, forming a buzz of white noise in the background.

  The check-in desk at the center of the foyer formed a half-circle around an indoor fountain topped by the statue of a woman holding a spear and wearing a toga and armored headpiece. Behind it was situated a long hallway, which Javier ushered them toward. Alexei soon saw why, as a bank of elevators came into view, with people milling in front of each set of doors. At the very end of the hallway was a pair of private executive elevators manned by an alert casino worker.

  “Please place your hands on the scanner. This will ensure you have access to the penthouse suite where you will be staying. If you have any problems, Artemis, our smart-building AI, will be more than happy to assist you,” Javier explained.

  One by one, they all placed their hand on the scanner, letting Artemis read their prints and the modified identities found in their RealIdent chips. The black doors to the large, synthwood-paneled elevator opened soundlessly. The bellhops with their luggage stayed behind and would come up in a second group. They rode the elevator up to Level 45, soft elevator music a counterpoint to Javier’s smooth chatter that Alexei tuned out. The doors opened onto a small foyer lit by a crystal chandelier. The entrance to the penthouse suite was open, and they stepped inside the decadent space.

  Alexei only got a quick initial impression—a sleek and modern open-plan design with too many windows for decent cover—before his attention was taken up by the woman waiting to greet them.

  Chloe Wolcott looked a far cry better than the last time Alexei had seen her. The tall blonde woman wore a flowy sundress over a bikini and strappy high heels, showing off her long, tanned legs. She came toward them and extended her hand in greeting, a smile on her gorgeous face. Beyond her stood two tall, burly-looking bodyguards in suits, though the way they held themselves screamed military. Considering Declan’s company, they were probably ex-Special Forces.

  “Riley! And Alexei, it’s so good to see you again!” Chloe gushed, clasping both her hands around Sean’s. “I’m so happy you could come.”

  Her enthusiasm at seeing them again was a little overwhelming. It reminded Alexei of when his sisters would have their friends over for slumber parties when they were young. All high-pitched shrieking he couldn’t escape.

  “Thank you for having us, Mrs. Wolcott,” Sean politely replied.

  She let go of his hand and shook her head, tucking a wavy lock of platinum-blonde hair behind her ear. “Please, call me Chloe. After everything you did for us last week, I think we can be on a first-name basis.”

  “We’re glad to see you’re doing a lot better.”

  “Yes, much better, though I’ve decided New Miami isn’t for me.”

  “I’d have to agree it’s not for us either.”

  Chloe nodded. “Alexei did seem rather angry last week at the state you were in. You’re lucky to have such a devoted partner.”

  Alexei bit down hard on his tongue to hold back his initial rejection of that observation. It seemed like Sean’s keen read of a situation had once again been proven correct. Alexei didn’t know how he felt about that.

  “Yes,” Sean said after a brief pause, giving Alexei a sidelong look. “I am.”

  While they talked, Trevor, Annabelle, and Madison moved farther into the penthouse suite, quietly casing the place. Alexei noted the way both of Chloe’s bodyguards discreetly tracked his team’s movements. He wondered what the assigned bodyguards who’d lost Adrian and Chloe in New Miami had reported back to North Star International about them.

  “Adrian sends his apologies for not being here to greet you, but he had an emergency business meeting he needed to attend. He’ll be free tonight. We’re having a dinner party in your honor at our home.”

  “Dinner party?” Alexei asked hesitantly. Mingling with a bunch of rich people sounded about as fun as chewing glass.

  Chloe flashed him a smile. “It’s my way of saying thanks.”

  “You didn’t have to,” Sean said, quickly picking up the conversation before Alexei’s silence grew awkward. “Enjoying your hospitality here is more than generous.”

  She waved off his protest. “You saved our lives. This is the least we can do. We added your names to the VIP list in all areas of the casino and we’ve extended to you a quarter of a million dollars credit line on the house to play with.”

  If Alexei weren’t used to the way Jamie threw around his money from time to time, he’d have probably choked on that dollar amount. Sean, for his part, only nodded at hearing that offer.

  “Thank you. I’m not a big gambler, but I’m sure we’ll have some fun with it.”

  Chloe nodded, turning to Alexei with a teasing glint in her eye. “What about you, Alexei? Do you like to gamble?”

  “Blackjack,” he admitted with a shrug. “Good to pass time with.”

  Alexei heard the elevators arrive, and seconds later the bellhops came in with the hovercart. Madison reappeared almost immediately, dictating where the luggage would go.

  “Well, if you want to pass some time right now, you should join me out in the pool courtyard,” Chloe said.

  “Have ordered food,” Alexei replied. Giving up lunch sounded so unappetizing. “Can come down after?”

  “I’ll head down as soon as we’re set
tled and meet you there,” Sean said, countering Alexei’s excuse.

  “Perfect! The penthouse suite has two bedrooms. The master bedroom is in that direction.” Chloe gestured to her left. “I’ll be in the Aphrodite Pool, so come find me when you’re ready.”

  She waved cheerfully at them, sweeping out of the penthouse with Javier at her side and her bodyguards escorting them out. The bellhops left moments later, the door sliding shut with a soft whoosh behind them.

  “Time to clear the area,” Annabelle said as she came into the main living space, holding a portable electronics scanner in her hand.

  The round metal sphere with three flat supports was about the size of her two hands put together. The device would scan the layout of the penthouse and make sure no bugs or cameras were planted before their arrival. If any were found, Katie would handle them remotely back in D.C.

  “You should come to the pool with me,” Sean told Alexei as he headed for the master bedroom.

  Alexei followed after him, gaze drawn to the view of the surrounding casinos on the Strip through the many windows. The penthouse suite faced the street and front courtyard rather than the rear of the building. “Eat first. Swim later.”

  “You’re not getting out of socializing, Alexei. You’re the COO, remember?”

  Alexei snorted. “Think I forget?”

  Sean shot him a look as he palmed open the door to the master bedroom. “I would hope not.”

  On first glance, the master bedroom suite was bigger than his bedroom back home, though that wasn’t hard to accomplish. Alexei’s apartment could fit in the penthouse suite with room to spare. He eyed the king-sized bed with its mound of pillows and soft-looking sheets and duvet. The bed was probably soft as hell; his back hurt just looking at it. The furniture was a dark mahogany color offset by the plush beige carpet beneath their feet. The accent wall was painted a deep, cobalt blue, a shade hinted at throughout the room’s design.