Crime Lord's Captive (Crime Lord Series Book 1)

by Mia Knight

  “Holy shit, I hardly slept at all last night.” Carmen waved at Manny who was talking on the phone at his desk.

  Lyla led Carmen upstairs and closed the bedroom door. “Gavin sent a dress.” She gestured to the white sheath dress, which had a high neck and sleeves that ended at her elbow. The dress had an open back that packed the sensual punch all club clothes required. The dress looked demure from the front and scandalous in the back. It fit just right, which didn’t surprise her. It arrived an hour ago with silver stilettos and a diamond necklace. Lyla couldn’t deny that she felt a pang of nostalgia, but she wasn’t an idiot. Making sure Gavin failed to win her back was her goal. The sooner he failed, the better and she could go back to a normal life where death didn’t lurk around every corner.

  Carmen did Lyla’s makeup as Lyla told her bits and pieces of what happened with Manny. She didn’t tell Carmen about Manny’s wife and the reincarnation part because it was too personal and Carmen may not understand. But, she explained Manny’s agreement to let her go if she and Gavin weren’t compatible.

  “And Gavin doesn’t know about this pact you have with Manny?” Carmen asked, aghast.

  “He doesn’t need to.”

  Carmen pursed her lips. “Girl, you should have seen him last night. He was a wreck.”

  Lyla snorted. “You know who was a wreck? Me!”

  Carmen waved a hand. “I know, but when Manny turned the gun on you, Gavin ran forward. Manny fired off a warning shot at Gavin. I’ve never seen him like that. He was panicked. He may not show it, but he has deep feelings for—”

  “Let’s just finish up. I’m hungry,” Lyla said. Now that she had some measure of control over her life, she felt more like herself. She had an objective and wouldn’t stop until it was completed. Gavin wasn’t a part of her future.

  Carmen gave her a judgmental look, but let the subject drop. It almost felt like old times as they got ready and strutted downstairs. Manny was there to admire and kiss their hands gallantly. They rode in the Rolls Royce with Ricardo at the wheel. Lyla tried to calm her nerves as they approached The Strip in all its colored glory. It had changed in the short amount of years she was gone. New hotels replaced old ones, but the hyper, manic energy of those on the streets hadn’t changed. People could be whoever they wanted here. They could pretend to be players, single, high rollers or daredevils. As the slogan said, ‘What happened in Vegas, stayed in Vegas.’ If only people didn’t take it so literally...

  They pulled up in front of a Pyre Casino. Lyla took the hand that reached into the car to help her out and didn’t realize who it belonged to until she was pulled up against a hard body. Lyla went rigid as she stared up at Gavin.

  “You look great,” Gavin said and gave her a quick kiss before he twined their hands together.

  Lyla gave an experimental yank and got nowhere.

  “Lyla!”

  Lyla received a kiss on both cheeks from Vinny who she thought of as a brother. He was even-tempered, which made him a good partner for both Gavin and Carmen. He was tall, dark and handsome like Gavin, but his easy smile was genuine. Lyla tried to get away from Gavin to give Vinny a hug, but Gavin didn’t let her go. There was a large group of employees milling around nervously, probably confused about the president and vice president appearing to help someone out of a car.

  “I’ve missed you,” Lyla said with genuine regret and felt Gavin tense beside her. What the hell was his problem? He always had a quick temper, but now it was on a hair trigger. She looked around to make sure that Ricardo was watching and found that he was.

  “Let’s eat,” Vinny said and kissed Carmen before they went inside.

  The casino was bustling with people. The familiar smells and sounds reminded Lyla of a simpler time. When she was hired as Manny’s assistant she walked through the casino with such pride knowing that she was a part of this. She took in the crowd and picked out the high rollers, gold diggers, tourists and underage teens. As they neared the club, Lyla heard the pump of music and saw the crowd waiting to get in. Gold ropes were cast aside as they approached and they slipped into madness.

  Lux was a new club with a massive dance floor and multiple bars to accommodate the crowds. It was built like an amphitheater with five levels so everyone could see everything going on in the club. Strategically placed platforms highlighted professional dancers writhing in gold spotlights.

  Gavin cut a path through the swarm. Despite the chaos, workers appeared out of nowhere to show them to a large booth on the second tier. Lyla scooted in and was disconcerted when Gavin sat beside her, so close that she was pressed against him. Ricardo slipped into the booth while Vinny sat on the end with Carmen on his lap. Workers in small leather skirts, tops and hooker heels that lit up with each step brought trays of elegantly crafted appetizers and crazy-looking drinks that smoked.

  Lyla wanted to ask Gavin what she was drinking or eating, but she didn’t want to engage him in conversation. She scooted further into the booth so they weren’t touching. The sheer number of people in the club was staggering. It was like New Year’s Eve in a club. After four drinks and clearing two plates of food, Lyla felt flushed and restless. A steady parade of workers and VIPs stopped by to talk to Gavin. There was a wealth of respect there. He answered several phone calls and she even saw him responding to emails. He was a busy man, always had been. So, why was he sitting with them in the middle of a club when he should be in an office?

  As Lyla looked over the dance floor, she focused on a man that walked on the fringes of the crowd. He wasn’t dressed to impress. He wore jeans, a white shirt and sneakers. He ignored the women who tried to get his attention. Even across the distance, she could see that he was hot. Really hot. He was tall, had a great body and something about the way he moved reminded her of Gavin. As he approached, she saw that his eyes were a turquoise shade that stood out against his olive-toned skin. He had short-cropped hair and was clean shaven. Lyla straightened as he made his way towards them. Gavin’s security stopped him before he could reach their booth.

  Vinny glanced at Gavin nervously a moment before the stranger lashed out. Two guards dropped to their knees. Ricardo and Vinny withdrew guns and more security rushed forward, but everyone halted when Gavin raised his hand. The man approached with an aggression that would have alarmed Lyla if she cared for Gavin’s well-being. When he stopped in front of Gavin, Lyla saw that the collar of his shirt was soaked with sweat as if he jogged here. He was wound so tightly that Lyla scooted backwards in the booth.

  “I want names,” the man said, eyes trained on Gavin.

  “What are you doing here, Eli?”

  There was no deference in his attitude for the power Gavin wielded. Eli leaned towards Gavin, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

  “You know.”

  Eli’s eyes flicked to Lyla and her heartbeat skipped. Eli was hanging on by a thread. There was disdain in his eyes, but also a rage so potent that if Gavin wasn’t in front of her, she would have run like hell. Gavin shifted and Eli’s eyes flicked back to him.

  “You should have set up a meeting, not approached me in public like this,” Gavin said.

  “My mom’s in the hospital in a coma. You think I’m going to wait for you to set up a meeting?” The tendons on his neck stood out as he tried to rein in rampant emotions. “I want names, Gavin. I want them now.”

  “And you think I know who did this to your mother?” Gavin asked in a cool voice that put Lyla on edge.

  Eli’s tension increased. “Are you telling me you don’t know who did this to her?”

  “I didn’t call the hit.”

  “But you know who did,” Eli said, chest heaving as he tried to control his breathing. “Give me their names. Now.”

  “I’ll take care of it, Eli.”

  Eli cocked his head to the side. “Did you not hear me, Pyre? They tried to kill my mother. She’s not a part of this. This wasn’t supposed to touch her.”

  Lyla’s skin rippled with goosebumps.


  “I’ll deal with it.”

  “No, I will.”

  “You can’t. You’re a cop,” Gavin said.

  “And you think I’m going to leave it up to you when this happened on your watch?” Eli hissed.

  Gavin rose and Lyla’s heart nearly beat out of her chest. She knew Gavin was armed, dangerous and fully capable of blowing someone’s head off without a second thought. Vinny slipped Carmen into the booth and got between them. Vinny put a hand on Eli’s chest with a sympathetic expression.

  “Eli, let Gavin take care of it,” Vinny said.

  Eli ignored Vinny and didn’t move his eyes from Gavin, “Nothing happens without your say so.”

  “I don’t handle low level thugs,” Gavin said.

  “As crime lord, every fucking crime should be on your radar. This is unacceptable, Pyre,” Eli hissed.

  “You don’t tell me how to run my business,” Gavin said, voice thick with threats. “We’ve been associates for many years. You know how I work, I know how you work. If anyone sees you here tonight, your testimony in court may not hold up. You’re putting everything on the line.”

  “I don’t give a fuck,” Eli said through gritted teeth. “Give me the names, Gavin.”

  “Grand, Frak,” Gavin said.

  Eli relaxed fractionally. He eased back from Gavin and glanced at Lyla again. She couldn’t read his expression.

  “We’re done,” Eli said and walked away.

  Gavin’s security moved out of his way as he strode towards them. Gavin sat and took a drink of water as calmly as if nothing out of the ordinary happened. The look in Eli’s eyes disturbed her. He was going to kill those men, cop or not. What other dealings was Eli involved in? Lyla glanced at Carmen who was unperturbed by the incident. She downed the last of her drink and beamed at Lyla.

  “Let’s dance!” Carmen shouted over the relentless beat of music.

  Lyla nodded. She didn’t want to sit here and listen to more of Gavin’s business dealings. She looked at Gavin who was blocking her way and completely unaware of Carmen’s suggestion... or her. Did he ask her to come tonight to ease his father’s mind and make up for putting bruises on her? It only reinforced her suspicion that bringing her back to Las Vegas had everything to do with his pride and Manny’s affection for her. Gavin didn’t want her. Gavin saw her as a possession that slipped through his fingers. Gavin respected and loved his father more than anyone in the world. He even dated her to please his father. How far would he go to make his father happy? Lyla glanced at Ricardo who sat back in the booth with a deceptively uninterested expression. It was time to prove her point.

  “Let me out,” Lyla said and when Gavin ignored her, she placed a hand on his arm to get his attention.

  His head snapped towards her and the intensity of his gaze startled her.

  “I’m going to dance,” she said. When he gave her a puzzled look, she was forced to lean towards him. “I want to dance with Carmen!”

  Gavin didn’t move immediately. He scanned the dance floor and the surrounding tables before he stood. He held out a hand to help her out. Lyla heard women at a nearby table grumble, jealous of Gavin’s display of old world charm. Of course, the dress covered her bruises. If only these women knew that beneath the gorgeous exterior, a killer lay in wait. When she and Carmen linked arms, Gavin gripped her hip to stop her.

  “Stay in my sight,” he said, lips brushing her ear.

  Lyla slipped away without saying a word. Lyla pushed thoughts of him away as she and Carmen slipped onto the dance floor. Of course, Carmen didn’t stop until they were in the middle of the crush. Lyla felt a moment of panic when people pressed in around her, but Carmen wrapped her arms around her and squeezed.

  “Feel it, Lyla!” she shouted. “Stop thinking and dance! We used to do this all the time, remember?”

  Lyla closed her eyes and forced herself to move. She and Carmen would go to parties and clubs every night. It felt like a lifetime ago. She didn’t know how to move with the reckless abandon she once had. Carmen hugged her from behind and moved with the beat. Lyla smiled as she felt Carmen’s hips do ridiculous things that probably made Vinny wild. She loved Carmen and missed her craziness. Lyla knew that Carmen had her best interests at heart. Carmen risked her life to get Lyla out of Las Vegas and had given her a huge chunk of money to make her way in the world.

  Lyla opened her eyes. It took a minute for her to pinpoint Gavin through the blinking lights and sea of people. He was on his feet, leaning casually against the booth, talking on his phone. He looked good enough to be on the cover of a magazine. He was effortlessly masculine and gorgeous. No woman would pass him without a second glance. On impulse, Lyla glanced around. She grabbed the arm of a woman who men were fighting over. The woman came willingly enough and Lyla found herself in a hot girl sandwich that made the men brush their hands over their crotches.

  “You straight?” Lyla asked her.

  The gorgeous brunette tossed her hair and rubbed herself against Lyla’s front. Carmen, never one to miss an opportunity, copped a feel of the woman’s fake breasts and gave her a thumbs up.

  “Who’s your doctor?” Carmen shouted.

  Lyla elbowed her cousin aside and leaned in close to the brunette. “You see that guy?” Lyla pointed to Gavin who was still on the phone and now pacing.

  “Holy shit,” the woman breathed.

  “He’s working too much,” Lyla said with a pout. “You think you can get his attention, distract him?”

  The brunette licked her lips before she turned to Lyla with a frown. “You his wife?”

  “No. Trying to prove that he’s still a cheater.”

  “Don’t have to ask me twice,” the brunette said and kissed Lyla on the lips before she made her way off the dance floor.

  Some of the men chased after her, but the bombshell didn’t give them a second glance. She was focused on her target.

  “What the hell are you doing, Lyla?” Carmen demanded.

  “He’s still a cheater,” Lyla said and switched places with her cousin so she could unobtrusively watch the show over Carmen’s shoulder. “He always will be. I need Ricardo to see that we aren’t meant for each other.”

  She and Carmen moved together in the middle of the bumping and grinding bodies and watched the brunette slowly make her way towards Gavin. Damn, the brunette was good. She leaned on the railing in front of the booth next to Gavin’s, just far enough that if he was interested he would have to turn his head.

  “Get off the damn phone!” Lyla shouted, frustrated.

  “He’s not interested, Lyla!” Carmen shouted back gleefully.

  “She’s being too subtle—Oh!”

  Gavin finally caught sight of the brunette and looked her up and down. He hung up the phone and looked over the dance floor. Lyla whirled Carmen in the opposite direction. When Lyla looked back, Gavin and the brunette were talking. Even while something sharp sliced through her stomach, Lyla was grimly satisfied. Ricardo would report that back to Manny. That was easy.

  Lyla danced until her feet ached and her dress was soaked with sweat from the press of bodies.

  “Drink?” she shouted at Carmen who nodded.

  Lyla made her way through the crowd to the bar and found herself face to pecs with a shirtless bartender. He grinned at her and made the muscles in his chest dance.

  “What can I get for you, gorgeous?” he asked with a very white smile.

  Lyla pointed to some interesting looking drinks. “We’ll try those!”

  It wasn’t until he was making the drinks that she realized she didn’t have any money. She turned to see if she could get Carmen’s attention, but that was going to be an impossible feat.

  “I can get this for you.”

  Lyla glanced at the man beside her. He had strange, angular features. He was the same height as her and had extremely narrow shoulders. The shirt tucked into his slacks brought attention to his tiny waist.

  “Um, no, that’s okay,” Lyla said uneas
ily.

  “I insist.”

  Before she could say anything, he held out a fifty dollar bill to the bartender. The bartender ignored him and took drink orders from two scantily clad women. The man beside her flushed and Lyla felt a flicker of sympathy for him.

  "Thanks," she said. "What's your name?"

  There was a flicker of surprise in his eyes before he lowered his arm and said quietly, "Steven."

  She held out a hand. "I'm Lyla."

  He took her hand. She tried to hide her grimace since his palms were damp with sweat. He quickly withdrew his hand, wiped it on his trouser and then grasped her hand again to give it a vigorous, awkward shake. Lyla stared at him for a moment before she burst into laughter. She put a hand on his arm when he tried to slink away.

  "It's okay," she said, taking pity on him.

  "I don't know how to talk to women," he muttered.

  "I don't either," she said, deadpan.

  Steven's thin lips twitched as if he wanted to smile, but he didn't have much practice. He opened his mouth to speak, but was rudely elbowed out of the way by another man who gave her a cocky grin. The newcomer was lean, muscled and well put together in a button up shirt instead of thin cotton like most of the men in the club. He was clean shaven, attractive and looking straight into her eyes.

  "Here you go," the bartender said, setting two smoking drinks on the bar.

  Before Steven could extend his money, the newcomer handed a one hundred dollar bill to the bartender without moving his gaze from her.

  Lyla raised a brow. "I know the club is called Lux, but I think you're paying too much for my drinks."

  He shrugged. "Money is no object and I expect to be buying you drinks all night long. I’m Rafael.“

  Lyla gave him a wide-eyed look. "Oh, really?" The alcohol and environment were giving her confidence.

  Rafael winked at her. "Yes. You're gorgeous. Is my brother bothering you?”

  “Your brother?” Lyla asked without comprehension before Steven stepped sideways to stand beside the much larger man.

  There was no resemblance between the two men in looks or build.

  “Steven makes people uneasy,” the brother said with a careless wave at Steven who wore a blank expression. “He isn’t wearing heels or his shoulder pads, so you might have mistaken him for a child.”