by Amity Cross
“Yeah,” I murmured. “Outrageous.”
I glanced at Chaser, wondering how we were meant to surveil anything around here. It was so busy, built up, and there would be security to the max. We were here for one man, but I didn’t want to accidentally hurt anyone else.
“How are we going to do this?” I asked. “It’s so…” I was lost for words again as the enormity of our task was smooshed right into my face.
“With great difficulty.”
I settled back into the seat, my sight blurring away from the glitz and glamour outside.
After we passed a few more casinos—Harrah’s and the Venetian—Chaser turned the car off the Strip, and we zoomed into a self-parking garage. Artificial lights flicked past as we circled around and around looking for a space to park. When we finally found one, Chaser deftly backed into it, then cut the engine.
“Here.” He reached over to the back seat and produced an awful black trucker hat with an embroidered Las Vegas motif on the front. He put it on my head and tugged the bill down.
“Are you trying to make me look like a redneck?” I asked.
“Like a tourist, but that works, too.”
“Very funny.”
“The more we can blend, the better.” He showed me his own hat, and I smirked. “Don’t even say it.”
“I never said a thing,” I retorted.
“When we get a chance, we need to get you a burner phone,” he went on.
“Why?”
“In case we get separated. Then we’ve got a way to contact one another. It won’t be traceable.”
“No safe words or meeting points?”
Chaser leaned toward me and placed his palm on my thigh. “I don’t intend to let you out of my sight if I can help it.”
I smiled and caught him in a quick, blistering kiss.
“This might go down quick, or we might be waiting a long time,” he murmured. “Either way, we have to be ready to get out of this city as quickly as we can.”
“We’ll be ready.” I nodded. “Where will we go?”
“Away.”
“Let’s go to Montana.”
“What the hell is in Montana?”
“Horses,” I replied with a shrug.
“Horses? They have them all over, you know.”
“I think the point is that it’s far away.”
Chaser raised his eyebrows and put on his trucker hat. Ironically, he looked really good in it.
“Let’s go,” he said, opening his door and sliding out.
I followed, waiting as he locked up and rounded the hood.
“Where are we going to stay?” I asked, shying away as my voice echoed a little too loudly. Luckily, there was no one around.
“We’ll do a sweep first, then figure it out.”
“A sweep?” I asked as we walked toward the exit. “What does that mean?”
“I want to test the perimeter of the Halcyon,” he explained. “See where their security begins, where the cameras are, and who’s on their payroll outside.”
I frowned. This was more complicated than I first realized. I mean, I knew it was going to be hard, but all this? I wasn’t a secret agent with specialized training. I was just a woman with an ax to grind. Chaser was the guy with all the smarts.
Doubt clouded my mind as we left the parking garage and headed toward the Strip. Ahead, I could see the world beyond, and I wanted nothing more than to puke in the gutter, then turn around and run.
Chaser tugged me forward, my boots feeling heavy on my feet, then we were on the border between the old and the new. The new wasn’t so hot if you asked me.
I glanced up and down the street, watching the flow of foot traffic. There were so many people. My stomach gurgled, and I realized I was nervous. We’d talked, done all the research, prepared for what was coming, and now we were here… I wasn’t ready, but I had to be. There was no backing out once I stepped onto the street.
I tensed as Chaser slid his hand into mine. It wasn’t like him to be all public display of affection, but knowing he was close, made my anxiety settle some.
“This is it,” he murmured, leaning close. “There’s still time to turn back.”
I lingered on the edge of the sidewalk, my life flashing before my eyes. Well, it wasn’t quite like that, but I thought about all the things that had brought me here. The multiple times my father had attempted to sell me to King, the attack behind Teasers, and the incident on the train with Pube Face Bailey and Blue Eyes. The beatings, my mother’s murder, the childhood I’d missed out on, my escape from Fortitude all those years ago, and the future I’d so desperately tried to find. So much had happened that I hardly understood who I’d become.
Then there was Chaser. He was in this deeper than I would ever be. The Hollow Men had stolen everything from him, and the FBI—the people he’d dedicated his life to—had betrayed him and abandoned his wife to her fate. The law had driven Chaser to take matters into his own hands, and as a result, King had killed Madison right in front of his eyes.
Yeah, Chaser was in this deeper than I would ever be.
Thinking of the things he’d done for me, I knew I couldn’t abandon him now. If I backed down, he’d still carry on with the plan, with or without me, and I’d be another person on the list of those who had betrayed him. I had to stay. For myself, but mostly, for him. That was what love was, right?
I took a deep breath and slid my sunglasses on. “Let’s go.”
I pulled my trucker hat lower and peered across the square.
The sun was hot as sin, and I leaned a little further into the shade. Across the flow of tourists, I could see a guy watching the comings and goings, a bulge in the left pocket of his shorts. When he angled to the left, I could see the telltale antenna on a hidden walkie-talkie.
It was just like Chaser said. Between our hand-to-hand combat training sessions on the roof of the Best Western, his crash courses in spotting security had paid off. Though, I made sure to keep my distance from my target. My first time was working out decent enough, but my stomach still churned.
“Hey.”
My heart skipped a beat as Chaser appeared beside me. Sitting on the ledge, he nodded toward the guy I’d been tailing.
“Case him?” he asked, opening a leaflet so I could pretend to look at it with wonder. It was a brochure for the Backstreet Boys residency at Planet Hollywood, and I made a mental note to give him shit about it later.
“Yeah,” I replied with a nod.
The thirty-six floors of the Halcyon Casino and Resort stood above us, daunting in its size. Outside, there were various shops and restaurants full to bursting with people. Neon signs and billboards advertised the theatre shows inside, all of them geared toward adult entertainment. For the ten minutes I’d been sitting here, I hadn’t seen one child, not like the Strip behind me.
I sighed and glanced at the man again. The enemy’s doorstep wasn’t the optimal place to test out my developing skills, but we didn’t have much choice, what with renegade bikers on one side and Hollow Men on the other.
“It’s very…erotic around here,” I quipped.
“Yeah,” Chaser said. “It’s not a family-friendly destination.”
“I’ve counted four guys in the forecourt,” I murmured, pretending to look at the brochure Chaser had brought back with him. “But that guy is the laziest. All the others have been real pros.”
“Cameras?”
“The place is crawling with them,” I replied. “There’s two at the side entrance, three at the main, one on the restaurant, and the one behind us is operated by the city.”
“Good. I see you were listening.”
“I always listen to what you say,” I replied, pinching his leg. “It’s just I don’t always agree.”
Chaser snorted, then folded up the brochure. “C’mon, I got us a room at the casino across the street.”
“Is that a good idea? I mean…” I glanced back at the man and narrowed my eyes. “If you hadn’
t told me what to look for, I wouldn’t have even known.”
“I took precautions.” He slid his hand into mine, stood, then pulled me to my feet.
I pretended to know what he meant by that, just glad to walk in the opposite direction of the Halcyon. The whole place had this…vibe, like something wasn’t right. I imagined it was the kind of place that tossed cheaters and gamblers with huge debts out the back door, then kicked them three-quarters to death. I sniffed the air, almost believing I could smell the blood.
Chaser gave me a look and pulled me toward the sidewalk. “We’ll come back tonight.”
“Tonight?” I squeaked.
“Sloane, are you sure you can—”
“Yes,” I snapped, shutting off the stupid voice inside my head that was fueling my doubts. “I can.”
“Good, because tonight, we’re going inside that hellhole.”
I swallowed hard as we crossed the street, making for the casino opposite. Inside the Halcyon? Holly shit. I hoped I was ready for that because bravado would not help me face the mob. Not one bit.
Chapter 9
Chaser
Our hotel room was a nest of silence in the midst of the bustle that was Las Vegas.
The room was spacious with a view overlooking the Halcyon across the street, the sheer curtains softening the hard edges of the ominous building. It looked like a spire of hard metal shooting toward the sky, jagged and almost like crystal shards inside a geode of shit. Hollow.
While Sloane was in the shower, washing off the grit and grime of the heat outside, I emptied both our bags and spread out the contents on the bed.
I folded our clothes into neat piles, then separated all the other bits and pieces. Picking up Sloane’s aviator sunglasses, I was hit with the memory of her demanding five dollars from me at that gas station. She’d said, ‘Five bucks won’t emasculate you.’ It wasn’t that long ago, but it felt like years.
The bathroom door opened, and Sloane padded out, bringing the damp scent of soap with her.
“What are you doing?” she asked, watching me paw through her belongings.
“Making us go-bags.”
“What’s a go-bag?”
She sat on the bed next to me, her gaze raking over the neat piles of clothes. She didn’t say anything about me breaching her privacy, so I figured we were even for the time she went through my stuff on the train.
“We’re going to need to leave quickly,” I explained. “These will have everything we need to disappear.”
“Oh,” she declared. “A go-bag.”
“Here.” I pointed to each item and explained what I was tossing and what I was putting in. “We want to keep things light, so anything heavy is out. The hotel toiletries are small, though they’re a luxury, but will tide us over if we need to be on the road longer than a couple of days. Cash is a given. Spare ammo and a gun each. Burner phones.” I pointed to the cell phone I’d assembled for her. “A change of clothes. A basic first aid kit.”
“You stole the amenities box from the bathroom,” she declared.
“I didn’t steal anything. It’s complimentary.”
“What about ID? We won’t be able to use our own.”
“I have contacts,” I said. “But it takes time, which we don’t have.”
“Will we need them?” She frowned. “New identities?”
“Maybe. It depends.”
“On?” She stared at me expectantly.
The plan was simple yet full of uncertainty. Things could go wrong—that was how life rolled—but there was no other way. I’d thought about it over and over, but the conversation I’d had with Monroe and his dead-end leads had solidified it in concrete. It wasn’t even worth chasing them, to begin with. I’d been trained in negotiation and intelligence, and I knew better than anyone what Monroe offered was less than actionable. All he’d done was confirm what I already suspected. There was no other way in. The Halcyon and the Hollow Men, who ruled it, were watertight. Nothing was getting in or out without them knowing about it.
So, we just had to knock on the front door. I just didn’t know how to tell Sloane yet.
“I need to go out,” I said. “Stay here.”
I stood and picked up the ‘do not disturb’ hanger for the door.
Sloane rose to her feet, too. “Where are you going?”
“Just to the lobby. I won’t be long.”
“Why?”
I ignored her, knowing I was going to pay for it later, and left.
I had a dress to buy.
Chapter 10
Sloane
I felt like I was on an episode of Covert Affairs.
It was a television show I got hooked on while living my pretend life on the East Coast. It was about a CIA agent and government conspiracies and working under an alias. It was a little sexy and had a slew of hot guys in it, but the main character, Annie Walker…man, she could kick some serious bad guy ass.
Right now, I felt like channeling her fictional prowess mightn’t be such a bad idea.
I stood in the bathroom in our hotel room and twisted from side to side, looking at my reflection in surprise. The dress Chaser had bought me from the boutique downstairs glittered under the yellowish light. Not bad. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d worn a dress like this. Snorting, I rolled my eyes. I’d never worn a dress like this in my entire life because, until Chaser, I’d done my best to hide from everything. That included thinking I was the ugliest bitch in the world.
Yvette helped me come out of that shell a little, I thought to myself. Then Chaser blew me out of the water.
I’d never taken much stock in my looks. I supposed it was a symptom of a deeper problem, but who knew. My life wasn’t exactly normal.
The strappy gold dress wasn’t exactly something I’d pick out for myself—I’d probably get something black—but it was decent enough. The fabric shimmered under the light as I moved, the neckline scooping down between my breasts. I was borderline popping out, but knowing where we were going, it was probably modest. The hem was mid-thigh, and the matching heels made my legs look like they went on for days. This was what women wore? I tilted my head to the side and made a face. Okay, then… I still preferred my jeans and combat boots.
I combed my fingers through my hair and fixed it into a low ponytail. Dabbing on some makeup, I made myself look as glamorous as I could manage with my limited beauty know-how. With one last glance, I opened the bathroom door and peeked outside.
Chaser was staring out the window at the Halcyon across the street. After we’d checked in, he’d gone off to follow the ‘maybe’ leads he’d gotten from his mysterious informant. When he came back, the only thing he’d been successful with was shopping on my behalf. If our predicament had been different, I would’ve been impressed with his ability to pick out women’s clothing, but I was too preoccupied with our revenge plot. The plot that was sinking faster than a ton of brinks.
He was dressed in a pair of black slacks and a matching black shirt. From behind, he looked less like the hired thug I’d met that first night at Teasers and more like a refined gentleman. I mean, he’d tucked in his shirt. It was a miracle to behold…and his ass looked amazing.
“How do I look?” I asked, edging out into the room.
Chaser turned, and his gaze swept over my body. My thighs clenched together as he lingered on my breasts, and a wave of hunger came over me.
“Sloane…fuck.” He had the look he got when he wanted to strip me off and fuck me like there was no tomorrow. I supposed I didn’t look half bad then.
“Okay?” I smoothed down the shimmery fabric, teetering on the killer high heels.
He took a step forward, and I crossed the room, stopping just short of the bed.
“You look…” He swallowed hard, his gaze lowering again.
I flushed and looked away. “That’s enough. I’ve gone all shy.”
“You, shy?” he scoffed and moved closer. “Shy is the last word I’d use to describe you. Es
pecially the way you moan when my cock’s inside you.”
“Now you’re just being dirty.”
He grabbed my ass and jerked me toward him. My body melded against his, and I couldn’t help feeling his erection pressing into my stomach. We were the same height now, and I loved how I could stare him straight in the eyes.
“One for the road?” he asked with a smirk.
“You want to fuck now? I just got dressed…”
His lips brushed my forehead while his hands traced over my ass. Fingers started to tug up the hem of my dress, and I squirmed, my pussy flaring in anticipation.
“As much as I’d love for you to give me an orgasm, I—”
“Shh.”
“Chaser… I’ve got questions.”
“After…”
“Do you think going to the Halcyon is a good idea? I mean, we aren’t exactly unknown.”
“We don’t have any other option,” he replied. “The only way to hit King is to get him where he shits.”
“This isn’t a Mission Impossible movie.” I scowled. “How are we supposed to get in and get out unseen?” My mouth fell open as I realized what Chaser might be about to ask me to do. “You’re going to use me as bait?”
“I hadn’t thought about it like that, but maybe it isn’t such a bad idea.”
“You’re such a liar.”
“You don’t want to be a femme fatale?” He wound his arm around my waist. “You look the part.”
I tensed, my fingers tightening their grip on Chaser’s shirt. I knew what he was suggesting. Walk into the Halcyon and demand a meeting with King. I couldn’t go in there without anything to offer, so I’d have to sell Chaser out. Chaser for my freedom, or so the ruse went. When would we do it? When I went to meet with him, or when he came to collect? Or would it be at a darker moment?
The Hollow Men wanted me because of my father’s indiscretions, but I’d killed him, ending any brewing war between the two organizations. Could I infiltrate the Hollow Men and gain King’s trust? Could I be a femme fatale and manipulate my way into the enemy’s bed? That was what Chaser was implying.