Ella and her unique brand of Voodoo fit in well with Iris and Marisol. It was so odd how these unusual females were finding their way into Shifter circles.
“They’re back-up, if we need it, but Trip said to head on in, if we’re good to go. Mainly they came down to get the kid once we’ve secured him.”
“I guess the boy can’t ride home on the back of a Harley,” Wolf nodded.
“Let’s go, while those bastards are sleeping off whatever shit they were into last night.”
The two Shifters moved in on the pathetic excuse for a house, sneaking down the side yard.
“We’ve got four separate males and the kid.” Wolf tested the air to be sure he wasn’t missing anyone else.
“I have eyes on two of em,” MD commented as he peered into a living room window, barely covered by tattered miniblinds.
“You see the kid?”
“No.”
Wolf and MD circled the house, until they found the bedroom where Keith was being held. The window was ajar, so it made it easier to scent the boy. Wolf saw the piece of shit, Ray, passed out on a grubby mattress. The poor child was curled up against the far wall sucking his thumb. Wolf had to repress an angry growl as he stared at the hand print on the kid’s face.
Just get the kid to safety, then you can deal with the bastard, Wolf told the angry beast within. It was chomping at the bit for justice.
“MD, hand me that weird toy.” Wolf inched up the window, attempting to make no sound. “Psst,” Wolf whispered to the boy as he waved the freaky little doll.
Keith’s eyes widened, and he pulled his thumb out of his mouth with a pop.
“Stuart?” he said rather loud, when he saw the cartoon doll.
“Shut-up,” Ray slurred as he stirred on the bed.
Keith cringed and shrank back. Wolf watched Ray, making sure the druggie didn’t rouse further.
“Shhh. Come on, Keith. Your mommy sent me,” Wolf whispered as he motioned the little boy over toward the window.
Keith looked nervously over at Ray, then back at Wolf holding his toy. The child stood up but winced as he limped toward the window.
Wolf kept his composure, so he didn’t scare the boy. Ray had done more than slap the child. It was a good thing MD was along. He could check the boy out, since he was trained as an EMT.
“You hold him,” Wolf handed Keith his toy, “and I’ll get you.”
Wolf gently took hold of the child’s arms and started to pull him through the window. Keith’s tennis shoe hit the window ledge and the boy cried out in pain.
“Sorry, buddy.” Rather than pause Wolf quickly pulled him free.
Ray’s eyes cracked open. “What the fuck?” he yelled as he lurched to his feet.
“I’ve got this. Get the boy out of here.” Wolf passed the traumatized child to MD.
Just as MD cleared the yard cradling the little boy, the back door burst open and a stumbling Ray staggered out.
“Hey, fucker, you wanna beat on someone? Why don’t you come at someone closer to your own size?” Wolf challenged.
Ray grabbed a scrap of wood and started swinging it like a bat. Wolf rolled his eyes as he went after the stoner. Wolf grabbed the timber in one hand, and struck out with the other. Ray screamed like a bitch as Wolf broke his nose.
Wolf spun around, holding Ray in his grasp, when he scented and heard someone new exit the house. A gunshot rang out, and pain lit up Wolf’s shoulder. Wolf shoved Ray at the shooter as another shot was fired. Ray lurched when the bullet struck him in the gut.
That was Wolf’s clue to get the fuck out. He’d bought enough time for MD to get away with the child. No sense sticking around for the cops to show up.
While the other dealer was still trying to figure out how he shot Ray, Wolf launched himself over the chain link fence, and took off down the alley at an inhuman speed. Anyone who saw him running, would only see a blur. Wolf followed his nose, till he reached a gas station MD stopped at.
Wolf slowed his stride and casually walked toward the building. He glanced at his shoulder, noting where the first bullet grazed him. A bit to the left, and it would’ve struck his carotid. But it hadn’t, so there was no reason to dwell on it. The blood had already started to clot. In a few hours, it would be healed completely. That was the benefit of his kind. What pissed Wolf off more, was the damage to his leather cut.
MD stepped out of the store carrying Keith, and a handful of snacks. No doubt Ray hadn’t fed the kid.
“Any trouble?” MD asked.
Wolf shrugged. There was always trouble.
“Gotcha. Let’s get moving. Trip’s going to meet us, not far from here.”
“Can I have the chips?” Keith squeaked.
“Of course, my little man,” MD opened the bag and handed it to Keith. “He’s shaken up. A bit bruised from rough handling, but okay.”
“Ray’s a bad man,” Keith mumbled as he shoved the BBQ chips into his mouth.
“Slow down kid. You don’t want to choke,” Wolf chuckled as they headed to meet Trip, Marisol and Keith’s mom.
Wolf grabbed his phone and dialed Ella, but it went straight to voicemail. He then called Char.
“Hey sis.”
“Hey. How’d the job go?”
“Better than expected. On our way back.”
“Oh good. Vick got your window boarded up while Ella and I cleaned up the rest.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that. I hope you guys didn’t stay up too late. I could’ve handled the clean-up, I just didn’t want someone coming in the window while I was gone.”
“FYI, when you get back, all the guys are going to be talking about you and Ella.”
“Great.” Wolf’s eyes closed. He’d forgotten Vick and his sister would be able to smell that he’d slept with Ella.
“What the hell pissed you off? I would’ve thought getting laid would’ve mellowed you out.”
“Ella’s wild. She looks sweet but it’s a ruse,” Wolf teased.
“Okay, never mind, TMI,” Char gagged. “Hey, you better check on that girl. Don’t pull a dick move and not call her.”
“I already tried, but she didn’t answer.”
“Yeah, cause she’s probably still in the air.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Wolf paused midstride.
“She invited me over for a drink, after we finished cleaning up. She must’ve gotten a call or something, because she was really upset. I think a family member is sick or dying. Ella asked me to watch her dog for a few days and take her to the airport.”
“I know her sister is pretty sick, but Sabine’s at one of the hospitals in town.”
“Well I don’t know. She didn’t say.”
“Alright. Thanks, Sis,” Wolf frowned.
He jogged to catch up with MD and Keith as they approached Trip’s parked SUV. Keith’s reunion with Amy was touching. Wolf nodded as Amy expressed her gratitude, his mind elsewhere. All he could think about was Ella, upset, trying to maintain her composure on an airplane.
God, I hope she doesn’t bring the plane down, Wolf worried.
8 The Neon Lights
Ella
“Here you are. The Palazzo. Enjoy your stay in Vegas,” the cabbie announced as he pulled up to the hotel.
Ella paid the man, walked to the front desk and booked the cheapest room available for a single night. She ignored the cascading fountain and the vaulted views. Yes, the lobby was beautiful with its towering columns, friezes, and pediments, but it was a modern interpretation of old-world architecture. It didn’t have the same aura, that could only come from enduring for centuries. None of that mattered though. Ella wasn’t in Vegas to sightsee.
Her heels clicked on the terrazzo tile, as Ella followed signs that led to the casino. When she entered the giant game room, she was assaulted by a cacophony of ringing bells and strobing lights. Ella had never stepped foot in a casino. She didn’t know how to play any of the games laid out before her. The place reeked of a mix of
excitement and desperation. In her current state, she added to the pathetic vibe.
Ella walked around the room studying the games and the players. She bypassed by the slot machines. They had digital displays, and paid credits onto cards, rather than spitting out chips or change. She didn’t dare try to mess with them. Ella ignored the card games altogether. Her gift was no help there. She wasn’t psychic, like Wolf’s friend.
Ella stopped when she came to the Roulette table, with its spinning wheel. People were gathered around the table laying chips down on the red felt, betting on specific numbers, or red versus black.
“No more bets,” the croupier announced, then spun the wheel and sent a little white marble careening.
Everyone held their breath as the marble rattled and bounded from one space to the next on the wheel. Ella smiled at a young woman wearing a giant button announcing it was her twenty-first birthday. She was bouncing excitedly as she watched the ball.
Ella reached out with her gift, testing how it felt to nudge the marble as everything slowed. She aimed for the twenty-one, since that was the number the birthday girl was chanting. Once in the numbered slot, Ella held it there, as the birthday girl jumped up and down squealing in delight.
This is my game.
She watched a few more spins to get a better feel for how to play. Some, Ella let ride on their own, others she picked a random number for the ball to land on. It wasn’t too hard to get it to go where she wanted. It didn’t take finesse, since the marble danced erratically in the wheel before stopping.
Ella stepped up and set her money down on the table. After the plane ticket, the cab ride, and her room for the night, she only had four hundred dollars to play with. It was the remaining balance of her checking account. Ella bet all but fifty bucks that the number would be odd, then worked her magic.
Cheating at the game was harder than she thought it would be. Not because she couldn’t get the marble to do what she wanted, but because after several wins she realized it would look strange if she kept winning. Even though she was mainly betting on the odd/even or red/black spaces, she was clearly making more than she was losing. People around her had started betting on the same spaces she chose. After a few more spins Ella collected her seven thousand in chips and moved to another table.
Over the next hour Ella cautiously doubled her winnings again, before deciding it was time to move on. She was doing really well, considering she started with a few hundred. But progress was slow.
With a five-hundred betting limit, it’s going to take forever to amass a seventy-five grand.
Ella wandered over to the bar, grabbed a glass of wine then circled the casino again. She stopped at a Craps table and watched as she finished her drink. Ella had dismissed the dice game because the rules were more complicated, but she was back again. The betting limits and payout were higher at Craps.
Well it looks like I’m learning to play Craps.
The table wasn’t full, so Ella sidled up next to a middle-aged man in a green polo, who looked like he knew what he was doing.
“Hi,” she smiled. “I don’t really know how to play. Do you mind if I shadow you?”
“Not at all. You’ll want to put your bet here on the Pass Line. The name’s Charles.”
“Thanks. Nice to meet you Charles. I’m Ella.” Ella nodded as she set fifty dollars in chips where he indicated. “What number do we want to see rolled?”
“Anything but two, three, or twelve for this first roll.”
Ella watched as another woman at the table tossed the dice, sending them tumbling against the felt bumper. Ella let the first die fall naturally then nudged the second one in their favor. Everyone at the table cheered, since they hadn’t immediately lost their money.
“Now we’ve got eight points. If another eight is rolled, we win. But if it’s seven, we lose,” her new partner coached.
Ella played along with Charles, until she got the hang of the game. It wasn’t long before she got bolder, placing bigger bets, and her fifteen-grand tripled.
Halfway there, Bella Bear.
Between rolls Ella noticed movement on her right, and turned to see a well-dressed man sit down beside her. He wore an obscenely expensive Fioravanti suit, like it was business casual. It was paired with an equally lavish blue silk tie, matching platinum cufflinks, and a watch that would pay her rent for over a year.
Ella knew expensive taste. She liked the finer things, even owned a few outfits that the rich and fabulous would die for. But her vintage Dior ensemble was purchased at a sweet little old lady’s garage sale, not some over inflated house of couture. Ella wore her finest on this risky excursion so she wouldn’t look out of place, playing with a large amount of cash.
The thirty-something man on her right was more than comfortable as he threw down the max bet of two thousand. He didn’t hesitate the way others did when they made high bets. He had the same confidence Ella did, but for a different reason. The man could obviously afford to lose.
The stickman stood up straighter as he pushed several dice over toward Business Casual, making Ella wonder if the man was a regular at the casino, or someone important.
“You want to pick out your favorite dice and give’em a kiss for good luck?” Business Casual said with a smile.
Ella felt like he was appraising her, even though his gray eyes never drifted from hers. She suddenly felt like a little minnow being circled by a shark.
“I have a feeling you don’t need the luck,” Ella smiled back, undaunted because the man came on too strong.
“I was thinking the same about you,” he commented as he glanced at the column of chips she amassed. “Please.” He pushed the dice in Ella’s direction.
Ella shrugged and grabbed two dice, blew a kiss on them, then handed them back. Business Casual brushed her hand as he took the dice from her. It was intentional. Ella caught herself before she rolled her eyes.
Business Casual looked like he was Mediterranean in origin, and was rather attractive, but his cocksure demeanor came off all wrong. Ella thought about another proud character she knew. Wolf.
Crap I should call him. Ella had been so caught up with this nonsense, she forgot to give him a call. I hope he and the boy are okay.
“Pardon me.” Ella leaned back from the table and pulled her phone out of her purse.
“Should I wait?” Business Casual cocked his brow.
“Oh, no. I’m sorry.” Ella set down a bet, and the man cast the dice, while she checked her phone. “Darn it!” The thing was dead, and in her rush, she forgot to bring her charger.
Good planning, Ella.
“Problem?”
“My phone died. I was hoping to hear from my boyfriend.”
Ella took the liberty of calling Wolf her boyfriend. Neither of them had made the declaration, but what they shared certainly wasn’t casual. Also, Ella hoped the comment would stop Business Casual’s sideways glances.
“I’m sure they sell chargers in one of the shops,” he commented as he glanced at the blank screen on her phone.
Ella nodded and slipped the phone back in her purse.
“Are you in kid,” Charles asked.
“Yeah.”
Ella smiled at her impromptu mentor. She’d been careful to not screw him while she earned the money for her sister’s hospital bills.
“This is my last round. I’ve got dinner reservations with the wife. She should be happy, since I didn’t lose my shirt, and she got time in the spa.”
“Thanks for showing me the ropes, Charles. It was nice meeting you.”
“No problem, you’re a natural. Have fun.”
Charles got up after the final roll, collected his winnings, then walked off with a smile.
“So, this is your first time playing Craps? Miss?” Business Casual asked.
“Ella,” she replied, giving him her first name only. “Yes, it’s my first time. Mister?” Ella asked in return.
“Drake.”
He reached out his
hand. She gave it a firm shake, then turned back to the game.
Ella bet several rounds as she had, win a little, lose a little, win a lot, all while keeping a watchful eye on her steadily building bottom line.
“You are a natural,” Drake commented nonchalantly, as he took a sip of his overpriced scotch.
“Yes. Well, I think I’m due for a break. Nice to meet you. Good luck.”
Ella stashed her stacks of chips in her purse, and stepped away from the table, heading for the ladies’ room.
“Join me for a drink, Ella.”
Ella swung around at the sound of Drake’s voice.
How in the hell did he get so close?
“No, but thank you.” Ella turned to go.
“Ah, but I insist, Miss Roulant.”
Drake gripped the back of her arm, seized her purse before she could get a good handle on it, and ushered her past the bathrooms, toward a set of double doors.
“Excuse me.” Ella attempted to pull free.
“Don’t make a scene,” Drake insisted as he directed her forward.
A couple of staff members approached, and Ella hoped they would do something, before she lost her shit entirely.
“Mr. Drake.” They nodded and walked on by.
Obviously, Drake worked for the hotel.
“Am I being detained for some reason?” she demanded.
“Let’s discuss this matter in my office,” he practically growled.
Boy, was I wrong. I thought Drake was hitting on me, like some creepy Richie Rich. No, he was sizing me up for cheating. Shit, was I that obvious?
Ella calmed her mind, as they moved down the personnel hallway, and entered an elevator. She couldn’t let her emotions get out of hand. There was no possible way Drake could prove she was cheating. As far as he knew, it really was beginners’ luck.
Drake led Ella into a well-appointed office, with one-way glass that looked out onto the hotel.
“Sit.”
He pointed to a chair, as he took a seat behind his immense desk. Drake proceeded to dump the contents of her purse out. Ella watched as fifty thousand-dollar chips rolled across the surface.
Beautiful Moves: A Motorcycle Club, Shifter, Romance (Shifting Steel Book 3) Page 12