“I love you, Jasmine.” He pulled a ring box out of his pocket. “I want us to be family forever. Will you marry me?”
He opened the box. Levi couldn’t see the ring well from where he stood, but Jasmine gasped aloud, her hands dropping in shock. She nodded, murmuring, “Of course,” through her tears, and Carlos slipped the ring on her finger before rising to pull her into a kiss.
The crowd exploded with whoops and cheers, closing in around the happy couple in a deluge of hugs, kisses, and congratulations. Levi slipped through the exuberant mass of people until he reached Dominic.
“That was beautiful,” he said, looking up at Dominic’s suspiciously bright eyes. He’d found the proposal incredibly moving himself, and he didn’t even know Carlos and Jasmine that well; he could only imagine how Dominic was feeling. “Did you know about it in advance?”
“I helped Carlos plan it,” said Dominic.
Levi pulled him down into a kiss. They couldn’t go for long because his lip still hurt, but he pressed their foreheads together for an extended moment once they’d separated and just breathed Dominic in.
Everyone at the party wanted a few minutes to speak with Carlos and Jasmine and snap some pictures, but eventually Levi and Dominic made it to the front of the line. “Mazel tov,” Levi said, smiling, while Dominic hugged them both.
Jasmine threw her arms around Levi, wrapping him up in a tight embrace. He was startled but recovered quickly, returning the hug. Once she let go, he shook Carlos’s hand.
“Look, isn’t it gorgeous?” Jasmine said, showing them her ring, which consisted of a large solitaire diamond framed by platinum filigreed in an elaborate geometric pattern. “It was my great-grandmother’s in the 1920s—perfect vintage Art Deco.”
Levi glanced at Dominic and could tell he had no idea what that meant either. “It’s really pretty,” Dominic said.
With everyone in giddy spirits, the party revved into a higher gear after that. Marcus cued up a more energetic playlist over the speakers, and some people started dancing while others put together an impromptu flag football game. One of Jasmine’s aunts broke out sparklers for the kids, who ran screaming and giggling around the backyard.
After an hour or so of that, Levi needed a break from the socialization. He excused himself and retired to a relatively quiet corner, sipping a cup of coffee and watching Dominic wrestle around in the patchy grass with Rebel and the other dogs.
“Hey,” Carlos said, approaching from the side with a bottle of beer in one hand. “Mind if I sit?”
“Sure.”
Carlos settled in the chair next to Levi, and they drank in companionable silence for a while.
“That was a really thoughtful surprise you put together for Jasmine,” Levi said eventually.
“Thanks. She deserved it.” Carlos glanced toward the main hub of the party, where Jasmine was surrounded by relatives oohing and aahing over the ring, before turning back to Levi. “So, um, I need to talk to you about something, and it’s a little awkward.”
Levi arched an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.
“Dominic was acting weird earlier this week. Tense and anxious, not like himself at all. At first, I thought it might have something to do with this whole serial killer thing—and yes, I know about that. Dom kind of had to clue me in when he found a bug in my smoke detector.”
“You and Jasmine aren’t in danger,” Levi said, feeling guilty that they’d been dragged into this mess. “The Seven of Spades wouldn’t harm you.”
Carlos waved a hand. “It’s okay. Dom broke it down for me, and I trust him to keep us safe if anything changes.” He looked down to where his thumbnail was worrying the label on his bottle. “After he told me about the Seven of Spades, I wondered if that was why he’d been nervous before. But the thing is, Dom doesn’t get nervous, at least not about normal things like serial killers and life-threatening danger. There’s really only one thing in the world that puts him on edge.”
He stopped there, leaving his true question unspoken. Levi drank more coffee while he stalled for time.
How much was acceptable for him to share? Carlos was clearly concerned, and he was looking for either reassurance or confirmation of his fears. It wouldn’t do anyone good for Levi to brush him off.
“He hasn’t been gambling,” Levi said. “He just had a close call this week, and it threw him a little bit. He’ll be okay.”
Carlos nodded. Out in the yard, Dominic was flat on his back, laughing as he warded off the dogs’ enthusiastic tongues. Levi couldn’t help smiling at the sight.
“Look, Levi, you didn’t really know Dominic back when he was gambling,” said Carlos. “But Jasmine and I were there for the entire thing, the whole terrible downward spiral. Gambling turns Dominic into a different person. It makes him irresponsible and even more reckless than he is naturally. And he gets . . . mean.”
“Mean?” Levi said, shaking his head in bemusement. He could barely imagine it. “I’m almost curious about what that would look like.”
“Don’t be,” Carlos said flatly. “It’s scary as fuck. I’m ashamed to admit this, but Jasmine and I weren’t as close to him then as we are now, and it got so bad we almost gave up on him. If Rebel hadn’t gotten sick, I don’t know where Dom would be today. Maybe in jail—you know what happens to gamblers who can’t stop.”
Frowning, Levi asked, “Why are you telling me all this?”
“Because I think he’s falling in love with you, and I want you to promise that if he does start gambling again, you won’t give up on him. That you’ll remember that the person he becomes when he gambles isn’t the real him, and you’ll help him find his way back no matter how difficult it gets.”
Levi stared at him, speechless. Carlos gave a self-conscious shrug.
“I understand that’s a lot to ask someone who’s only been dating him three months. And I know you guys aren’t at the point in your relationship where you’re ready to make promises like that. Dominic is my best friend, though, and you—you seem like the kind of person who never gives up on anything. I just need to hear you say it.”
Levi looked across the yard again. Dominic was sitting up now, scruffing Rebel’s ears and kissing the tip of her nose. A sharp, tender pain lanced through Levi’s core as he watched.
“I wouldn’t let anyone hurt Dominic,” he said to Carlos. “That includes Dominic himself. You have my word.”
“Thank you.” Carlos clinked his bottle against Levi’s mug.
Dominic stood up, brushed the dirt off his jeans, and headed in their direction with Rebel at his heels. “Hey, guys,” he said, circling around behind Levi’s chair. He draped his arms over Levi’s shoulders and bent to kiss the side of Levi’s neck.
Back when the Seven of Spades had just been getting started, Martine and Levi had wondered how the killer had been able to get behind Phillip Dreyer to slit his throat when he’d been seated in a wide-open office. How many people do you trust to stand behind you while you’re sitting down? Martine had asked.
Levi’s response had been Enough to count on one hand and have fingers left over, because that list had been limited to his parents and Martine herself. He wouldn’t even have felt comfortable with Stanton in that position.
Right now, he didn’t feel an ounce of anxiety. He put a hand on Dominic’s arm and rested his head against Dominic’s stomach, warm with contentment.
“What were you guys talking about?” Dominic asked.
“Nothing important, just taking a break from all the excitement,” Carlos said.
“Mmm.” Dominic nuzzled Levi’s neck. “It is a lot. Do you want to go home?”
“I’m fine. We don’t have to leave early on my account.”
“My reasons are totally selfish, trust me.” Dominic nipped at Levi’s ear, and his voice dropped to a lower register. “I want to take my boyfriend home and do nasty, unspeakable things to him.”
“Dominic, for fuck’s sake,” Levi said, both embarrassed and a
little turned on.
Carlos grinned. “Right, I’ll take that as my cue to be elsewhere.” He winked at Levi before returning to the party.
Dominic’s attentions to Levi’s neck became more aggressive, and he slid his hands over Levi’s chest in a way that hinted at delicious things that lay in store. “Come on, baby. Let’s go.”
A full-body shudder ran through Levi at the husked endearment.
“God, I’m never going to get over how hot that is,” said Dominic. He moved to the front of Levi’s chair to pull him to his feet. “It’s gonna take us a while to say goodbye to everyone. Let’s get started before I have to drag you into the bathroom and suck your cock up against the wall.”
“You say that like it’s supposed to be some kind of disincentive,” Levi said, and laughed as Dominic playfully shoved him back toward the crowd.
It was still light out when they left the Andersons’, the sky just beginning to glow orange with the first strains of a summer sunset. Rebel lay between Dominic and Levi, panting and happily exhausted. Levi idly stroked her ears as he sat with his eyes closed and his head tilted back on the seat.
Dominic kept glancing sideways at him while he drove west through Henderson. He’d loved having Levi with him today, introducing him around and, frankly, showing him off. Levi was right—his brusque, reserved manner didn’t appeal to everyone—but even when people didn’t like Levi, they respected him. Dominic had overheard more than one admiring comment about Levi’s intelligence, his dedication to his job, and of course his killer cheekbones.
Maybe it was time to invite Levi to his family lunch.
Levi’s cell phone rang, startling them both. Dominic turned off the radio so Levi could answer it.
“Hello?” His brow furrowing, Levi said, “Ms. Kostas? Wait, slow down, I can’t understand anything you’re saying.”
Dominic gave him a questioning look, and Levi put the phone on speaker.
“Sorry,” said a woman’s voice, sounding out of breath. “I’m freaking out. Detective, I think you arrested the wrong person for Dr. Hensley’s murder.”
“Why?”
“When I was at the station yesterday, I thought I saw . . . but then I wasn’t sure, and I didn’t want to say anything until I was. There have been enough false accusations thrown around already.”
“Ms. Kostas—”
“I’m sure now,” she said. “I remember clearly. Dr. Hensley’s wife didn’t kill him. She’s not the person I saw that night.”
Levi bolted upright. “What?”
“I—”
There was a loud crash on the other end of the line, the unmistakable sound of shattering glass, and Kostas yelped in surprise and fear. Dominic’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.
“What is it?” Levi said urgently. “What’s going on?”
“Oh my God,” she said, terrified now. “How did you—no, get out! Get away from me! No! Help, help, somebody help me!”
Her voice grew fainter, as if she’d dropped the phone, but they could clearly hear the sounds of a violent struggle—thunderous bangs and thuds along with her piercing, panicked screams. Then the call abruptly disconnected.
Dominic and Levi stared at each other. Levi’s face was bloodless.
“Where does she live?” Dominic asked.
Checking the nearest street sign, Levi said, “Just a few blocks from here.”
Dominic hit the gas and followed the directions Levi gave him, breaking every traffic law on the books while he barreled through the streets of Henderson.
“Dominic, I don’t have my gun,” Levi said as he waited for his 911 call to go through.
“Mine’s in the glove compartment.”
A minute later, they peeled into the driveway of a small, charming house. Levi jumped out before the truck was even in park, holding Dominic’s Glock in a two-handed grip. Dominic and Rebel followed right behind.
A quick circuit of the house revealed what had happened: a rock had been thrown through a window by the back door, allowing the intruder to reach inside and unlock it. The door was half-open, and Dominic heard nothing from inside, but he threw out an arm to bar Levi’s entrance anyway.
“Wait,” he said. “Rebel, danger.”
She’d already picked up on that, her body language stiff and wary, but at his command, she crouched down lower and slunk inside the house. Her ears flicked back and forth, and then she looked up at Dominic before trotting further inside.
If she’d sensed an immediate threat, she would have barked. Dominic jerked his head, indicating for Levi to precede him.
They followed Rebel through the kitchen and into the living room, where a tall, dark-haired woman lay unconscious amidst the wreckage of tossed furniture, smashed lamps, and scattered dirt and ceramic shards from a potted plant. Her throat was swollen and red.
While Levi cleared the room, Dominic dropped to his knees beside her, heedless of the sharp debris slicing into his jeans. He lay two fingers along her wrist and bent his ear near her face.
“She’s got a pulse, but she’s not breathing,” he said. He tilted her head back, then lifted her chin forward to open her airway. “Someone strangled her and didn’t see it all the way through.”
Rebel gave one short, sharp bark and darted down a hallway that led to the side of the house. Levi ran after her.
“What—” Dominic started.
“She has a son!” Levi called over his shoulder as he disappeared around the corner.
Shit. Dominic stayed focused on Kostas, pinching her nostrils shut and giving her two slow rescue breaths, making sure her chest rose like it should. He checked her pulse again.
It had stopped.
“Goddammit!” He rose up on his knees, placed his hands in the center of her chest, and pushed straight down with his upper body weight, counting out the chest compressions in his head. It had been a long time since he’d last performed CPR, but he remembered the basics.
Halfway through his count, he heard an ominous crack as one of her ribs broke under the force. He cringed and snatched his hands away.
Kostas lay still, her face white and her lips turning purple. A few feet away was a picture frame that looked like it had been stomped on; underneath the spiderwebbing glass, Kostas was holding a cute toddler and beaming at the camera.
“Okay, come on,” Dominic said grimly, getting back to it. “Come on, girl, I know you’re not ready to go yet.”
He was administering rescue breaths again when Levi hurried back through the living room with a small, curly-haired boy on one hip. The boy was bawling at the top of his lungs, and Levi had one hand cupped over his eyes to shield him from the sight of his mother on the floor. Levi carried him out the front door, Rebel following close behind.
Dominic performed another round of chest compressions, and another creak sounded from Kostas’s rib cage. He gritted his teeth and kept going. He didn’t believe in God, not the way Levi did, but he found himself praying anyway. She was too young to die this way. It wasn’t fair—
She coughed, then drew a weak, gasping breath. Dominic grabbed her wrist; her pulse was thready but continued on as her shallow breathing evened out.
“Oh fuck,” he said, almost toppling over as he was flooded with bone-deep relief.
Paramedics burst into the house then. He scrambled to his feet, gave them a brief rundown, and stayed out of their way while they worked. Levi and Rebel rejoined him a minute later.
“Mason’s with one of the local cops,” Levi said. He watched with a worried expression as Kostas was loaded onto a stretcher. “She’s alive?”
“Yeah,” Dominic said. “But there’s no telling how long she went without oxygen. There could be permanent damage. And . . . and . . .” Hysteria bubbled up in his chest. “Levi, I broke her ribs, I heard them crack—”
“Hey.” Levi pressed his hands to either side of Dominic’s face. “Ribs can be fixed. Death can’t. I can tell you right now that she’d rather be alive with every bo
ne in her body broken than dead.”
Dominic nodded and took a shuddery breath. The paramedics wheeled Kostas out the front door, leaving him, Levi, and Rebel alone in the destroyed living room.
“Before she was attacked, she said she knew who killed your guy,” he said.
His gray eyes clear and cold, Levi said, “So do I.”
Levi didn’t have to wait long in the parking lot outside the emergency department of St. Rose Dominican. Even at dawn on a Sunday, the lot was far from empty, but fortunately there were no people walking around.
Except one. Levi watched his quarry hurry down the line of parked cars, shrugging into a white doctor’s coat. Slipping out from behind the concealment of an SUV, Levi said, “Come to finish the job?”
Craig Warner whirled around.
“D-detective,” he stammered, his eyes huge behind his glasses. “What are you—I mean, hi. I’m just, uh, here on a hospice consult for a colleague I met at the conference.”
“Actually, I’m pretty sure you came here to take a second whack at killing Diana Kostas,” said Levi.
Warner shook his head frantically, his mouth working open and shut.
“After all, I went to a lot of trouble to have the news of her attack, survival, and hospitalization here splashed all over every news media outlet in the Las Vegas Valley over the past ten hours. Couldn’t have you skipping town, and we had no other reliable way to track you down since you checked out of your hotel.” Levi smiled. “Of course, Ms. Kostas isn’t actually at this hospital.”
Warner’s jaw dropped. He jumped about a foot in the air when Martine emerged from a nearby car, gun at the ready. Other doors slammed around the parking lot as uniformed officers hopped out of unmarked cars and moved to establish a perimeter and keep any civilians at bay.
Warner’s eyes darted around in a panic, and then he plunged his hand into the jacket beneath the doctor’s coat, withdrawing a small gun of his own that he aimed shakily at Levi.
“Seriously, Warner?” Levi said, taking a few steps closer. “Poison, stabbing, strangulation, and now a gun—what, are you going for murder bingo?”
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