Gamble (Nightforce Security Book 2)

by Keira Beck

  Pain shot through his torso, but he didn’t even flinch. It just confirmed that he was alive, and after all he’d been through, it was a miracle.

  All he’d been through…

  The events of the day came rushing back. The heist-that-wasn’t. Daphne. The fights. Daphne. The surveillance room discoveries. Daphne. The bastards who left him for dead.

  Daphne.

  Noah held his elbow against his ribs for support as he scrambled out of the bin. “Tell me they didn’t get away.”

  “They didn’t leave the property, but they’re nowhere near the laundry room anymore.”

  “What the fuck are they doing? Why haven’t they just left?”

  “There’s something here that they want.”

  “Obviously. But what?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What the hell took the cops so long to get down here?” Noah looked around. The police were already leaving the laundry room. At least he didn’t have to answer any of their questions. Not yet, anyway.

  “Joker gave them a hard time. Put up quite a fight. Wrestling him into a squad car proved more difficult than anyone expected. Then I had to explain why they were needed in the laundry room. I finally got tired of arguing and just dashed down here on my own. Damn good thing I did, too.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Don’t mention it. I guess it was a good thing you hung up on me. I heard the phone.”

  Noah still missed comms, but he was oh-so-grateful for the loud ringtone. “What made the cops follow you?”

  “I think your lady lit a fire under them.”

  His lady. He liked the sound of that. “She okay?”

  “She’s fine. I left her in the poker room.”

  Daphne. Noah couldn’t bear to think of her in harm’s way. The woman had come to mean so much to him in such a short time. And he didn’t even know her last name. There was so much about her he didn’t know. And he was dying to find out.

  But not yet.

  “Did the guys get the security guards?”

  “Yeah. Mac and Danny chased them off property, and after an unfortunate car chase—”

  “Unfortunate, how?”

  “Mac’s rental has seen better days. He’s bitching because he didn’t get the insurance. But they detained the security guards. Said they’ll rendezvous with us here after the cops take them into custody.”

  Noah plopped on the floor and took a few deep breaths. His fucking nose throbbed. “I need a headcount.”

  “You need a hospital.”

  “Ace and Joker are in custody.”

  Ethan sighed and sat beside him. “Yeah. Joker’s headed to jail and Ace has to be at the ER by now.”

  “Two security guards are with Danny and Mac.”

  “If the cops haven’t arrived yet.”

  “That leaves Jack and Deuce. And the missing couple.”

  “And Byron.”

  “Who the hell is Byron?”

  “Remember in the surveillance room, the guy who went for coffee? He was the inside man. Trey.”

  “Damn. I’d hoped it was Simon.”

  Ethan laughed. “Well, it’s not. I went through the code. Byron was the one who looped the feed.”

  “I’m assuming he never came back from getting coffee.”

  “Nope.”

  “So he’s in the wind?”

  “Not exactly. He didn’t leave the property yet, either.”

  “What the fuck is wrong with these guys? If I was them, I’d have been out of here the second things went south.”

  “They think something here is worth sticking around for.”

  “I get that. But what is it?”

  “Got me.”

  The laundry staff returned and stopped in their tracks when they saw the two men sitting there.

  “It’s okay,” Noah said. “We’re going.”

  Ethan jumped up, but Noah just sat there. “Noah?”

  Fuck, everything hurt. He held out a hand. “Help me up, E.”

  Shaking his head, Ethan hauled Noah to his feet.

  He held his side. “I don’t know if that’s better or worse.”

  “You need to get to the hospital.”

  “You need to get off my case.” Noah headed toward the door.

  “Sorry for the intrusion,” Ethan said to the staff before following Noah.

  Out in the hallway, Noah sucked air.

  “Come on, man. You’ve already played the hero today. Time to see a doctor and get patched up.”

  “Not until this is done.”

  “Done? Your job is over. Well past.”

  “I can’t let this go. Those guys have seen our faces. Seen Daphne’s face. You know what happens when you see the criminal and can ID them.”

  “If they were interested in killing you, they had their chance in the laundry room. But they didn’t take it. They’re not violent.”

  Noah raised his eyebrows—a feat that cost him, although he didn’t flinch at the movement—and pointed at his nose.

  “Okay. Maybe they’re a little violent. But they aren’t killers. Not unless you press the issue and keep after them.”

  He wasn’t about to remind Ethan how close they came to killing him, inadvertently or not. “Since when do you run from a fight?”

  “Since you look like you fell from the top of a mountain. Shit, Noah. Your ribs are probably cracked, your nose likely broken. You’ve got bruises on your face and knuckles and God knows where else. Not to mention the gash and goose egg on your head. You’re in no condition to fight.”

  “It’s personal now, Ethan. I’m all in.”

  “I was afraid you’d say that.”

  Noah held his arm tight against his side and started walking, although he had no idea where he was going.

  Ethan cleared his throat. When Noah stopped and looked at him, he pointed down a different hallway.

  Shrugging, Noah back-tracked and joined him. “Where are we headed?”

  “Back to surveillance, I guess. See if I can find Jack and Deuce. And Byron. Maybe if we go further back in time, we can figure out what they might want.”

  It was like something clicked inside. “Not what. Who.”

  “What?”

  “Who.”

  Ethan shook his head. “No. I’m not playing this game. What are you talking about, who?”

  “We’ve been trying to figure out their motive all evening. I don’t care what they’re after anymore. I only care about who. They wanted the John who was with the escort. If we find him, we’ll find the why. And probably Jack, Deuce, and Trey, too.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Noah was, once again, weaponless. And now he was more exhausted and in more pain, too. Not a great way to continue a search, but he didn’t have any options. He rested in the lobby of the hotel, garnering more than a few concerned stares, while he waited for Ethan to call him from the surveillance room.

  The hotel was pretty fucking nice, all things considered. Not just because it was new, either. The decor was opulent but tasteful. Not overdone like some Vegas properties. That’s probably why the employees were gaping at him. Didn’t want bloodstains all over the place, marring the otherwise tranquil room.

  The walls were painted a warm, soothing gray, and the floor was a neutral marble tile. The upholstered furniture was in varying textures and shades of charcoal, but pops of color—ice blues, chocolate browns, vanilla creams—in area rugs, artwork, and draperies made the lobby quite relaxing. The only detriment to the ambiance was the ever-growing crowd. It seemed the game was over, and people had spilled out of the bars. Most, he guessed, were still in the casino, but many had returned to the hotel. Sighing, he leaned back and closed his eyes.

  It couldn’t have been more than ten seconds before his phone rang. He scrubbed at his eyes in an effort to erase some of his weariness—it hurt to even touch his face—as he reached for his phone. Stifling a yawn, he answered it. “Crawford.”

  “Found your John. Pretty
sure I found everyone. I think the crew is with him. Danny and Mac are in an Uber, said they’re about two minutes away. And I’m on my way to you now.”

  “Where’d you find them?” Noah pushed to his feet. The room swayed a little, and he caught his balance on the arm of the chair.

  “Just wait for us.”

  “Where the fuck are they, E?”

  “You can’t help anyone if you get yourself shot. Or worse.”

  “Don’t make me ask again.” Silence followed, during which Noah could almost hear E’s thoughts. Pretty much all of them were four-letter words.

  Finally, he said, “Room three-six-one-seven. And I really wish you’d wait. I’m almost—”

  Noah ended the call and pocketed his phone. As he walked past the reception desk, he pointed to a bank of elevators. “These go up to the thirty-sixth floor?”

  They all shook their heads. One of them pointed further down the hallway. “These only go to thirty. The next set past those go higher. Can we help you? Are you all right?”

  But he darted away from registration and past the first series of elevators. At the second set, he stabbed the ‘up’ button and looked around, trying to determine which would arrive first. The bell dinged and the doors slid open on the car he’d guessed. Small satisfaction, but he’d take the win. Noah charged inside and jabbed the ‘thirty-six’ button.

  The ride up was smooth and swift. When the doors opened on a whisper, he stepped into the hallway. Carpet muffled the sound of his footfalls, and he followed the arrows down the corridor toward thirty-six seventeen.

  There was no noticeable activity on the floor. Could be everyone was out or in bed. More likely no one had booked a room on thirty-six. The hotel was too new to be full. Or maybe Trey had made certain they had the floor to themselves.

  Noah made his way to room seventeen. How the hell was he going to get in there? One problem at a time. He needed to be sure he had the right room, so he stood outside the door and listened. The voices were hard to hear, but when he pressed his ear against the steel, he could just make out what was going on.

  A woman was sobbing. Most likely ‘Trixie.’ “Please. Just let me go.” She sniffled. “I don’t know anything, and I won’t tell anyone where you are or what you want.”

  “Bitch, if you say that one more time, I will put a bullet in you.”

  Noah didn’t recognize the voice, so it must have been Trey. Byron. Whatever the hell his name was.

  “Last time, Sullivan,” Jack said. “Tell me what was in that file.”

  Sullivan had to be the John. But what file?

  “I told you. I don’t know. I’m not allowed to read it. If I delivered it unsealed, I could be arrested, especially if someone makes a killing because of the information inside.”

  “That’s not the answer I’m looking for.”

  “Please!” Sullivan said. “Your friends took it. They have the information. Just ask them!”

  “We can’t!”

  There was a thwack, followed by a thud.

  The girl screamed, and the guy moaned.

  “You hit him too hard, Trey.” Jack said. “He can’t tell us what we want to know if he’s out cold.”

  “He’s fucking faking. Deuce, get him up.”

  A grunt, followed by another thud.

  “I think we should cut our losses and get out of here,” Jack said.

  “And come away with nothing?” Trey asked. “No way. I put too much into this. And I’m burned. They know who I am. You can go on with your life, but I can’t. It’s not like I can show up for work tomorrow and keep earning my piddly-assed paycheck. I need this payout.”

  “We’re all burned. They have eyewitnesses, and I’m sure someone’s been through the security feeds. You were supposed to scrub them, but instead you’re here.”

  “My fucking boss was thinking with his dick again. Let that whore and her friends into the surveillance room before I could erase the files. I had to get out of there when I did.”

  “And instead of running, you came here.”

  “I need the damn report!”

  “Fuck you, Trey. You swore you had your shit handled, and it all went to hell. I’m getting out of here while I still have a chance. Come on, Deuce.”

  Thank God. At least Noah didn’t have to try the ‘room service’ gambit. They were going to open the door, completely unaware of him lying in wait.

  “You leave, and you get nothing,” Trey said.

  Jack scoffed. “There’s nothing to get!”

  Noah didn’t have a weapon, but he had the element of surprise. He stood across the hall, needing the space for a running start, and waited for the door to open.

  Time slowed. The handle turned for hours. Noah was poised to charge when the latch released and the door swung open.

  Click.

  The hinges were silent, the people inside the room loud. Jack was turned around, still arguing with Trey.

  Then time flew. Noah ran, leapt. Collided with Jack in a bone-crushing tackle, driving him back into Deuce. The three crashed into a table, splintering it as they fell to the floor, both guys losing their guns in the melee.

  Trixie screamed.

  Noah rolled, pulling Jack over him, using him as a shield against Trey shooting. Surprisingly, no gunfire came. Instead, Noah traded punches with Jack, took a solid kick in the hip from Deuce.

  Something shattered, and Deuce collapsed beside him under a shower of ceramic shards.

  Trixie had smashed a lamp over his head, taking him out.

  Jack lunged for a large sliver of pottery.

  Noah groped for anything—a fragment of his own, a discarded gun. Hell, a broken table leg would do, or even a jagged splinter of wood.

  Nothing but tiny fragments that cut his fingers.

  Jack held the shard to Noah’s neck. “I’ve had about enough of you. How many times have I given you the opportunity to walk away? But you keep coming back. You’re like a bad penny.”

  “That’s ‘turning up.’ Not ‘coming back.’”

  “What?”

  “Never mind.”

  “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t end you right now.”

  Maybe E was right. Maybe these guys didn’t want to kill anyone. If he could keep him talking, stall just a little longer…

  Jack poked him with the sliver.

  Too close to his jugular for comfort. But Noah had an ace up his sleeve. Relieved, he grinned.

  “What’s so fucking funny?” Jack snarled.

  “Humor’s all about timing.”

  Ethan had entered the room and retrieved Deuce’s gun. He pressed it against the back of Jack’s head.

  Chapter Twelve

  Noah resisted the urge to punch Jack in the face. Again. His knuckles, along with the rest of his body, hurt too much to bother.

  Ethan kept the gun trained on Jack while Noah slowly rolled from prone to sitting. He snatched the other gun from the floor then climbed to his feet, but that took too much energy, so he plopped down on the bed.

  Deuce groaned. He was starting to come to.

  Ethan ripped the cord off the broken lamp and tied Deuce’s hands behind his back while Noah kept his gun trained on Jack.

  “You mind helping him sit up?” Jack nodded toward Deuce. “Make sure he’s okay?”

  “Now you care about him?” Noah said. “You tried to ditch him in the laundry room.”

  Jack bristled. “No, I didn’t.”

  Noah straightened his arm, holding the gun closer to Jack. “Easy.”

  “We were searching the room. It just made more sense to split up.”

  “Whatever you need to tell yourself to get through the day. Maybe the prison will let you guys share a cell.”

  “Shit, we’ll be lucky if they put us in the same prison.”

  Noah raised his eyebrows then instantly regretted it.

  Jack shrugged. “No point in hiding it now, I guess. He’s my brother. Please make sure he’s okay.”


  Noah hadn’t seen that one coming.

  Ethan cut the rope tying Sullivan with one of the broken shards on the floor, then he tied Jack’s hands together. After that, he checked out Deuce. “He’s fine. Groggy, but fine. Gotta thank you for leaving the girl untied. If she hadn’t cracked the lamp over his head, things might have turned out differently.”

  Jack scowled.

  “Yeah,” Noah said. “Thanks, Trixie.”

  “My name’s not Trixie.”

  “Sorry.” Noah lowered the gun. “That’s what Ace called you. What is your name?”

  “Beth.”

  “Didn’t mean to offend you, Beth. I am grateful for your help, though. Are you all right?”

  A tear rolled down her cheek.

  Only then did Noah notice the rip in her skirt, the popped buttons on her blouse. She might be an escort, but she entered into her job duties willingly. What Ace had done to her didn’t fit the bill. Odds were good the cops would be adding rape to Ace’s list of charges.

  “I just want to go home.”

  “You need to go to the hospital.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You’re not fine. You need to have an exam done, let them collect evidence. Put that bastard away for what he did to you.”

  “Did they catch him?”

  “Yeah. The cops got him in the poker room. He’s in the hospital, but he’s in custody.”

  Barefooted, she picked her way past the broken lamp on her way to the door. “Then they can charge him with all this. They don’t need me, too.”

  “Beth—”

  She burst into tears as she ran out the door.

  Noah looked at Ethan.

  He shook his head. “Let her go. Maybe this guy can testify that he witnessed it and save her the discomfort of the exam and testifying.”

  Rage washed through Noah, cleansing him of all but emotional pain. His body was bruised and battered, but not violated. He couldn’t imagine what that poor woman had gone through. Every fiber of his being wanted to beat that guy to within an inch of his life. And then maybe more.

  Instead, he took a deep, lung-screaming breath then turned to Jack. “Don’t suppose you know where your buddy went?”

  “Trey? He’s not my fucking buddy.”

  “I don’t care if he’s your best friend or worst enemy. He’s the last of you, and he’s not getting away.”