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I decide to get up and take a shower, hoping the steam will clear my head. Usually, I’m not one to get so emotionally invested in something like this. I’ve been around the block enough times to know that these things happen, but something about it just doesn’t sit right with me. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts.
As the water cascades over my body, I can’t help but think about what I could have done differently. Maybe I could have stopped them from drugging the girls before it even started.
I step out of the shower, dry off, and put on some clean clothes. I grab my phone. Zero messages from Raze. No calls either. I peer over at the alarm clock. In bright red numbers, it flashes the time. I smile. Scrolling through my contacts, I find V’s name and press it. It rings a few times before he answers.
“Kinda early for you to call, isn’t it?”
“It’s nine o’clock in the morning,” I fire back. “I’m more surprised you’re up this early.”
“Dude, I have a newborn and a toddler. No one is sleeping in this house.”
“I’m surprised Leia hasn’t staged her first coup yet.”
“Give her time. She may only be a few months old, but I can already tell she will either end up president or a dictator. There will be no middle ground with this one. Han, on the other hand, will just be happy to be included in her evil plans.”
“Sounds about right.” I chuckle.
“Enough about my kids. I take it this isn’t a social call.”
“I need to ask a favor.”
“It’d be great if someone actually called me just to chat instead of for work all the time. Can’t you guys just have a normal conversation?”
I scoff and shake my head. “You do realize which club you belong to, right? We’re not exactly known for being touchy-feely or talking about our emotions.”
“Well, my wife is very good at that kind of stuff. You should book an appointment. We’re going to need a bigger house soon.” He chuckles. “Anyway, what do you want?”
“I’m sure Raze clued you in about my introduction to the Vegas chapter.”
“He did,” V answers. “Didn’t exactly throw out the welcome mat, did they? I’ve got some things working on them. Haven’t had any hits yet, but you know I’ll get down to the bottom of it. Assholes can’t hide from me for long.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” After Slider’s run-in with Homeland Security last year, which resulted in the total loss of our club house, V had spent the better part of his free time wreaking havoc on the Feds. If anyone could track down Ace’s business partner, it’s him. “But my favor is more of a personal nature.”
There is a moment of silence in the conversation.
“Please tell me you got caught up in the Vegas spirit and ended up marrying some random girl last night.”
“That’s your style, V. Not mine.”
“Gambling debts? Steal someone’s girl? Oh, I know… you maxed out your credit card at one of the brothels.”
“No, V.”
“Seriously? You’re in Vegas. Anything goes there. I’m low-key envious that Raze sent you instead of me. A little break from reality would have been damn nice right about now, especially with Vegas Comic Con happening. I had planned this elaborate costume—” he continues before I interrupt him with a sigh.
“Focus, asshole. I need you to check some security camera footage from last night. The Dice Club at the Luxor.”
The sound of clicking keys fills the receiver. Keystroke after keystroke until he starts to laugh. “Jesus, that was easier than counterfeiting Ratch’s marriage certificate. That took like all of two seconds. I don’t know who their IT team is, but they need to be fired,” he mumbles to himself for a few more seconds. “What am I looking for exactly?”
“A group of four guys sitting at the main bar. One on the far-left side was in a business suit.”
“Time?”
“Around ten thirty.”
“Please hold.” He starts humming elevator music into the receiver while he works. The tune switches three times. My patience is wearing thin with each one. “Got them.”
“There will be two women who approach the bar. One is in a black dress.”
