“And winning Lili was just another way to get at him.”
“No.” I ground out the word. “I would have gotten her out, no matter what.”
Landon groaned. “Because youlikeher. I’ve never seen you even pause when it comes to a woman. Why don’t you spend some time with her?”
“You know why.” Dammit, I wanted to shout the words.
“I don’t.”
“Landon, I’m a former merc and assassin. I’ve killed so many people. I beat people bloody in the underground fights, all to keep my fucking demons under control. She deserves better. She’s too sweet.”
My friend made a sound. “Fuck that. You aren’t too old, or too dark, Cole. You deserve some damn happiness.”
“Drop it. She’s safe. She’s leaving.” It was for the best. I shoved to my feet and strode to the bottle of bourbon on my kitchen counter. I poured a healthy splash, then knocked it back.
“You pushed her away because you’re so fucking scared to take a risk. To be happy.”
I slammed the glass down. Landon had no idea what he was talking about.
Just then, my cellphone started ringing. It vibrated on the counter and Nash’s name appeared on the screen.
Nash was part of the Avernus security team. I frowned. It was two o’clock in the morning. After Bastian’s wedding celebration, he should be curled up with his woman, asleep.
Snatching it up, I pressed the phone to my ear. “Nash.”
“You put a woman up in a room at the casino.”
Ice slid down my spine. “Yes. Lili.”
“I just got a call from my security team.” He paused. “There’s been an incident.”
My chest locked. “I’m on my way.”
“Cole—”
I ended the call and strode to the front door.
“What’s happened?” Landon followed me.
“Something’s happened with Lili.” As soon as I was outside, I broke into a run. It was one I’d perfected with my team in the field, a loping gait that I could keep up all day.
As soon as we pressed our palms to the lock on the door and stepped into the main casino building, Nash and two of the security team were waiting for us.
Nash was an inch or two taller than me, with a muscular body, and a bearing that broadcast he used to be in the military. His dark hair was messy, which told me he’d climbed out bed to deal with this, and a short beard covered his jaw.
The grim look on his face made my stomach knot.
“Is she still alive?” I asked.
Nash nodded. “But they took her.”
I barely resisted punching the wall. “How they’d get access?”
“Stole the ID card off one of the housekeeping staff.”
It was a silent ride up to the seventh floor. The door to Lili’s room was open, and the head of casino security, Theo Garrett, stood in the doorway. He was in his late fifties with gray sprinkled liberally through his dark hair. He had the same muscular build I did. I shouldered past the older man and entered.
There was a discarded bathrobe on the floor and a smashed lamp. My insides felt like they were lodged in my throat.
