“You hungry?” I asked.
“Not really. My stomach’s been pretty unsettled.”
I’d find something she could tolerate. She needed to eat.
We headed up to the casino. The air was crisp, but the sun was shining, gleaming off the bronze glass of the Avernus building. A few people in white were out on the golf course.
We headed inside and I led her to the area where the shops and some restaurants were located, near the main casino floor.
“Your friend owns the entire casino?” she asked.
“Yeah. Bastian has a good eye.”
We strolled down the corridor lined with high-end shops. The floor was polished marble and bright lights made it gleam.
Lili stopped. “Cole, these places are designer brands. It’ll cost a fortune.”
I shrugged. “I don’t care.”
“I can’t afford it.”
I took her elbow. “Lucky you aren’t paying.”
Her chin lifted. “The clothes are for me, so I am paying.”
I scowled, pulling her into the closest place, instantly feeling out of place. It was bright, with mannequins decked out in fancy clothes. “You aren’t.”
“Cole—”
“You want to thank me for helping you, let me do this.”
She sucked in a breath, looking annoyed and cute as hell. I wanted to run a finger down the slope of her nose.
“Fine,” she huffed.
I smiled at her, and her gaze dropped to my mouth.
“Can I help you?”
I turned to look at the elegant woman in her forties. Her dark hair was in some fancy twist and her makeup looked perfect.
“Lili here needs a few outfits. Everything. Clothes, pajamas, shoes.”
The woman smiled at us both. “I’m Danielle, and I’d be happy to help. Does everything include underwear?”
My brain stuttered, and I saw color fill Lili’s cheeks.
“Yes,” I choked out. My brain filled with images of her in pretty lace and silky satin.
“Excellent, come with me, Lili. I must say, you have the most gorgeous russet hair. I have a friend who spends a fortune getting that color.”
As Danielle hustled Lili around, pulling things off the racks, I found a quiet corner and pulled out my phone. I sent some messages, organizing to meet Nash in the security office later to discuss searching for Ava-Jane.
If Goodyear was trafficking women, that was a scandal he couldn’t wriggle out of.
And if there were innocent women trapped in hell, we needed to find them.
I very much liked the idea of burying Goodyear. Destroying his life, one step at a time. Sure, a part of me wanted him dead. The part of me that had died with Green, Ramirez, and Zillman. But dismantling him would be infinitely more satisfying.
