Then my gaze snagged on the photo at the end of the row.
A gorgeous, leggy blonde in a tiny blue sequined dress. Her face was in profile, but I could see the heavy makeup and the sad look on her face.
I grabbed it. “That’s her. That’s Ava-Jane.”
“I ran her details. Ava-Jane Jones. Nineteen years old. She’s from Spring Valley. Mother reported her missing almost three months ago. She went to a modeling job on the Strip and never came home.”
“I should have done something,” I whispered. “I should have known she wouldn’t just stop answering my messages.”
Nash cocked his head. “This isn’t on you, Lili.”
I clamped my lips together, emotions running through me. Ava-Jane had been trapped long enough for the hopes and dreams in her eyes to die.
Suddenly, I was tugged around and Cole pulled me against his chest. I buried my face in his shirt and when his big arms closed around me, I just held on for dear life.
“You know where Ava-Jane’s being held?” Cole asked.
“No.” I heard the frustration in Nash’s voice. “Working on it. I’m trying to dig up any properties Goodyear owns that he might be using for this. He owns a shitload, and not all of them are owned by Goodyear Industries. They’re funneled through trusts and dummy companies he’s set up. We’ll find it, but it’s going to take time.”
Time during which Ava-Jane and the other women would suffer.
I lifted my head. “Any more word on Bronco and Gloria’s murders?”
Nash shrugged. “Police are investigating. My sources say they don’t have much to go on.”
“I should give a statement.”
“No,” Cole said. “You are laying low.”
“But Bronco and Gloria deserve justice.”
“We’ll get it for them.” His eyes darkened in a way that made me want to shiver. “Goodyear is going down, one way or another.”
There was a knock at the door and Georgie appeared. The blonde was wearing a pair of wide-legged black pants, a fitted, button-down shirt in deep green, and a snazzy belt. She looked stylish and professional. “You guys finished with the serious stuff?”
“For now,” Nash said. “You here to see me?”
She winked at him. “I always want to see you, handsome, but I actually wanted Lili.”
“Me?”
Georgie smiled. “Yes. I wanted to tell you that I’ve booked a table for dinner tonight at Dis Pater the Italian restaurant hereat the Avernus. It’s one of the best in Vegas. We’re going to drink some cocktails and eat some good food.”
“Oh, I…” It didn’t seem right to have a good time when I knew Ava-Jane and other women were out there, somewhere, alone and being abused.
Georgie took my hand. “I get it. It’s hard to focus on the good stuff when you’re wading through the bad stuff, but believe me, you need the good to get through it. It’s the life preserver that keeps you afloat.”
Her gaze clung to mine, and I realized she understood what I was going through. I really needed her to share her story with me.
“Lark and Bastian are coming too,” she continued. “I’ll attempt to pry Landon from his clinic, and corner Alessio and Rafe as well.” She pulled a face. “Alessio is particularly slippery at avoiding social gatherings.”
“I…dinner sounds nice. I haven’t had many fancy dinners before.”
“Excellent. Dress up. A girl always needs an excuse to put her heels on. Now, I’d better get back to work.” She blew a kiss at her man, then breezed out.
“I guess we have dinner plans,” I said.
Cole lifted his chin. “Nash, keep us posted.”
