Page 44 of Targeted By Desire

Turning her head, Maria gave me a sharp look. We need to go. She started to rise from my lap. Now.

“No, no,” I assured her, pulling her back down. “This might work in our favor.”

She raised a brow. How?

“For starters: she’s a long way from home. If she runs, she’s not getting far.”

Maria cast another glance in their direction, noticing Simone’s partner walking up behind her. But she’s not alone.

“We’ll find a way to separate them.”

Then, what are we going to do?

“We give her exactly what she came here for.”

THE AGENT

“Are you sure we’re in the right place?” Gabriel asked, casting a glance over the casino we’d walked into.

The Velvet Jack wasn’t what we expected. The game tables were occupied, but not filled to the brim. A lot of the slot machines were left empty. Even the patrons sitting at the bar were scarce compared to other casinos we’d passed on the way here.

After my late-night scare, I bugged Gabriel into letting me talk to his uncle who used to be involved in the crime underworld. Now an owner of a popular bar, he kept himself out of the drama. But, lots of his old buddies - and some new players - hung around the place, giving him an ear to the streets.

As expected, he was reluctant to talk to us. The last thing he wanted was the feds snooping around his establishment - even if it was only his nephew. When we explained it wasn’t exactly a work inquiry, but a personal one, his guard lowered a few inches.

“Everyone’s got a target on their backs,” he’d told us after we asked for people who may have a hit on them. “You’ve got to be more specific.”

“This isn’t an ordinary target,” I explained. “This would be someone high profile. Someone a cartel or gang wouldn’t want to take the fall or recognition for killing. Someone los fantasmas del diablo would go after.”

His brow rose at the name. “Those aren’t the type of people you want to go after. My advice: you drop whatever case you’re building now before you end up on their radar.”

“I’m already on it.”

“Then, may God bless you,” he said, turning his back on us.

“Tío,” Gabriel pleaded, reaching over the counter for his uncle’s arm. Squeezing it, he added, “Help us. Por favor.”

His uncle’s eyes went from his tight grip on his arm to the desperate expression on his face. Sighing, he finally agreed.

He told us about some casino-based kingpin who’d crossed one too many people in his dirty gambling business. Apparently, being a backstabbing asshole was a staple of his personality and plenty of people wanted him dead. But, he’d conned the wrong person and now all his tricks were about to bite him in the ass.

“His death is going to be a statement,” he’d told us. “That’s all I know.”

With more research and conversations with other informants, we tracked down the casino where his infamous poker games took place.

Gabriel was reluctant to take the trip down here, worried it’d be a waste of time and money. I had to remind him that a weekend in Vegas - whether we found anything or not - would be worth it. We’d spent the day lounging in the hotel and exploring the sights on the main strip. Personal case aside, we had a great time. And even if my “secret admirer” wasn’t here, we could still enjoy some drinks and play some slots. But, the clench of my stomach let me know he was lurking around somewhere.

“I’m pretty sure,” I replied to Gabriel’s initial question. “The only way to find out is to split up.”

His brows raced up his forehead. “What? I am not leaving you alone in this shady ass place.”

“If he is here, he isn’t going to approach me with you hovering over my shoulder. And technically I’m not alone; there’s other people in here.”

“And you think he won’t harm you in public?”

“If he wants to keep appearances, he won’t. If he’s here, he’s on a mission just like us. He’d be an idiot to blow it.”

Gabriel frowned, still weary of my plan.