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Adam looks so defeated it makes my blood boil and then he looks at me sadly. “No, I had her sign a prenup—luckily. No, I think the real reason she came to Vegas, to marry me, was to get close to you.”
“Me!” I stare at him in surprise because if that was her intention, she failed, and he laughs bitterly. “For some reason you were our only topic of conversation. She wanted to know everything about the business, your personal life and even your favorite fucking color.”
“And you didn’t think that was strange?” I shake my head and he slumps back in his seat. “Not really, you’re always a fascinating subject for any lady. I’ve kind of got used to being the barrier that prevents them getting to you, and I’ve made a career out of it. The fact I get laid so much is probably down to it and I used to thank you for that.”
My heart goes out to my friend and I remember the bitterness in his eyes when I catch him looking sometimes. Then I remember the coin, the confusion over it, and the fact my business is going down shit creek and something clicks inside me. “Do you think she’s after information for someone else? Maybe she’s not having an affair, perhaps she’s working for someone who is trying to bring me down. It would explain a lot.”
“Possibly, but who? You have everything sewn up watertight and only a fool would try to cast shade on your business. What would they achieve because you run things in this world? You’re the man the government listens to, for fuck’s sake they will only award a gaming license if you’ve signed it off first. It’s why they come to you; why they kiss your ass to get what they want, so you recommend their business to the men in power. What kind of fool would go against that?”
His words hit me like machine gun fire, every one of them finding their mark. The picture starts to piece together before my eyes and I can’t believe I haven’t thought of it before—first Ryder and now me. There can only be one man responsible.
As my brain works hard processing this new information, my phone buzzes and the relief is enormous when I see the text from Ella.
Hey babe. I’m lonely without you. Just so you know, I’m waiting for you behind a door with a lock and guess what, I’m not wearing any panties. If you want to live on the wild side, come and get me. End of the hallway, last door. Knock three times and I’ll show you why you keep me around.
I stare at the text in surprise. This doesn’t sound like Ella at all, yet it’s her phone. Something holds me back and Adam says with curiosity, “What is it, Lucas? Is it something I should know about?”
“I’m not sure, something’s not right though.”
Rather than head outside, I lift my phone and as soon as the person picks up, I say in a cool voice, “Did you get that?”
As he answers, my blood runs cold and his voice sounds as if it’s coming from another planet.
This can’t be happening, not again, and my hand instinctively reaches for my gun as the clock on the wall counts down to something that will potentially destroy me. It feels like forever, a million hours pass and then as Adam says more urgently, “What is it, Lucas, you’re scaring me.”
Before the last word even registers, a shot rings out, closely followed by another one.
