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When she’s gone, I close my eyes and do my best to sleep, but I’m replaying our time in the nightclub over and over in my mind, trying to figure out how this happened and whether or not my family is being framed.
Three hours later, my phone rings.
“Don’t go home when you get back to Vegas. We’re going to take both of you to the Pink Sapphire where we have a suite reserved for you in Skylar’s name. She’s already got the keys.”
“What’s going on?” I say after Matteo’s clipped commands.
“The feds are taking the lead on the investigation into the Mayor’s death. They’re definitely trying to pin it on a Bowden, and you’re on their raid list. They’re requesting a search warrant for your house. We don’t know how long before they’ll have the warrant, but I’m heading there now if there’s anything you need me to get rid of.”
“All my guns are legally registered, they’ll know that. So, leave those where they are. There’s a stack of cash and some passports in the safe. It’s got a biometric lock, but Owen can bypass that. Other than that, my house is clean. I made sure of that before I left town.”
“Good man. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Hopefully, the feds are still a few hours out.”
Too wired to sleep, I drink a cup of coffee and pull out my tablet to send some emails for the business. I may launder a lot of money for criminals, but I also run a legitimate VIP limo service and I have a large fleet of cars and contracts with six major resorts on the strip and two downtown.
I bought the first limo to get passengers to the High Card, but it has grown into something more. Something completely my own.
The door to the bedroom opens a little while later, and Zara steps out still looking flawless, but she’s changed into a knee-length denim skirt and an off the shoulder blouse.
“Did you rest well?”
She slips into the seat across from me and smiles. “I did. Thank you. That’s quite the bedroom.”
I smirk, wondering if she snooped in the closets and drawers.
“Is there any more coffee?” she asks, eying mine.
I press the call button, and the attendant steps forward. “Yes, Mr. Bowden?”
“Ms. Blaire needs a cup of coffee.”
“Of course. How do you take it, Ms. Blaire?”
“Cream, no sugar.”
She nods and backs away.
“We’ll be in Vegas in about an hour. The feds are already threatening to raid my place, so we’re going straight to the hotel and unfortunately, I’ll be staying with you.”
She narrows her eyes. “It’s Las Vegas. There are like a hundred and fifty thousand hotel rooms in that city. I’m sure you don’t have to stay with me.”
“If I want to keep my paper trail to a minimum, I absolutely do. Skylar has rented us a suite in her name and Matteo is picking us up when we land to take us to the Pink Sapphire.”
She whistles. “The Sapphire is no cheap place, Mr. Bowden. I’m impressed. Who are Skylar and Matteo?”
I wonder how much I should tell her, but Skylar is a world-famous celebrity, so it will not be something I can hide. Might as well spill at least that much, so she doesn’t decide to have a fangirl moment.
Though from what little I know of Zara, she doesn’t seem like the fan girl type. Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
“Skylar as in Skylar Cameron. Yes, that one. She’s Matteo’s girl. Matteo is one of my co-owners for the club and he’s a partner in my other endeavors as well.”
“I’ve actually bumped into Skylar at events before. I doubt she remembers me. And by other endeavors, I assume you mean crime?”
I can’t help but laugh. “Something like that. It’s better for you to not ask too many questions.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll only ask what I need to.”
I smile. “And I can make the same promise, Zara. If I ask a question, it’s because I really do need the answer. Is that fair?”
