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Luca adjusts his position. At the head of the table, he’s already poised as leader of the alliance. But he must still feel the need to sit taller, sensing the tension and resistance coming from me.
“We’ve been at this for an hour. Gideon is in that building with who knows how many men,” he says to me, but he glances toward Rowan. “There is no way to infiltrate. You’ve made it so that the security system is so impenetrable, even you have been kicked out.”
It’s true. For over an hour we’ve tried everything. His tech guy, Kyle, has used every trick in the book, and couldn’t break through The Red’s firewalls, which means, we cannot see what’s going on inside.
“I know my casino,” I insist. “Know every nook and cranny. I can lead the men?—”
“To certain death!” Frustrated, Luca slams his palms against the table. “This isn’t like Noah’s house or the boatyard. We’re talking about a forty-four-story building. Not to mention the basement level. And you’re asking us to go in blind? Who the fuck knows what’s waiting for us in there. Is Gideon alone? Is he working with someone?” Again, he glances at Rowan.
“My brother wouldn’t be working with anyone,” Rowan finally retorts. “If this is even his doing.”
“Who the fuck else would it be?” I can clearly see his hackles rise and Rowan’s upper lip curl up. But we don’t have time for this shit right now.
“I’d do it for you,” I say to Luca, interrupting their cockfight. “For the alliance.”
“Would you?”
“Yes. In a heartbeat.”
“Gavin,” Carina, who has been standing by the windows, steps closer and places her hand on my arm. “Think about it. You’re safe. Your…Uh…” She throws her thumb toward the pocket door. Just beyond it, in the kitchen, Andie and Lola are eating breakfast. “Everyone is safe. Stay here with us. You have our protection. We can take a few days and figure things out.”
“Too much time has already passed,” I tell her, my voice much calmer than it had been with her husband. “Every day that goes by is one more day for them to barricade themselves deeper in The Red.” What if we can’t get it back?
“You waited this long,” Gunn says. “What’s a bit more?”
“It wasn’t on purpose,” I assure him.
“What? Did your girl tie you to the bed?” He chuckles, but stops when I glare at him. “Oh shit.”
“Did Andie kidnap you?” Carina asks.
Gunn covers his mouth to stifle a laugh. “He might prefer the term, gently sequestered.”
“We should go,” I say more to myself, than to them. “It was a mistake to come here. I thought I could trust you.”
“Gavin, please stay.” Carina, always good with words, tries her best. “Get rest. You’re hurt. Your girls exhausted. We will keep surveilling the place. You can trust us. And deep down you know we’re right.”
“It won’t matter. We still won’t be able to see inside the casino.”
“But we can see who comes and goes,” Luca adds.
“You’ve been doing that for over a week. What have you seen?” They all look at each other. “Exactly. I won’t lose The Red.”
“Gavin—” Carina starts, but I cut her off.
“Is Damian still here?”
“He’s packing up a few things we’re sending back with him.”
I nod. “I’ll ask him to take us to a hotel.”
“Gavin,” Luca sighs. “Let my men escort you. After you’ve had some rest, come back. We’ll talk.”
“I’ll find another way,” I say and turn my back on the alliance, the way they have done so with me.
22
GAVIN
