Page 78 of Lord of Vice

I wasn’t certain what I was looking at except four men heading into the resort from two different doors. They did appear inmilitary formation and they weren’t talking. They also weren’t looking at the cameras at any point.

“Wait for it,” he huffed, holding up a single finger.

One of the four was almost knocked to the ground by an exuberant guest. Not only did he trip, pushed down onto his knees, but it allowed a single view of two things.

A weapon and a tattoo.

“Unfortunately, the camera lens is a little fuzzy at that point, but I’d bet on my mama’s grave that’s the same tattoo we saw on the iced guy. Anyway, it prompted me into using the facial recognition software you had our computer experts install and it came back with an eighty-two percent on the other seven. But this guy, a perfect match.”

“To whom?”

“Some pretty bad dudes out of Mexico. They were all in the same prison together.”

“They were recruited.” It was typical, something that had been going on for twenty years.

He lifted his eyebrows, grinning. “Yeah. Now, I have no clue as to by whom. My guess is we might not know that answer, but they have the same tattoos as our other dead guy.”

I thought about the new information and nodded. “That’s good work.”

“Not done yet. I was able to find them going into one of the laundry rooms later in the day.”

“Did you find their fucking clothes?”

“Nope. They either tossed them in the dumpsters, which were picked up last night or in their cars. I have men right now canvassing the parking lot, but I don’t think we’re going to find anything. They were pros.”

I shook my head, more frustrated than ever. “And the cameras? If not one of my men, then fucking how?”

“Our very best computer whiz figured out that the schematics of the install you had on lockdown was hacked. That was three weeks ago and before you ask, if Harry hadn’t been looking, no one would have noticed.”

I glared at him. This had nothing to do with Penny. I was glad to hear that but now that she had been seen in my life, it didn’t make a difference. “Was anything stolen at all?”

“Not that we could find. As I told you before, I had a feeling David was paid to test the security system, but every penny is accounted for.”

“Maybe they wanted it to look like a robbery gone bad.”

“Maybe,” he said. “Incidentally, it’s going to take Misha some time to recover. He lost a lot of blood and oxygen. There could some permanent damage.”

I’d called to check on his condition, learning that he’d been in surgery for hours. “If he needs blood, make certain every person in our employ with his blood type donates or I’ll extract it from them myself.”

“The boss I know and love.”

I gave him a harsh look. “Don’t fuck with me, Konstantin. He’s almost like a kid brother to me. I want the best fucking doctorsin the goddamn country.” And he was, which was why my chest was tighter than normal.

“I’ll make certain that happens.”

Fuck this shit. Family. The word was so strange to me at this point.

“See if you and our computer techs can find any dirt on a judge out of DC by the name of Carson Withers.” I’d looked both men up on the internet, finding enough to know the judge was highly influential, including being the go-to judge for a couple of prosecutors determined to clean several cities of organized crime. Jake was currently running for a smaller political office, which would mean he wouldn’t want noise in the media about being abusive. “And if he or his son Jake have been to Las Vegas lately.”

“Where is that coming from?”

“Just a couple guys I want to learn more about.”

Konstantin knew better than to continue grilling me at this point.

My phone chimed, indicating a text. I pulled out my phone, knowing what to expect. “My guests have arrived. I’ll be right back.” I went to the door, waiting as the two guests and their secure entourage approached in three vehicles. As four burly men climbed out of two large SUVs, I opened the door, shoving my hands into my pockets. It was sizzling hot already and not yet ten in the morning.

As with the various members of certain mafia organizations, doors were opened as if the men inside were royalty. I usuallypreferred to drive myself, although until this shit was finished, I wouldn’t be doing much of that any longer.

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