Page 36 of Crime Lord’s Captive

“She will,” Gavin said. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Rafael inclined his head. “We shall see, Pyre.”

Rafael walked back to his table. Steven gave Gavin a long look before he switched his unsettling gaze to Lyla before he walked away. The men at the table with Rafael watched Gavin as if he were a ticking bomb. Maybe he was. Gavin ushered her past Rafael to their table in the back where Manny waited.

“We’re leaving,” Gavin said shortly. “Rafael is here.”

Manny rose without a word and they left the restaurant. Gavin took Lyla’s hand and squeezed a bit too tightly. She slapped his wrist and when he looked down at her, she felt a chill. He looked murderous.

“What the—?” she began but he shook his head and walked even faster.

He led her out of one casino and into the next, which he owned. He pointed to a restaurant.

“Dad, get us a table. I need to talk to Lyla,” Gavin said with savage bite.

Manny eyed Lyla before he ambled into the restaurant. The servers screamed and rushed to hug and kiss him in welcome. Gavin walked her in the opposite direction. It took her only a minute to figure out where they were going. She tugged on her hand to get away from him, but he picked her up and continued to walk.

“Let me—” she hissed and tried to smile reassuringly at the employees they passed who goggled at the sight of their CEO toting a woman around. “You’re making a scene.”

“I’m tryingnotto make a scene,” Gavin hissed. “Shut up, Lyla.”

She wanted to push it, but decided getting into a drag out fight in front of his employees wasn’t the right place. When he slammed into his office, she wasn’t reassured when he locked the door. Lyla knew from her time working for Manny that the executive offices in every casino were soundproof. That realization penetrated a moment too late.

“How do you know Rafael?” Gavin asked, body vibrating with tension.

“Who is he?”

“Lyla.” Gavin’s hands balled into fists at his sides and she took a step back. “Tell me how you know him.”

“I met him last night.”

Gavin blinked. “What?”

“I met him at Lux.”

“How thefuckdid Rafael Vega get into my club?” Gavin shouted, veins in his neck popping.

The explosion propelled Lyla backwards. The back of her legs hit the couch and she sat with a plop. She shrank into the cushions as Gavin approached.

“So you met him at Lux,” Gavin said, voice calm but everything else about him pulsed with rage. “Where in Lux? What did he say?”

“He didn’t say much. He bought me drinks.” When he gaped at her, she said defensively, “I don’t have money!”

Gavin leaned down, fists depressing into the cushions on either side of her. “Lyla, you don’t letanyonebuy you a drink, least of all Rafael Vega.”

“Who is he and why are you so pissed?”

“He’s a sadistic fuck. He runs the prostitution ring in Las Vegas.”

Lyla’s stomach churned. The charming, cocky guy who bought her a drink last night ran a prostitution ring? Seriously, how the fuck did she attract men like that?

Gavin caught her chin on his hand. “You don’tevertalk to him.”

“I don’t want to,” she said honestly.

That didn’t seem to make any impact on Gavin’s simmering rage.

“I can’t leave you alone for a minute,” he hissed. “Did he say anything else?”

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