Page 119 of Once A Crime Lord

“You bring her back,” she said hoarsely. “And you make that motherfucker pay.”

He nodded, and she released him.

“You got this, Gavin.”

“You armed?” he asked, even though there was a host of men on property.

She lifted her sweater to show a gold gun in the waistband of her pants. He nodded and turned away from her.

“Be safe,” she called after him.

He blocked out the sound of Nora fussing. Angel and Blade were waiting in the driveway. He glanced at his men who looked uneasy. It was clear Blade told them their destination.

“Good luck, boss,” Barrett said, and several others echoed it.

He nodded and slid into the passenger seat. Blade floored it. No one spoke as they zoomed toward the neon lights of The Strip.

“I called Marcus, told him if this goes bad, he becomes CEO,” Blade said.

He nodded and glanced at Angel in the back seat. “You don’t have to come.”

“Don’t, Gav.”

“You don’t know what this is.”

“Then why don’t you explain it to me since Blade hasn’t said shit. Who’s Lucifer? You think he’s the one who did in Uncle Manny?”

“No, it wasn’t Lucifer.” He was sure of it. Lucifer didn’t wear masks. He wanted people to know about his kills.

“So, Lucifer is helping the guy who did in Uncle Manny?” Angel surmised.

“Looks that way.”

“And this Lucifer is a big shot in the underworld?”

“Not in the underworld.”

“Then where?”

“In Hell.”

“Hell?”

“A Death Club.”

“A what?”

“An underground fight club gladiator style where only one opponent lives. No guns allowed. It’s also a brothel and slave trade hub.”

Angel leaned between the two front seats. “And this is all under the radar?”

“Yes.”

“An underground fight club, huh?”

“The brothel is for hardcore customers. It’s common for the whores to die on the job,” Blade said. “And who knows what else goes on there.”

“Why would Lucifer want Lyla or work with the guy who did in Uncle Manny?” Angel asked.

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