Page 31 of Once A Crime Lord

He gave her one last kiss before he walked out of the nursery with the feel of her imprinted on his body.

When he walked out of the house, there was a car waiting for him. He glanced over the small number of guards. With so many of his men turning traitor, he had to rebuild his army from the ground up and even brought in some retired talent from his father’s time.

He nodded to Barrett, a man in his late sixties built like a tank. Barrett knew the score and had been an excellent asset in the past months as Gavin made his way through the underworld. Barrett stood by his side, cracking heads as if he hadn’t retired fifteen years ago when he found out he fathered a child with a prostitute. Barrett hadn’t lost his edge.

On their way to The Strip, he made phone calls and checked his email. Marcus was the most efficient, annoying bastard on the planet. He kept Gavin apprised of every little detail that was going on in his casinos. He sifted through the information and made a mental note to talk to Marcus when his door opened. He nodded to the bellboys, valets, and other staff. Three of his guards accompanied him. His head of security for the casino waited just inside the door.

“Lance,” Gavin said and inclined his head.

Lance handed over a room key. “Here it is, sir. Room forty-two twenty-one.”

Gavin walked toward the elevator with his men on his heels. The doors opened to reveal Marcus who looked as perky and alert as he had this morning. He smiled at them.

“Twice in one day? This must be a record,” Marcus said cheerfully and made no move to exit the elevator.

He glared at his COO. How Marcus was aware of every move he made, he would never know. He pressed the button for the forty-second floor and examined Marcus who wore his suit as if he had been born in it.

“What are you doing here, Marcus? It’s almost midnight.”

“I’ve taken up residence in one of the suites since there’s always an emergency.” Marcus messed with the handkerchief in his suit pocket. “Word around town is you’re dead, so I make sure I’m always around to squash the rumors.”

He couldn’t care less about the rumors surrounding his absence. He had a mission, and he wouldn’t stop until it was completed. He had to admit that if it wasn’t for Marcus’s cooperation, there was no way he could spend as much time in the underworld as he did.

“When you’re burned out, let me know,” he said.

“Burned out? I live for this,” Marcus said, rocking on his heels with his hands in pockets.

“One day, business won’t be enough.” He felt ancient and craggy beside Marcus’s boundless optimism and energy.

“I can’t imagine that.”

“Do you need my signature for something?” he growled as the elevator doors opened.

“No. I learned to forge that months ago.”

Gavin sent him a sharp glance before he exited the elevator. A year ago, a comment like that would have gotten Marcus a beating, but now he had bigger problems on his hands. Lyla was right. He trusted Marcus with his life and business, so why not trust him with Nora? If someone had the dogged determination to see things through, it was Marcus.

“You want to be Nora’s godfather?” he ground out.

“What are you talking about? I am her godfather.”

He stopped in his tracks and fisted his hands so they wouldn’t go around Marcus’s throat. “You aren’t.”

“Of course, I am.”

He stalked down the hallway with his guards and Marcus, who seemed determined to tag along. If Marcus wasn’t so intelligent, he would have killed him months ago. He was a fucking know-it-all.

“Lyla looked amazing today, by the way,” Marcus said casually.

He tensed. “Don’t.”

“And my goddaughter knew who I was. Remember, she even reached for me even though you were holding her—”

He stepped into Marcus’s personal space. “I haven’t gone into the boxing ring for months, and I’m due. You want to schedule an appointment?”

Marcus grinned at him. “Nah, I’m good.”

“Motherfucker.” He continued down the hallway and ground his teeth when Marcus strolled by his side, whistling. “What do you want?”

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