Page 32 of What Happens in Vegas..
The guy flat out punches Donna and she stumbles back. “You said this would work! And that she would take the fall for it! You owe me money, Donna. I want it now!”
I try to use my fingers to feel for Mary’s hand. If I can communicate counting to her, maybe we can pull down at just the right time and snap at least one of these binds.
I keep my eyes on them as well. They’re unpredictable. That much is clear. They haven’t killed us yet, which means they’re hesitating. If they were cold and calculating like the mob, we would already be dead and disposed of. They wouldn’t be waiting around. It’s not like they’re going to be able to hold us for ransom or something. Neither of us has anyone in our lives with money. We are worth nothing.
I frown. I guess that’s not true. I have Knox now and he has money, but I don’t think she knows that. We didn’t talk after I slept with him. She has no idea we’re connected beyond thinking it was a one-night stand.
“Both of you shut up! I need to think!” The other man comes over and folds his arms over his chest. “We need to figure out what we’re going to do. She can’t take the fall for you if she’s dead, but we also need to make sure she can’t snitch on you either. I vote we cut out her tongue and kill the witness.”
My blood turns cold as Mary starts to sob. I need to get us out of here. I’m not letting them kill her.
Chapter Sixteen
Knox
he police came,and despite there being a clear sign of a struggle, they said there wasn’t anything they could do. The two women could’ve left on their own, and they’re both adults, meaning they can disappear without notice if they wanted to.
This means it’s been left to me to find her and her friend before these idiot criminals do something to them. I know it has to be that Donna woman, and at least one other person. They’re the only ones that have had an issue with Carissa lately. Maybe they think she’ll talk or something and they want to stop that from happening. Since Mary was here, I’m certain she was taken because she was a witness.
The clock is ticking. My phone rings and it’s my detective friend that I sent the license plate number to. At the moment, it’s my only lead.
“Jenkins, thank you so much for getting back to me so fast. Did you get an ID of who the car is owned by?”
“I did. It’s owned by Richard Reed. He rents an apartment in Naked City off of West Sahara Avenue and South Las Vegas Boulevard. I would look there for her there or see if there are any areas around there that he could hide her. Do you want me to come tag along as backup? You know what Naked City can be like at night. Hell, during the day it’s not safe to walk around. I bet the police left you with nothing.”
“I’d appreciate that. I’m not entirely sure who we’re dealing with. They aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed, and I think that makes them even more dangerous. Text me the address and I’ll meet you there.” I hang up. I need to grab my gun. I’m not going to Naked City, at night without it, and especially since I don’t know what kind of weapons, they’ll have either.
Thank God for Carissa being so intelligent. If she hadn’t taken down the license plate, there would be no lead of where she could be. I would be at a loss. If it weren’t for Lex Jenkins? my buddy that used to be a cop? and his software he uses as a bounty hunter. I’d be fucked with finding her. I have connections within the police, but there are only so many strings I can pull. I’ve thought about becoming the DA before, but this situation only reawakens that desire.
I rush from her apartment and take the elevator up. It feels like the slowest ride I’ve ever had on it, but I know it will take three minutes versus the ten it would take me to run up the flights of stairs. I enter my place and head straight for my safe.
Taking out my holster and both my M9s and strap them on. I’m licensed to have them and carry them, but I don’t. I find it makes people more at ease if I don’t carry them. The only time I take them with me is when I’m entering places around where crime thrives and the police give zero shits about what’s going on.
I wouldn’t put it past anyone to try and mug me down there, but I’m also not in the mood to deal with anyone. If the police can’t do their jobs to find her, then I’ll take matters into my own hands and I don’t care who gets in my way.
* * *
The drive to West Sahara takes too long, every red light, every person going under the speed limit, and making a traffic jam gets in my way. Weaving can only do so much when both lanes are clogged. I want to honk, but it wouldn’t do anything, people aren’t going to move faster. People are already honking and it does nothing. Even with it being nearly ten at night, the streets are acting like it’s rush hour.
I want to plow through them all, but my car isn’t built to do that kind of damage. I finally make it to the apartments that Jenkins sent me the address of. They’re rundown and only two-stories high.
“Thank you for meeting me,” I say as Lex comes over to my car. We each keep our gazes moving. The people who took Carissa and Mary aren’t the only threat here.
He shakes his head and keeps his hand on his gun in his holster. His sharp eyes narrow. Somewhere in the distance a baby cries and people argue at the tops of their lungs. Even with it being dark now, it’s hot as hell still and sweat trickles down my back. “Ready to go kick his door down?”
He nods. “Let’s do this, I’m always down to kick scum ass.”
I clap him on the back with my free hand. “That’s why we’ve been friends for the sixteen years I’ve lived here.” We head toward the apartment. The guy lives on the ground floor. Several people loiter in the stairwells and outside. Half of them look like kids.
One of them gives me a chin salute as I pass by. “Hey man, want to buy some oxy?”
I raise a brow at him. “You should be in bed, kid.” We continue on our way to the suspect’s place. Jenkins pounds on the door. I don’t expect him to open up, but we need to know if he’s here or not. With no sign of anyone opening up. I waste no time kicking the door in and breaking the frame.
We pull our guns. The place is dark. It doesn’t look like anyone has been in it in a while, though, it’s trashed so it’s hard to tell. She’s not here. It was a long shot, but it was the only one we had.
“Fuck!” I yell as I turn and punch the wall, putting a hole in it.
Jenkins pats me on the back. “Easy, man. We’ll find your girl. Someone around here has to know something about where Reed spends his time.”
