I brushed a kiss to her forehead. “Good. Go explore. There’s a shopping center in the west wing with upscale stores. D’s guys will be close by.”
“I don’t need a security detail in Vegas.”
I cocked a brow at her. “Trust me, you do.”
Her arms dropped, and I missed her touch immediately. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
“This will,” I told her. “See you in a bit?” When she nodded, I reluctantly turned and left the room.
***
“Who are you loyal to?” I demanded.
I circled the rebel we had captured. The bright lights of Vegas were a stark contrast to the darkness that consumed me, away from my woman and filled with rage toward this traitor who blindly followed the wrong crowd.
But was it really the wrong crowd? Loyalties were so fucking blurred in this world we lived in, and I found myself questioning who I truly stood for.
A few months ago, I would have done anything to protect my family from the nonexistent threat of Sophie Reyes, the oldest child and therefore heiress to this cartel, but now… now I couldn’t imagine living without her.
The kid spat at my feet. “Fuck you.”
I stopped in front of him, my arm swinging a punch that made his head snap back. There it was, the fear in his eyes. “Who. Are. You. Loyal. To?”
He swallowed and gritted his teeth. “You, Mr. Mercer.”
I straightened, shaking out my hand. “That’s what I thought. If I hear even a whisper of the Reyes name from your mouth again, consider yourself dead. Do you understand?”
He nodded frantically.
“Good.” I cut his restraints with a flick of my butterfly knife, watching as he stumbled to his feet and fled from the soundproof room. “Tell your friends that there is no escape from what’s coming if they don’t comply,” I said before he made it out the door. My words echoed off the cold walls, sending shivers down my spine as I realized the weight of the threat I had just made.
“You didn’t kill him,” Duane observed, running his thumb over his lower lip as he scrutinized me.
Scowling, I snapped, “If I did, how would he pass the message along to the rest of them?”
He shrugged, still eyeing me. “Coulda done a little more damage before cutting him loose.”
“I’m not my dad, D. I don’t have to be cruel to make myself clear.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You sure you’re not going soft because of a certain detective?”
I barked a short laugh, slapping his shoulder as we left the room. “Fat chance. Nah, if anything, she’s making me more levelheaded.”
“Levelheaded doesn’t exactly screamcartel leader.”
“Maybe I don’t want to be,” I muttered as we climbed the set of stairs leading to the basement. “Besides, I’mnota cartel leader. I’m still one of my dad’s lackeys.”
Duane stopped on the landing, pausing until I turned to face him.
“What?”
“Mav, you know you don’t just leave the cartel life. Your dad would never let you. It’s life or death.”
I sucked in a breath, knowing he was right. My father had made it clear over the years that should our loyalty stray, we would be offed immediately. We were afamily,and that meant undying loyalty.
“Yeah,” I said, my head spinning with thoughts of how to get away from it all.
***
