“Of course.”I take his arm.
He leads us up the mirrored staircase and knocks three times.
Chet opens the door, his pink eyebrows raised.“Leaving so soon?”
Maddox shakes his head.“Just getting a breath of fresh air.We’ll head right back down.”
Chet nods.“It is important to breathe.”
Maddox rolls his eyes, and we head out into the alleyway.
The night has chilled over, and I can see my breath.
Neither of us brought a coat tonight, so I hope we’re not out here long.
Maddox’s shoulders seem tense, and he shifts his weight from one foot to the other.I wrap my arms around him, both to comfort him and also to feel the warmth of his body.
“Oh, Christ, Alissa, I’m sorry.”He breaks the embrace and takes off his jacket, wrapping it around my slender shoulders.“I’m not thinking straight.You must be freezing in that gown.”
Maddox’s coat is warm, and it smells like his cologne.I take a deep breath in.“I’m all right now.But are you?Rouge really seemed to freak you out back at the Blackjack table.”
He rubs his forehead.“I suppose there’s something I should tell you about?—”
A strangled yelp—a male voice—breaks the silence.Maddox turns his head.“What the hell was that?”
A chill runs through me, and it’s not from the cold air.I grab Maddox’s arm.“I don’t know, but it didn’t sound good.”
“It sounded like it came from down the alley.”Maddox points.“That way.Go back inside to the Aces foyer.Wait for me there.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
He rubs at his forehead again.“Fine.I don’t have time to argue.Just stay behind me, and promise me this.If anything bad happens.Run.Run as fast as you fucking can, Alissa.Leave me behind if you have to.Find a public place where you can call the cops, but don’t stop running until you’re safe.”
I swallow, stepping behind him.“Okay.”
We walk down the alleyway for a few short blocks until we see two silhouetted figures, a large one holding a small one against the brick wall.
Maddox points to a large dumpster about ten feet away.We crouch behind it and peek over at what’s happening.
The larger man is built like a fortress—huge pectoral muscles straining to break out of a black T-shirt that’s speckled with a silver diamond pattern.
This must be therealKing of Diamonds.One of Rouge’s bodyguards.
And the man he’s holding against the wall by the neck is scrawny, pale, with wispy facial hair.He’s?—
I hold back a gasp.
My God.It’s Bill.The coroner.
Maddox’s eyes widen.He recognizes him, too.
“I’ll ask you this one more time, Lassard,” the King growls.“Where’s the fucking file?”
The King releases Bill’s throat, and he gasps in a breath of air before speaking.“I told you… It was misplaced… I… I don’t know where it went.”
“Not fucking good enough.”The King punches him in the nose.
Blood gushes from Bill’s nostrils, and he cries out in pain before the King throws a hand over his mouth.“If what you’re saying is true, you must understand that Rouge can never trust you again.”
