21. Nik

CHAPTER 21

Nik

I find Brie where she said she'd be, in one of the high-security rooms. It takes a while to convince the Golden Sands security guards around the private area that I've been summoned—and then only a call from Brie herself does the trick, and they escort me through. In the security room I find Holden and Brie hunched over a laptop computer in a corner, away from the security staff monitoring the casino.

Brie's hair is pulled up in a messy bun held together by what looks like a pen, an odd contrast to the glamorous dress she still wears. Beside her, Holden looks like death warmed over—dark circles under his eyes, skin pale and clammy, his usually-styled hair in disarray.

"Any progress?" I ask, approaching cautiously. Holden jumps at the sound of my voice, his eyes wild for a moment before recognition sets in.

Brie looks up too, frustration in her eyes. "Nothing. Whoever tampered with this footage knew what they were doing. Holden's been at it for hours, but…" She trails off, shaking her head.

I nod, studying Holden more closely. There's something strange about him tonight, beyond the obvious exhaustion. A nervous energy radiates from him, setting my teeth on edge. "You okay, kid?"

Holden flinches, his eyes darting to Brie before dropping back to the keyboard. "I'm fine," he mutters.

Brie gives me a look that tells me she's asked him herself a few times, and got about this far.

I motion her aside, and she leaves Holden there scrolling fast then slow through the footage. "Things went okay with Sabatelli?" I ask, trying not to sound interested. I don't actually want to know. If I don't know, I can't be forced to tell Eva.

"Things went about how I expected them to," she sighs. "It wasn't him. He didn't kill Terry, and he didn't hire the hitmen who came after me." She says nothing more, and although I want to push, I don't.

"Okay. Then—" Just as I'm about to suggest we pay a visit to Sophie Johnson, Holden lets out an involuntary shout of excitement, followed by slumping back in his seat.

"Sorry," he says, as we stare over at him. "Thought I had something." He goes back to listlessly fiddling with the computer.

"What's up with him?" I ask Brie quietly.

Brie goes over to him and places a hand on his shoulder, her touch gentle, but he jumps in his seat. "Holden, seriously . What's going on? And stop telling me it's nothing. I'll help you, whatever it is."

His shoulders droop even lower, if that's possible. "I'm scared , Brie," he whispers, voice cracking. "Someone's been leaving me threatening notes, and I swear to God, someone's been following me. I can feel it, someone's after me, just like they're after you. I tried telling Frank, but he laughed it off. Said I was just trying to get attention."

Anger flashes in Brie's eyes. "Oh, he did, did he? I'll talk to him myself, have some guards put on your suite."

"No," Holden says at once. "No, Brie, please don't do that. I don't want him to know I've been talking to you about it. He already thinks I'm a useless coward."

"But—"

" No. "

Brie flinches at the finality in Holden's voice, and looks back at me. "Then maybe…"

I can see exactly what she's thinking. Maybe we could take Holden with us to Solara.

I open my mouth to protest—bringing an outsider to her one secure location is a risk we can't afford—but Brie's face tells me it's pointless. When she sets her mind to something, there's no changing it. She'll bully, barter or wheedle her way to a win.

I've learned that much about her already.

"Fine," I concede.

"What?" Holden asks, glancing between us.

"You're coming to Solara with me," Brie says softly. "You'll be safe there."

Relief washes over his face. "Really? You'll really take me there?"

"Of course. You're my best friend, silly. And you need to tell us about these threatening notes and this stalker, but you can do that when we get there." Brie stands. "We're not getting anywhere with this right now, and you're exhausted. So let's get out of here."

"What about…" I raise an eyebrow.

Brie shakes her head a little, and once we're in Holden's own suite, helping him pack, she tells me in an undertone, "Sophie Johnson's not in right now. We'll have to come back. Besides, Holden is my main concern right now. If someone's threatening him, we need to make sure he's safe."

"Then tell his lordship he's not packing for a six-month cruise," I reply. "He should just take what he needs for a few days."

"This is what I need for a few days," he says with a scowl at me, hair dryer in hand as he exits the bathroom.

Oops. Guess I spoke a little loud.

As I watch Brie and Holden move around the room together, I'm struck by the bond between them. It's not romantic—anyone with eyes can see that—but there's something strong there, born of shared experiences and secrets. It's a stark contrast to how alone I've been. How I've kept everyone at arm's length for so long.

Except for Brie Colombo. She's the first person who seems to have so easily gotten through all my defenses and set up a space for herself.

The drive to Solara is longer than ever, because I take a circuitous route, doubling back several times to ensure we're not being followed. Holden is huddled in the backseat, looking small and scared. It's hard to reconcile this frightened kid with what he actually is—or was, anyway: the lover of a powerful Mob Boss. He has none of Brie's spine about him, or not that I can see, anyway.

Frank Colombo might have been an asshole to laugh at Holden's fears, but I can kind of see how it happened.

As we pull up to the gated community, Holden's eyes widen. "Holy shit," he breathes, taking in the sprawling architectural masterpieces. " This is where Terry put you?"

Brie smirks as she turns from the front seat, a hint of her usual sass returning. "What, you thought I'd settle for some tacky McMansion?" She turns back to face forward and adds, "Beside, Terry didn't put me here. I'm the one who researched the community, approved all the architectural plans, oversaw the build. This is my house."

We pass through the gate with Brie's keycard and wind our way up to the house. Holden practically jumps out of the car, his mouth open in awe even though he can't see the full glory of the place since we've arrived in darkness.

"Jesus, Brie," he whispers. "Terry must have really cared about you."

A look of surprise passes over Brie's face, there and gone in an instant. "Of course he cared about me," she says softly, standing aside so that I can enter the house first for my security sweep. "But he loved you, Holden. You know that, right?"

Holden nods, blinking back tears. "Yeah, I know. It's just…all of this…it's overwhelming."

"And you'll be taken care of, too," Brie continues, her voice firm as we step into the cavernous living room. "Terry made sure of that in his will."

Holden shakes his head vehemently. "I don't care about any of that. I loved him for who he was, not what he could give me."

"Hush up, now," I say gently to them, as we step into the foyer. "Let me check the place out, and then you two can relax."

But the place is exactly as we left it, minus some of the dust. Looks like Solara's housekeeping came through in Brie's absence. "Come on," I say when I arrive back in the foyer. "Let's get you settled, Holden. You look like you could use about a week of sleep."

I want to ask him more about the threats he's received. Hopefully it'll be another clue toward whoever is doing all this. But now is not the time—the guy needs sleep. Brie leads him to a guest bedroom in the far wing of the house. It's nicer than any hotel I've ever stayed in, with a view just as spectacular as the one from the master bedroom, even at night; the Milky Way threads through the midnight blue in a more spectacular show than even the Vegas Strip can offer. As Holden takes it all in, his eyes wide with wonder, I can't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him. Like Brie, his whole world has changed recently.

"Try to get some rest for now," Brie tells him, squeezing his hand. "We'll figure this out in the morning, I promise. But you're safe here."

Holden nods, already looking a little more relaxed now that he's away from the casino. Back in the main living area, Brie collapses onto the leather couch, kicking off her heels with a groan. "What a fucking day," she mutters, rubbing her temples.

I sit down next to her, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her body. "You did good," I say softly. "Taking care of Holden like that. Not everyone would stick their neck out when their own is on the line, too."

"He's family," she says simply. "Maybe not by blood, but Terry loved him. That makes him my family, too. And family protect each other, no matter what."

I nod, understanding all too well the bonds that form in this underworld life. They're not always pretty, not always clean, but they're strong as hell. It's what's kept me focused on the Consortium all these years, the fact that my father and my father's father worked for them.

There's history there that can't be ignored.

And speaking of the Consortium, I still haven't told Brie about my meeting with Eva. But before I can find a way to bring it up, Brie shifts closer, her hand finding mine. "Thank you," she whispers, "for going along with this. I know it's not exactly what you expected when you arrived in Vegas with the Consortium. And I know Eva's orders are about protecting me, not anyone else. But I couldn't leave Holden there at the Golden Sands, not if someone's targeting him."

I shrug, trying to ignore the way my fingers are tingling in hers. "It's my job to keep you safe. If this is what it takes, then so be it."

She laughs softly, shaking her head. "Always the professional, aren't you, Nik? Don't you ever let your guard down?"

There's a challenge in her eyes, a heat that makes my breath catch. Before I can think better of it, I'm leaning in, tasting her lips. She responds instantly, her hands tangling in my hair as she pulls me closer. The kiss is desperate, hungry, filled with tension and fear and uncertainty.

This is a bad idea. A bad, bad idea.

And I'm willingly diving headfirst into it.