9. Nik

CHAPTER 9

Nik

One thing they don’t tell you about Vegas—the artificial lighting makes almost everything look like shit. But not Brie Colombo.

I watch her slump against the mirrored wall of the elevator, her reflection multiplied infinitely around us. The harsh fluorescents cast bruised shadows under her eyes, but even exhausted, covered in dirt and sweat and blood smudges here and there, she’s still gorgeous. My hands itch to smooth away the tension in her shoulders, to shelter her from what’s coming next, but I force them to stay at my sides.

She needs my professionalism right now. My heart can wait.

“We need to check on Holden,” I say quietly, studying her reflection. The mention of her friend draws her gaze to mine in the mirror, and for a moment, I’m caught in those green eyes as relief floods them.

“He’s safe?”

“Yeah.” I shift my weight, hyperaware of our proximity in this enclosed space. Mercifully, the elevator doors open before I can give in and kiss her. Besides, it’s better to talk in the hallways than in that elevator, where we don’t know who’s listening in. “So, listen, I know we were worried about Phil Reynolds being involved in the money skimming,” I say in a low voice as we walk toward security, “but I had to take him into my confidence. He saw Holden and me as we arrived. I got him to supply a couple of casino men to help guard Holden, and since there are a whole lot of people in that security room with them, I figured they’d mind themselves—for now.”

She nods, some of the fatigue falling away as she considers my words, and leans a little closer as she walks to reply. “I don’t believe Phil is a killer, “ she says. “Call it instinct. But if it comes down to Phil or Sophie being the one skimming off the casino profits, I’d believe Sophie over Phil. So let’s just be careful how much we trust him.”

“Sophie did good with that alibi, huh?” I ask with a grin, my first for a while.

She gives a soft snort. “Damn right she did. I owe that girl a raise.”

“Still, I have to admit, the way she handled that situation…Brie, she didn’t even blink. Either she’s a natural born actress or she’s a practiced liar.”

Brie is quiet for several steps, and I can almost hear her mind working, weighing loyalties and risks. “Maybe,” she admits at last. “She’s been here long enough to understand how things work, so perhaps that’s all it was. But we need to stay a little guarded with her, too, just like with Phil. And right now, our priority has to be finding that will. We can deal with the money and Sophie or Phil’s creative bookkeeping later.”

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it, echoing slightly in the empty corridor. “You know, you’ve got to be the first Mob Boss I’ve ever met who isn’t interested in the money.”

That draws a smile from her. “Being around Terry taught me something important. Making money is easy. Making and keeping power? ” She shakes her head, and I watch the light play across her hair. “That’s the tricky part.”

My amusement fades as I think of Eva Novak, of the lessons about power and control I have learned from her, even in such a short time. Lessons I won’t forget. “Eva certainly seems to feel the same way.”

Brie hesitates, then asks quietly, “What happened? After I left the desert?” There’s concern in her voice that catches me off guard. After everything she’s been through tonight—the accusations, the threats, the political maneuvering—she’s worried about me?

“Well…Eva told me to get into her car, and I told Eva to get bent.” I keep my voice casual, but my hands clench at the memory. “There was a little more chitchat, but that’s about the size of it.”

“Will she retaliate?” Brie stops walking, turning to face me. “Against you, I mean.” The concern in her eyes makes something in my chest twist painfully.

I scoff, trying to lighten the moment even as my mind catalogs all the ways Eva could make us suffer. “I’m just an ant beneath her Louboutins. She’s got much bigger fish to fry.” I pause, then add what I’ve been thinking. “Besides, I’m pretty sure she assumes the Colombos will take care of eliminating both of us.”

Brie’s eyes narrow, that deadly ice creeping back in. “Both of us?”

“Yeah.” I meet her gaze steadily, letting her see my commitment. No more divided loyalties. “Eva thinks you’re as good as dead, and me with you. Makes it convenient for her—she doesn’t have to get her hands dirty dealing with a traitor.”

Something flashes in Brie’s eyes. Anger? Determination? Maybe both. “Then we’ll have to survive, just to spite her.”

In that moment, I see clearly what Eva missed, what everyone seems to miss about Brie Colombo, and I did too, that very first time I saw her during the negotiations. Under the designer clothes and the picture-perfect makeup, she’s a survivor.

She starts walking again with renewed purpose. The sway of her hips is hypnotic, commanding, and not just because I want to pin her to the mattress and have my very dirty way with her.

I hurry to catch up.

“First the will,” she says, “then we deal with Eva and anyone else who thinks they can take us down.”

This is the Brie I’ve seen revealed over the last few days—the one who refuses to back down, who meets every challenge head-on. I automatically position myself slightly ahead of her, shield and sword in one. It’s muscle memory at this point, but with Brie, it feels different. Less like duty.

More like destiny.

I hope…I hope she feels the same.