Chapter Two

“Mr. Greg Sheffield, you really don’t expect me to sit here and just listen to your shit as though it was the gospel, do you?” Cyrus Marinus didn’t have to snap. If anything, his words were calm and measured as the man himself. His pose was casual as he sat behind his vast desk, his chair back far enough he had plenty of room to rest an ankle over his knee. Cyrus regarded the sweating hulk in front of him, keeping his face expressionless.

“You asked me to explain.” Greg scratched behind his ear, tugged at the lapel on his ill-fitting jacket, and then glanced around at the door. He’d find no salvation there. Jon and Roman were like two statues framing the door and just as immovable. “I just had a run of bad luck. I’m sure you see this a dozen times a day. I just need a bit more to…”

Cyrus held up his hand and the man’s mouth snapped shut. “You are right. You are one of many who think it’s acceptable to sweat your desperation all over my brand new carpet. It’s becoming tedious. You’d think after all these years gamblers would understand how Lady Luck is fickle. It’s part of her charm. One night she places you high on the mountain and kisses your feet, and then the next, she plunges you into the abyss with no way out. My issue with you, the issue that has you sweating all over my carpet, is your lack of money problem is not the only baggage your brought to my hotel, is it?”

“I’m not sure what you mean, Mr. Marinus. Your men have been holding me for hours, from the moment I left my room. I thought you wanted to see me about the money owed the casino and I’m good for it, I just need…”

The urge to wrinkle his nose at the stench of Greg’s lies and fear was strong, but Cyrus would never show a weakness like that. Instead he clicked his fingers, stopping Greg’s lies midstream.

“You made a deal with my floor manager for two of my girls to attend you in your room last night. Correct?”

Greg was running out of places to look. He must’ve decided the carpet was the least likely to be glaring at him. “I’m not sure I remember,” he muttered. “I’d had a lot to drink. I vaguely recall saying something to one of the men in a suit, but by the time I got to my room I was exhausted and just crashed on the bed. If anyone knocked I didn’t hear them.”

“You are in room 2214, yes?” Leaning forward, Cyrus picked up a piece of paper and leaned back in his chair.

“Er…yes, I think so.” Greg fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a key card. “Room 2214, yes, that’s it.”

“You are aware we have cameras in every hallway in our hotel, aren’t you? The information about that was indicated on the registration printout you’re given when you first collected your key.”

“Oh, I didn’t read that. I mean, I was in a hurry to get onto the casino floor when I arrived.” Greg’s gulp could be heard by everyone in the room. “I figured that was just fine print and no one reads that stuff, am I right?”

“The information is provided for all clients as a safety precaution for all guests and staff when they check in.” Cyrus sighed. “You’re really going to make me spell it out for you, aren’t you Greg? Unfortunately, I don’t have the time.” He stood up, buttoning his jacket. “Don’t concern yourself though. The gentlemen behind you, Roman and Jon, are family, and they have a lot to say to you. You might have heard their names mentioned last night in fact.”

Walking around the desk, Cyrus stepped into Greg’s personal space, his animal flashing in his eyes, causing the man to step back. “Roman and Jon are the brothers of Tina and Chloe, who crawled from your room two hours after they were seen entering it on the hallway cameras. If you’re at all concerned Tina is currently in hospital being treated for internal injuries, and my dear Chloe will likely never work again due to the scars left on her face.”

“I… er…it was an accident.”

“Don’t say another word,” Cyrus warned. “The money you owe me is a drop in the ocean to me. We could’ve made an arrangement about paying that back. I make deals like that every day of the week with schmucks who don’t know when to walk away from the tables. But when a scumbag like you dares to lay your hands in acts of violence against the people in my family, the people I protect and care for, any chance of a deal you might have had just went flying out the window. At the moment you’re a dead man walking, and you won’t be doing that for long.”

Greg might have whimpered, but if he did, Cyrus wasn’t moved. He made his way to the door. “Roman, tell them I will want the same carpet pattern when you get it replaced,” he said as Roman let him out. “You know how to contact me if you need to. When you’re done, both of you lay low, standard procedure. You know the rules. Spend some time with your parents.”

“Yes, Boss.” Roman nodded, and Cyrus heard the room door lock behind him as he made his way down the hall. The office was soundproofed, and Cyrus nodded and smiled at a few guests he passed as he made his way to the elevator. They would never hear a sound coming from his office even if they pressed their ears against the door.

/~/~/~/~/

Two hours later, now dressed more casually in jeans and a button down gray shirt that matched his eyes, Cyrus wandered through the Harry Reid International Airport, the gateway hub for anyone wanting a fast and easy way to get to his casinos. His meeting had gone well. Cyrus didn’t expect anything different. He had been a part of Las Vegas since the place was shacks alongside a dirt track. He’d long acclimatized to the dry desert heat, although he’d signed up very quickly when air conditioning had been invented.

Cyrus’s huge animal was edgy, which was why Cyrus walked. Every local knew him, and many people ducked their head respectfully as he went past. I know you didn’t get a bite in this morning, but think of the mess, he reasoned with his animal as he walked. They’d both been agitated, seeing the state of Tina and Chloe the night before – both covered in blood and visibly upset. Everything in Cyrus’s nature demanded he break down that fucking door of room 2214, and tear the pathetic bully limb from limb.

But we’re better than that. Roman and Jon have proven themselves to us before. They deserved the right to take vengeance for their sisters and restore their family’s honor.

Keep walking. Cyrus almost tripped over in shock. His animal half rarely spoke to him with words. They had a long history with each other, and the most effective communications were done without words ever needed. Giving his animal side just a little more leeway, Cyrus let his steps be guided by his animal’s instincts. It was almost as though his animal spirit was hunting, but Cyrus didn’t see any dangers around them even though the place was busy.

He ended up standing by a large window, looking out over the area where many private planes were parked, including his own. Is someone messing with our plane? But no, his other half wasn’t reacting to that. Taking his time, Cyrus scanned the view again. There were very few people in what was a secure area.

His eyes focused more intently when he noticed a visiting plane he remembered seeing before. An Arrowtown plane in Vegas? I’m sure that thing was taking off when we landed there on our last visit. From the looks of the activity around the plane, it was clearly due to take off again. The refueling truck was there, and two other people with clipboards were checking every inch of the outside.

There. Look there. His huge beast was so agitated, Cyrus could almost feel his tail swinging from side to side. Looking where his animal side directed, Cyrus’s eyes widened. A huge man, clearly a shifter, was striding across the asphalt making a beeline for the plane.

Ours. He’s ours. Get him.

Cyrus looked around. It would take him too long to get to the plane before it took off. The shifter was already climbing the stairs into his plane. Reaching into his jean pocket, he hit a speed dial number. “Have the plane ready to take off in the next ten minutes. I’ll inform you of the destination when I get there,” he said before hanging up. He had good staff, and his plane was always ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Sauntering back to the closest booking station, Cyrus smiled at Lucy, the woman tending the desk. “You look like you could do with a coffee, pretty lady,” he said sliding the hundred dollar note he’d palmed over the desk. “Any idea where that private plane, number six-four-two on the tail, is going?”

“You’ll get me into trouble, Mr. Marinus,” Lucy said clicking a few keys on her keyboard. “Flight six-four-two is on its way to Inverness in Scotland. The flight has four crew members, and the only listed passenger is Mr. Farness Bonham Duncan, the plane’s owner.”

“You deserve a steak meal, my lovely lady.” Cyrus added another hundred to the first. “Alas, I have to make a trip to Scotland, did you say, and can’t take you personally. I’m sure you and your husband will enjoy a meal on me.”

“Have your pilot file the flight plan, Mr. Marinus. You’ll be sixth in the queue to take off.”

“You’re the best.” Blowing Lucy a kiss, Cyrus hurried to the exit, pulling his phone out of his pocket again as he power walked. “File a flight plan for Inverness, Scotland.”

“Yes, Boss.”

By the time he was on the plane, doing up his seat belt, Cyrus had already located accommodations,, apparently it was the quiet season wherever this Inverness was, and a hired car in case he needed it. Sitting back as his plane took off, Cyrus chuckled quietly. This has to be the most ridiculous version of winging it I’ve ever done. But he couldn’t deny his, or his animal’s, excitement as the plane took to the air.