Chapter 5

The look the omega shoots my way spells trouble. I'm not sure if it's trouble for me or her, but it's cute.

She drops the tray on the table so hard the glasses rattle and plants her hands on her hips.

"I don't know what's going on, but I've never been frisked to be able to serve in the club I work in." There's something about the husky purr of her voice that makes me take a step forward. Her honey-brown eyes sparkle as she pushes her plush lips together. She blinks innocently as her shoulders bounce. "You must like to keep your boss waiting."

I chuckle, prowling closer. "Who says he's the boss?"

Her eyes narrow as she takes a step back. The look on her face is completely at odds with the way she retreats. "Either way, I'm not a threat."

"Ward, enough. Let the poor woman pass. I could use a refill," Cas calls out.

She quirks an eyebrow as her face breaks out into a smirk.

I barely hold myself back from chuckling. She's cute, but she's wrong if she thinks she won something just now. Pulling my right thumb from my suspender, I gesture for her to go ahead.

Her hair flies around her face as she moves to grab the tray. A caramel and cream scent fills the air as she steps past me.

My nostrils flare, breathing her in.

Good God.

There are hints of cinnamon and something lightly fruity. It's complex in a way my nose is obsessed with. My hands fist at my sides to keep from scooping her up so I can parcel out each of those notes. She collects the tray and sways her way toward Cas.

Well, this should be interesting.

"Another," Cassian says without looking away from the table as he raises his glass. "This time, don't poison my Scotch with ice."

Annika snorts. It's a beautiful name that I'm not sure fits her, but I did verify with the club security that she is an employee. Although, admittedly not a very good one. She's been more enamored with Cas taking the house for all it's worth than bothering to actually serve drinks properly.

I stretch back in my chair, watching her huff as she shoves herself off the stool.

I'm surprised the woman still has a job.

Then again, Cas's head tilts as he watches her sway toward the bar in the corner. The slow smile that crosses his lips as they turn upward is concerning.

The suit who has been monitoring Cas's play all night comes over, whispering something to the dealer.

"This is the last hand," the dealer says, drawing Cas's attention. "The floor will be closing." The attendant returns to the wall.

Annika comes back without the drink Cas requested, and my head tilts.

"Sorry, Mr. Forbes," she says, stopping at his side. "You've hit your drink maximum. The system locked me out from getting you that refill."

Cas pastes on a playful smile. "Well, in that case, you should let me buy you a drink elsewhere, since Spades seems to be closing."

She smiles back. "I heard you prefer blondes. I wouldn't want to waste either of our time." With that, she gives a weird little curtsy and takes off toward the doors.

Cassian's eyes widen as they meet mine. I'm sure there's a shit-eating grin all over my face.

I can't remember the last time someone shut him down. If we weren't supposed to be inserting ourselves into her life for a reason, I'd be downright giddy.

"What the hell was that?" Cas growls as we step out into the balmy Vegas night air. "Do you think she made us?"

"She clearly wasn't impressed by you." I bump my shoulder into his as I laugh. "She did pretty consistently shoot fuck me eyes my way when you weren't looking. Maybe I'm more her type?"

The security guys fan out around us as several aim for the elevator to the parking garage. There's no need for the five of us to be crammed into the elevator when they can pick us up on the way by.

Cas leans against the wall, shaking his head at the night sky. "She's grown up since those pictures, which is crazy, since they're only a year or two old. Not to mention, she smells fucking delicious."

I quirk an eyebrow.

He's not wrong.

She's definitely grown into those killer cheekbones and the plush pink lips. There's no doubt, she knows exactly how to flaunt the overexaggerated curves that signal her designation.

My eyes move to the end of the brick wall and past Cas. There's a guy loitering, but something about the way he paces tickles at my instincts.

I'm not just here to assess threats for Cassian. It's like second nature. Several women come down the alleyway that leads to the front of the club. He watches but doesn't make a move. That means he's waiting for someone in particular. They make it past us and aim for the parking garage.

My head tilts as he stomps along, spinning around and walking back in our direction.

"He's probably blitzed out of his mind," Cas says dismissively.

It's entirely possible.

The club closed at two.

Any employees who don't live on-site will be funneling to their vehicles. As will the remaining clubgoers.

"Where the fuck is Larry?" the guy growls, moving out of my line of sight to head down the alleyway.

"Fuck," Cassian grumbles.

"You can stay here, princess. I'll handle it." I roll my shoulders back, looping my thumbs through my suspenders.

"Ahh, fuck you," Cas snorts.

I'm not sure why my impulses are convinced the sweet yet spunky omega from the high-roller room is going to be involved. But I'm not shocked when I come around the corner to find the asshole pinning her to the brick wall with a hand around her throat.

My neck rolls from side to side as I take in the look of fear on her face. Yeah, my instincts don't like that one bit. The overwhelming urge to remove his head from his shoulders washes over me from out of nowhere.

"I don't know who Larry is, but kindly get your hands off of me," Annika yelps, clawing at his arms.

"The guy I was with last night. He stuck around to ask you out. Only, he never made it back to our hotel. No one has seen him since," the idiot growls.

"We all know Vegas is a dangerous place," I call out, taking measured steps forward. "I wouldn't be shocked if someone taught him a lesson, especially if his manners are similar to yours."

"This doesn't concern you."

"Oh, but it really does," I assure him. "Let go of the lady, and I'll only break your hand."

"Fuck you," he growls, dropping his hold on Annika.

She immediately ducks under his arm and bolts toward the entrance to the parking garage.

The dick spins around, advancing on me. I don't bother unhooking my hands. Instead, I kick him right in the gut.

The idiot cradles his stomach with his left hand, but he takes a wide swing with his right. It has no chance of connecting as he staggers.

"Are you okay?" Cassian asks from behind me.

"I'm fine," Annika replies.

"Anni Girl," a man I've never seen before growls, heading our way down the alleyway.

The original asshole spins to assess who is joining the party, but the new guy slams a tattooed fist into his face without stopping. A ragged crunch fills the air as the first man hits the ground. The new addition continues on, jogging past me. That was a vicious hit.

"Grady," the little omega whimpers, chucking herself at him. He catches her, lifting her and wrapping her around his front in one quick move.

"You're okay. I've got you." Grady nuzzles his cheek to the top of her head. "What the fuck happened?"

"Apparently, the High Roller needs to offer better exterior security," Cassian says, tugging the cuff on his rolled-up button-down.

"I'm fine," Annika says. "I would have handled it. He just surprised me."

Grady chuckles. "Of course he did."

"I looked for you, but I couldn't find you." She buries her face in his throat, clutching at his back.

He palms her ass under the bottom of her dress. "I got caught up talking to Travis."

Oh yeah, those two are very well acquainted.

"I figured it was something like that. I knew you'd climb in bed at some point." She snuggles deeper. "What I wasn't expecting is that." She points at the collapsed heap of man.

"Cassian Forbes." Cas steps forward, extending a hand.

"Grady Wells. Glad the two of you were around to step in." He offers a lazy smile, but something in his entire demeanor makes me suspicious.

"The SUV is here," I tell Cas. "It seems Mr. Wells has everything under control."

Cas nods, tilting his head like he's analyzing something. "Have a good night." He strides off toward the idling vehicle, and I follow.

Once we're settled in the back seat, Cas turns to me. "We'll need to look into that one. The mask slipped for just a second, but I'd bet my life he's dangerous."

Well, we can both agree on that.

It's time I do a little digging into Grady Wells.