Chapter 33

chapter

thirty-three

Darius had been shot.

Gage stared at his body in the middle of the floor. He wanted to rush toward the man. To take over the investigation.

But two security guards sprinted to Darius’s side. One stripped off his shirt and put it over the wound on the man’s chest to stop the blood flow. The other had a walkie-talkie to his mouth.

Brittany rushed toward Darius, sobs escaping as her arms flailed. One of the security guards lifted his arm to hold her back.

It appeared Darius was still alive.

For now.

But who had done this to him?

Gage scanned the people still in the club.

But he didn’t see a gunman.

Had the man run?

That was the most likely thing. With all the people in here and the darkness, the man could have easily been obscured.

What about Cormac?

Gage glanced around, but he didn’t see the man anywhere.

Nia still trembled beneath his fingers.

He should probably get her out of here.

But before he could tug her toward the door, police invaded the place.

As police swarmed the place, Nia’s phone buzzed.

Give us all the paperwork you have from Rob Lesner.

She swallowed hard. That was what these people wanted?

She sucked in a shallow breath before responding.

I can’t do that.

A couple of seconds passed before the sender responded again.

I’ll send that picture to the police.

This person was trying to manipulate her. Nia couldn’t let that happen.

If she let them get away with this, what else would they demand in the future?

If they sent that picture to the police, she’d simply have to tell the cops the truth.

It would be painful. Hard.

The action could change the course of her life.

But she couldn’t let this go on.

With trembling hands, she responded.

Then send the photo to the cops.

Nausea filled her as soon as she hit Send, but she knew it had been the right choice.

“Everything okay?” Gage peered at her phone.

Nia showed him the texts, and his eyes widened. “Are you sure that’s what you want to say?”

She frowned but nodded. “Unfortunately, it’s the only way. I’m not going to let this person—or these people—intimidate me.”

Gage’s neck twisted in surprise. “I can appreciate that . . . but I hope you don’t regret it.”

Her hands trembled as she put her phone back into her wristlet.

She and Gage were trapped here now that police had surrounded all the exits.

Part of her wanted to stay, to see if she could find out more information.

The other part of her wanted to run, to hide.

Instead, she did what she often did when in fear: she froze .

Stood there.

Unmoving.

Not saying a word.

Only thinking.

She didn’t know who to trust. Didn’t know if one of the men who’d been following her earlier might be in this room now. Might be watching her.

At least Gage stood beside her. He seemed well-equipped. She’d found an unusual comfort when he held her hand. When he’d used his own body to shield her when he’d heard that gunfire.

The act hadn’t gone unnoticed.

The police were already going around and beginning to question people. Paramedics were working on Darius.

Thank goodness, he was still alive.

Nia wasn’t sure what part, if any, he might have played in Rob’s death. But seeing the man like this . . . she didn’t wish that on anyone.

“Just stay cool,” Gage whispered.

She nodded, trying to keep her racing heart under control.

Across the room, Nia saw Brittany crying, her face in her hands. Nia should go comfort the woman. Even if Brittany was shallow and flighty, she still appeared to be honestly grieving.

“First Rob and now Darius?” Gage whispered.

“I know. Is there a connection?”

Gage frowned. “It seems as if there might be. And that connection could be Brittany.”

She swallowed hard, unable to deny his words .

A cop approached just then and said he needed to ask them some questions.

Nia pulled her gaze from Brittany. Maybe she’d talk to the woman later.

Before the cop could ask them anything, the door at the front entrance opened, and a man stepped inside.

Nia sucked in a breath.

Mario.

She hadn’t seen him in nearly two years.

But now he was right here.

At Avenue 12.

His gaze met hers, and something flickered there.

It almost looked like . . . satisfaction. Like he’d been waiting for the opportunity to question her. To put her in the hot seat.

That sounded about right.

“Nia?” Gage asked beside her.

She pulled her gaze away from Mario. “Yes?”

“Is everything okay? You flinched.”

“Did I?” Her voice sounded thin.

“Most definitely.”

She glanced back over at Mario and saw him heading their way.