Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
The McLaughlins had an open-ended reservation, which was strange, since they lived and worked in Vegas, not to mention they owned a home here in town. Just like Madison said.
Another quick online search showed that the address on the background check was indeed the same house that Madison had seen in the photo Molly sent.
“Definitely not a fucking coincidence,” I muttered to no one in particular since I was alone in my office.
It was all starting to add up to exactly as I suspected but still with no concrete proof to make any formal accusations. Which meant all I had was a half-baked theory, which was likely true, but no way to prove it. Yet. With Madison and my own surveillance, I was close.
I knew it.
The phone chimed and vibrated on my desk, the final reminder that I should have left to meet Maisie for lunch about fifteen minutes ago. She was so busy and a stickler for punctuality, I knew she’d give me shit so I grabbed a few singles for luck and made my way to the elevator and down to the lobby floor. Since our family owned the casinos, I couldn’t keep any of the winnings if the slots gave any up, but ever since I was a kid, I got a kick out of pulling the lever.
“Breaking the rules again?” Maisie asked from behind me, a smile in her voice. “Such a hardcore little badass you are.”
“And don’t you forget it.” I spun and wrapped her in a hug because even though we worked in the same building, it felt like it had been weeks since I’d last seen her, never mind spending any time together. “Ready to grub?”
Maisie glared. “Been ready for twenty minutes. Everything all right?”
“Not really, no. But I’m working on it. You?”
Maisie shrugged but the brightness of her smile said it all. “Great. Exhausted but I can’t complain. Not at all.”
“I’m happy for you, Maze.” I was happy for her and delighted to have her as part of the family. She was exactly the kind of spitfire that could keep my brother Virgil in check. “Let’s eat.”
Maisie led the way with a satisfied grin. “One of my high rollers flew in this morning from Chicago, brought deep dish pizza and dipped Italian beef sandwiches so I hope you brought your appetite.”
My stomach growled at the sound of all those delicious words strung together in a sentence that meant I’d be eating sooner rather than later.
“I brought my appetite and someone else’s.”
She laughed and flashed a smile over her shoulder. “You sure Bonnie is the only one pregnant around here?”
“Bite your damn tongue, woman! Besides, I’d have to have sex in order to get pregnant. that hasn’t happened in a long time, so no babies here. That’s for sure. Far too fucking long.”
“I can hook you up with a rental. You know, one night, no strings attached.” Maisie let out a loud bark of a laugh at her joke and scanned her card to one of the auxiliary rooms used for special occasions like private games and secret rendezvous.
“Not a bad idea. I’ll let you know. Oh, damn that smells heavenly. Literally, this is what I imagine heaven would smell like.”
“Greasy pizza?”
I flashed a cheeky grin. “Exactly.”
“My assistant set everything up, and he went a little overboard,” she admitted with a blush staining her cheeks.
I shook my head and took a seat, groaning when my ass hit the plush chairs that made high rollers and penny slot enthusiasts alike sit for hours on end, forking over hard-earned cash to the casino.
“Good employees are hard to find. Hang on to that one. If Virgil doesn’t get outrageously jealous.”
Maisie’s smile softened at the mention of my brother’s name. “He’s already outrageously jealous that a hot young man jumps to do my bidding. I told him he has nothing to worry about unless he continues to question me.” Her serious expression morphed into a laugh that sent us both into a fit of giggles.
“You’re a bigger badass,” I said, reaching for a slice. “Virgil can be intimidating when he wants to be.” He’d been doing it since we were kids and after all the shit went down with those priests, he’d stepped it up a notch. Or twenty.
“So can I,” she said after swallowing a mouthful. “Besides, I know something he doesn’t. Jared aspires to learn everything he can from me and then move on to become me. So his interest is about pleasing me, professionally. And then he leaves. Don’t tell Virgil.”
I mimicked locking my lips and then unlocked it to shove a slice of pepperoni deep dish inside. “Your secret is safe with me,” I assured her with a tomato-y grin.
Another bark of laughter escaped, and Maisie shook her head. “You really do need some more women in your life Kat, you’re an animal.”