Page 19 of Unholy Cross

Chapter Nine

Within twenty minutes, the small area of food trucks and tables had been completely locked down.Men in black suits gathered up the few people still eating and directed them away.Once they were secure, a van pulled into the lot and backed up to where the body lay.A few people wearing coveralls jumped out to gather the corpse.Cross felt only satisfaction at seeing the dead man, knowing he would never hunt Lorelei again.

“Sir, we need to take her.”

Cross snapped his attention to two men waiting with a gurney.

“We need to evaluate her,” the man closest to him said soothingly.“Please, we only want to help her.”

It went against everything in him to concede but he knew she needed medical attention.He placed her carefully on the gurney, and immediately the EMTs began their evaluation as they moved toward the ambulance.

“Where are you taking her?”

“To Mr.Delance’s penthouse suite at The Monarque.His personal doctor will be waiting.You can meet us there if you’d like.”

He nodded, glanced around at the men erasing the other problem.One man asked for his bloody clothes, holding out a new pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.As soon as he changed, Cross hurried back to the hotel to get his bike, and a few minutes later, he roared down the Strip to the Monarque Casino.Parking in the first spot he found, he hurried into the posh main lobby, ignoring all the stares thrown his way.Yes, he looked out of place but he didn’t give a rat’s ass.He stepped up to the concierge desk.

“Let Jeremiah Delance know I’m here.”

The man, whose name tag readSully, blinked rapidly.His nose lifted a little as he judged Cross.“I beg your pardon?”

“Call up Jeremiah right now and tell him Aera is here.”

Sully was slow to respond.“Do you have an appointment?”

“I’m his brother.”

The haughty attitude stumbled a little and he immediately made the call.A moment later, Sully hung up.“He’s sending down the head of security to escort you to Mr.Delance’s penthouse.”

Cross didn’t linger.He waited by the elevators, and a few minutes later, a man in a black suit arrived.He took one look at Cross and narrowed his eyes.

“Aera,” he greeted

“Dickhead,” Cross said back.

“Still an asshole, I see.”

“Takes one to know one, Evren.”Cross rolled his eyes.“Listen, I don’t have time for this petty brother shit.Take me to where Lorelei is.”

Evren cocked his head.“Is that her name?”

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