Page 31 of Betting Blind
I want to tell her. The urge to confess everything right now is insistent, but the words are lodged in my throat as my heart beats wildly. “There’s been a family emergency… of sorts.”
Dropping my keys into Derrick’s open palm, I nudge him to get him going. Leaving her here is for her own good. If we’re able to find my brother, the chances are we’re going to find trouble sitting shotgun, and I’m not about to drag her into it. Turning to her before I get into the truck, I try not to wince at the edge in my voice. “Derrick and I need to find Ben… Alone.”
Cassidy’s jaw sets stubbornly, and when I make a move to step up into the truck, I feel her fingers curl into the back of my jeans as she yanks me back down.
“Damn, woman!” Derrick laughs from the passenger side of my truck.
“Oh, I don’t think so. Tell me what’s going on. Who knows… maybe I can help?”
“Take Derrick’s car back home, and we’ll pick it up later.”
Her eyes narrow on the muscle ticking under my left eye. It’s been a minute since I’ve been this nervous of a woman’s wrath. “I’m tougher than I look.” She pins me with her gaze, and I have to stop myself from laughing. She’s bowing up to me like a chihuahua taking on a doberman. “I’m sure you remember the day you left me on the side of the road with a busted axle.”
“Oh, come on—”
“If you don’t tell me, I guess I’ll just have to follow you,” she cuts me off, shrugging her shoulders. She’s so damn determined. Derrick turns my keys in the ignition, signaling that we need to get going.
“I’m coming with you, Jack. I want to help.”
I stare at her hand resting on my bicep, and the walls I’ve erected against her become as weak as my resolve. I grit my teeth before letting loose a deep sigh. “Fine, but only if you do as I say. The place we’re going to isn’t exactly friendly.”
Understanding begins to mingle with the uncertainty in her gaze. “Where are we going exactly?”
Helping her up into the truck, I reach over and buckle her in. “Royals.”
Chapter 15
Cassidy
Royals. I know I’ve heard that name before. It’s the old hotel on the outskirts of town, but as hard as I try, I can’t figure out how I know that. “Why are we going to find Ben at a hotel?”
Jack keeps his eyes trained on the road, curling his fingers tightly over the steering wheel. “Ben… has a bit of a gambling problem.”
“More like an addiction,” Derrick mumbles before turning to me. “Royals isn’t just a hotel, sweetness. It’s an underground casino.” As if that’s explanation enough, he shifts back around to scowl out the window. I guess he isn’t too happy to be a part of the rescue mission.
I sit quietly in the backseat of the truck as we drive miles away from The Pound. I knew Jack told me Ben wasn’t someone I wanted to get involved with, but at the time, I didn’t understand why. “Is Ben dangerous?”
Jack and Derrick share a cryptic look before Jack answers. “No, but he’s really fucking things up right now. He hasn’t responded to any of my calls or texts in almost a week, and it’s not like him to just up and disappear.”
As we approach the hotel, I squint to make out a brightly lit sign breaking through the dark night. ROYALS INN shines proudly at the top of a tall, square building, and from the outside, I see nothing that would convince me it was suspicious. In fact, the parking lot is nearly empty.
My stomach tightens painfully and for a split-second, I wonder what the hell I was thinking coming here. At least Derrick and Jack look like they fit in.
As if reading my mind, Derrick reaches forward, shuffling in the bag between his legs. “Here, put these on,” he says and hands me a black jacket and a gray baseball cap. “We don’t want to be chasing any guys off.”
I grab the jacket and hat, donning both quickly. “Thanks… I think.”
Jack pulls his truck around the back of the hotel, and it bumps along a dirt road for a few minutes before guiding us to an open field with several rows of parked cars. No one would be able to see the field from the highway, and it’s far enough from the hotel that it can’t be seen from the back door.
“When we get down to the casino floor, we’re going to keep cool and look around. Play some games, and don’t move on too quickly—we don’t want to look suspicious. The objective is to find Ben and get out. With this being an illegal casino, they will probably have eyes on us anyway, so be careful.” Jack nods to us both, and we collectively exit the vehicle.
I’m trying to ignore the building panic, but a tiny voice speaks up from a recess of my mind. Something about the way Jack is acting has warning bells blaring in my ears.
Who are these guys?
We cross the field toward the hotel, the gravel under our feet crunches loudly, and my breathing becomes erratic. I wrap my arms around my midsection, attempting to keep myself warm. Jack and Derrick flank my sides as a steady wash of unease covers me, causing goosebumps to break out across my arms.
Approaching the front of Royals, we pass through the hotel doors and into the quiet lobby. Again, I’m struck by the inconspicuousness of it all. The inside is a bit withered, but not something I would consider unkempt. Maroon carpet rests under our feet, and gold-colored couches and a large glass chandelier frame the sitting area in front of the concierge desk.
