Page 27 of Ride Forever
Chaser didn’t reply.
After a moment, I knew my fear was talking. Yeah, I’d screwed up at Fortitude, but being a biker queen wasn’t my calling. This was. It had to be. One last gig before the happily ever after.
“Wanna fuck before we go?”
Chaser narrowed his eyes.
“Just don’t mess up my hair, okay?”
* * *
The Halcyon towered above me, glittering like a steaming turd rolled in glitz and glamour.
This was it. This was my big moment.
Walking through the crowd, I entered the casino, glancing up at the security cameras as I passed beneath them. I didn’t like going into the lion’s den unarmed, but there wasn’t exactly anywhere I could conceal a revolver in this dress.
Behind me, I knew Chaser was tailing me, hidden in the stream of revelers out for a good night. He would follow me across the casino floor as far as he could go without being spotted. Knowing he was there gave me the courage to keep moving.
This is for your forever, Sloane. Don’t forget it. Love like this…it’s worth fighting for. Freedom, love, forever…
I walked across the gaming floor, passing blackjack tables and spinning roulette wheels, reciting my mantra over and over in my mind.Freedom, love, forever…
Glamorous women were draped over the arms of various men, their dresses much more stripper-like than mine. Every so often, I spotted a plant—men with concealed guns and walkie-talkies and even the odd woman encouraging gamblers to put down more money—and gave them a wide birth. I wasn’t going to approach any old thug. I was going for the man at the top. That meant getting to the elevator and pressing the button for the penthouse.
Passing a row of slot machines, I saw a man speaking into a walkie-talkie, his gaze following me. I’d been made. Increasing my stride, I spotted the entrance to the hotel. Man, they made it hard not to gamble in this place. Everywhere I turned, there were bright lights and flashing jackpot signs, all designed to keep impressionable people spending.
“Stay right where you are.”
I froze, almost toppling forward when my heel caught on the carpet. Turning, my eyes widened as I saw a man aiming a gun at me. Movement to my left caught my attention, and I glanced at another man who’d pulled another gun. The same happened on my right, and behind until six drawn weapons surrounded me…one woman in a slinky dress.
Confusion clouded my mind as I spun, glancing from one gun to the next, the neon lights dazzling. Who were they? Hollow Men or renegades? On a level of screwed to fucked, where was I?
I looked for an escape route and stumbled toward an opening. They couldn’t fire in here, so the guns were just a bluff. I kicked off my heels, intending to bolt.
“FBI!” someone shouted. “Hands in the air!”
I whirled around, panic threatening to overcome me. Chaser… Where was Chaser?
“Betty Marini, you are now under arrest on suspicion of first-degree murder.”
“What?” My blood ran cold as I focused on the man in front of me.
“You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”
I blinked at him in shock as my arms were wrenched behind me. Someone patted me down as a pair of handcuffs were slapped around my wrists, the metal biting painfully into my skin.
I thought Gasket had left some guys behind to deal with all that. Unless…oh, no. Unless they were crooked and set me up.Assholes!And now there was nothing I could do to warn them.
The casino swarmed around us, the noise a dull roar to my shocked ears. I felt like I was going to hurl as I was dragged across the gaming floor, thousands of eyes watching my barefoot stripper dressed humiliation. It was over. I was going to rot in prison for life because I was guilty. I’d killed my father. There was no way out. I was powerless and adrift.
Chaser… At least he was free. I hadn’t even gotten upstairs, let alone sold him out. Shit, I shouldn’t have let him talk me into coming here. I knew why he’d sprung it on me. I would’ve fought him on it. Using himself as bait? It was a terrible idea.
Warm air kissed my skin as I was lead out into the humid desert night. FBI agents carved a path through the chaos of Las Vegas, and before I understood where we were going, I was forced into the back of a black van. Two armed agents joined me—one sitting beside me, and one opposite.
The door slammed, causing me to jump, and the guy across from me smirked.
I narrowed my eyes and glanced at the agent next to me, noting where he kept his sidearm. If I could ram the heel of my bare foot into smug face there—preferably in the balls—then I could headbutt the guy on my right, use the momentum to push myself forward and—
“Don’t even think about it,” the agent said, his gaze dropping to my tits. “We don’t want to do something you’ll regret later.”
I sank back against the side of the van, and my shoulders slumped. It was over. It was truly over.
Hello, maximum security.
