“What are you doing?” I yell through the helmet.
Pippi, my brother’s girlfriend, slides off his bike and runs toward me. Still in her heels and a short black dress. “Hey. Um, we thought it would be a useful distraction if we all went different ways. But I’m going inside with you. My aunt and uncle will listen to me?—”
“Good plan.” My heart surges with pride that my brother made a fantastic choice of a fiancée. Hopefully, she can stop us from having to shoot anyone. But I will, if I have to.
She jumps back onto Ryan’s bike, and we cut across the street, aiming for the valet area of the casino. Pippi grabs my arm and tugs me toward the side of the building.
Ryan directs the guys inside, all of them checking their guns. Whoever’s on the back of their bikes keeps guard.
“This way. The side entrance. I’ll sneak in and open the door to the alley. If she’s here, she’s probably in the lounge or in the office. Worst case would be in the penthouse. Talon sometimes stays there, I think.”
“What do you mean,worst case?”
She shows me the metal door, flat against the side of the brick wall.
“I mean…getting to the elevator and up to it will be a hassle if my uncle stops you.”
“No one’s stopping me,” I growl.
“Then let me tell her parents she’s in danger right now.” Pippi spins and runs back to the entry while I pace.
Checking the handle, I shake it as hard as I can, but it won’t budge. In my pocket, I dig out a multi-tool and attempt to pick it, but by the time I feel one of the pins lower, Pippi’s letting me in.
It’s a pink and mauve stuffed lounge that looks like an upscale strip club. Champagne sits in iced gold buckets aroundneon-lit bars. White leather chairs and curved sofas line the walls, but there’s no one here.
“She’s upstairs, and you need to hurry. Ryan wasn’t happy with one of the guards grabbing my arm…”
“Shit.”
Fireworks launch through the halls. Screams shatter the silent air.
We both hit the deck when a thud pounds against the door.
“Let me try to go out there and stop them!” she says, but I grab her, shoving her body behind me while still keeping my hand locked on her arm.
“Nope. You’re coming with me so I can keep you safe…and get to Ashlyn.”
Ryan would kill me if something happened to Pippi.
“Take this door and stick to the right. The gold elevators take us straight up, if we can get there. But the thing is likely code or password protected.”
I freeze. “How are we gonna?—”
“I’ve got it. Come with me.”
More shots ring out as a stampede of people runs, surging toward every exit. When we escape the lounge, I make sure to put my body in front of Pippi. She stays low, and I copy her.
We approach a group in the back hall, looking around as if not knowing what to do. The Vipers are near the entrance, causing chaos. Security rushes toward them in the opposite direction of where we’re heading. No one spots me in my suit. I fit in nicely with everyone else.
Pippi suddenly yanks a young blond kid back by the neck. She pins him against the wall, and his blue eyes grow wide…
Wyatt Donovan. I’ve seen his pictures. And he looks like his father.
“Take us to the penthouse. Your sister’s in trouble,” she spits at him.
He swallows as he spies me. “Is that your boyfriend?”
“No. His brother.Move, slow ass.” She shoves him toward the back wall.