Mine To Protect (Mine #6)(42)

“Now that the FBI agent is gone, how about we talk privately?” The attorney smiled at him. Some dude in a fancy suit, with perfect features and an old money vibe rolling off him. As Roy stared at the fellow, the lawyer’s head inclined toward the uniformed cop who watched from a nearby corner. “Total privacy would be best.”

Roy got the message, loud and clear. The attorney wanted the uniform gone. Fine. Roy nodded. “Leave us alone,” he told the cop.

The uniform hesitated.

“I’m locked up! What the hell do you think I’ll do? Give us privacy!” Because Roy wanted to know who this fellow was…

And how he could use him.

The uniform glared at Roy, but backed away.

The lawyer smirked at Roy.

“Xavier Winters,” Roy murmured, trying to place the name but coming up blank. “Funny, I don’t remember hiring you.”

Xavier laughed. “That’s probably a good thing because, you see, my normal rates are very, very high.”

What was going on?

“But don’t worry. I have a special deal for you, Officer Duncan.” Xavier sidled closer to the bars. “I think you and I can help each other.”

“How the hell are you supposed to help me?” Try bribing a judge. Maybe that would work.

The lawyer straightened his already straight tie. “I can make sure you never see the inside of a prison.”

Now those words sure caught Roy’s attention. “Keep talking.”

“No, actually, you’re the one who needs to talk.” Xavier locked his gaze on Roy’s. “Tell me everything you know about Zoe Peters. Every. Single. Thing.”

***

“Was that everything you hoped and more?” Cain drawled as he and Victor marched away from holding. “Because to me, it sure seemed that we got jackshit out of the guy.”

Xavier Winters. It was no coincidence that the lawyer had shown up. “I got plenty I can use.” Just by seeing Winters. His eyes sharpened on Cain. “I want to see the shooter you arrested in that alleyway. Maybe he can tell us who hired him for the hit.”

Cain’s lips thinned. “Right this way.”

The guy wasn’t going to argue with him? No bitching about case territory this time? Victor hurried to follow Cain down the hallway, but they weren’t heading back to holding. Cain took him downstairs. Down, down below to…

“What in the hell?”

A body was tagged and bagged down there, and an ME stood to the side, tapping on a laptop.

“There’s the shooter,” Cain said, voice tight. “Within five minutes of him getting to booking, another prisoner had knifed him. The guy will be telling you nothing.”

Victor shook his head.

“That’s why Roy is in holding alone. Because we suspect there’s already orders pending to have him killed, too.” Cain rolled back his shoulders. “But, hey, I’m newer to this game than you are, so you tell me…you think Luther Bates could really have already heard about the attack on his daughter? Do you really think that man’s reach is so strong that he could’ve had the shooter killed the instant he came into this place? Or…” Cain blew out a rough breath. “Do you think someone else ordered the shooter taken out? Maybe the power player we’re after in Vegas?”

“Even Luther couldn’t get a hit moving on the shooter this fast.” At least, he didn’t think so. Luther couldn’t, but someone in Vegas could, someone pulling the strings in this city…puppet master. “Your power player is one busy *.” And Victor would be stopping him. “Better double the guards on Roy,” Victor advised darkly. “Or he may not make it through the night.”





Chapter Twelve


When the hotel room door opened hours later, Zoe felt as if she were about to explode. Victor strode inside, looking all tall, dark, and dangerous, and she wanted to rage at him.

Drake Archer had proven himself to be a very annoying opponent. She’d tried—at least three times—to give the guy the slip.

Not happening. Either Drake—or his security goons—had found a way to stop her each time. And he’d kept her trapped in the suite.

“I kept my promise,” Drake said as he rose languidly from the couch. “She didn’t get away.”

Victor gave a jerky nod. “You don’t even realize what an accomplishment that is.”

Her teeth were clenched so tightly her jaw ached.

“Yes, well,” Drake mused, “I learned from Jasmine’s work. Wasn’t about to make the same mistake again.”

Victor met Zoe’s stare. He winced. “So you’re seriously pissed?”

“Pissed doesn’t do me justice.” Not even close.

“Will it help if I say that I found out information we can use?”

She rose. Didn’t leap at him. Didn’t scream. Zoe just stood there and softly said, “You cut me out.”

“I wanted to protect you.”

“You cut me out,” she repeated. “Don’t ever do it again. If you do…”

Victor’s eyes glittered.

“I’ll walk.” He should know that she meant those words. “I’ll vanish. Sure, maybe Drake kept me here today, but we both know…I can eventually get away. I will always get away. So whatever intel you hope you’re going to get from me about Luther, it won’t happen if you shut me out again. I won’t be left in the dark.”