Nico (Ruin & Revenge #1)(99)

“You.” He lifted his chin toward Louis as he moved with Kat along the wall. “Close and lock the door. Then get down on the floor. Hands where I can see them.”

Louis did as directed and dropped to his knees, hands in the air.

Kat opened her mouth as if to scream and Rev tightened his grip around her. “I know you’re surprised to see me, kitty cat, but don’t make a fuss. After all, we don’t want to cause a commotion. People might get hurt.”





TWENTY-SEVEN

Ben checked his text from Kat as he raced into the casino. She hadn’t told him where in the casino they were headed, and given the sheer size of the place, it was going to be impossible to find her or Nico without some help.

He sent a quick text to Mikey Muscles and headed over to the control room. He would need back-up and Mikey could provide it. He could also help Ben find Nico before it was too late.

He couldn’t believe he was doing this. If Nico had any reservations about who Ben was, he would have none after this evening was done. And yet Ben couldn’t just sit around when he knew there was a chance to save him. Nico had given Ben the closest thing he’d had to a family. He’d given Ben his trust and his friendship. He’s had Ben’s back countless times, and he’d given Ben countless opportunities. In return, Ben had betrayed him. He figured he owed Nico at least this favor. And he was an officer of the law. He couldn’t stand by when a crime was about to be committed.

He pulled up outside the door to the control room and peered through the window. Jesus Christ. There was fucking Gabe. And Mia, looking like she wanted to rip out his throat. And sweet, innocent Kat, with a goddamned gun to her head.

A surge of protective anger roared through his head. Gabe seemed to have no issue involving innocents in his crimes. Ben was momentarily overcome with regret for not pulling the trigger when he had the chance. But Gabe was now facing life in prison for the drug stash they’d found at Ginger’s house. Justice would be served, and Ben’s conscience would be clean.

Now, though, Kat was in danger. Not only that, Nico was somewhere in the casino with Vito, who he’d figured for Daisy’s silver man—a Cordano and a traitor. He didn’t know if Vito had the contract on Nico, but he was a threat, and Ben wasn’t going to let Nico down.

He reached inside his jacket. Christ. If Gabe gave him even the hint of a reason, this time he wouldn’t hesitate to shoot the bastard down.

“Police.” He banged on the door. “Open up.” He slammed Jack’s badge against the window—he’d handed his in when he went undercover—and held his weapon ready. “I know it’s you, Gabe. You’re already facing time for the drugs. You want to add murder to your rap sheet? You’ll never see the fucking sun again.”

A few people looked down the hallway at him with mild interest, but for the most part people just passed by. Ben marveled at how they could be so blind to what was going on, but then, that was just a testament to the success of Nico’s casino. He kept the customers so distracted with the music and the noise, the lights, the alcohol, and the games, they couldn’t see a real show when it was staring them in the face.

He heard a deep voice, and then Mia pulled open the door, her face white, eyes wide in a silent plea. Gabe still had Kat at gunpoint. Louis was down on the floor.

Gabe’s face rippled with amusement. “So, you are a cop.”

“And you’re a criminal. We found your heroin stash. You’re facing a lot of time for drug offenses and maybe even Ginger’s death, too, if she overdosed from the same shit you put in my daughter’s toys. And if that stuff was tainted, there are twenty-four other deaths that might be added to your list of crimes.”

Ben was prepared for anything, but not the shock or the pain that flickered across Gabe’s face.

Gabe dropped his arm, releasing Kat. “Ginger’s dead?”

Mia reached over and pulled Kat to her side. Taking advantage of Gabe’s distraction, she slipped out the door, pulling Kat behind her.

“Yeah, she’s dead.” Ben’s gaze flicked to Mikey Muscles who was slowly pushing himself to his feet. “Because of people like you who make it easy for addicts like her.”

“I couldn’t stop her.” Gabe’s shoulders slumped, defeated. “She started before she met me, and there was nothing I could do. I got into it because of her. So she wouldn’t buy shit product from the streets.”

“Give Mikey the gun.” He needed to find Nico and make sure Kat and Mia were safe, but he couldn’t leave until he made sure Gabe was no longer a threat.

Gabe drew in a ragged breath and handed Mikey the gun. Ben tossed Mikey the cuffs Jack had given him, along with the badge, after he’d received Kat’s text and told Jack he needed to be a cop again for a few hours to save a friend. “Secure him and call 911. Where’s Nico?”

Mikey snapped the cuffs around Gabe’s wrists and looked up at the screens. “High-stakes room. And you’d better get there fast.”

Heart pounding, Ben ran through the casino, hitting the sliding doors marking the entrance to the high-stakes area at a run.

He had only just stepped inside when he heard a scream.

Fuck. Was he too late?





TWENTY-EIGHT

“He’s dead. Oh. My. God, Jules. He’s dead.”