Page 33

ARES

A constant adrenaline flow worked through my body, screaming to take action. Kylian, Liam, and I climbed into my car in the underground lot to our condo.

Liam’s hand gripped my shoulder briefly from the back seat, his phone’s screen casting light on his features as he scrolled through something. “It’ll be okay. Fiona’s awesome at her job. We’ll get Brielle back.”

I only nodded. I didn’t trust myself to speak as a wave of fear rolled through me.

What if we’re too late? I should have insisted she have someone with her at all times.

I should have been with her, shielding her from any threats.

Family was the most important thing to me, even over football.

It hit me hard that I counted Brielle among those I held close to my heart.

I drove out of the parking garage and turned on the next street toward the casino. “I’m not going to the police station.” If the chief was in on things, alerting him to what we knew wouldn’t help. “I’m going to the casino. You guys can take my car and leave, but I can’t sit by and do nothing.”

“We’re with you,” Kylian said from the passenger seat.

“I found something.” Liam’s focus was on his phone in the back seat. “You guys remember that scandal about a year ago when a reporter was murdered and there were rumors that it was mob related due to an article he published?”

“Yeah, vaguely.” I hit the turn signal and pulled into the casino’s busy parking lot. After shutting off the car, I shifted to face them.

“I found his last article.” Liam put away his phone. “He hinted at a room below the casino where illegal betting occurred.”

I glanced at Kylian, and guilt hit me like a sledgehammer. “I can’t let you guys go in with me. You already had your season hijacked last year, Kyl. I can’t risk anything happening to either of you, especially when we’re close to the draft.”

“Shut up. We’re in, right, Kyl?” Liam swung his gaze to Kylian.

“Fuck yeah, we are.” Kylian’s fierce glare was the same one he got on the field. There would be no talking him out of it.

“So, what’s the plan?” Liam leaned forward, his arms braced on the front seats.

“We go in wanting to make some money on our games,” I proposed. “Or to set up an illegal fight club with betting.”

“I like the game one,” Kylian said. “Sports betting and the mafia are huge.”

“Yeah, they are,” Liam agreed. “If one of the head guys is there, we need to talk to them. I doubt they’ll get us close to wherever the basement is. It could simply be the elevator.”

“It probably is. I can’t picture them using the stairs.” It was the most logical explanation. “All right, let’s go in and find one of the head assholes.”

“Also”—Liam moved to open his door—“if my sister gets wind that we’re inside, we won’t have much time before her team forces us to leave.”

“Got it. In and out.” If that was possible. I didn’t have to look at my friends to know the same thoughts ran through their heads.

We melted into a group of guys who were close to our age. It was loud and chaotic inside, with the sounds of slot machines and people talking. Music pumped in through speakers. I wanted to spread out for a better chance at finding who we needed, but it wasn’t necessary.

Halfway through the multitude of gamblers, Liam tugged at my arm. “Over there.”

It was the same guy from the picture Liam had shown us—Anthony Canino. Two huge thugs trailed him as he reached a door near the left back corner. I couldn’t imagine we would be lucky enough that it would lead to Brielle.

“Screw it. We’re doing this another way.”

As one, we pivoted and followed. The larger of the two goons stepped forward and swiped a keycard that unlocked the door.

He held it open for his boss, and we picked up the pace to grab it before it closed.

Kylian sprinted ahead as they passed through, and he barely managed to slip his foot in to stop it from closing.

“I’ve got the thugs,” I whispered. “You two keep Anthony from pulling a gun on us.”

It wasn’t anything I couldn’t do. I took out guys as big as those two on the field all the time. The key was to surprise them.

I sprinted down the hall, my gym shoes muffled on the carpeted floor, but not silent.

The closest thug turned as I shifted direction and leaped at him.

My body slammed into his side, knocking into his partner.

Thug Two’s head hit the wall with a loud crack.

Liam jumped over the pile of bodies, Kylian close on his heels.

In the back of my mind, I kept waiting for more men to swarm the hallway with guns. The only reason that didn’t happen was probably because we were in such a good position .

Thug Two didn’t move, his neck at an awkward angle.

Thug One shoved me off of him. We both scrambled to our feet.

He reached inside his coat, and I slammed my fist into the side of his head.

A gun fell to the floor, and I kicked it away as a fist connected with my gut.

My stomach spasmed, and my lungs seized.

Another punch caught me off guard as I struggled to inflate my lungs.

I dropped to a knee, spots swirling from the last punch to the side of my head.

I lunged at his legs, taking him down. Fuck!

The gun was within reach. We both stretched for it at the same time.

His hand slapped against the butt of it, but I wrestled it free then cracked him on the head with the grip.

The fight left him. I waited a second before getting up then dashed into the room where Liam and Kylian had wrestled Anthony.

Liam and Kylian each held one of Anthony’s arms. Blood trickled down his nose. Fury rushed through me, and I slammed my fist into the mafia guy’s face. Sports betting had been a clever tactic, but I wanted answers now that we had him. “Where the fuck is she?”