Page 41 of Russian Roulette

Accelerating, I notice a sign for the main highway ahead. I try to recall the route to my hotel since I don’t remember the address. I can’t afford to waste time getting lost in Vegas traffic, and I’m wishing they hadn’t taken my phone.

The limo’s dashboard is loaded with buttons, screens, and cutting-edge technology. I press buttons randomly, hoping the GPS screen appears. One button results in rap music blaring from every speaker, nearly deafening me. The next button lowers a privacy window between the driver’s seat and the passenger area. The third button’s purpose becomes apparent when my ass starts to burn. Aha! A seat warmer for chilly days.

Eventually, a screen displaying a map lights up. I press a few more buttons in a trial-and-error fashion, activating the voice command system. After repeating my hotel’s name three times, the GPS finally understands and provides verbal directions.

As I reach the main highway and blend into traffic, I slow down and keep an eye on the rearview mirror. The guys could be in any vehicle, so I’m unsure what to watch for.

All I know is they’re coming for me.

I can feel it in my gut.

We’re a dysfunctional group of misfits. No, I correct myself. There is no group. I’m alone and they’re my adversaries. There’s no “we.”

Luckily, the GPS is accurate, and I soon recognize the street where my hotel is located. For safety, I make a few sudden wrong turns to confuse the guys if they’re following me. Once I’m confident no one’s tailing me, I head directly to the hotel.

I’ll contact Seven using an untraceable burner phone once I’m out of town, informing him of the limo’s location. A limo in a shabby hotel parking lot would attract unwanted attention. The unsavory characters loitering around the hotel would strip the limo if left unattended for too long. He’ll be fortunate if the tires are still there when he arrives to reclaim it. I feel bad, regardless of what the guys might think, I’m not a thief.

With no time to spare, I park the limo next to my old Toyota Corolla in front of my ground-floor unit. I’m relieved my car is still there. Freedom is just minutes away.

I reach into my sock, pulling out the electronic key card for my hotel room that I’ve hidden there. The guys may have taken my phone and backpack, but they didn’t find everything concealed on me. Fortunately, their search wasn’t thorough.

I sprint toward the door and press the card against the electronic lock. The door swings open, and I step inside, then slam it shut behind me. On the floor lies my packed suitcase, filled with clothes and my computer. I kneel on the dirty carpet and open the suitcase to confirm nothing is missing.

Everything is here, right where I left it. I grab my car keys and check the bathroom and under the bed one last time to make sure I haven’t left anything behind. Satisfied I’ve got everything, I pick up the suitcase and open the door.

“Dammit!”

22

SEVEN

“Going somewhere?” I ask with a grin. We surge forward into Jade’s hotel room, forcing her to back up. Vulcan kicks the door shut behind us with his foot.

“How the hell did you find me so fast?” Jade asks, almost as if she’s not surprised we showed up.

“Leroy keeps a GPS tracker device in the limo,” I reply. “We were right behind you the whole time. And when you took those wrong turns to throw us off, all you were doing was wasting my gas. We were able to track you straight to your hotel room. Is that your Toyota parked out front? If so, I’m not sure if it will get you very far. It’s in rough shape.”

Jade nods and lets out a defeated breath. “I should’ve realized you would find me. I expected it to take longer, though.”

“Why did you run?” Kit walks over to sit carefully on the bed. The cheap mattress sinks low under his weight. “I thought you understood the danger you’re in. We tried our best to convince you how dangerous Giovanni can be. Didn’t you believe us?”

“Are you serious?” Jade angrily replies. “You lied to me! Of course, the tigers weren’t roaming loose at the house. So yeah, once I figured out you were playing me for a fool, I grabbed the opportunity to escape. I thought you were better than that, Kit. All that talk about your concern for the animals, and making me believe you were a good guy was nothing but a bunch of bullshit! You played me.”

“No, it wasn’t,” he argues. “Everything was true except the tiger part. How else could I keep you in the house for the whole day? I had things to do and couldn’t babysit you for ten hours.”

Vulcan reaches over and tries to take the suitcase from Jade. She grips the handle tighter and refuses to turn loose. He tugs harder, and she jerks it back.

“What’s in the suitcase?” he asks, shooting me a mischievous grin. “Something good I bet. Drugs? Money? Body parts? What are you hiding in there?”

“There’s nothing in there except my clothes and computer,” she replies. She sits the suitcase on the floor and turns loose of the handle. “Go ahead and prowl through my underwear all you want. Search to your heart’s content. You won’t find anything. And before you ask, my computer is locked. There’s no way you’re getting into my computer. Don’t even waste your time.”

Vulcan’s dark eyes light up. “You’re mighty defensive about your computer. What are you worried about us finding on there? Do you watch kinky porn, Jade? Now I’m dying of curiosity to find out what you’re hiding.” He drops onto his knees, unzips the suitcase, and slides a very expensive laptop out. “Wow, this must’ve cost a pretty penny,” he says, opening the top. “What’s the password?”

“Fuck you,” she says defiantly. “In all capital letters. That’s spelled…F…U…”

Vulcan chuckles. “It wouldn’t surprise me if you were telling the truth.” He closes the top back down. “What else do you have in your suitcase?” He peeks under the neatly folded stack of shirts and jeans where an assortment of electronic devices are hidden. He drags them out. “Hmmm…I don’t know much about computer gadgets. Help me out here. Aren’t these routers? And flash drives? A lot of them for one laptop.”

Jade shrugs and doesn’t answer. He digs deeper under the clothes and holds up three cheap prepaid cellphones still wrapped in their plastic drugstore packaging.