Slaughter (The Agency: Young Guns Book 5), page 17
“So good to be here and just relax for a minute.” She gave Adam the once over. “You need to rest for an hour, sweetheart.”
“I haven’t been out of the apartment much since I was shot. I need more exercise.”
Annie winked at him and he smiled. “While you’re resting, Lenny and I have to do some shopping and check out my house in Summerlin. I want to turn it into a honeymoon resort for Farrell and Laine.”
Before they left, Annie took Adam by the hand and led him to her room. She closed the bedroom door and pushed him gently up against it.
“We haven’t had much time together, sugar.”
“I’m shot, Annie. I’m no good to you.”
“Sex isn’t my every thought, Adam.”
“No, but it’s a lot of your thoughts.”
Annie giggled. “We’re going to have a good weekend. Try to relax.”
“Your new bodyguard is in the next room. How can I relax?”
“Do you want your own room?”
“No. I don’t.” Adam pulled Annie tight to his battle-scarred body and kissed her with a lot of passion.
“Attaboy.”
Summerlin. Las Vegas.
Lenny drove the dark green Rubicon to the Summerlin address Annie had programmed into the GPS.
“I didn’t realize Adam was your boyfriend,” he said.
“Funny thing about that, Lenny—he doesn’t realize it either. Did you see him come to sit with me on the plane?”
“No.” Lenny chuckled.
“He’s so reluctant, I’ve almost given up on him. He never calls me or texts me. Nothing.”
“Why would he be like that? Obviously you have a relationship with him.”
“A pretty shallow one,” said Annie. “I can’t figure him out. And we haven’t been together for weeks because he was shot and almost died. Declan was taking care of him at the ranch, then Adam decided he wouldn’t stay with me any longer and he went back to his apartment and just sat there day after day. Honestly, I can’t get my head around what he wants. I’m pretty sure it isn’t me.”
“But he came for the weekend,” said Lenny.
“That’s because he lives with Farrell and Laine. He’s here for them. He’s not here for me.”
“Huh. Sounds like a strange guy.” Lenny glanced in the side mirror for the second time.
“Have we got company?”
“Possibly.”
“We’re about three streets away from my house. Pull over and stop and we’ll take them out.”
“Who are they?”
“Could be the new guys heading up the Vegas B-team. This is old business.” Annie pulled out her Beretta as Lenny pulled over to the curb and stopped.
“Any civilians on the street?”
“Nope. Clear.”
The black SUV following behind the Rubicon swerved towards them and the guy in the passenger seat had a Blackout pointing out the window.
Bang.
Before the guy drew a bead on her, Annie shot him in the head and the driver stepped on the gas and sped off down the street.
“Okay, not a good start to our Vegas visit. Let’s check on the house. I want it swept.”
“Think they’ll come back with more guys?”
“Probably.”
Lenny parked in the garage and they entered through the kitchen. “Beautiful house.”
“I don’t use it half enough, but Farrell wants to stay here with Laine instead of going on a honeymoon. She’s not healed from her shoulder wound and he just wants her to lounge by the pool for a week.”
Lenny swept the house and found two tags. He removed them and flushed them down the toilet.
“Okay, that’s that. Let’s go back to the hotel and play some poker until dinner time.”
Lenny grinned. “Sounds good to me.”
“You got cash? Need an advance?”
“I’m good. All good, but thanks.”
Chapter Sixteen
Saturday, June 10th.
Mirage Hotel and Casino. Las Vegas.
Annie woke up early and cuddled into Adam. He wasn’t doing well at all and she wondered if there was something else wrong with him besides the obvious wound in his chest that was slow to heal. He wasn’t himself. Down and depressed. He hardly ever smiled.
She ran her hand down his thigh and reached for his package to give him a little encouragement and he snapped at her. “Don’t, Annie. I can’t. I’m not ready.”
“Sure. That’s okay.” She slipped out of bed and went into the ensuite.
Bridal Suite.
Farrell was up at dawn. He sat in the easy chair by the wall of windows and watched Laine sleep.
She didn’t think she was pretty, but she had a natural beauty that she couldn’t hide. Farrell’s heart overflowed with love for her. He had not one doubt that Laine was the one for him.
They had a busy day ahead following the schedule set up by Linda Devon, their personal wedding planner. They had to pick up the license, do a run-through with Linda, then a chat with the photographer. The flowers and candles had all been chosen in advance by Laine and Annie.
Farrell figured with all the stuff he had to do with Laine, he might not have time for poker until evening.
Annie dried her hair, quickly dressed, and met Lenny and the kids in the main room of the suite. “You guys ready for breakfast?”
“We’re starving, Mommy,” said Jackson.
“Come on. Let’s go downstairs and look for food.”
“Adam coming?” asked Lenny.
“I don’t think so,” said Annie. “Let me go back and ask if we can bring him something.”
Annie ran back to her room and Adam didn’t seem pleased to see her. “Can I bring you breakfast?”
“Just coffee, Annie. That’s all I want. I’m not hungry.” He sighed. “Look, it would be better for both of us if I got my own room.”
Why are you saying this, Adam?
“Sure, whatever you want.”
Annie wanted to cry, but she’d been like that a lot lately—not just lately—ever since she’d lost Lincoln.
After breakfast, Annie left the kids in the arcade with Lenny and took a large coffee up to the suite. Adam was gone along with all of his belongings.
No note. Nothing.
“Whatever it is you’re doing Adam, and I know it’s something—I don’t like it.”
Adam sat in the room he’d just entered. He’d gone down to the front desk, booked a room, and brought a coffee up with him. He also had a new vial of fent he’d purchased from a guy standing on the street outside the casino.
He couldn’t stay in Annie’s suite and act normal no matter how much he wanted to be with her. He’d been on strong pain killers for so long he was hooked and there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it.
“Nothing I want to do about it. I need the relief from the pain. I crave it.”
Poker Room.
Annie and Lenny met Blaine, Tommy, and Casey in the poker room while Misty took Jackson and Lucy to see the Chris Angel magic show at the Luxor.
“Where’s Adam?” asked Blaine.
“He’s in his room, I guess,” said Annie. “He’s not feeling too sociable right now. I think it’s more than that, but he’s not telling me anything.”
Tommy sat next to Annie in a two-five no limit cash game and she asked him about Lukas. “I was hoping he’d come with us, Tommy, but he refused to leave Travis.”
“He’s hard to read, Annie. So quiet and you can’t tell what he’s thinking. He’s nothing like Linc. I mean he’s identical in looks and that freaks me out every fuckin day, but he’s not Linc—like friendly and funny—like that. Not even close.”
“You’re right. Lukas is at the opposite end of the spectrum from Lincoln. Lukas is a big-time introvert.”
Fisher Lake Trailer Park. Texas.
Around noon, the members of the Creed arrived at the trailer to give Travis a hand with the takedown of the Devils’ club. Nick had rounded up Cage, Aaron, Hunter, and Thorn to help them out. Travis introduced the men to Lukas, then he got everybody a mug of coffee.
“When would be the best time to hit the club?” asked Nick.
“Regular meeting starts tonight at nine-thirty or ten,” said Travis. “If we hit them around eleven we should catch most of the members there.”
“We’ll take a run into the city if you can give us the address and we’ll get the building set up while no members are around.”
“Yep, that’s the best way to go,” said Travis. “No personal involvement.”
When the Creed were gone, Travis said, “We need to have a talk to Glen and Dean. They can’t go to the meeting tonight and the best thing would be if y’all hopped on your bikes and went south to my place.”
“Okay,” said Lukas. “Do you think they will go with me, just because I tell them to?”
“Let’s go find out.”
“Yeah, I guess we’ll find out,” said Lukas.
At the other side of the trailer park, Dean and Glen were sleeping when Travis pounded on the door and woke Glen up. He opened the door with caution.
“Hey, didn’t expect to see you guys. We got no coffee.”
“That’s okay,” said Travis. “We don’t need coffee, but we do need to have a little talk.”
“What about?”
“About tonight’s meeting at the club.”
“Okay,” said Glen. “What about the meeting?”
“I don’t want you and Dean to go,” said Travis.
“We’re supposed to be at every meeting unless we have another assignment,” said Glen. “We have to go.”
“What I want you and Dean to do, is to go with Lukas to a place I have a few miles south of the city. Santana is pissed off with me for throat-punching him and tonight’s meeting is going to go for a shit. Dean can’t fight and he can barely ride.”
“Why are you helping us, Spyder? That’s the part I don’t get. Nobody ever helped me and Dean before. Not nobody in our whole fuckin lives.”
“Can you just stay away from the meeting tonight? Lukas will explain to you why we’re trying to help y’all.” Travis turned his head. “Right Lukas?”
“I’ll try.”
Steakhouse. Mirage Hotel and Casino.
Just after six thirty, Annie and her guests were being shown to her reserved table when Laine’s father caught up with them.
Laine let out a little squeal of excitement. “Dad, you’re here.”
Impressive looking in full uniform, a chest full of medals, the general hugged his daughter and kissed her on the cheek. Laine introduced him. “This is my father, General Tavestock.”
He smiled at the group and said, “Virgil. Virge is good enough.”
Annie shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Virge. Call me Annie.”
Once the entire family was seated, Laine went around the table and introduced everyone. “Almost all cops, Dad. We’re surrounded by Texas Rangers.” She turned to Farrell. “This is the cop I’m going to marry, Dad. Ranger Farrell Donovan.”
Virgil shook Farrell’s hand. “I’m happy to meet you, Farrell, and being surrounded by cops isn’t a bad thing.” He turned to Annie and grinned at her. “This beautiful lady doesn’t look like a Texas Ranger.”
“Nope. I raise horses. I’m just a rancher.”
Lenny rolled his eyes.
Annie watched Adam all through dinner as he silently picked at his food. She’d tried to catch his eye several times, but he averted his eyes and wouldn’t look at her.
After dinner, the general wanted to go to his room and change out of his uniform. “I lucked out and hitched a ride on a cargo plane going to Nellis. They brought me right to Vegas and I grabbed a Jeep from the motor pool.”
“You play poker, Virge?” asked Annie.
“Sure do. Shall I look for you in the poker room?”
“Yes, we’re a poker family.”
“And Farrell is your…?”
“My son. Adopted. You don’t know me or my family and this wedding is taking place rather suddenly, but I can assure you, Virgil, I run a tight ship. I know what is going on with all of my boys.”
“That’s one thing Lainey did mention to me on the phone, that Farrell was very close to his mother and his brothers.”
Annie smiled and wasn’t sure about her first impression of the general. Dark auburn hair cropped short, military style, a handsome face and a powerfully built body. She was getting a vibe from him.
The General was used to being in control.
The whole family had seats at various tables in the poker room when Neil and Montana arrived from Arlington.
Annie folded her hand and left her seat to hug both of them. “Let me get your room key out of my purse. Y’all must be tired.”
“I’m so excited to be in Las Vegas,” said Montana. “I didn’t think I’d ever see the day I’d hop on a plane and fly somewhere amazing. So many things are happening all at once in my life. Some days I have to give my head a shake.”
Neil laughed at Montana. She made him laugh a lot and Annie was grateful for that. Neil was a stellar person and he deserved happiness.
Devils Clubhouse. San Angelo. Texas.
Before Travis left the trailer for the last time, he cruised by Dean and Glen’s trailer to see if Lukas was still there with the boys.
Lukas’s ride was there parked beside the other two Harleys belonging to Dean and Glen. They hadn’t moved an inch.
Travis walked in the front door and gave them a shout out. “You guys still hanging around?”
Glen said, “Lukas has been telling us a story that’s hard to believe, Spyder. Me and Dean are of a mind not to believe what he’s telling us.”
“That’s up to y’all if you don’t want to believe it, but it’s a true story. Not a scam or anything like that. Just telling you and your brother that y’all have family you knew nothing about, and if you need us, y’all can reach out. That’s all there is to it. Tommy and Lukas don’t want anything from you or Dean. They just want you to know the truth. That’s it.”
Travis gave Lukas a wave. “I’m out of here. Let’s load your bike.”
“Me and Dean are gonna think it over, Spyder.”
“Sure. You do that. Let’s get going, Lukas.”
They loaded Lukas’s ride into the back of Travis’s truck and left the park behind.
“How did they take it?” asked Travis.
“Didn’t believe me. Just stared at me like I was speaking Russian or some fuckin thing.”
“We can prove it with DNA.”
“Shoulda seen the way they looked at me, Travis. Like I was a fuckin alien… like all green. Like that.”
“Probably the same way you looked at Tommy.”
Lukas laughed. “Could’ve been.” He let out a long breath. “Dean and Glen look like Farrell and Tommy. You can tell they’re all from the same family. I don’t look like them so much.”
“Neither did Linc,” said Travis. “You and Linc look more like Judy Donovan and your Aunt Gail. Gail is Judy’s sister who Tommy lives with in Austin.”
“Was Judy my mother?”
“Yep.”
“What happened to her?”
“That’s another long story we haven’t got time for right now, but I’ll tell you later.”
“Don’t forget because I want to hear about my mother. She must have been the one who cared about her kids. Tommy said it wasn’t our old man.”
“For sure, it wasn’t Jett Donovan,” said Travis.
Dunkin Donuts. San Angelo.
Travis drove south into the city, cruised by the clubhouse for a look, and met Nick and the Creed at a donut shop a couple of blocks away.
Travis got out of his truck to talk to Nick Trelawney and lit up a smoke. “Everything all set?”
“Yep,” said Nick.
“How many bikes there now?” asked Travis.
“About thirty,” said Lukas. “I counted them quick on our way by.”
“Okay, thirty is a good number. More than their usual turnout. Y’all go ahead and do your thing. I don’t want the dogs too close to the noise of the explosion. It will damage their hearing. Appreciate your help, guys.”
“No problem,” said Nick. “That’s what the boss pays us for.”
“Who’s their boss?” asked Lukas as Travis drove away.
“Annie-girl. The Creed is her team.”
“I like their jackets,” said Lukas.
Travis smiled. “Linc had one. Ask Annie for it.”
“Umm… now might not be a good time.”
“Might not,” said Travis. “You made her cry.”
Chapter Seventeen
Sunday, June 11th.
Bridal Suite. Mirage Hotel and Casino. Las Vegas.
“Today is the day,” said Farrell. He got out of bed and reached for his smokes. “This is your last chance to dump me and not be Mrs. Farrell Donovan.”
“What if I don’t want to dump you at the altar?”
“Then I’ll be happy if you show up. Yep. Pretty happy.” He laughed. “I’m so high on our wedding, I’m close to fuckin hysterical.”
“You make me laugh, Donovan. I think my dad likes you. He seemed to.”
“I don’t know. He kind of looked like he wanted to run me over with a Panzer.”
“Shut up. He did not.”
Farrell snorted.
“I was thinking,” said Laine, “since Neil is your best man, I’d ask Montana to be my maid of honor. Do you think she’d want to do it?”
“I think she would. Ask her at the wedding breakfast. What time do we have to be there?”
“Where’s the schedule Linda gave us?” asked Laine.
“I think it’s in the envelope with the license. Let’s not forget to take that with us.”
“I’d better get up,” said Laine. “I’m getting nervous and when I get nervous, I have to pee.”
“You never look nervous,” said Farrell.
“I’m a pro faker.”
“You’re my crazy girl and I can’t tell you how much I love you.”
