I was surprised he’d share that. “Well did the guys find anything out?”
“Not a damn thing.”
I stared at him and from the way he looked at me I could tell there was more he wanted to say, or wanted me to say. So I took the bone he was throwing me.
“With security tight the way it is, I’m real shocked those guys got all the way to the conference room. Even had a drink, maybe two. Fuck, I thought it was Fort Knox when I first got here. I was searched and questioned before I could even speak to you. I’m a little offended to be honest.”
His face hardened. “Mr. Cage, you…” His voice trailed off.
“Me? What me? What were you going to say? I took this job, got on the wrong side of the knights because I’m told I basically got special treatment. Got bumped up the line and inside the Castle where you supposedly keep your secrets. Now the question is why? You’ve exhibited very erratic behavior Boss. Acting like someone who has something to hide.”
“How dare you? You forget you work for me. I could fire you right the fuck now Xander Cage.”
I smiled at him. “But, you won’t. Know why? It goes back to that thing, the thing from the beginning. The recruitment. You’re looking for the strongest guys. Attention to detail you said. That’s me. You need me and you know all your knights put together couldn’t make one of me. You also fucking know that someone let the bad guys in last night and spoiled the party.” I paused knowing what I had to say next would really get him. “You know that when it came to it, I was the only person who did exactly what I was told, what you told me to do. I dropped everything and went for the girl. I protected your daughter first above all else. Even you, Boss. Pretty sure you would have given that talk to all your other knights.”
That got him. Got him good.
He blew out a breath and balled his fists, staring me down.
“What’s going on Giovanni?” I added. Best to cut to the chase while I had him cornered. “What is happening? I wasn’t aware that incidents like last night could just happen like that.”
“They don’t.”
“So, who do you believe these guys are?”
He gave me a long hard stare. At first it seemed like he wasn’t going to say anything else or give me an answer. Then his face softened easing the hardness in his eyes.
“Terrorists,” he breathed and I had to say that my nerves spiked and my stomach clenched. “A terrorist group.”
“What?”
“You heard me and I won’t say it again. That is the answer.”
That was very interesting, considering his association with The Chameleon meant he was in league with a would-be terrorist. Maybe he wasn’t though.
In fact it would make more sense for him as a mobster not to be. So who were they all working for?
It could be anyone and realistically it could still be some terrorist group. I couldn’t rule that out.
So, two big players were in this game and he was a pawn.
Who would have a mob boss as a pawn and what kind of terrorist group would go after him.
And… he’d said terrorist group. Like he might know who they were.
Jesus… it really did get harder every hour. It was hard to believe that this was still the same day and it wasn’t even mid-day yet.
Fuck.
“What makes you think they’re terrorist?” I had to ask.
“They’re the only people who are big enough to take me on.”
“Why? Did you do something?”
“No.”
But he had something. Those prints in the hands of terrorists would screw us all to fucking kingdom come.
“Do you have something they want?” Again that was me pushing more than my foot through the door, just to see how far I could get.
How much would he tell me?
“I have a lot of things, Mr. Cage. I’m the Vegas King.” He smiled.
I should have expected a shit answer like that. Great. He wouldn’t even give me a fucking clue.
“Terrorists usually want something. They don’t just come out of the woods just like that.”
“Yes, of course. I forgot you were a marine. Lieutenant. You’re used to this.”
No one had called me lieutenant in years. it was strange to hear it and reminded me of a different life I used to have.
“Who are they Giovanni?” I prodded brushing away memories of the past. I wasn’t that guy anymore. I wasn’t Lieutenant Cage. I wasn’t even Agent Cage.
His gaze became harder. “Does it matter?”
Based on experience, I knew it mattered. “Of course it matters.”
“All you need to know is what I need you to do in relation to your job. I have my foot soldiers on the streets checking things out. The knights all know what to do. One of you will watch Jia at all times. You will alternate in working the casino and keeping watch on the place and keeping watch on her until I change things up.”
“Right.”
“We’re done here.”
I stood up to go. He cleared his throat though.
“One more thing.” He stopped me.
I turned back to him. “What’s that?”
“Jia. Don’t think I haven’t noticed your fascination with her. I’m grateful for last night. Very grateful and indebted to you. But do not act as if you were just doing your job. As a concerned father I’m cautioning you in any relations you have with her.”
Wow. This was just what I needed now, getting the daddy dearest talk from him.
“My relations?”
“Don’t fuck with me. I’m not some schmuck with a pea for a brain. Do your job when it comes to her, and that is all. Keep your dick in your pants. I have chosen Armand for her.”
This guy… he was a real son of a bitch. Definitely hands down. He wasn’t even worth the mouthful I would have dished him.
It was fine.
I needed to hear that. I did.
The sooner I was done with this gig the better.
I’d leave and I’d never see her again.
It would be for the best.
For her.
“Do you remember the code?” Wes asked in my ear.
I chuckled and rolled my eyes even though I knew he couldn’t see me.
“Of course,” I replied.
It was worry that made him extra careful over me. I couldn’t blame him.
It was the worst time for me to be snooping around, but also the best.
I spent the whole of last week figuring out everyone’s movements. A week, making it two weeks since I’d been on the job. Intel still maintained that Giovani had the prints.
It may have seemed like things were moving slow on my part but honestly it was good that I’d waited since Giovanni had shuffled everyone around in their duties. I had to wait for everything to calm down after the shooting.
He had three knights on the casino floor and the other two split between watching the hotel, watching Jia or accompanying him.
Everyone was doing a different job at different times of the day.
It didn’t escape me that I hadn’t been placed with Jia and there was a chance I wouldn’t.
All good. That just meant I was exactly where I needed to be. The castle with the vaults.
I was at the furthest end while Frankie and Vinny were in the courtyard.