What Happens in Vegas

Whatever else he said was lost to the roar of the engine. My running partner gunned the throttle, and the boat surged forward in a wonderful rush of wind and noise.

Thank God!

For a few moments he was cutting the wheel left and right, weaving the bow through a series of random S-turns that I knew were designed to make us a harder target. No other shots rang out, no more splashes bloomed in the water. By the time we reached the end of the jetty, I felt almost safe.

Gradually, I stood up.

“Who are you guys?” I demanded.

I moved next to the driver, watching as he steered us around the jagged rock wall and into open waters. The boat sliced easily through the choppy waves and out into the darkness of the Aegean Sea. It wasn’t the smoothest ride, but it wasn’t terrible either.

“We’re friends,” the guy steering the boat said. “Call us… friends with common interests.”

I braced my legs and crossed my arms. “Got a name, friend?”

“Sure. Holden.”

I stared back at him. Compared to Randall, who wore dark jeans and a black T-shirt, my hero looked like the most overdressed boat captain ever.

“Holden, huh?” I thought I could see the slightest hint of a wry smile. “That your first name or your last name?”

“Does it really matter?”

“I suppose not.”

He shrugged. “Then it’s both.”

“You can call him dickhead if you like,” Randall jumped in, sidling up on my other side. “That’s what I always do.”

I pursed my lips in mock consideration. “You really think he looks like a dickhead?”

“Either that or a fuck-face,” Randall answered gleefully.

“I was thinking more along the lines of a douche-nozzle.”

The bearded man stared back at me like he’d just found a favorite new playmate. “She’s sassy! I like that!” He patted me hard on the shoulder before turning to Holden. “Okay fine. She comes with.”

Comes with… My mind was still spinning a mile a minute. Comes with where?

“Wait!” I said abruptly, whirling around again. “What about your other friend?”

“Other friend?”

“The third guy!” I exclaimed. “Six foot six? Packed with muscle?” They still weren’t getting it. “Looks like a bear?”

Fucks like a demon… the little voice in my head teased.

Silently they shook their heads.

“He was with me,” I said, squirming a little at the double entendre. “Well… sort of. I saw him up in the upper chambers. When I was… well…”

They were both staring back at me in confusion now.

“He’s not with you?”

The men looked at each other for a moment, and I could see something unspoken pass between them. Something new.

“No third guy here, Babydoll,” said Randall. He turned sideways, and his beard flapped wildly in the wind.