Vegas Virgin (Nevada Bad Boys 1)

“Ah, Vincent. You come to us empty handed? That isn’t the deal we made.” Gill walked out of the room and motioned for me to lift my arms.

“I don’t have a gun.” I lifted my arms without hesitation and let him search me.

“You also don’t have any jewelry, unless you stuffed it up your ass.” He took a step back and glared at me.

“I need to speak with Mr. King.” I let my arms fall to my side after Gill was done searching me.

“If Gill didn’t find anything during that search, your pockets appear to be quite light.” I heard Mr. King’s voice and turned to see him walking out of the same room Gill had exited from.

“I need to make a new deal with you.” I stared at him as he approached.

“A new deal? You haven’t even fulfilled the terms of the deal we made earlier today.” His ragged voice echoed through the room. “Have you reconsidered saving the lives of those poor girls you put in danger with your foolishness?”

“No, I still expect to get a bullet for what I did, but I didn’t tell you the truth earlier. I didn’t rob your jewelry store on my own and while I was making that deal with you, the man I thought was my best friend left town with all the jewelry.” A sigh escaped my lips.

“I see.”

Mr. King nodded. “Gill, go get the one girl—the one he gave the necklace to—Peoria.”

“Yes, sir!” Gill nodded and disappeared.

“If you’ll agree to let the girls go, Mr. King, I’ll tell you who has your jewelry. I know someone with your resources can track him down. You can kill me once she’s safe. I won’t fight you or even resist.” I held up my hands in an act of submission for the first time in my life.

“I wish it was that simple, Mr. Crane.” Mr. King let out a long exhale and shook his head. “I’m a man that believes in honoring deals. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I let people get away with breaking them. You can save one of the girls in exchange for the information you can offer about the person who has my jewelry. If you don’t choose Peoria, you’ll have to watch her die in front of you. If you choose Fiona, you’ll have to look into Peoria’s eyes when you sentence her best friend to death.”

“You’re going to kill me anyway! What is the point of that!?” My blood stared to boil. “They didn’t do anything to you!”

“Vincent!” I heard Peoria’s voice and turned to see Gill walk her into the main part of the club.

“Hi, Peoria.” I would have smiled if I possible, but with the decision Mr. King put on my shoulders, I couldn’t even muster one.

“What will it be, Vincent? Do you want to watch Peoria die or do you want me to kill her friend?” Mr. King turned towards me.

“What?” Peoria’s face turned from an expression of happiness to one of despair. “You said we could go free!”

“I don’t have the jewelry, Peoria.” I turned towards her and shook my head.

“Vincent...” Her eyes started to fill with tears. “Choose me. Let Fiona live her life, because honestly—if you’re going to die, then I’d rather die too.”

“Don’t be silly.” I snapped at her with a rough tone. “We didn’t even know each other a few days ago.”

“Love is strange, isn’t it, Vincent?” Mr. King shook his head. “The heart is mysterious.”

“Let them both go.” I turned back to the older man.

“No, that deal is no longer on the table.” He shook his head back and forth.

I had one chance. I had to take it. Everything that mattered to me was in the room and the only thing standing between us was one old man from a forgotten time.

I spent my youth hearing stories about the Mob. I heard about how heroic they were, how much money they made, and how much they were feared. Floyd and I used to dream of one day following that path, living outside the law while we made more money than we knew what to do with. I had seen the reality of the world they created—all the lost souls that dreamed of that kind of life.

The fear was fading and there was nothing heroic about Mr. King. I tried to show him respect. I tried to do the right thing, even when the wrong thing got me in the position I was in. I would have laid down my life for Peoria to live, but I wasn’t going to make the choice he put in front of me. I wasn’t going to die with Fiona on my conscience and send Peoria home regretting the moment she met me. I moved quickly—quicker than I had ever moved in my life. I spun towards Mr. King and with a snap of my arm, I had my forearm pressed to his esophagus. I lifted him off the ground immediately, letting him dangle in my arms.

“Let her go!” I looked directly at Gill. “If you don’t, I’ll snap this old man’s neck.”

“Fuck him!” Mr. King’s ragged voice was forced out over the grip I had on his throat. “Kill her and then kill him!”

“Mr. King...” Gill’s eyes got wide.