“How did none of our team on the second floor realize what was happening?” Cole asks.
“You can tell by the footage it was a fairly busy night. Some kind of party,” Slater answers, and goes back to the images from the second floor. “The bar was fairly busy, and if you look over in the corner, they were all breaking up a fight.” He points to the back corner. Sure enough the three guards that were stationed up there that night are pulling people apart, trying to separate them. Taking all eyes off the bar.
“Cole, Hades doesn't have any big events planned for at least a couple of months. I want you over at Rapture,” Maverick orders.
Cole nods and his eyes flash over to me. I glare at him for a moment, letting him know that if he fucks this up, his balls are on the line. He seems to understand, giving me a small nod as well.
“Elias, when do you leave?” I ask. He looks at his watch.
“My flight leaves in three hours. I need to get going.”
“Flight? Where the fuck are you going?” My brow furrows, watching him with curiosity.
“None of your business, Karson. I have shit I need to take care of.” He levels me with a glare and a grin pulls at my lips. He turns to Mav. “If you boys got this, I really do need to leave.”
“Yeah, we got this,” Maverick answers. Elias nods, then makes his way around the room, saving me for last. When he gets to me, his expression is hard.
“You need to keep her out of there, Karson.” He lowers his voice so that only I can hear him.
“I know. It’s not going to be easy.”
“She’s going to raise hell…but youneedto keep her away.” His tone is urgent. Everyone knows that I’ve been chasing Ashlynn for the last year. Elias and Maverick are the only two that understand how much longer I’ve been trying to find her. I nod and he pulls me in for a one-armed hug, patting me on the back.
“You guys call me if you need me. I should only be a couple of days,” Elias tells everyone, and we all say our goodbyes.
After our morningshift meeting in the Pit, Maverick and I make our way to one of the many restaurants inside Perdition for breakfast and some coffee. We sent Cole home to get a few hours of sleep since he will start in Rapture tonight. He isn’t too excited about being in a bar environment again, but he understands the need.
We grab our food and drinks, then sit at one of the tables that’s next to the front window. After a minute of silence passes, Maverick speaks.
“I think we need to consider pulling in some more people for the parking garages. Build a booth for them with camera access. This is the fifth so far this year.” His green eyes search mine, and I nod in agreement.
“It’s not a bad idea. We definitely can't afford to pull anyone from the floor here.” I can tell he’s a little shaken. “Are you alright?”
He thinks for a minute before an affirmative grunt rumbles in his chest.
“Just glad Parker agreed not to not work there.” He looks back at me. He doesn't need to elaborate further. When she was taken from Doc’s last year, it went unspoken that she was done bartending. I honestly expected her to fight him a little bit on it, but she understood it was for her safety. She fought too long to have it and wasn’t about to risk losing it anymore.
“Think she can help me convince Ash to quit?” I ask, letting out an exhausted chuckle.
“She’ll never do it on her own. She gives Parker’s independence a run for its money.” He takes a sip of coffee and shifts in his seat. “You’re going to have to do something.” He raises a brow at me. He’s right. Ashlynn isn’t going to just quit because I said she needs to. If anything, she’ll pick up more shifts as a big ‘fuck you’ if I even suggest it. If I force it, she’ll hate me even more. But the alternative is something happening to her, and I can’t let that happen.
“Just so you know,” Maverick clears his throat. “If something happens to her best friend, Parker will fuck you up.” He lifts his coffee cup for another sip, his eyes boring into mine.
“I won’t let it.” I pull out my phone and text her.
Me
You’re not going into work tonight.
She fires back with a typical “eat shit” response, and I shove my phone back into my pocket.
“It’s gonna be a long night for you, huh?” Mav snorts and I feel anger roll over me in waves.
“Seems that way.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I’ve managedto stay out of Rapture for most of the night, spending time in the booth with Slater looking deeper at the footage he showed us this morning. I’m standing on a hot live wire today. I didn't trust that I wouldn't drag Ashlynn out of there kicking, screaming and causing a scene. We kept the camera that surveys the bar she's currently working at trained on her the entire time I was up there, but I needed to cool down before I showed up. My point will be driven home harder when she thinks I gave up, anyway.
