“That must’ve been where all the money came from,” Mannie piped up. “In your room. Your winnings. Though I still don’t know how you got away with winning that much money without them knocking on your door this morning.”
“If they do, they’ll find a pretty pissed off goose,” Kade said, pulling out his cell phone. His grin abruptly faded as he swiped the screen, his expression turning grim. “Shit.”
“What?” Blane asked.
“Found out what happened to Liz and Brandy.” Kade handed the phone back to Blane.
On the screen was a photo of the two women. Both were bound, their wrists and ankles tied, and gags in their mouths. Still wearing the cocktail dresses from last night, they looked unharmed, but scared.
“Who sent that?” Blane’s voice was sharp.
Kade’s reply was succinct. “Péng.”
Chapter Five
They pulled up to a tall office building, the rays of the setting sun were blinding as they reflected off the glass. The name of the company was prominently displayed in glowing blue neon letters.
Mannie parked in one of the many vacant spaces. Though it was a weekend, there were still quite a few cars in the lot.
“Online gambling is open twenty-four-seven,” Kade said. “But without the free drinks.”
“What do you want to do with him?” Blane asked, nudging Ray. “Bring him in?”
“Might as well,” Kade said. “But let’s not say he’s dead just yet. How about…really hung over?”
“A pulse is required for hung over,” Blane replied, his tone dry.
“No one’s going to check his pulse.”
“He smells.”
Kade pulled off the cardboard tree that hung from Mannie’s rearview mirror and tossed it at Blane. “Rub this on him. He’ll smell piney fresh.”
Kade checked the gun he’d taken from Tommy, ejecting the magazine and examining it before knocking it back in. He tucked it into the back of his jeans while Blane climbed out.
“How many shots you got?” Blane asked.
“Seventeen.”
Somehow, they managed to get Ray up and out of the car, bracing him between them again. Mannie elected to stay behind.
“I just want my audition,” he said, giving Kade a hard look. “So you’d better be thinking of how to make that happen.”
“Don’t threaten me, munchkin,” Kade retorted.
“Don’t insult your ride, douchebag,” Mannie shot back.
A grin flashed across Kade’s face, then was gone.
“Just keep the Purple People Eater fired up and ready to go,” Kade said. Blane adjusted Ray’s sunglasses, leaving the neck pillow behind.
There were two security guards inside the lobby and they descended on Blane and Kade like flies.
“Bringing the boss-man home,” Kade told them, flashing a grin. “Rough night, if you know what I mean. But I swore I wouldn’t tell. What happens in Vegas…”
“Mr. Péng is looking for him,” one of the guys said. “Take him to the twenty-fifth floor. His office is there. I will inform Mr. Péng that he has arrived.”
“You got it.”
Blane felt their eyes on his back as they headed for the elevator, which thankfully was empty. Kade hit the button for the correct floor. Neither of them spoke, keeping their eyes straight ahead. Both men were aware there was a one hundred percent chance that a camera was recording them.
The elevator dinged and they hauled Ray down the hall to a huge office with his name on the door. Maneuvering around the desk, they finally flopped him down in the executive chair with its back to the windows lining the wall.
Kade arranged Ray’s arms on the chair and repositioned the sunglasses.
“That’ll have to do,” he muttered, swinging around as the man who had to be Péng walked through the door.
“It’s about time you got here,” Péng said. He was flanked by two men in dark suits. “I hoped the photo of the women would provide an added incentive.” His accent was thick but his English impeccable. He glanced at Ray. “Did you think I would forgive you double-crossing me, Raymond?”
“Ray had a little too much to drink,” Kade said. “He’ll have to take a rain check on that, but yeah, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t want to double-cross you.”
“I saw what that device can do,” Péng said. “Your demonstration last night was quite effective, though I am not pleased that you are tripling your price.”
Tripling? Blane thought, but he didn’t look at Kade, preferring to keep his eyes on the security guards.
“An investment that’ll bring you ten times that when the casinos have to shut down their slots and spend months, maybe years, rebuilding their technology,” Kade said.
“Perhaps,” Péng said. “But thirty million dollars is a lot of money.”
Holy shit. As if it wasn’t a big enough shock that Kade’s fun “challenge” he’d done on a lark was worth ten million, now it seemed he was shaking down a dangerous man for thirty.
“So your counter-offer was to…kidnap our dates?”
“You acted in bad faith and upped the ante, if you will pardon the expression.”
“Where are the girls?” Kade asked.
“You can have them back once I have the device,” Péng countered.
“What if I’ve decided not to sell?”