Even Mickey would have been hard-pressed to come up with an excuse for why cousin Mickey was sleeping at Iris’s two nights in a row.
He downed some more black coffee, its bitter flavor reminding him how he’d stolen out of her apartment like the thief he claimed to be while she talked to David in the kitchen. He’d wanted to spare her the indignity of an emotional scene. He’d wanted to be sure he didn’t fall prey to the urge to pop that self-important dildo in the nose.
Either she was in on this theft with Cosmo, or she was innocent-in which case she needed to have the freedom to live her planned-out future with David. Life, liberty and the pursuit of limited imagination. Limited passion. Mediocrity. God, she deserved better. But then, she’d set the parameters-one night, no strings, no promises.
“Mickey, listen.” Hunter’s voice dragged him back to the table. “We have ten million in gems that Cosmo claimed he stole, but no one’s ever reported the gems missing.”
“They’re killing people.”
“I know. But arresting Iris Fortune isn’t going to help find the killers. In fact, I think leaving Iris Fortune on the street may be our best bet.”
“She’d be safer locked up.”
Hunter tapped a staccato beat on the table with his forefinger. “So, do you want her arrested for breaking the law, or do you want her in protective custody?”
“She lied to me, Justin.”
“Come on, what did you expect? She thinks you’re a thief.”
Mickey ducked his head. The first time they’d come together in impetuous passion, all physical need. Hell, he knew the adrenaline rush that came with cheating death. She was high as a kite on it last night. But the second time they’d lingered over each other. He’d never forget the glow of her tawny eyes. God, she’d been magnificent all night-from the moment she came back to rescue him until nearly dawn. “Thief or not, she thought I was a good person.”
Hunter barked a short laugh. “Well, you shot that to hell this morning when you took the collar. How did you know?”
“Edgar hopped into a sunbeam and bam. At first I couldn’t believe it, and then I heard David come in.”
“And you ducked out.”
Mickey bristled. “Dammit, she’s got a life planned with him, and I’m just a blip on the radar. So yeah, collar in hand, David in the kitchen, I got the hell out of there.”
“And you’re the one talking about trying to keep her safe.”
“Look, Hunter, I do what I have to do to solve the case. I saved Iris’s life last night, and when I left her this morning, she was unharmed. So what’s your beef?”
“The harm isn’t always physical, you know. You can’t always be thinking of the job first.”
Mickey stilled as more of Suze’s words came back to smack him. You Kincaid men-always the law first, protect the innocent, save lives, but never any thought given to your families, your wives. You selfish bastards. His sister-in-law had always been honest and forthright.
Hunter paused over his tea. “She broke her engagement with Grantham.”
“What?” Mickey sputtered. No way had that been an accident-Hunter had purposely waited until he was trying to swallow a mouthful of coffee. He mopped at his chin with a napkin. “I have to go see her.”
“You can try, but she was screaming for your blood this morning.”
“You didn’t tell her the truth about me?”
“How was I supposed to know you wanted me to? You stole the one thing she believes might save her father, and then you took off. I’m not a mind reader.”
“Shit.” Iris must be so pissed at him. “But even if she thinks I’m a thief, she knows she can count on me to help Cosmo. I’ve been telling her that all along.”
“Actions speak louder than words, Mick.”
“When did you get so judgmental?”
“You didn’t see her this morning.” Hunter sighed. “She’s at her shop. Go talk to her. There’s a Bellagio security guard keeping an eye on things until Foote takes over at noon. I’ll tell him to check when he arrives and make sure she didn’t have you detained.”
“You wouldn’t leave me cooling my heels with Bellagio security all morning,” he scoffed.
“Are you kidding? You waited twelve hours before following up on a lead, you slept with a potential witness, you stole evidence from her apartment without any kind of warrant. You did just about everything you could to compromise this investigation. You’re lucky I’m not asking for your badge.”
Mickey stiffened under the lashing. “Why don’t you? If that’s how you feel?”
Hunter stared at him then slowly shook his head. “Because you look like shit. And there’s nothing more heartbreaking than watching a strong woman not cry. Now go fix it.”
“How?”
“Only you and she can decide that.”
Cosmo stood in the center of a spacious suite, humming “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” while he waited for his hostess. After leaving Roxana, he’d changed from janitor to Tasteful Tourist, with chinos and a polo shirt sporting a designer label.
Marko and Viktor wasted no time in making themselves scarce. Muttering something about coffee, they’d beat a hasty retreat upon Cosmo’s arrival. Viktor claimed Sergei was still asleep, but Cosmo had seen the boy hailing a cab out front. No doubt Sergei was eager to seek some adventure in this city. Though a Monday morning was pretty dull.
He looked over the suite with its bold colors, intricate woodwork and plush fabrics. The Bellagio had gone all out. But then the interior had to compete with that amazing view of the little villas, the wooded hillside, the lake with its stone bridges allowing traffic out to Las Vegas Boulevard. A little bit of Italy right smack dab in the middle of the desert.
God, he loved Vegas.
“Cosmo? What was that trick you pulled last night?” Tatiana entered the suite’s living room from one of the bedrooms using only a cane to guide her ungainly walk. She wore a pale pink skirt and white cotton blouse with a high ruffled collar, which only emphasized her patchy skin and turkeylike neck. The once-dramatic eyes were a little cloudy now, but despite any fatigue from her global journey, Cosmo could only hope that when he hit eighty, he’d have her energy.
“And where are my gems?” she demanded.
Not to mention her singleness of purpose. He awaited her advance without cringing, though he was poised to duck that cane if she swung it suddenly. He hadn’t forgotten the colorful threats she’d made when he’d first told her he was marrying Irina.
“Greet me properly.” She motioned him to embrace her, and when he did, she grasped him with surprisingly strong fingers around the shoulders and pulled him into a hug. Then she kissed him on both cheeks while he tried not to choke on her flowery perfume.
“I thought you were angry with me.”
“I am angry with you. But you are family.” She threw him a look as she settled herself onto the sofa with the grace of a ballerina. She’d once been a bareback rider with a circus. And he wasn’t buying that wheelchair act. Even at her age, she could probably still kick the shit out of him. If that proved too strenuous for her, her nephews would see to it that he never walked again.
Dammit, if Mickey hadn’t interfered, he might have had this all wrapped up by now.
Tatiana motioned for him to sit, so he sat. “You took them, didn’t you.” It wasn’t a question.
He nodded.
“Those gems have been in my family since before I was born. They are a talisman to ward off evil. And you would take that from us?”
“You said yourself they were copies.”
“Of the highest quality. They are a treasure. I want them back.”
Cosmo thought hard and fast. But the truth was, he’d been stalling ever since Sergei had warned him the family was flying out here. Things hadn’t gone as planned, and now he couldn’t think up any lies fast enough that would satisfy this dragon.