Page 31 of Lex

She huffed out a frustrated breath. “Apparently, I have enemies in two states now.”

Enemies whose names they needed to figure out fast.

“Hang on,” he growled, heading up the street then jerking the wheel hard and slipping into an alley. He floored it, racing past dumpsters, and careening out the other side. After a few more quick maneuvers, they found themselves back on the Strip, but on the opposite end from the Avernus.

Lex checked his mirrors but didn’t see their pursuers. “I think we lost them.”

Summer straightened up, turned and glanced out the back window. “Shit! Isn’t that them?”

Lex spotted the dark blue SUV a few cars back, weaving through traffic and gaining on them. He cursed under his breath, studying the snarl of congestion that laid ahead. There was no way he could outrun the other car in that mess, and if he started driving recklessly, he’d probably end up in a wreck. Their best option would be to ditch the vehicle and make their getaway on foot, blending into the throng of tourists and pedestrians. Then they could come back for it later when the coast was clear.

One of the great things about the Avernus was its top-notch security. Even if their pursuers discovered where they were staying, there’s no way they’d get inside and up to their room. And if by some chance they did, Lex would be ready. The weight of his Glock in its holster reassured him of that.

Turning off the main drag, he drove up the long drive to the closest hotel. “Get ready to run,” he told Summer.

“Oh, God.” She was clutching her seat cushion like a life preserver.

He heard the fear in her voice. “You’ve got this, sweetheart,” he assured her. “We’re going to jump out and blend right in with all those people over there. Then we’ll walk down to the sidewalk and disappear into the crowd.” Despite the hotel’s massive size, he didn’t want to get trapped inside, and he figured it would be better to stay on the street, blending into the thousands of people walking up and down the famous boulevard.

“Okay.”

“Ready?” She nodded, and he pulled up alongside the curb where they both hopped out. He skirted the front of the SUV, grabbed her hand and guided her straight into the throng of people walking, talking and heading away from the hotel and toward the sidewalk. “Don’t look back. Just keep walking,” he urged her, hurrying her into the center of the group, keeping them tucked in the middle.

As they kept pace with the group, he discreetly glanced over his shoulder. Dammit. The fuckers were still following them. But unlike the suits he’d run into at her house, these men looked more rough, sporting the same ink Summer had described. They were too close for comfort, and Lex could see the ace of spades on the one thug’s cheek.

How had the men known he and Summer were coming to Vegas? What was in the container they wanted so badly? Where the hell was Scott fucking Holt, and what had he dragged Summer into? Lex had far too many questions and not enough answers.

All of a sudden, the crowd thinned out and, instead of being surrounded by people, they found themselves exposed and in the open. Lex tugged Summer with him, blocking her with his body, trying to keep her covered and not a target. They hustled forward, and he was debating whether or not to duck into the nearest store, when two loud pops shattered the air.

Fuck! He identified the sound of gunfire instantly and tackled Summer to the ground, covering her as he yanked out his Glock. People in the vicinity screamed and scattered as Lex raised his weapon, preparing to fire if necessary. As he quickly assessed the situation, one thing became instantly clear—one of their pursuers was down.

Lex scanned the area, searching for the shooter. What in the actual fuck was going on?

“Was that gunfire?” Summer practically screeched, trying to peer around him.

“Get inside!” He pulled her off the ground and shoved her toward the nearest shop. Meanwhile, the other guy—ace of spades—took off in the opposite direction, weaving through panicked people trying to find cover from the chaos.

Pop, pop! More bullets fired, and this time, Lex was able to determine they’d come from an elevated position. This was hardly his first rodeo. Definitely not the first time he’d been caught in the middle of gunfire. And based on what he was gathering about Summer’s ex, it probably wouldn’t be the last.

With Summer secure in what looked like a candy shop, Lex raced forward, his focus zeroing in on a man perched in a second-floor window. The shooter. He saw him fire again, and he seemed focused on Ace. Raising his weapon, Lex took careful aim and pulled the trigger. He didn’t intend to hit him, but he wanted the other man to stop shooting before someone else got hit. The bullet slammed into the window frame, and the shooter jerked back, disappearing from sight. As much as Lex wanted to race after him, he didn’t want to leave Summer unprotected. A quick glance told him she was watching from the shop window, her face lined in worry.

On his way back to her, he paused near the downed thug who’d been chasing them. He spotted the scorpion tat on the back of his hand, along with other black markings inked along his fingers and knuckles. A total gangbanger. Lowering to a squat, Lex saw no reason to check the man’s pulse. Two bullets had ended his life in an instant—one to the heart, one to the head. A professional hit.

Police sirens filled the air as Lex plucked his phone out and snapped a picture of the dead man’s face. He’d send it to Brand. Hopefully, they’d be able to use some of Mitch Evans’s illustrious resources to help them find out the thug’s identity. If Scorpion was in the system, Mitch’s people would find him.

Standing up, Lex slid his gun back into its holster and headed straight to the candy shop. Before he could reach it, the door flew open and Summer threw herself into his arms.

“Oh, my God, Lex.” She drew back, running her hands over his chest, checking to make sure he was unscathed, and then cupped his face. Fear shone in the depths of her brown eyes. “I was so scared.”

“I wasn’t going to let anything bad happen to you,” he rumbled.

“I was scared for you.”

Me? He blinked, her confession catching him completely off guard. When was the last time anyone had been concerned about his safety? Usually, he was the one swooping in to help others. And now this slip of a woman was holding him, checking him over for wounds, because…she cared?

His chest tightened as he forced out, “I’m okay, sweetheart.”

Before she could say anything else, two police cruisers pulled up to the curb. They stayed and, along with several other witnesses, told the officers what they saw. But Lex didn’t get into any specific details. And he certainly didn’t mention they’d been followed by the dead thug. No, Lex intended to keep whatever was happening with Summer and her ex under wraps until he had more answers.