Page 56 of Just My Luck

“State.” Kit laughed. “Why must it be contained to just Nevada?”

Nova gasped again. “Really?”

“My darling, why don’t you finish your desert so I can take you up and show you my new suites?”

“I think I need more champagne to help wash down all this chocolate,” Nova said.

I could hear the worry now in her tone. She had to find a way to get out of going upstairs. Plus, she no doubt still wanted to get that smoking gun of his confession.

Nova’s mother had clued us in to several facts before we had all agreed on this crazy plan.

First, Nevada’s had strict wiretapping laws that rendered any illegally obtained recording completely inadmissible in court. Which meant that our game couldn’t be to use these recordings to help my case.

Instead, the recordings would be used as pure blackmail against Kit. Once we were armed with his own voice admitting to setting me up, Beth planned to back him into a corner—forcing him to use the very same political leverage and judicial influence he used to frame me into making the District Attorney quietly drop all my charges instead.

That was her backup plan at least. She had yet to confide her real plan to any of us. She claimed that was in case it didn’t work out. She didn’t want us to be disappointed.

“I find that sort of thing fascinating,” Nova said after a moment. “As fascinating as all this construction around us.”

“Maybe later I’ll tell you more,” Kit said, and my gut twisted.

“I want her out of there,” I hissed, and looked at her mother. “Make the call.”

“Hold on.” She held up her hand. “She hasn’t given the safe word yet.”

“I hate this whole thing,” Nova’s dad groaned.

I closed my eyes and listened as Nova tried again.

“What about the kid? I mean, was it really an underage girl?” Nova asked. “Is she okay?”

“Yes,” Kit said, then there was a long pause. “If I tell you a little more, will you come upstairs so we can forget all about Jax Mylonas?”

He said my name like it was a curse.

“I’d like that,” Nova purred. “Very much.”

“Fine.” Kit sighed. “She’s just…” There was another slight pause. “From an escort service. We keep them on retainer for situations like this.”

“Wow, like keeping a lawyer on retainer?” She giggled.

“Yes, but strictly off the books.”

“How does that happen? I mean, I’ve heard that saying before, usually in mob movies. How does someone actually keep things off the books?” Nova asked.

Kit chuckled. “My dear, I run a casino. How much cash do you think comes in and out of the doors in a single hour?”

“Oh, I guess I never thought of it like that,” Nova said, just as our hotel room door burst open. More than half a dozen men dressed in black quickly surrounded us.

Sofia squealed and wrapped her arms around Rick as he shielded her with his body.

Nova’s mother groaned while her dad jerked to get to his wife’s side. I froze in place, flashing back to the other day.

Nova and Kit continued to talk through the speaker as a man dressed head to toe in black strolled into the room.

“Son of a… Beth, I thought I told you this wasn’t a good idea.” he said, taking one look at Nova’s mother.

“Hi, Jonny.” Beth smiled “Everyone, meet my younger brother, Agent John Forrest, FBI.” She beamed up at the man. “He was my first option and my quiet move.” She grinned.