Page 33 of Maximum Bet

Sure enough, the man turns the opposite direction, assuming the girls walked the perimeter toward the far wall.

“Lucas says they’re good.” Leo taps on his earpiece.

Marco’s phone buzzes with a text.

“Dad asked if he got us enough time.”

“Tell him he was spot on.” I nod.

The entrance to the security hub clicks open, attracting our attention. Amanda, Sadie, and Cassandra rush in, expressions laced with concern. Lucas follows behind.

“What the hell happened?” Amanda asks, joining us at Marco’s side.

“Unexpected visitors,” Leo explains.

“Who?” Cassandra’s eyes search mine as her chest rises and falls with anxious breaths.

I glance at Sadie, unsure how much she knows about our adversaries.

“You can trust me.” She rolls her eyes. “I was in California with Cassie when she got abducted, remember?”

At my side, I fist my hands, rage building with the reminder. “We think a few members of the Kozlova family and the Medina Cartel crashed the party.”

“What are they after?” Amanda asks.

Cassandra snorts, tipping her head back, face toward the ceiling. “If I had to guess, I’d say they’re looking for all of us.”

“That’s our theory,” Leo says, turning to the monitors and frowning. “They’re on the move.”

Our whole group crowds around as our associates flip between cameras, following the four men.

The Bratva soldier from the ballroom is back in the casino, speaking into his watch while both cartel members stand from gaming tables and beeline toward the elevator bank near the lobby.

“Where the fuck are they going?” Marco asks.

“I don’t get it.” Lucas crosses his arms as he stands straight. “I’ve got men stationed there.”

“They don’t know we’re watching them.” My lips curl at the side. “They still think they have the upper hand.”

The Bratva pair meet by the casino bar. To anyone on the floor, they look like they’re nonchalantly enjoying the party as they stroll toward the main elevators. The four men remain in their duos, pretending not to know each other. When they arrive at the elevator bank, one of the cartel members hits the up button.

A Romano-Tariello associate eyes them warily and nudges the soldier beside him.

“Lucas, tell our guys to let them go upstairs,” I instruct.

Lucas mumbles into his earpiece, and our men glance discreetly toward our surveillance camera.

The quartet of adversaries enters a lift and nods at the bellhop, placed to ensure people only visit the floor we have open for preview.

“Shit.” Lucas reaches over to a keyboard, switching the feed so we can see inside the elevator. He turns up the volume as thiscamera has an audio option. “I shouldn’t have left Danny on his own.”

We focus on the screen, realizing how much danger our young soldier is in without backup.

“He’s armed?” I ask.

“Yeah,” Lucas says. “He’s well trained, but I doubt he can take on four guys at once.”

“Tell him to exit the elevator when it stops. Act like he’s ushering the guests onto the floor.”