Casino, which looked as though the Eiffel Tower had been launched over the ocean and landed in the middle of the Vegas Strip.
The whole town was surreal that way. At one end of the street was the New York Hotel, which looked like a miniNew York City skyline, and theLuxor , which was shaped like a huge black glass Egyptian pyramid. At the other end was the Venetian, which sported a working canal complete with gondolas and
Venice-style streets. Around the world in less than two miles.
Angela's in there? Janie thought as she stared up at the replicaEiffelTower .Could it really be this easy?
Maybe it was. Maybe everything in her life didn't have to be a constant struggle. It would actually be a nice change.
Her jaw tightened as she thought of the reunion they'd finally have. She'd worried herself sick for too long, thinking that Angela had been kidnapped or murdered. If she'd been hanging out at a Vegas casino all this time without giving a thought to her concerned older sister…
Dammit. As long as she was safe and sound, that's all Janie cared about at the moment.
The yelling could wait until tomorrow.
She turned to Barkley. "So you're sure that you saw her here. In your vision?"
"It was another dream. I can't really get official visions. I've tried. I have to be asleep, and I see images. I saw the tower. And some strawberry crepes. And a guy wearing a beret. And I saw Angela."
Janie glanced at Quinn.
He shrugged. "The crepes sound like a solid lead to me."
"Okay." She took in a shuddery breath. "Let's go check it out."
They entered the hotel and headed straight for the casino area.
Janie scanned every face she could see until her eyes hurt.
Dammit, she thought.What am I even doing? There's no time for this. I'm putting all my faith in a psychic werewolf? What is wrong with me ?
"I don't see her." The strain showed through in her words.
Quinn touched her arm gently. "We're going to find her, Janie."
"But what if we don't?"
His expression stiffened. "Then I'll give you the stone and you will give your Boss the Eye. I won't try to stop you. Not if it means your sister's life. I'm not that much of a selfish bastard."
Then he touched her face, stroking his thumb across her cheek, and the world suddenly seemed to stop.
For a moment she couldn't hear the clanging and ringing sound of the slot machines. She didn't notice the swell of people around them in the casino.
He gave her a small smile. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Because I think I just fell more in love with you than I already was, she thought.
Before she could say anything, Quinn's gaze left her face and he pulled away from her. "Barkley! Where are you going?"
Barkley had started walking off in the opposite direction. He seemed to be sniffing along one of the walls, past a blackjack table, and then he disappeared behind a corner.
Quinn's forehead creased into a frown. He grabbed her hand, and they started walking quickly to catch up to the werewolf. "Maybe Barkleyis barking up the wrong tree—pun fully intended—but we need to keep him in sight."
"I wouldn't be surprised about any incorrect barking at this point."
"Well, I am absolutely positive that he was right about one thing."
"What's that?"
He grinned and his gaze glided down the front of her. "That dress is worth every penny you paid for it."
Despite the huge amount of worry she was working through—to say nothing about the fact her heart was beating a mile a minute because of Quinn's selfless offer a moment ago—she couldn't help but feel pleased at the reaction the dress had received so far. Especially from Quinn. Sure as hell felt better than dusty jeans and a sweaty tank top.
"It's Gucci. You should see the boutiques they have here. I'm going to be paying it off for months." She paused, thinking hard. "That is, if I live through the night."
A excited scream rang out as someone hit the jackpot on the progressive slots.
His appreciative gaze suddenly snapped back up to her face. "I want to meet this boss of yours. When you meet with him later, one way or the other, I want to come. I'm going to make sure he doesn't hurt you."
She laughed at that and didn't like how nervous it sounded. "You make it sound so easy."
"It is."
"It isn't. He's not a nice guy, Quinn. I'll deal with him the best I can. If you stick your nose where it doesn't belong—"
He stopped walking and grabbed her arms. "I won't let him hurt you."
"You're hurting me."
He let her go. "Sorry. Vampire strength."
She tried to smile but found that she couldn't. She watched Quinn out of the corner of her eye as they continued to follow Barkley through the casino.
Could she kill him?
No. Shecouldn't kill Quinn. Shewouldn't kill him.
However, could she kill Quinn if it meant saving her sister? What if that was the only option the Boss gave her?
She swallowed so hard it hurt.
Quinn glanced at her with concern after her long silence. "I mean it, you know. I will kick your Boss's ass if I get the slightest chance."
She shook her head at him and managed to smile a little.
"What?" he asked.