Zephyr's Promise

13

Vegas of all places. I had never been, but if you asked me if I thought I would be going with two of the most notorious men in the underworld I would have laughed in your face.

Yet, here we are the four of us on Atlas' helicopter. According to him there was no time for him to wait for his private jet to be prepared. Though I am not completely sure of what the rush is since we don't even have an ID on who we're looking for. I wouldn't vocalize my confusion.

Quite honestly I would prefer to be leaving Chicago, there seemed to be too many eyes. While the four of us knew of our true intentions, others in The Tower do not. Because of that I feel eerie about being in the building. Any second spent out of the penthouse was an opportunity for one of Atlas' men to attack. Our trip to Vegas wouldn't hold that specific fear. In Vegas I am not a threat to anyone. At least I hope I wouldn't be.

Then again Atlas and Axel seemed to follow their own path. Where others would avoid stepping on toes those two seemed not to care in the slightest. The more people they pissed off the more accomplished they seemed to feel.

"Here." Axel passes me papers with different faces on them. "Hand those to Atlas."

"Wait." Ira snatches the sheets out of my hand. "I know him. Ow, dammit." Fleetingly she glares at the back of Atlas' head at the turbulence. With the two of them together I wonder how we are ever going to make it to Vegas, let alone through it. Ira already rolled her eyes about seventy-two times at Atlas because he refused to wait for his private jet.

"Who do you know?" Axel asks. "Ira." He calls for her when she doesn't respond, still busy cursing Atlas in her mind.

"What?" She whines. Axel juts his head at the sheets in her hands. "Oh...Him." She points to a guy who looks like he's gotten lost in a can of gel and a mobsters closet. "That's Jasper." She rolls his eyes.

"We'll discuss this when we get to the villa."

Ira excitedly jumps. "That's what I'm talking about. It almost makes up for this crappy helicopter ride." Brightly she smiles with stars in her eyes. "Shopping, swimming, gambling. What more could a girl ask for after this hellscape Cristiano has abandoned us in." Oh God. I wouldn't be the one to tell her this isn't a private vacation, rather a mission. I'll let Atlas do that happily.

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"Oh my god." Ira screams when we arrive on the property.

"I should have duct taped her mouth." Atlas mumbles.

"This is beautiful." Ira walks up to the closed gate. "Open it up, I am ready to pick my room." Unexpectedly Atlas does as she says. I guess he's just as ready as she is to get inside the home.

Admittedly the home is absolutely stunning. During a relatively quick tour Axel explains they bought this property because of the privacy it provides. The villa resides in Henderson in what is known as Lake Las Vegas. The reservoir that has a developed 320 acre area around it is how this name has come about.

This home is just as put together as the penthouse. Neutral creams, grays and browns line this space. A modern home that perfectly aligns with the Vegas nightlife.

"Why do you have a place in Vegas?" Ira asks too no one in particular.

The brothers give each other a secretive look. Goofily Axel smiles making it clear he is the younger brother. His smile is teasing and I imagine the two of them interacting in the same way as children. No doubt Atlas was just as grumpy and brute as he is now then

"Does it matter?" Atlas walks away from the long wooden table that separates the living room from the open kitchen.

"He lost a bet." Axel chimes in.