Nic thought it was a bit ironic that most of the club’s members weren’t even alive during those days. The different families, including his own, still had a presence in Sin City, but now, giant multinational corporations controlled the casinos and the real money. Still, there was always room for the families to bank a fortune by controlling the industries that supplemented the casinos and attractions. Most of Romeo’s dealings were legitimate—beverage distribution contracts, real estate, construction, and the like—but just like Nic’s father, Romeo had no problem acquiring those contracts by strong-arming the competition or driving anyone who stood in his way out into the desert for a one-way scenic tour.

Still, despite anything Romeo had done, he was a teddy bear compared to Nic’s father, the ruthless and infamous Tommy Jewels.

Nic was lost in memories of visiting the Horse’s Head with his father during his youth, and so he didn’t notice that Burke had already exited the Firebird and reached the door. Burke pulled on the handle and then knocked.

Nic quickly helped LJ from the backseat because he knew that Burke would be in need of rescue when that door opened. But Nic was too late, the metal door parted, and a set of massive arms grabbed Burke by the shirt and lifted him from the ground.

The voice attached to the arms sounded more like the low growl of a grizzly bear than a person. “Members only. You’ll have to find your Strawberita elsewhere.” Then the massive arms shoved Burke back toward the curb.

To Nic’s surprise, Burke kept his balance and stepped toward the behemoth of a bouncer. Burke looked the six-foot-six bald man right in the eyes and said, “We have business with your boss. And if you lay those sausages you call fingers on me again, I’ll bite them off.”

Nic arrived in time to stop Joey from twisting Burke into a pretzel. He placed a hand on the big man’s chest and said, “He’s with me, Joey.”

The rage in the bouncer’s eyes only faded slightly. “Nicky Jewels. It’s been a long time,” Joey said.

“Yeah, probably Junior’s funeral. How’s your Ma?”

“Eighty-four years old and still running the restaurant. She had a stroke last year, but I knew she was too stubborn to die. She always said that she’d die in her kitchen, not some damn hospital.”

Nic laughed. “She’s tough. I still have nightmares about that time she caught me eating the cream for the cannolis.”

Joey didn’t return Nic’s smile. “You know it’s nothing personal, Nicky, but cops aren’t welcome here.”

“Just tell Romeo that his great niece would like to say hello. We’ll be quick.”

LJ gave Joey a wave and a smile, but his scowl only deepened. “Wait here,” he growled.

Burke signed something to LJ that Nic didn’t quite catch. She giggled and signed back, “I know right.”

“What did you just tell her?” Nic asked.

“That we may have located the missing link, and that I’m calling in National Geographic.”