The casino had been locked down within minutes.
Security guards sealed every exit.
Guests were escorted out in waves of confusion and whispered speculation.
Sirens echoed somewhere outside on the Strip.
Inside the private VIP lounge, the atmosphere was colder.
More controlled.
More dangerous.
Allegra stood near the window overlooking the empty casino floor.
The glittering lights still flashed across the tables, but the room below looked strangely hollow now.
Like a stage after the audience had left.
Behind her, Rafael entered the room quickly.
"We checked the balcony," he said.
"And?"
"No shooter."
Aiden leaned against the wall near the door, arms crossed.
"Of course not."
Rafael frowned.
"You sound certain."
Aiden nodded slightly.
"Professional shooters don't stay around to get caught."
Allegra didn't turn from the window.
"What did we find?"
Rafael hesitated.
"Just one thing."
That got her attention.
She turned.
Rafael placed a small object on the glass table.
A brass shell casing.
Allegra stepped closer.
Aiden picked it up.
His expression changed slightly.
"What?" Rafael asked.
"This isn't random."
Allegra folded her arms.
"Explain."
Aiden turned the casing in his fingers.
"This is military-grade ammunition."
Rafael's eyebrows lifted.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
He placed the casing back on the table.
"Not something you buy at a regular gun store."
Allegra studied the bullet carefully.
"So we're dealing with a professional."
"Yes."
"And someone who planned this."
"Yes."
Rafael exhaled slowly.
"This is getting worse."
Allegra shook her head.
"No."
Both men looked at her.
"This is getting clearer."
Aiden watched her carefully.
"How?"
"Whoever did this wanted me dead."
"That's obvious."
"No."
Her voice sharpened slightly.
"If they really wanted me dead…"
She pointed toward the balcony above the casino floor.
"They would have taken the shot before you noticed them."
The realization hit both men at the same time.
Aiden straightened slightly.
"This was a warning."
Allegra nodded once.
"Yes."
Rafael looked uneasy.
"From who?"
Allegra's eyes darkened.
"Someone who knows our family very well."
Silence fell over the room again.
Because they all understood the implication.
The sniper hadn't just known where Allegra would be.
He had known exactly where to shoot from.
Which meant one thing.
He had inside information.
Aiden spoke quietly.
"Someone told him."
Rafael nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Allegra looked between them.
"And that someone…"
Her voice turned cold.
"…is inside this family."
The words hung heavy in the room.
Aiden watched her carefully.
Most people would be shaken by that realization.
Allegra looked almost calm.
Too calm.
Finally Rafael spoke again.
"What do you want to do?"
Allegra walked slowly toward the door.
Her heels echoed softly on the marble floor.
"We start with the security team."
Rafael frowned.
"The guards?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Allegra stopped and looked back at him.
"Because someone disabled the cameras."
Rafael nodded slowly.
"And?"
"And whoever did it knew exactly when I would be here tonight."
Aiden's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That information didn't leave this house."
"Exactly."
Allegra opened the door.
Then she looked at Aiden.
"You said my father hired you to find a traitor."
"Yes."
Her gaze hardened.
"Congratulations."
She stepped into the hallway.
"You just got your first real lead."
Aiden watched her walk away.
And for the first time since arriving in Las Vegas—
He realized something unsettling.
Finding the traitor in the Di Sante family might be difficult.
But surviving Allegra Di Sante while doing it…
Might be even harder.