Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
A lex s first tip that something was wrong was the giant pickup truck in his reserved space. It was the kind where you needed a step to get into the cab even if you had long legs like his. The bed extended at least three feet beyond the painted white lines.
What the fuck? he grumbled, turning the wheel of Rafe s black Land Rover away from his usual spot. He d bullied Rafe into leaving it with him after he d dropped him and his mother at the rehab facility. Now, he was taking advantage of his exhausted mother s nap to check on the Richardson wedding. His nerves buzzed, and a million wedding disaster scenarios fought each other in his brain. Each one resulted in Ray Richardson publicly berating him and promising he d use every tool he had to ensure Alex never got his hands on the Paradise.
He carefully pulled the SUV into a space at the end of the row. Show up late one Saturday and everything goes to hell, he muttered.
Though since it was probably one of the Richardson wedding guests who d stolen his spot, he d overlook it this once. This wedding, if it was successful, put everything he wanted in his grasp. And that was the reason he d left his mother in the care of the nursing staff to check on the results of Mary s careful planning. It wasn t that he didn t trust her, not exactly, but that the stakes were too high for anything to go wrong.
He stepped down from the Land Rover. As he turned toward the hotel, a small crowd of people in the middle of the next row of cars caught his eye. A maintenance person wearing coveralls—though they were blue instead of La Villa s standard-issue black—crouched on the pavement. Standing next to him was a Black man in a tuxedo and…was that Evie McAlister, his former employee? He strode toward them for a better look.
Before he reached them, the man in coveralls leaped up, his hand in a fist. Got them! he roared triumphantly.
Alex froze. That voice…that enormous build…it was Mary s brother Michael. What the fuck was he doing here?
Michael dropped something into Evie s hand, and she polished it with a cloth, then handed it to the man in the tux. He hugged Evie, then opened his arms to hug Michael but at the last minute, thought better of it and clapped him on the shoulder. Smart man, if he wanted to keep blood off his tux. The well-dressed man strode toward the main entrance to the hotel.
Evie looked up at Michael with an elated smile, but soon it faltered, and she glanced away. She stiffened when her gaze fell on Alex. She punched Michael s arm and muttered something.
Alex forced a careless swagger into his stride. Miss McAlister. As I recall, you no longer work at La Villa. May I ask what you re doing here?
Someone who wasn t paying attention might have missed it, but he noticed Michael edging slightly in front of Evie.
It s not your business what she s doing here, Michael growled. We re not inside La Villa.
As a business owner, certainly you understand that my property extends to the parking lot, which you were clearly tampering with. Alex nodded at the crowbar next to the displaced grate at Michael s feet. I ask again, what are you doing here, Miss McAlister? Or do I need to call security?
I m all the security?—
Evie silenced Michael with a hand on his arm. One of the guests lost an item in the drain here. Mary asked us to help.
I see. And where is Mary?
She s…um…I m sure she s close by. I ll call her.
Alex s blood turned to resin in his veins, stiffening his body. No, I ll call her. He lifted his phone to his ear.
Evie nudged Michael. We ll just…
Stay, Alex barked as Mary s phone rang. She d ignored his call earlier. Would she pick up now?
Hi, Alex. Everything s going great. How s your mom?
Everything didn t sound great. More like she d taken someone s Adderall and washed it down with Red Bull.
She s fine. How are you?
Great. Just great. Everything s perfect, she chirped, her voice too high.
Then why are your brother and Evie here?
Here? Oh! You re…here.
Yes, and I d like to speak with you. Can you come to the parking lot?
I…um…I m really busy. With the bride.
You mean Rochelle?
He heard her suck in a breath and sigh it out. No. I had to put out a fire at my other wedding. Evie and I swapped.
You mean to tell me that Miss McAlister is managing the most important wedding of my life? After I fired her?
Evie winced at his raised tone.
Yes, Mary said, she is. I needed her skills. She s come through for us today. Everything is on track.
It is not on track if she s here and Miss Richardson s wedding coordinator isn t. I need you here. Now.
Suddenly, Michael was in his face. Don t order my sister around like that.
Alex glared up at the bigger man. She is working for me, Michael. I can issue her orders as I would any other employee.
His face went red. Any other?—
Hand the phone to Michael, please, Mary said, her voice low.
He did and narrowed his eyes as Michael said a few okays, then handed the phone to Evie. Alex stood with his hands on his hips, sweating in his suit. The top of his head was going to blow off any minute. Mary had let him down and was running the Richardson affair like someone s backyard tent wedding. Even though she knew how important it was to him. It only proved he was wrong to think he could rely on anyone besides himself.
Evie disconnected the call and handed the phone back to him. She s on her way. Come on, Michael. She turned toward the hotel.
Where do you think you re going? Alex said, jogging to get between her and his building.
Until Mary gets here, you need a wedding coordinator. The entertainment is scheduled to start in twelve minutes. Unless you want to delay?
Fuck his life. She knew he hated anything to run late. He had to wrest back control. Not him. I can t have a grease monkey walking into my lobby.
Evie stuck her nose in the air. We re going in through the service entrance. This way, Michael. She strode off, her heels clicking on the pavement.
Twelve minutes? He had to get going if he wanted to check that Ray Richardson hadn t noticed his daughter s wedding going to shit. And talk him down if he had.
At the back of the ballroom they were using for the ceremony, the stage was set up for the fire dancers. Good. And the large video screens he d added to the setup yesterday stood in front of the red-curtained windows. They extended along both walls to the other end of the room, where the ceremony would take place. No one would miss a moment of this showcase for the La Villa brand.
Black-suited servers passed hors d oeuvres. That was Mary s uninspired idea. His addition to the cocktail hour stood out: the walking bar. One of the most attractive athletes in La Villa s gladiator show had agreed to move through the crowd inside a rolling metal rack shaped like a chariot. Guests could admire his muscles as they plucked a glass of champagne from the rack. In his short tunic and leather spaulders, he seemed popular with the female guests.
Alex breathed out a relieved sigh. After the shit week he d had, something was finally going to plan. Even if Mary herself wasn t here.
He scanned the room until he found Ray Richardson talking to Rohaan s father, Omar. Alex made his way to his favorite bartender s setup.
Evening, Mr. Villa, Elton said, already reaching under the bar.
Make it two, please, Elton. And whatever the father of the groom is drinking.
Elton carefully poured out two glasses of Macallan. As he filled another glass with club soda, Alex asked, How s the event so far?
Folks seem to be having a good time. And I m looking forward to the —he lowered his voice as he returned the bottle of scotch to its hiding place— surprise entertainment. Though I m glad my bar is way over here. The bartender chuckled.
It s perfectly safe, Alex said.
If you say so, boss. I just want to keep fire far away from all these high-proof spirits. Cheers.
Alex gathered the three glasses and made his way to Ray and Omar.
Evening, gentlemen. Congratulations. He handed the club soda to the father of the groom and the scotch to the father of the bride. Are we enjoying ourselves so far?
It s certainly…entertaining. Ray nodded at Luca, the gladiator.
Speaking of entertainment, what s happening on that stage back there? Omar asked.
Ah-ah-ah, Alex teased. We ve got a surprise lined up. No one will forget Rochelle and Rohaan s wedding. Cierra s aerialist would be a pale shadow of tonight s spectacle.
For what I m paying, I hope not. Ray chuckled. He sipped his scotch. You have something special here, Alex. A surprisingly pleasant balance of elegance and over-the-top panache. I think you could bring a fresh perspective to the heart of the Strip.
His heart pounded. Thank you. If I m approved to purchase the Paradise, you won t regret it. La Villa Prime will be even more spectacular.
The lights dimmed. When he looked toward the stage and spotted Mary standing behind it, his heartbeat slowed, and warmth spread through his body. She was here. Everything would be all right.
Gentlemen, would you like to come with me to get a better view of the entertainment? he asked.
Omar eyed the crowd pressing closer to the stage. I think I ll enjoy it from back here.
So will I, Ray said. Where can I get another glass of this? Somehow, I don t think it s the scotch I paid for.
It s my gift to you. Go see Elton. Alex waved toward the bald bartender. He ll take care of you.
With a nod, he made his way toward Mary. He d just reached the roped-off safety zone around the stage when the entertainers emerged. Wearing slim-fitting leather trunks, Dante Campo and two other muscular men stepped onto the stage. They carried staffs and chains, and Dante set a pair of buckets at the front of the stage. The guests gasped and stepped back when fire erupted from each container with a whoosh.
One man lit the ends of his staff and twirled it, the flames leaping in a hypnotic circle. The crowd oohed, and Alex relaxed. This wedding was going to be magnificent. Unforgettable. Not only that, but he was helping the Campos. Donna Campo s curse didn t stand a chance. Everything he wanted was in his grasp.
Dante lit his prop, a small ball that dangled from a chain. He swung it slowly, then faster. When the third man lit another staff, the spectacle was complete. Heat billowed from the stage and prickled Alex s skin. The whirling fire whooshed over the sound of the crowd s gasps. The guests cheered when the three men synchronized their movements and three wheels of fire spun in parallel.
Alex glanced over at Mary to share a look of triumph. But she wasn t there. Instead, Rochelle stood against the wall in her dazzling white gown, gazing at the performance, her lips open in awe.
This. This was perfect. Rochelle would never forget her wedding. No one would. Especially not her father. The Paradise was his.
But where had Mary gone? She should be here, at his side, so he could whisper to her about the great work they d done together to pull off the wedding of the year in less than two months. So she could whisper back that his idea for the fire dancers was brilliant and not the potential disaster she d called it when he d first suggested it. Maybe she d brush her fingers against his, acknowledging the less public side of their partnership and reassuring him that everything in both his professional and personal life was coming together in a way he d never dreamed possible.
He glanced back at the stage, and that was when it happened.
Something flew off Dante s chain into the audience. No, not into the audience. A flame ignited on the spaulder covering Luca s right shoulder. He shrieked, a higher-pitched sound than Alex could ve imagined coming from such a large body. He ripped off the blazing leather and flung it off, making his champagne glasses rattle ominously. The spaulder hit the wall, and less than a second later, fire licked up the red window curtain.
Half of the guests kept their gazes locked on the stage. They must not have seen the fiery projectile. The other half backed away from the flaming curtain.
Alex pushed toward the fire. Luca, are you okay? he asked the gladiator.
Yeah, sorry, I didn t mean to?—
Help me put it out. Alex grabbed two glasses of champagne from Luca s chariot and tossed the wine at the curtain. Although the velvet had ignited quickly, he knew it had been treated with a fire retardant. No casino owner worth his gaming license would allow any flammable furnishings in his establishment.
But panic was almost as damaging as fire, and he couldn t allow it to take hold. He and Luca splashed the flames with glass after puny glass of champagne. They managed to keep it from spreading further, but fire blazed through the velvet. So much for that fire retardant.
Foam exploded from his right and coated what remained of the conflagration. Mary was a Valkyrie with her legs spread, bracing against the extinguisher s kick, her curls wild, an inferno glowing in her eyes.
He had never craved her more than in that moment.
She dropped the extinguisher, shook out her hand, and turned to the closest guests. Are you all right? she asked. That was Mary, always looking out for everyone.
You good, Luca? Alex asked.
The gladiator s hand trembled as he picked up a glass of champagne and poured it down his throat. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. I think so.
Alex turned back to the guests. Everything s fine. Here, have more champagne. He passed glasses from the rack to the guests. The smell of burning chemicals prickled in his nose.
Oh my god! Rochelle rushed up in a swirl of white satin. Is everyone okay?
Everything s fine, Alex repeated. You can all go back to watching… But the show had stopped, and now every eye turned his way. It s all good, he announced, louder, hoping that saying it would make it true.
Rochelle, do you need to sit down? Mary asked.
It was only then he noticed the bride shivering. Like he had an extra sense for his bride s health, Rohaan rushed up to her. Baby, are you all right?
I—I think so. Do you think we need to cancel the wedding?
Cancel the wedding? Alex s pulse whooshed in his ears, louder than the muttering guests. Over a little fire? No need. Look, it s already out.
Alex. Mary set a hand on his arm. Give her a minute to process.
Process? Fear licked up Alex s spine, faster than the blaze had moved on the curtain. There are five hundred people here. To see a wedding. What would Ray Richardson think if he d spent six figures on a wedding that didn t happen?
Baby. Rohaan rubbed Rochelle s bare arms. We re okay. All our friends and family are okay. Even the gladiator and the fire dancers are okay. And I d really like to marry you tonight. Take all the time you need.
Alex winced. The longer they delayed the wedding, the more upset the father of the bride was likely to be. Richardson was no prude, but how angry would he be if it was Alex s fault his grandchild was born out of wedlock?
If I may, he said. I think we should all take a deep breath. Let s try it. Breathe in blue. One…two…three…four. Hold it. One…two…three…four. Then let it out pink. One…two…three…four…five…six. Now repeat. He led them through the exercise again, and even Luca joined in. By the fourth time, Rochelle s face had returned to her natural color, and her hands were steady.
Better? Alex asked.
It s okay if you need more time, Mary said.
Alex scowled at her. It was anything but okay.
I m good, Rochelle said. Though if one more thing goes wrong, I m going to take it as a sign.
Nothing else will happen, Alex promised. Your wedding will be as glorious as we planned. Now, should we go set up? He tipped his head toward the other end of the room where the wedding dais waited.
Okay. Rochelle gathered up her skirts and headed toward the main doors.
Joey, Mary muttered into her earpiece. Please have the ushers seat the guests.
Alex took another calming breath. The flaming gladiator would be a funny story the Richardson family could tell at their next gathering.
Rohaan, please gather your groomsmen at the front. Mary waved at the dais.
The ushers were already organizing the guests into their seats. Good. Though it would take a few minutes. Five hundred people didn t do anything quickly.
Don t forget the video monitors, he said.
He caught her eye-roll before she said, Joey, the screens.
Along both sides of the room, the video screens lit with a prepared slideshow of Rochelle and Rohaan, from baby photos to their engagement portraits. All except one. The screen closest to the fire-blackened curtain remained dark.
He tapped Mary s shoulder. That one s not working.
I ll check on it. Then, into her earpiece, Evie, you ve got eyes on the bride? She walked to the video screen, tapped the power button, then circled to the back of it.
Oh, she said. She moved behind the massive screen.
A second later, the room went black. Someone shrieked.
It was black like only an interior room can be, the darkness so thick it pressed on his eyeballs. It was dungeon-dark. Desert-dark, but without the starlight. Doomsday-dark.
A few camera flashlights flicked on. Giggles and murmurs filled the guests initial startled silence.
Alex tapped on his camera s flashlight, strode to the nearest window, and tugged the heavy curtain open. Outside, La Villa s tower was a void against the streetlights and the neon of the nearby businesses. Shit. His building, and only his building, was dark on a Saturday night. He could almost feel the money draining from his bank account.
What happened? Ray Richardson s voice rose above the others.
Mary s face lit from underneath, just like when they used to joke around at Halloween when they were kids. Her voice wobbled. It looks like we have a slight electrical problem.
Slight? His entire fucking building was out of power. He could only imagine the chaos in the casino below them. In fact, he didn t have to imagine it. Text messages erupted across his lock screen, and the device vibrated with a call. Two. Three.
Everyone, if you could, please turn on your flashlights, Mary said. Stay seated if you can. Ushers, please help guide people to their seats. We ll start in a few minutes.
Start? Alex cracked his first knuckle. How are we going to?—
We ll get through this, Mary said. Don t worry.
Too late. Alex s lungs felt a size too small, and his heart battered against his ribs. He d lost control of the situation. He was as powerless as he d been that night the investigators pounded on their door.
As his phone screen lit with a cascade of texts, it buzzed again with a call from his casino manager. I ve got to take this. Are you sure?—
Go. She nodded at his phone. Take care of that.
In the dim light of the guests phones, he made his way out of the ballroom to the relative quiet of the hallway.
He was fucked, and not in the good way that he and Mary had been doing.
In fact, sleeping with Mary and letting himself be distracted by hormones and fucking feelings was what had made him take his eye off the prize to begin with. He d made a mistake in trusting Mary with this critical event.
He d always known he could trust only himself.