Chapter 24
GEORGIE
Bastian’s penthouse was mind-blowing. I felt very much like a small-town girl as I walked inside.
It had a dark, moody vibe—black with bronze accents like the main casino—that was very masculine and screamed wealth. The floor was a glossy, black marble with bronze veins through it, the furniture was black and sleek.
Viv would have loved this place. My heart squeezed. God, I missed her.
Nash seemed comfortable in the space. He headed straight for the built-in fridge in the slick kitchen. There was an enormous island, with modern, bronze pendant lights hanging over it. I had a sneaking suspicion the fancy appliances cost more than my car.
Alessio sat at the long table that had a million chairs. It was the longest dining table I’d ever seen.
“I ordered from Sinatra,” Bastian said from behind the island.
Named after the famous singer, I’d heard of the well-known Italian restaurant in the Wynn Casino. “Sinatra does take out?”
Bastian smiled that slow smile I knew must charm the panties off the ladies. “No. But they do for me. I hope you worked up an appetite, Georgie.”
Nash edged closer to me, his body crowding mine.
“Beer or wine?” Bastian asked.
“She’s still on painkillers,” Nate grumbled. “She’ll have a soda.”
I pulled a face. “A soda would be great.”
Bastian waved at the giant fridge. “Take your pick.”
I nabbed a Diet Coke and Bastian handed me a glass with some ice. The front door of the penthouse opened and Cole strode in, shrugging off a leather jacket. My gaze dropped to his muscular arms and the tattoos snaking up the left one.
“Where’s dinner?” he asked.
“Coming, you heathen.” Bastian tossed Cole a beer.
Cole spotted me and nodded.
“Hi, Cole.”
“I’m gonna help out with your training, too.” His voice was low, raspy. “Heard you’re doing well.”
I fought a flush of pleasure. “Thank you.”
Right now, Cole didn’t look like he was retired from anything. His knuckles were all torn up.
Landon breezed in. “Hi. Hey, Georgie.” He leaned over and touched my face. “The bruises are almost gone.”
“Finally.”
“How are your ribs?”
“As good as new. I started hand-to-hand combat training today.”
“She held Alessio and me off several times,” Bastian said. “She has good instincts.”
I couldn’t hold back my pleasure at the praise. Beside me, Nash tugged on my ponytail, and I saw pride on his face.
The doorbell rang.
“That’s the food.” Bastian sauntered toward the door.
Before I knew it, I was sitting at the table with these gorgeous, dangerous men, gorging on pizza and pasta. Nash sat beside me and kept putting food on my plate.
I leaned closer to him. “You’re going to give me a complex. Clearly, you think I’m too thin.”
He slid an arm across the back of my chair. “I know you haven’t been taking care of yourself. But you’re beautiful no matter what.” He lowered his voice. “I think I’ve shown my appreciation of your body several times.”
“Not as much as I’d like,” I muttered.
He reached over and touched the fading bruises beside my eye. “Soon.”
I shivered.
“Cole, I heard you fought like a machine last night.” Bastian sipped his glass of wine. “I won good money on you.”
Cole just grunted.
“Are you a boxer?” I asked. That would explain the knuckles, although I knew boxers normally wore gloves.
Nash shook his head. “Cole takes part in underground fights. The rules are…more fluid. Anything goes.”
My eyes widened. “Oh.” That had to be dangerous.
Cole lifted a shoulder. “I like fighting. I’m good at it.”
He definitely hadn’t been in the military, like Nash. He didn’t give off that vibe at all. I wondered what demons drove him to fight in the ring.
“How’s the clinic?” Nash asked Landon.
“Busy.”
The conversation ebbed and flowed. They were all so comfortable with each other. Low male laughter echoed around the table. They weren’t afraid to tease each other. I wondered if my family had ever shared meals like this? If we had, I couldn’t remember it. My heart squeezed.
Nash and his friends looked out for each other. They were family.
I was glad Nash had that.
No wonder he hadn’t come home. He hadn’t needed to.
And now, I’d brought more trouble to his door. More death. I’d dragged him back into killing, something that he’d left behind.
I gnawed on my bottom lip. After this was over, after we burned off this attraction, what would I do?
I guessed I’d leave. Nash had a life he liked, work he was good at, and friends.
I swallowed. I had nothing. A degree I’d never used. No job. No home.
God, did he think I was using him?
Suddenly, I needed to move, to do something. I rose and started to stack the dirty plates.
“Leave it, Georgie,” Bastian said.
“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind.” I grabbed the plates and headed for the kitchen. I needed to escape.
I felt Nash’s gaze burning between my shoulder blades.
I stacked the dirty plates in Bastian’s fancy dishwasher. Once I was done, I glanced up and spotted a small balcony off the kitchen, the glimmer of the Las Vegas lights outside. I slid open the glass door and slipped outside.
The air was cold and the wind whipped at me. I breathed deeply and wrapped my arms around my middle. The lights below were a blur. Honking horns and the thump of music from somewhere close combined into a strange melody.
I just needed to stay focused on Snyder. On revenge. On avenging Viv. My hands curled on the railing.
I couldn’t risk getting too attached to Nash. I had to keep my heart locked up safely.
I didn’t hear the door, so I jolted when I sensed someone behind me.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.” Bastian leaned an elegant hip against the railing beside me.
“I needed some fresh air.”
“You won’t have long before Nash realizes you’re missing.”
I glanced at him. “I’m not using him.”
Bastian turned to rest his elbows on the railing, his gaze on my face. The wind ruffled his thick hair. “I never suggested that.”
“I…I came here with nothing but problems. He’s taking care of me, helping me. He deserves someone way more together than me. He has all of you, he has a good life.”
“He deserves what makes him happy.”
“He’s going to kill for me. Kill again. The thing that he left behind.”
“He wants to help you. He’d do anything for you.”
I blew out a breath.
“You know he carries a photo of you in his wallet. The girl he never forgot. I think you give him far more than you realize, Georgie.” With that, Bastian slipped inside, leaving me churning with conflicted emotions.