Chapter 5 #3
Originally, the families were serious about not mingling unless absolutely necessary.
Now, though, I can’t stop thinking about Lyric and Ainsley.
And then there’s Lennon, their half sister.
Her father owns another casino. Rumor has it he bought it with money earned as a hit man for the late MacEvoy before he died.
Could Patrick and I find a way to be together? I worry we can’t.
“Okay, Jeb, I’ll get you set up for a massage after your game tonight. Anything else I can take care of for you?”
I’m walking outside the casino in the porte-cocheré with one of the players, who’s heading out for his pre-game ritual of saki and a sushi dinner at a local restaurant. I’ve never met a more superstitious group than poker players.
Before he ducks into the limo, he leans in and kisses my cheek. I step back, trying to dodge it, but he still does it.
“For luck, Daria.”
“You know the rules. No touching.” I step away from him as a chill moves up my spine. I’m being watched. I glance around but don’t see anything out of the ordinary. “I’ll make that call during my lunch break. I’ll be back before you return,” I assure him as I close the door.
I step back and watch the limo pull away. Taking a deep breath, I turn to look up at a camera. I wave to it before heading down the street.
I call my assistant to schedule Jeb’s massage as I walk to the closest drugstore. I need a day-after pill. I could have had one delivered, but I don’t want my brother finding out.
Patrick never once wore a condom, and even though a part of me would love to have a piece of him with me always, I can’t do that to a child. I know what it’s like to be raised without a father. I missed so much.
I move around the crowds and drunks as I walk farther from the casino.
Again, that chill works its way up my spine, and I stop in front of a store window, using the reflection to look behind me. I notice an SUV parked close by that was at the casino too. It could be a coincidence, but something tells me it’s not.
I pick up my pace and reach the drugstore quickly. I move among the aisles, killing time before heading to the pharmacy counter.
“What are you looking for, sweets?”
His deep voice works over my body, sending goose bumps across my flesh. I pull my top lip between my teeth and close my eyes, trying to shore up my emotions. He found me.
I turn around and play coy. Tipping my head to the side, I slide my sunglasses down my nose and look him up and down. He’s in a pair of tan Chino slacks and a black button-down shirt. He looks relaxed but still professional.
“Are you following me?” I ask as I smile up at him. I’m in a pair of high-heeled boots, yet he still towers over me.
“Sweets, you ran out on me. I wasn’t done with you.” He pauses, like he’s contemplating something. “I doubt I’ll ever be done with you.”
My heart beats faster at that implication.
This time I’m not playing coy or joking. I push my sunglasses to the top of my head. “I thought it was just a one-night thing?”
“What part of you are mine now did you not understand?” He leans down and whispers in my ear.
“I took that virgin cunt. That makes you mine. You gave it to me. You took my hand, knowing I’m a man who doesn’t say something just to say it.
You, better than most women, know what kind of man I am. You submitted to me.”
I lick my lips, trying to come up with something, and he pulls me into his body.
Before his head can lower to kiss me, “Purple Lamborghini” blares from my phone.
I know who it is. I glance around, wondering if he’s having me followed again.
I told him earlier I didn’t want a detail on me anymore.
I even threatened to leave if he didn’t stop.
“What?” I answer as I pull away from Patrick.
“Where are you?” Alek asks.
“I took a walk. Since you’re asking, I’m assuming you took my threat as real and pulled the detail from me.”
“Well, no. They lost you,” he says. At least he’s honest.
“I will leave Vegas, Alek, if you don’t stop right now. I need my own life. I’m taking your advice, but you need to stop.”
I hear a growl and look up at Patrick. His jaw is locked and his teeth are clenched.
“What was that?” Alek asks.
“Nothing. I have to go. I’ll talk to you soon. Pull them, or I’m on the next plane out of here.” I threaten again, and this time I didn’t imagine the sound.
Patrick yanks my phone from my hand and starts talking to Alek.
“I’ll have a detail on her before the end of the day. She’s mine to protect now.”
I hear my brother shouting, but Patrick hangs up on him. He fiddles with my phone for a bit. Then his phone rings, and he saves his number in mine. I look at the contact. His. And start laughing.
“Patrick, you can’t just take over. Alek has a point. Think of Roisin. She needs you. Alek made sure to tell me both of your parents were killed. I lost my father because he was Russian and my mother was Italian. I won’t do that to you.”
“Who told you that bullshit? Your brother? Should I remind you he’s married to my cousin?
Doesn’t matter. You’re meant to be mine, even without giving me that sexy V card of yours.
I knew it the moment you stepped foot on that stage.
The minute the lights flashed over you, I knew you were mine.
I tried to fight it, but you can’t fight fate. ”
“Patrick. I just don’t know.”
He pulls me toward the door. “Let’s go get you a real lunch, and you can tell me who the fuck put his lips on you. I’ll kill the next man who does that, you hear me?”
I fight him. “Patrick, I need to see the pharmacist. I need to get a day-after pill.”
“Oh hell no. Nuh-uh. No way. I purposely bathed you in my cum, sweets. You’ll be carrying my baby before the New Year, because I’m keeping you. And there is no way you’re leaving Vegas or me ever again.”
He reaches down and lifts me over his shoulder. People are watching, and one guy starts recording us.
“It’s okay. I’m not being kidnapped, per say,” I tell everyone. “I know him.”
“I’m her man,” Patrick announces to the whole drugstore.
I drop my head to his back and hold on.
“Patrick, you know that’s going to go viral. Everyone will know.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck.”
He carries me out to his SUV and drops me in the back seat. JJ and another man are in the front. I recognize him. He’s the one who approached me on the dance floor and wanted to take me to Patrick.
“Hello, I’m Hayes.” He holds out his hand, and I shake it.
“Daria.”
“He’ll be your personal guard from now on,” Patrick says as he climbs in next to me.
“No. Patrick, he can’t be. My brother threatened to kill you this morning because he thought you took advantage of me.
I’m not starting a war.” I slide across the seat to the opposite door, but the lock clicks as I reach it.
“Damn you. I have to grab something to eat and get back. I’m busy today with stubborn poker players. ”
“Was that the man who kissed your cheek?” Patrick asks as he grabs the seatbelt and buckles me in.
“I didn’t let him. Yes, he’s a client. I don’t shit where I eat.” I huff.
“Good. Only me, remember,” he whispers before taking my hand and wrapping his other arm around me. “Hayes, to O’Bannon’s,” he orders.
“I’m serious, Patrick.”
Both men in the front whip their heads around.
“That was twice. Did I hear her right?” JJ looks to Hayes, who nods before turning his attention to the road.
Hayes watches me in the rearview mirror. It’s not creepy, more like he’s concerned or worried about me. I kind of like that and think he and I could become friends.
“Twice what?” I ask.
“That you called me by my full name. Only my mother ever did that. Not even my father, because he was also Patrick.”
I lean forward toward the men. “I like his name.”
“I like that you’re the only one who calls me it.” Patrick pulls me back toward him.
“Good.” I lean up and kiss his whiskered chin, my heart hurting for what I’m going to have to do.
“Patrick, I can’t do this. I’m scared of what could happen.
Like I said, my own parents were from different families, and it almost caused a war when my father was killed.
My mamma and I had to go into hiding for our protection.
I don’t want to raise any children without you. ”
The car comes to a stop, and he just stares at me. “What do you like to eat?”
I turn to see we’re outside an Irish restaurant. “I’ll take a stew.”
“Guys, out. Hayes, get her an Irish stew and an order of bangers and mash for dinner.”
When both men step out, Patrick slides his hand along my face and tips my head back. “Now give me those lips. I’ve missed you.”
I lean up into him, and we kiss slowly. He consumes me.
His mustache and beard tickling my skin.
As soon as his tongue slides against my lips, I open for him, and his tongue tangles with mine.
I can’t hold in the moan that escapes me, and before I know it, I’m unbuckled and straddling his lap.
He pushes off my jacket, and it falls to the floor.
He pulls away, leaving me panting. My chest is heaving as he takes me in.
“Fuck, sweets, I thought it was just my imagination that you tasted so good. I need you. Come to the club tonight, and we can stay at the condo. This time you will stay the whole night.”
“I have a performance tomorrow evening.”
“I know. I have tickets to every show you’re in.”
“You do?”
My heart thumps hard. I’ve never had someone other than my family who want to be at my shows this much.
“Of course, Daria. I’m going to show you how much I care and how much you mean to me.”
“I want to believe you.”
“I’ll make you.”
He slides me back over into the seat next to him and taps on the window. JJ and Hayes climb back into the car. Hayes hands me a bag, and we head back to the casino.
Instead of dropping me off away from the entrance, Hayes pulls into the porte-cocheré. Patrick gets out and comes around to my door to help me out. He leans down and kisses my forehead and squeezes my waist.
“I’ll see you this evening after you get off work. I want to kiss you so every man here knows you’re mine, but your brother would shoot me before I got a chance to explain.”
“Okay.” I sigh, lost in everything that is Patrick.
I turn and head into the casino and up to my office.