Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Las Vegas, the city of hell. There was a time when I would have done anything to come back here. Now, all this city represents to me is failure. My biggest failure. If it weren’t for my friends, I’d never return.
Them and business. As much as I hate this city, I love money more. I planted my own little spy in my friend Louie’s casino six months ago. I got a tip that shit was about to go down in Vegas. People were making moves to take the so-called key to the kingdom from Louie.
That shit was never going to happen on my watch. I always knew my friends would go places. All three of them were way too fucking determined to make a name for themselves not to raise to the top. Which is exactly where they sit now and where I plan on keeping them.
They have no clue as to the trouble that’s coming for them. It’s better they don’t. Besides, my plant is the fucking best in the business. If Lailani can’t get them out of the shit coming their way, then no one can. Her five-hundred grand a week paycheck is well fucking earned.
I didn’t tell her I was coming to town. It’s fun to try to throw her off her game a bit, and honestly, the past six months have been…
boring. It’s time for some entertainment, and frustrating Lailani is one of my favorite forms of entertainment.
She is the single most lethal person I know—other than myself, of course.
My enforcers fear her. Which is why, when she’s frustrated, anything could happen.
I feel sorry for the poor fucker who dares to fall for that woman, though.
He will have his work cut out for him. And with Lailani being part of my trusted inner circle, whoever thinks they can date her better be fucking worthy of her.
Although, from what I hear, she’s spending an awful lot of time getting to know one of my friends.
If anyone was worthy of her, it’s Sammie.
Even if he has no idea who she really is.
The jet touches down. I wait for the stairs to lower and my men to exit first. They form two lines, leaving a gap down the center for me to walk through. I smile… to hide the fact I’m fucking dying on the inside. I hate being back here.
I greet the man in front of me with outstretched arms. “Louie, it’s been far too long, my friend.”
“It has. How was the flight?” he asks, returning my embrace.
“Bumpy. Thought I was a goner for a bit there.” I laugh, but I really did think that fucking jet was going down. I’ve already told my second-in-command to have a replacement ready for the return trip.
“Let’s get out of here. It’s fucking hot.” Louie directs me to a line of waiting SUVs.
“Carlo, you’re looking old,” I say in greeting.
It hasn’t gotten past me that someone’s missing.
Sammie. No doubt Louie has him watching the woman who’s suddenly captured my friend’s attention.
It’s why I’m here. I need to make sure this chick is legit and not working with the fucking enemy.
Of all people, it would be Louie who’d make the mistake of falling for the enemy.
“Working will do that to you. You should try it sometime.” Carlo slaps a hand on my back.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I laugh and follow my friends towards the car.
“This city never changes,” I say, staring up at the Vegas skyline. I’ve frequented this city a hundred times and yet it remains the same.
“From your lips to God’s ears,” Louie replies.
“Where’s Sammie? He didn’t want to come greet me?” I watch Louie’s face. He’s good. Not a single thing gives him away. That doesn’t mean he’s not lying.
“He’s working.”
“Right. Well, we’ll party tonight. Where we going?” I raise a brow. If he’s hiding this woman from me, he’s gonna want me as far from here as possible.
As expected, Louie says, “Aces.” Carlo’s home turf while Sammie manages the Wild Card casino.
I stare at my friend. “What’s wrong with the Royal? Am I not worthy of being royal?”
Without missing a beat, Louie says some shit about new strippers at Aces.
I’m not one to turn down the female form.
He’s dangling that carrot on a stick, hoping I’ll bite.
“It’s also where the game is set for tonight, if you want to buy in,” he adds and then drops, “I’ve had your bags delivered to Aces. ”
“I’m staying there too?” It takes everything in me not to laugh. He’s trying really fucking hard to keep me away from this girl.
“Yep,” he says as the car comes to a stop. “Now, come on. Let’s get a drink.”
Walking through the casino floor, I spot Lailani working behind the reception desk. She does a double-take when she sees me. I have no doubt she’ll message me as soon as she can.
A few minutes later, I’m sitting across from my friend with a drink in hand. I wait. He wants something. I came here under the guise of letting loose, not discussing business. And yet, here we are. Sitting in his office.
“Let’s cut to the chase so we can get to the party part of the night. This is Vegas after all,” I say, leaning forward. “What do you want, Louie? Why’d you summon me here?”
He didn’t, but it sounds better if I make it seem like my being here was his idea. The asshole knows what I’ve done too. He did call… about four weeks ago. I ignored his request for a meeting then. I was busy. But I’m not now.
Louie pours us each a glass of whiskey, sliding one across the desk to me. “I need more product.” He looks me dead in the eye. My face remains a mask of indifference as I wait for him to continue. “The shipments are moving faster than I anticipated. The demand is through the roof.”
My lips tilt up at the sides as I bring the glass to them. “More cocaine, huh? I figured as much. How much more we talking?”
“Double the last order,” he asks, watching me.
I lean back in my chair, the amber liquid swirling in my glass as I consider his request. My father taught me to never show your cards, to always take your time and think about what you’re going to say before you say it.
“You know the risks involved, Louie. Doubling the shipment means doubling the heat. You really think you can move double?”
He nods his head. “I’ve got everything under control. My network here is solid, and I’ve taken extra precautions. This is a calculated decision.”
My eyes narrow in on my friend. Now’s not a good time for these fuckers to be expanding. They’ve got no fucking idea what’s lurking in the shadows of their own fucking city. Of course I can’t tell them that. I’d rather sort the problem out and have them never know it existed in the first place.
“All right. I’ll make the arrangements. But know this: If anything goes south, it’s your head.”
“Understood,” he says. “You’ll get your payment upfront, just like always.”
I raise my glass towards him. “I know I will.” Because friend or not, I will remove his fucking head if he tried to steal from me.
When we exit Louie’s office, Carlo and Sammie are waiting for us, along with my men. “I’ll meet you guys over at Aces. I’ve got a few things to tie up here,” Louie says.
I look at him. He really must like this woman to go to such great lengths.
I make a mental note to have Paz dig more intel up on Charlotte.
So far, her story adds up. A southern girl, a runaway bride, broken-hearted and all that bullshit.
I don’t like the fact that my friend is making himself so fucking vulnerable, though.
Love is a weakness we need to kill. My father’s words echo through my head. Fucking asshole, he wouldn’t know a thing about love.
Deciding my friend really doesn’t trust me to meet his girl, I turn my attention to Sammie, quickly slapping a hand on his shoulder. My pocket vibrates, so I drop my arm and pull out my phone. Smiling to myself when I see Lailani’s nickname on my screen.
Killer Woman:
Why didn’t you tell me you were in town?
She insists we aren’t friends. Her text would suggest otherwise.
Me:
That seems like something a friend would do, and we are not friends, remember?
Killer Woman:
You really need to let that go. How long are you staying?
Me:
Until I leave.
I pocket my phone and laugh again, picturing how twisted up all the unknowns are making her.
I sit at the bar. My eyes glued to the woman on the stage. But I have no interest in the entertainment. What does have my interest is the reason my friend is lying to me.
“Who is she?” I ask, calling him out.
“Who is who?” Louie looks around the room.
“The one who has your balls in her clutches. You haven’t even blinked at any of ?em.” I wave a hand towards the stage. “And I know you. If you’re not interested in anything on the menu here, you have someone else. Who is she?”
“She is none of your business,” he says with a clenched jaw.
“Ah, so I was right. You went and found yourself a wife. Never thought I’d see the fucking day.” I shake my head.
“I don’t have a wife.” The asshole rolls his eyes at me. He’s fucking lucky he’s my friend. Otherwise those eyeballs would be rolling around on the goddamn ground.
“If she’s special enough for you to want to hide her from your friends, and you clearly aren’t interested in other options, then maybe she should be made a wife.”
“What the fuck would you know about wife material? Your longest relationship has been… what? Five hours?” he scoffs.
Two years. Laura and I dated for two years before I failed her. “I don’t have a need or a want for a wife,” I say, instead of correcting him. I don’t want to think about her. Especially not in this city.
“And I do?” He raises a brow at me.
“If you found someone willing to put up with your sorry ass, keep her. She’s clearly one of a kind.” My laughter is loud, overtaking the music.
“Fuck off. It’s not that serious,” he grumbles.
“Sure it’s not. Where is she?”
“Not here,” Louie grunts.
My eyes close tighter as I stare at him and my hand lifts to rest over my heart. “You don’t trust me? I’m hurt.”
“I don’t trust anyone. You know that.” Louie shakes his head.
It’s true. It’s also smart. “We’ve been friends for a long time, Louie,” I remind him. “There are very few people I would consider a friend. You are one of them. I wouldn’t do anything to someone important to you.” Unless they gave me a reason to.
“Unless you wanted to get at me for something,” he says, as if he can read my thoughts. “Women and children aren’t off-limits in your organization.”
He’s right again. No one is off-limits. It’s how we stay on top. “Then I guess you best not give me a reason to hurt you.” I smile and tap his shoulder. “Relax. Things are changing in Mexico. My tyrant father is dead.”
It’s only half true. Things aren’t changing, not as quickly as I’d like them to anyway.
“Yeah, and how’d that go down, exactly?” he asks me.
“Better you don’t know. Like I said, I don’t want to have to kill you,” I tell him. “Now, get out of here. You look sad and you’re scaring away the girls.”
“I’ll catch up with you tomorrow. Welcome back to town.” Louie stands and walks out.
I watch him leave before turning my attention to Carlo and Sammie. “Please tell me you two fuckers still know how to party.”
“You think you can keep up, old man?” Carlo grins while refilling my glass.
“You think I can’t?” I counter.