Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Waking up to my girlfriend screaming out in pain isn’t a fucking walk in the park.
I thought someone was actually in the room.
I was ready to get my hands bloody. When I realized she was asleep, my first thought was why the fuck can’t I see into her brain?
It’d make this so much easier if I could see her nightmares.
My second was… I don’t care what I have to do. I will get her to tell me what I need to know.
I’ve been patient. I’ve been biting my damn tongue when I want to yell and scream at her for keeping this shit from me.
We’ve been back in Vegas for two nights now.
She hasn’t slept since, and I’m fucking drained, only catching an hour here and there myself.
Because I don’t want to leave her alone longer than I need to.
I’ve had to go out and deal with shit when it’s come up, but mostly I’ve been right by her side.
“Why do you look like that?” Evie is sitting across from me. We’re playing chess. Well, I’m teaching her how to play anyway.
“Like what?”
“Like you’ve already lost the game,” she says.
“Trust me, mi alma. I never lose.”
“You think I can’t beat you?” She raises a challenging brow.
“Even if you did beat me, I’d still be winning,” I tell her.
“How do you figure that?”
“Because you are my queen, and when the queen is winning, so is her king,” I explain.
“You know, for someone who’s supposed to be a big scary cartel boss, you do say the sweetest things.” The smile on Evie’s face makes me want to tell her so many more sweet things.
“Supposed to be? Are you doubting the fear I instill in people?” I raise my brow at her this time. As much as I don’t want her to fear me, I also don’t want her to forget who I am.
“I’ve yet to see you do anything scary, E. For all I know, you’re just some bored rich guy who made up a story.” She shrugs.
“It isn’t my goal to have you fear me, Evie, but don’t forget who I am, what I’m capable of.
If there ever is a time you have to see me do something…
less than favorable, I need you to know that I would never be that person with you.
” I don’t know if what I’m telling her is the truth.
There is still a part of me that will kill her if that’s the only way to keep her. Because letting her go isn’t an option.
“I know who you are,” she says, moving one of her pawns, which opens my next move.
“Checkmate.” I smile.
“Again? Seriously? I hate this game.” Evie pushes the board towards me. “I quit.”
“You can’t quit just because you’re losing. You change your strategy. You learn and you improve. We never quit,” I say.
“It’s just a game, E. It’s not that serious.” She shakes her head from side to side.
“Maybe.” I shrug again. “But we’re not quitters.”
My phone vibrates on the table, Sammie’s name flashing on the screen.
Sammie:
I need you in Innes. Now. She’s here.
His mother turned up a couple of days ago, around the time I came back to town with Evie. Sammie has a complicated relationship with his mother. She’s an addict. Always has been, but she’s his mother and he has trouble saying no to her when she wants something.
Me:
On my way.
“We need to go to the Strip for a bit,” I tell Evie.
“I can wait here if you need to go and do something,” she offers.
“I’d prefer if you came with me,” I tell her. “I just need to help a friend with something. It won’t take long and then we can go out and grab some dinner. You know, that whole wine and dine thing you wanted.”
“Okay.” She smiles. “But can I change first?”
“No need. You look fucking gorgeous just how you are.” I stand and hold out a hand to her.
Evie places her palm on mine and follows me. “You say that even when I’m naked without makeup on, E. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to look my best if you’re taking me out in public.”
“You look your best when you’re completely naked without makeup on, mi alma. But I’m not about to ever let anyone else see you looking like that.” I lead her out of my office and through the house. She really does look fucking perfect. She always does.
It takes my driver fifteen minutes to pull up out front of the Wild Card. I have ten men surrounding us as I guide Evie through the casino floor, heading straight for Sammie’s nightclub.
I see both the relief and questions on his face when he spots me.
“Fancy seeing your ugly mug here.” I smile at Sammie before turning to his mother. “Ms. Russo, I had no idea you were in town. It’s been a long time.” When I hug her, she makes a point to press herself up against me. I step back almost immediately, never having let go of Evie’s hand.
Ms. Russo turns her attention to Evie next. “And who is this beauty?”
My shoulders straighten. Friend’s mother or not, I will fucking slit her throat if she tries to mess with my girlfriend. Ms. Russo likes to play mind games with her son, so I wouldn’t put it past her to try them with me. I’m hoping she’s not that fucking stupid, though.
“This is Evie.” I squeeze her hand a little tighter when I say her name. “I was about to take her home. I just bought a new house close by. You want to come and see it?” If I can get the woman away from here for at least one night, it will give Sammie some peace.
When I look to my friend, I find his glare bouncing around the bar, until it lands on no other than Lailani.
“Fucking hell,” I mutter as I stare at Lailani, who doesn’t appear too thrilled at the moment. “I gotta use the restroom. Finish your drink, Ms. Russo. I think you’re going to love my new house.”
“I have a room here,” she replies.
“You’d rather stay in this cesspool than the comforts of my home?” I give her the don’t fucking say no to me look. “Now, I’m offended.”
“Well, okay. Just for one night. I do need to grab some things, though. I’ll wait for you in the lobby.” Ms. Russo downs her drink before sliding off her barstool. “Sammie, we will continue this chat,” she directs to her son before walking off.
“I’ll be right back.” I drop Evie’s hand as I turn to her. “You want a drink?”
She doesn’t say anything, just shakes her head, and I lift a hand, indicating for my men to step closer. Five of them are within reaching distance.
“I’ll be quick,” I whisper before moving towards the bar.
“Follow me,” I tell Lailani as I pass her. By the time I turn the corner, she’s right behind me. “Whatever you’re thinking, don’t.”
“Why would I be thinking anything?” she asks.
“Because I know you, Lai. Just don’t do anything without talking to me first,” I tell her.
“Sooo, you want me to call you before giving Sammie a blow job? That kind of thing?” She peers up at me with that innocent look on her face.
“Cute. You know what I mean.” I step around her and make my way back towards Evie. I hated leaving her, but I needed to check in with Lailani. I know what she’s capable of and I don’t want her doing something she’ll regret later. Like killing her boyfriend’s mother.
My friends are trying to keep whatever it is they’re doing on the down-low. I don’t know why, but it’s not my problem.
“You ready to go?” I ask Evie.
“Yep.” She hops off the stool.
“Thanks for coming,” Sammie says.
“Don’t mention it,” I tell him. “I’ll see if I can get her to go home.” I don’t know what his mother wants. Usually it’s money so it shouldn’t be hard to coax her out of town again.
Ms. Russo is waiting for me in the lobby. She gives Evie a very disinterested glare before smiling at me.
“You ready?” I ask her.
“Lead the way, Emmanuel. You know, you always were my favorite friend of Sammie’s.” Her hand lands on my arm.
I step aside. “Thanks, Ms. Russo. Paz will drive you to the estate. Evie and I will be in the car behind you.” I nod to Paz, who moves forward to lead the way.
“Okay, but you’re going to give me the tour yourself, right?” Ms. Russo asks me.
“Of course.” I smile, having absolutely no intention of spending any more time with the woman than I have to.
“Jefe, she’s at the Paris Hotel,” Paz says. Lailani disappeared after the club, while I’ve had a hell of a night trying to escape Ms. Russo’s claws, which Evie found amusing.
I just left my girlfriend in a bathtub to come downstairs and get some work done. “Go and get her, bring her back here, and make sure she’s not seen,” I tell him. The last thing I need is for people to know Lailani works for me.
By the time Paz returns with Lailani, I’ve just stepped in to check on Evie. “I’ll be back in a second. Wait here. Paz needs something,” I tell her.
“Where would I go?” she asks me.
“Nowhere I wouldn’t find you,” I say as I walk out of the room.
I jog downstairs to my office. The quicker I deal with Lailani, the quicker I can get back to my girl.
“Enjoying yourself?” I ask when I find Lailani sitting on my desk, drinking my tequila. Anyone else would already have a bullet between their eyes.
“Sure,” she says, kicking her feet back and forth.
“Get off my fucking desk, Lailani,” I grunt, as I maneuver around the furniture and drop into my chair.
Lailani jumps off and plops into one of the seats opposite me. “You summoned me?”
“No one summons you,” I say.
“You seem to. Quite often actually. What do you need?” she asks.
“Can’t a friend just want to check in with a friend?”
Lailani rolls her eyes. “E, are you lonely? Do we need to schedule lunch dates or something?”
“The woman you saw tonight. She’s his mother,” I explain.
“I know.”
“Then why the fuck are you hiding out in a hotel room?”
“Because I like my peace.” She’s lying.
“Right, well, I’m gonna need you to find him tonight and make sure he’s not falling apart.”
“Why?” Lailani narrows her glare at me. “I mean, why would he be falling apart?”
“He has a… difficult relationship with that woman,” I tell her.
“I’m not going to bother him when he’s spending time with his mother.” She shakes her head.
“He’s not spending time with his mother. She’s here. For tonight anyway.” I don’t know how I’m going to convince Ms. Russo to leave town, but I will find a way.
“Why is she here?” Lailani asks.
“Like I said, he has a difficult relationship with her and it stresses him out. A distraction, such as yourself, is exactly what he needs right now,” I suggest.
“Yeah. I’m not a whore, E. I’m not going to go and find your friend to distract him from his mommy issues,” she snaps at me.
“No, you’re going to find your boyfriend and distract him from his mommy issues, because that’s what good girlfriends do,” I correct her.
“I’m not. He’s not.” Lailani shakes her head back and forth until she relents, huffing out a breath. “Fine. I’ll find him.”
“Great. Now, pretend you’ve never been here,” I tell her.
“Gladly.” Lailani stands and smooths out her clothes.
“Oh, and Lailani,” I call out before she makes it to the door. “When Sammie asks you to babysit for Carlo’s kid, accept the offer.”
“What? I am not babysitter material, E.” Lailani’s eyes go wide.
“You are the only person I want protecting my niece when her own father can’t be there,” I say. “Her safety comes before any of them. Hers and Evie’s.”
“How long are you staying in town?” Lailani asks.
“Until I don’t need to be here.”
“Right. Okay, how long am I staying in town?”
“Until you don’t need to be here,” I repeat.
“Helpful,” she groans.
“If you want to quit the job, Lailani, you can. I’m not forcing you to be here.” I’m not forcing her to do anything she doesn’t want to do.
“I know. I happen to like this job. It comes with benefits.” She smiles. “You should see how good Sammie is with his tongue.”
“We’re friends, but we are not those kinds of friends. You really need to find some women to gossip with. Paz will drive you back to the city. I believe Sammie is waiting for you in your apartment.”
I stand and follow Lailani out of the office, leaving her to exit through the garage while I head up the stairs in the opposite direction. I need to get back to Evie.