Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Gavin
The next couple of hours were filled with an interview, niceties, and food.
We ate in a posh restaurant with Quinn Stone, his wife, Phoebe and his brother.
But honestly, I just couldn’t wait to get back in the casino.
I’d not done too badly the last couple of weeks.
I stayed away from the casinos and even from gambling, the urge was always there, but I fought it.
I guess I’d had something else to occupy my mind.
Karen was a damn good distraction, too. Although things still seemed to be in the air with me and Nikki.
Right now, we couldn’t even seem to be friendly, but that said, I enjoyed that I had something to look forward to that was more than just a casual fuck.
I knew there would never be anything sexual between Nikki and I again because Karen saw me as more.
I didn’t know what she saw, and I was constantly waiting for her to walk away from me for my dickhead ways, even though in my dark heart, I hoped that wouldn’t happen.
But still, one minor detail hung over me: my addiction.
We still had to have that conversation and I wasn't feeling it at all.
Once the casino was open, I left Roman with the others in the VIP area and went downstairs to the main room to look around.
My hand trailed along the edge of the craps table.
I spun the roulette wheel as I reached it, and I stroked the green felt of the poker table.
My free hand fisted as the sweat beaded in my palm.
The heat that crept from beneath my collar made my face flush and my heart beat that little faster.
“You a gambler?” I turned my head to the side and glanced over my shoulder at the voice behind me. My chin lifted slightly as I acknowledged Alex.
“Used to be.” I answered, my tone low, edgy even, my gaze was drawn back to the table, like a magnet to metal. My palms were clammy as I rubbed the underside of my fingers against them. I wiped my hands down my trousers and turned away from the very thing that was causing me stress.
“Used to? And you’re okay being here?” Alex asked innocently, but my teeth clamped together as my jaw tightened with the tension that ran taut through my body. Owning a casino, he must see all kinds.
“I can handle it.” I bare-face lied. I couldn't handle it, and I was finally starting to see that. I swallowed hard as I tried to ignore the edgy feeling in my stomach, I felt sicker by the passing second. Someone once told me if you could see the problem yourself, it was the first step to being cured - I wasn’t so sure.
Alex inched towards me, “Gavin, right?” I nodded, “I’ve been in this business a while now, Quinn started the one back home almost ten years ago.
He brought me in when I was still some fresh faced, wet behind the ears kid who thought he was all that.
I know an addict when I see one. And right now, he’s looking right back at me. ”
“I’m not stupid, Alex, but I can handle it.
” I lied again as I walked back to the roulette wheel.
As I spun it, I hoped my poker face was working.
“It’s not the first time I’ve been back in a casino.
” I gave it another spin, faster though, “The first time I stepped foot back in a casino I didn’t even place a bet.
The second time, just a short few weeks ago, I was up. ” I shrugged.
“How did that feel?” Alex asked as he leaned his back against the poker table.
“Fucking fantastic.” I smiled, “It’s been a long time since I’ve won.
” I glanced up and studied Alex, and just with those few words I knew I sounded like a gambler.
I shook them off and lifted my chin higher, “I can handle it.” I repeated in a firm tone, I wanted to reassure him, I didn’t know why, but I needed him to believe me. I wanted to believe me.
“Okay,” he nodded but went on, I knew it was to lecture me, “but if I think things are getting out of hand, I will cut you off.” His face was stern as I stared into his eyes.
I saw the businessman in him, the powers that be.
He could give me everything I wanted and could take it away just as quickly.
Just as I was accepting his deal, Karen appeared from behind Alex, “Damn, this place is spectacular.” She smiled wide as she rounded him, “Why have I never been in one of these before?”
Alex sidestepped until he was next to her and flung his arm around her shoulders.
That little action had my teeth grinding a little more.
“Sweetheart, these places are bad your health, especially for an innocent little thing like you,” she tipped her head back slightly and smirked.
“Ain’t they, Gav?” He winked with a smirk before he smiled back down at Karen.
“Who said I’m so innocent?” her head leaned back. He glanced from her to me.
“You must just give off that vibe.”
I’d never felt jealousy before, but a churning sensation began deep in my gut. Was that what that feeling was, jealousy? Because right now, I wanted to peel his hands from her, then chop off his fingers for touching her. I pushed my temper down and remained calm.
“It’s not so bad in small doses.” I threw back at him and brought us back to the conversation before he started flirting with my girlfriend, or whatever she was.
I narrowed my gaze at him, “and let’s face it, some people live in a lap of luxury from feeding a gamblers habit?
Don’t they, Alex?” I fired back at him. Two could play his game.
A booming laugh burst from him, as he nodded through his amusement.
“Touché.” He laughed again and took his arm from around Karen, “Please, enjoy yourself. And of course, you have a full year’s membership now, you can come back here whenever you want to.
” Karen smiled, as she thanked him and he stepped up to me, cupping my shoulder lightly, “I’ll be watching. ”
“Shall we have a walk around?” I asked, moving towards Karen,
“Eeek, yeah,” she eagerly hooked her arm through my mine as I led her round the room, pointing out the different games. “Have you ever won?” Her question was so innocent, just like Alex said, how did I even start to explain the devil’s dealings to someone that hadn’t a clue what they were?
“Oh, you are precious.” I felt my mouth lift at the one side with my sarcasm.
“Hey!” Her eyes met mine as she tipped her head up with a pout. “The rules on drinking and gambling are different here to those in England.” She bobbed out her tongue, amused as I lifted my eyebrow.
“Watch that I don’t find a good use for that tongue, screw whoever’s watching.
” Her eyes widened as she peered around.
As her face came back to mine, a devious smile appeared on her pretty features.
We were totally on the same page, and I loved that.
My arm draped around her shoulders as we carried on our stroll.
While we circled the room, the croupiers had already set up at the tables, the itch was getting harder to contain, but I tried my hardest, for her.
“Do you want to get a drink first?” Karen nodded and I led her over to the bar.
Roman and Paisley were in the VIP area, which I expected, but I was surprised I hadn’t seen Nikki yet, just to keep her beady eye on me so she could run back and snitch to Roman.
Although she was probably up there with them drinking champagne.
Not that I cared, but I didn’t want her questions, not tonight. I had enough to deal with.
I took my arm from around Karen and shoved my hands into my pockets.
She instantly pushed her arm through mine as we wandered aimlessly around the room while I told her some of the rules of the games, and house rules of casino gambling.
And all while I was telling her, she looked up at me and took in everything I was saying.
We came to one of the roulette wheels again and stopped while we watched someone play. It was only then I’d noticed the place was filling up. “So, I basically just pick a number then the guy spins the wheel and rolls the dice?”
“You can pick a number or a colour, red or black. If the ball lands on either the number or colour you picked, you win.”
She glanced up with a nod, but confusion marred her beautiful features. “That easy?”
“Yeah, that easy…until you lose.” I added,
“Then you throw even more money into the pot to win back what you’ve lost.” I looked around Karen, and there she was. I knew she wouldn’t be far away. Nikki was seating herself on a chair around the wheel. “Sorry, not interrupting anything am I?”
“No, of course not.” Karen answered politely. If I didn’t want to upset the apple cart right now, I’d tell her that she was, but being the good boy I am, I kept my mouth shut.
“So, you playing?” Nikki asked with a grin aimed at Karen.
“How much do I have to bet?”
“Hundred dollars minimum bet.” I told her, she took the cash from her pocket and held it out.
“Hundred dollars on black, please.” She told the dealer. As she passed over her money. Nikki threw some money in, and I threw two hundred in as well. I bet on number seven, red, while Nikki also bet on black.
“Red is the devil’s colour, you know,” Karen whispered in my ear, grinning.
My head tilted to hers, “I’m friends with the devil.”
“Anymore bets?” The dealer called out, halting any more conversation, Karen’s blue eyes were rounded as they bore into me. When satisfied there were no latecomers, he spun the wheel and threw the ball. “No more bets.”
My one hand balled into a fist, while my fingers on the other hand gripped tightly to the edge of Karen’s chair.
“Come on seven. Come on.” I quietly willed the ball to drop into the right slot.
I begged it almost. My eyes closed and shut everything out, the noise in the room, the ball hitting the wheel as it whirled around.