Chapter 43 Bastian
BASTIAN
Iwalked through the casino lobby with Chance.
“The VIPs were happy with the opening last week.” Chance looked sideways at me. “You didn’t stick around for opening night.”
“I had other business to attend to.”
My fake casino owner smiled. “Was she a blonde or a redhead?”
“Neither.” I smiled, stopping near the elevators. “Well, sometimes she likes to change it up, but it’s usually silky black.”
The actor’s eyes widened. “You sound like you’re keeping this one.”
“I am. For the rest of my life.”
Chance’s blond eyebrows rose. “Bastian Thorne is off the market. The ladies of Las Vegas will be in mourning.”
I shot him a dry look and handed him a file. “Don’t piss me off.”
He held up a hand. “Yes, boss. I’ll see you at our next meeting.” He sauntered away.
The closest elevator chimed and the doors opened. Lark stepped out, Nash at her side. Both of them were in deep conversation.
I instantly felt lighter. At times, she was still skittish. I knew it would take some time for her to get used to settling in one place. And to loving and being loved.
She hadn’t told me with words that she loved me. Yet.
But she showed me with actions. Especially in our bed at night.
We discovered that we liked to cook together. Although, we usually ended up making love somewhere in the kitchen. I smiled. She’d also been helping out with casino security this week. Nash had told me that she had a knack for finding gaps in the security system. No surprise there.
The pair walked toward me. I liked seeing my woman and my friend getting along. I think both of them were surprised that they worked so well together.
“Hello,” I drawled.
Lark spotted me and a smile broke out on her face.
I closed the distance between us and pulled her into my arms. I kissed her until her eyes closed.
“Hi,” she said.
“How’s work?”
“I’m helping Nash with security in the east wing.”
Nash inclined his head. “Her advice has been incredibly helpful.”
“Good. You’re earning your salary, then.”
She laughed. “I’m not an employee. I don’t get a salary.”
“You do now.” I’d signed off on the paperwork that morning. “You’re our newest security consultant. Your payments will go into your bank account monthly. I’ll let you work out hours with Nash.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Bastian…”
“Are you enjoying the work?”
She frowned. “Yes, but—”
“Nash said your help is invaluable. So we’ll pay for it.” I shrugged. “If you want to do something else, or any side jobs, that’s entirely up to you.”
She huffed. “When you get bossy and arrogant like this, I don’t know whether to hit you, or…” She blushed and glanced at Nash.
I fiddled with her hair. “I’d go with option two.”
With a laugh, she smacked my hand away.
“Mr. Thorne?” a voice asked hesitantly.
We all turned. A uniformed front desk employee stood there, wringing her hands.
“Yes, Jenny?”
The woman cleared her throat. “There’s a…gentlemen at reception. He’s asking for you. I’m sure it’s just a hoax, and I didn’t want to interrupt—”
That’s when I saw the man standing at the reception desk. He was looking around, wearing his ragged clothes. People were giving him a very wide berth.
“Who’s that?” Lark asked.
“Errol. He helped me find you in the sewers.” I nodded at the employee. “I’ll deal with this, Jenny.”
Relief bloomed on her face. “Yes, sir.”
I took Lark’s hand and strode over. Nate followed.
“Errol.”
“Bastian Thorne,” Errol said in his rusty voice. “So, you do own the Avernus.”
“I do.”
His gaze shifted to Lark. “You found your girl.”
“I did. Thanks to you.”
He smiled, showing a missing tooth. “Reckon you would’ve found her yourself. Um…” he shuffled his feet. “Just thought I’d see if I could get some food. I got a good deal for your watch when I pawned it, but I shared the cash with my friends. It’s all gone now.”
I smiled, and slapped his shoulder, ignoring the ripe scent wafting off him. “I can do better than that. Jenny?”
The woman at the reception desk turned. “Yes, sir?”
“Put Errol up in a comped suite.”
Her mouth dropped open, but she recovered quickly. “Of course.”
“Send up some clothes from one of the boutiques, and schedule the casino barber to pay him a visit.”
Errol’s mouth dropped open.
“Errol, watch whatever you like on the television and order whatever you want from room service. The food’s good here.”
“I… I…” His face crumpled.
I squeezed his shoulder. “I know what it’s like to have nothing. To be homeless and hungry. You aren’t going to be hungry tonight. You can stay as long as you like.”
Tears welled in the man’s eyes. “Well. Well, then.”
“I’ll see you later.”
I turned. Nash was smiling. Lark was staring at me.
Then she went up on her toes and kissed me. “That was nice.”
“I’m not nice.”
“Yes, you are.” Her lips moved, pressing against my ear. “I love you.”
I squeezed her hips. With a growl, a yanked her up and kissed her. “Say it again.”
“I love you, Bastian.”
“I love you too, Lark.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. “I have some things to talk to Nash about. And I have a special date planned for us this afternoon.”
She raised a brow. “Oh?”
I nodded. “I’ll meet you in the penthouse at three o’clock.”
“All right.” She gave me another quick kiss, then glanced at Nash. “I’ll get back to work in the east wing.”
I watched her walk away.
“My office,” I said.
Nash and I took the elevator up.
I strode into my office. “Is everything planned?”
“Yes. Georgie helped me. She was giddy about it.” He paused. “You sure you want to do this?”
“I’m sure.”
“It’s fast.”
“You don’t need to worry.”
“I’m not worried about you, I’m worried about her,” Nash said. “It might be too much, too soon. You could try asking her first.”
I shook my head. “I don’t need to.”
He rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. “Well, she does know you’re bossy and arrogant.”
“I am.” I made no apologies for that, or for living my life exactly how I wanted to.
There was the rap of knuckles at the door and I looked up. Cole walked in.
“Everything on for three o’clock?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes. Thanks for helping out.”
Cole nodded.
I eyed him. He looked tense and preoccupied. “Everything okay?”
His brows drew together. “I can’t stay long this afternoon.”
I shared a glance with Nash. He shrugged. I looked back at our friend. “It’s an important time for me. I want you there.”
Cole blew out a breath. “I’m sorry, but I have a fight.”
I was quiet for a moment. Cole was one of the most trustworthy men I knew. If he was ditching me for a fight, he had a good reason. “Why is this fight so important?”
“Because of the prize.”
I waited for more. “What’s the prize?”
“A woman.” He lifted his chin. “I’ll be there at three, but then I need to go. I’m winning this fight.”
He turned and strode out.
“A woman? Do you know anything about this?”
Nash shook his head. “Nothing.”
“I know the fights are illegal, but I’ve never heard of the prize being a fucking person before.”
Nash frowned. “Me neither.
“Do some digging, Nash. If he’s in trouble, he’ll need our help.”
“I’ll take care of it. You just worry about this afternoon.”
That’s when I saw something on my desk and I froze.
It was Lark’s iPad.
It was resting in the center of the polished marble. Waiting for me.
I glanced at Nash. “I’ll see you at three.”
“I’ll be there.”
After he left, I lifted the tablet, and dropped into my chair.
I swiped the screen.
Her web comic was called Dark Hearts.
I started scrolling. I loved her art style. It was sparse, not too colorful, but filled with so much detail. I started to read about the elegant, sexy casino owner named Hades.
He looked like me.
And he kidnapped the beautiful Persephone. She was small and fierce with night-dark hair.
In the story, he got hurt and she healed him. He held her while she cried over her father’s betrayal. He made her feel safe.
My chest swelled. She’d been drawing this for years.
Hades saved her in the end, and together they killed the bad guy threatening them.
I closed my eyes. I was honored she’d trusted me with this. Not just with her art, but with her soul.
She didn’t need to tell me she loved me. It was in every image in her comic.
But I still liked hearing the words. I wanted to hear her say them again soon, while I was inside her.
Soon.