Page 13 of Wonderland

You know everything but not this?

Reggie

There has been more than one person.

The hell? My phone starts vibrating in my hand as a call comes through. The number is unavailable. I clear it and turn off my phone.

My heart starts to pound when I see two men in all black suits headed right toward me. I recognize them. They work here.

I glance around the casino floor. They can’t take me in public. Can they? I turn to go the other way, trying to make it for the exit that would lead me back out on Fremont Street.

“Hey!” I hear one shout as my body collides into someone else’s. An arm wraps around me, stopping me from falling backwards.

“You turned off your phone, Ace.” My stomach tightens as the familiar rich smell of Bo invades my system. I drop my head back to stare up at the very man I was trying to avoid. “It’s not safe to turn your phone off. Don’t do it again.” There is a warning to his tone. “Understood?”

I simply nod my head because what else am I going to do?

9

BOWEN

Ace’s eyes are wide with fear. I don’t like it. Not one fucking bit. I rather enjoy her sarcastic smart mouth.

“Mr. Knight,” one of the two men in suits says. “Let us handle the girl and we’ll let Mr. Anderson know you’re here.”

I ignore them, my attention going back to Ace. I lean down to whisper into her ear and pull her more into me.

“No one is going to hurt you,” I promise her.

“Not even you?”

“Hurt is the last thing I want to do to you, Ace.” I kiss her neck. Her body shivers against mine.

“Tell Anderson the girl is off-limits.” Both of the suits’ eyes widen.

“She's a?—”

“She’s mine. That’s all that matters. If she has an outstanding balance, send it over and I’ll get it taken care of.” I make myself very clear on how this is all going to go. There’s not a sane man in this town that would dare go against me.

“Yes, sir.” They both speak at the same time.

“We’re leaving.” I shift Ace into my side. “Don't make a scene or I’ll make a bigger one. Either way, you’ll be coming with me,” I whisper into Ace’s ear, making it perfectly clear that there’s no wiggle room here.

“You said you wouldn’t hurt me.”

“I did.”

“Are you a liar, Knight?”

“Bo,” I correct her. “You call me Bo.”

“Are you a liar, Bo?” I love my name coming from her mouth.

“If I need to be. Yes. I’ll do whatever it takes to get what I want.” That fear starts to creep back into her eyes. I hate it, but all I can do is show her. That will take time. Still, I want to reassure her. Something I normally don’t give a shit to do for others. “I’ll never lie to you.”

“How do I know you’re not lying now?”

“You don’t but your fate is still the same. Now are you going to walk or am I going to have to carry you out of here?”

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