Page 29 of Casino King

“I drove her home,” Enzo tells me, and I almost crush my phone in my hand.

“Why?” I ask in a chilling, calm tone.

“She texted me, desperately asking me to come and get her to take her home.”

“I didn’t say she could leave.”

“She said she needed to.”

“And that means you should do so without asking me? Why are you so defensive of her? Do you need to tell me something?” If he tells me he wants her, I really will kill him the next time I see him.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re lucky you’re not here or I would fucking strangle you, and Tessa wouldn’t be able to talk me out of it this time.”

“You’ve had me following her for over a month. I’ve gotten to know her. You’ve entrusted her with me.”

“Apparently I chose the wrong person for the job if you think I wanted you in any way to get to know her. And I do trust you, Enzo. Don’t fucking test that or think I’ll let you get away with shit.” Hanging up, I throw my phone on the counter and rub my hands up and down my face.

“What’s going on, Alec?” Vinny asks, leaning back against the counter with that same cocky little smirk he always wears when he’s learning something about someone that he can use against them.

“Nothing,” I snap, walking over to the bar to pour myself a finger of whiskey that I shoot back in one take.

“Yeah, because nothing says whiskey at eight thirty in the morning like a woman. I heard you walked out of the meeting last week because of one. That her?”

Turning back to him slowly, I narrow my eyes. “Where did you hear that? That shouldn’t have left that room.” What? Are my brothers fucking running their mouths about me?

“I’m second to you here, Alec. I need to know if something in your life is going to affect me too.”

“Is that so?” I challenge. “And how would my personal business affect you?”

“See? She’s already changing you. Alec, man, you can’t let a beautiful woman fuck with your head. I’ve been there, and she turned out to be a manipulative, conniving, gold digging bitch who didn’t give a damn about anything but my dick and my bank account.”

“Tessa’s not like that,” I growl like a fucking animal.

“That’s what they want you to think at first.” He shrugs.

“Drop. It. Now. She’s not up for discussion.”

“Fine.” Vinny holds his hands up in defeat. “Let’s talk about why I’m here. We need to discuss this shit with the Triads.”

Getting down to business, the subject of Tessa is dropped. For now, at least. I know he’ll come back for answers when I’m calmer.

When I took over AC from my uncle, who was also Vinny’s dad, I knew I needed Vinny with me. My brothers were staying in New York, and Vin is the cousin who always had my back growing up. He has a good business sense and knows how to get shit done. Always. No matter what I need, or what needs doing, Vinny is my guy.

The fact that he’s questioning my sanity and my judgment pisses me off, and that in itself goes to show that Tessa is a problem I need to deal with.

She’s making me crazy. She’s making me look weak to my family, and I can’t have that. I can’t be pussy whipped.

I haven’t even had her pussy yet and I’m already being driven crazy by it. By her.

♠♣♥♦

Vinny leaves my house and I pour myself a drink. The entire time we were talking, my mind still went right back to Tessa.

She left before I woke up and called Enzo for help. She needs to learn that that’s not ever happening again. If she needs help, she calls me. If she wants to leave, she can fucking tell me herself. If I let her go is my decision.

Leaning against the glass windows of my living room, I look down at the city below. Mycity.

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