Page 31 of Casino King

“Later, bella,” I rasp. “We’re too open here. Get in the car.”

Blinking, her hazel eyes become a little clearer, and she whispers, “No.”

“No?”

“I’m working.”

“You’re not fucking going back to work in there. Not now. Not ever.”

“What?”

“You don’t work here anymore, Tessa. Go grab your things. I’ll wait.”

“No.”

“Don’t test me on this. There’s no fucking way you’re working here dressed like that, with yourself on display for everyone to see what’s mine.”

“I’m not on display,” she says softly, her eyes darting away from mine.

“You are. Those men in there are only thinking about one thing when you’re in front of them. Go get your bag. Now. I’m not feeling very patient.”

“When are you ever?” she mumbles.

“Never. It’s best you learn that now.”

She doesn’t protest again. She just walks back inside the diner and straight through to the kitchen. Emerging less than a minute later, I open the passenger side door for her and she slides right in, the skirt of her dress riding up to show me even more of her thighs.

I slam the door closed and look over my shoulder to see Enzo leaning against his Range Rover in the parking lot across the street. He lifts his chin, but I don’t respond. He and I need to talk about the arrangement between him and Tessa and decide if I need to assign someone else to her.

I don’t want either of them getting attached.

Behind the wheel, I rev the engine, and Tessa lets out a little gasp when I pull out of the lot at a speed she’s not used to.

“My car,” she says, looking over her shoulder.

“I’ll have someone drive it to your place.”

Pulling back into the garage of The Aces, I open her door for her and give her my hand to help her out, and she doesn’t think twice about taking it. Good.

Chapter 11

Tessa

I don’t know what just happened, or why I didn’t fight him harder on it.

Alec can’t possibly think he can just show up, order me to do something, and then I’ll go along with it without putting up too much of a fight.

I never saw men leering at me like he suggested, and I never thought my uniform was showing too much. He’s definitely overexaggerating this entire situation.

It’s like my life suddenly isn’t my own anymore because Alec decided he wanted me, and I need to take some of it back.

I fought for years to build the life I have for myself. One where I’m surviving. One where I’m breathing. One where I’m able to take care of myself.

And when someone comes along and tries to tell me any aspect of that life I made for myself is lesser than…

“Go change,” is all he says when we get inside his place.

“I don’t have any clothes.”

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