Page 56 of Casino King

Now, I wish I had asked a few questions. But right as I take my phone out to text Enzo, my door opens and in walks Leo with two of his most trusted men, Alfie and Richie.

I slip my phone back in my jacket and down the rest of the amber liquid in my glass. I’ll check in with Enzo later. I know he’s going to make sure my woman is safe. He knows his life depends on it, and I have to focus on making it through this party.

Standing, I button my suit jacket and give Leo a nod.

“Let’s go,” is all he says in response.

Only Leo and I are going to the party, not wanting all the Carfanos present in case something goes sideways.

“You look tired,” I tell Leo as we’re driven across my little island to Sahara’s. Alfie drives us with Richie in the SUV in front of us and my two men in the one behind.

“I am,” he says in a clipped tone.

“What’s going on?” Leo is rarely tired. He’s more of a machine than I am. He rarely sleeps.

“The Cubans in Miami have decided to go back on our already agreed upon importing costs, the Armenians have been dropping too many bodies in our territory and not cleaning up after themselves which makes it look like we’re taking their enemies out, and you have the Triads who won’t just fucking stay down when we put them there. Add in that both the Armenians and the Triads will be in the same room as us in less than a half hour as well as the Cicariello scum lackeys who will be standing in for Joey and the rest of them, and I’m fucking tired. Just tell me you won’t be distracted by anything for the next few hours.”

“Jesus fucking Christ, Leo, you make it sound like I’m some pussy who can’t do my job.”

“Just checking.”

“You don’t need to,” I grit through clenched teeth.

He looks out the window. “A woman can ruin men like us. Men who do what we do, are who we are. She’ll make you think twice before making a decision that you never would have before, risking your life in that split second. She’ll change you. She’ll give you a weakness where you had none before.”

I’ve never heard him talk like this – lost in a memory he’s never shared. I want to ask him more, but decide to lay it all out there on my end for him to know.

“Her name is Tessa. I want you to meet her. I’m not letting her go. I probably never should’ve gone back to see her dance after that first time, but the moment I saw her…” I trail off, not knowing how to put it into words. “The thought of her out there with another man burns me from the inside out to the point where I know I’d burn the fucking world down before that ever happened.”

“She’s a fucking stripper?” Leo shakes his head and rubs his temples.

“No, she’s not a fucking stripper,” I growl, fisting my hands so I don’t strangle him. “She’s a dancer. Ballet and shit. She teaches kids at a studio in town and is in the Friday night show at The Aces. That’s where I first saw her.”

“Oh,” is all he says.

“What?” I snap, knowing he wants to say something.

“Nothing, Alec. I just didn’t expect that.”

Releasing a rushed breath, I drop it because I don’t know what he means by that and we’ve just pulled up to Sahara’s.

Leo and I lead the way to the door with our men flanking on the side and behind us. The bouncer checking off names doesn’t even bother asking for ours, already knowing who we are.

Sahara’s is known for their massive midnight pool parties, and as we enter the glass dome structure attached to the hotel that encases the pool area, my eyes immediately scan those who have arrived before us, assessing the threat.

Palm trees rise high from areas around the lagoon styled pool which has women floating in it with their tits out, sipping on cocktails. They no doubt were hired to be something to look at by the men in attendance.

A stage is set up at the far end next to the DJ, which will more than likely have a well-known artist performing on it sometime later in the night. Bars are set up all around to keep the liquor flowing. Private lounge and cabana areas extend off from the cement paths that weave around the pool and surrounding area. A sand beach area to my left has beautiful women waitressing trays of both liquor and cigars in string bikinis that leave little to the imagination.

The stairs leading to the second level are flanked by bodyguards, the private rooms up there where some will go to conduct business or drag one of the many hired women here for a quick fuck.

“I need a drink,” I tell Leo, walking us over to the nearest bar.

“I can already tell this is going to get wild pretty soon,” he says.

“I know.”

The Broker always has surprises throughout his parties. Last year, he had naked women come down from the glass roof, twisting and turning on silk ribbons that had every man in the place completely fucking entranced. Another year there was a sex show on stage that when over, had everyone breaking away to find any semblance of privacy in the cabanas with whichever woman they could claim first. The Broker always hires call girls to walk through the crowd and give the men whatever they want.

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