Page 76 of Casino King

Pulling up to a gate, Vinny rolls down the window and punches a code in a black box, allowing the iron gate to creek open. My mouth hangs open at the beautiful house taking up more than the windshield will allow me to see.

“Our grandfather bought this house out here for our nonna when she got tired of the city.”

“I…” I croak, my palms starting to sweat. A massive white stone house that has two large columns on either side of the front door stands before me. There are second floor balconies lining the front of the house that are held up by a set of columns, creating overhangs for porches that line the entire first floor.

A fountain sits in the middle of a circular brick driveway, trees line the front wall of the property to partially hide the house from the street, and perfectly landscaped flowerbeds are everywhere I look.

This is more wealth than I’ve ever known, and I know the inside will be just as extravagant. I thought Alec’s penthouse was the epitome of luxury…well this…this is more.

Vinny laughs at my reaction. “Don’t worry, Tessa. It’s just a house.”

“That’s not a house,” I whisper.

“It is. Just like this is just a car. A fast car.” He smirks. “But a car nonetheless. They’re just things, Tessa.”

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and nod. “Thank you.”

“Anytime. I like you, Tessa. I think you’re good for Alec. He needs a woman by his side to come home to. I, on the other hand”–he smiles–“have no need for just one woman.”

A laugh bubbles up and out of me. “Maybe one day you’ll think differently, Vin.”

“I don’t want to think differently,” he scoffs, parking behind a fancy Audi on the circle drive. Checking his phone, he frowns. “They’re stuck in traffic.”

“So, it’s just us again?”

“It’ll be fine. Let’s go in, I’m starving.”

Climbing out of the car, Vinny loops my arm in his and walks me up the front stone steps. For some reason, I’m not totally buying the traffic excuse. Something’s going on with Alec.

My eyes widen the moment we step inside the house, and I’m speechless. A massive chandelier hangs above us in the large foyer which is flanked by two curved stairways that lead to the second floor with a balcony overlooking the entire entryway.

Voices and laughter echo through the house, and Vinny walks me further inside. After walking down a short hallway, we turn the corner and stand in the large doorway to the dining room, and all the talking stops as every pair of eyes land on me.

Sitting around a table that looks to fit over twenty are seventeen of Alec’s relatives, and I’m struck with panic at the anticipation of having to remember all their names.

“Hi, Tessa,” Katarina greets with a warm smile.

“Hi, Kat.” I smile back, thankful for her breaking the ice.

A beautiful woman at the head of the table stands and walks over to me. Vinny releases my arm as she takes my hand. “Hi, Tessa. I’m Anita, Alec’s mother.” Her smile is genuine, but her eyes hold a cautious wariness.

“Hi, Mrs. Carfano. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Come sit.” She waves her hand at an empty seat and then addresses Vinny. “Vincenzo, where are my sons? Or have you decided to take Tessa for yourself?”

“As tempting as that is”–he winks at me–“they’re just stuck in traffic.”

Mrs. Carfano waves her hand in the air dismissively. “Oh, excuses. Well, we’ll just have to get to know Tessa while we wait.”

Damn it. I’m going to fucking slap Alec for doing this to me.

“What do you do, Tessa? I’m Gia, and this is my sister Aria. Alec’s cousins.” Wow, twins. And they’re gorgeous. Perfect skin, hair, smiles, and eyes that are this honey brown that I’m sure have drawn in every man they’ve met. Women, too.

“I teach dance at a studio in town, but I also dance in the Friday night show at The Aces.”

Their eyes widen at that, and I’m worried for a second that maybe I shouldn’t have told them that? But then again, Vinny told me to be myself, and I don’t want to lie to his family. I’m also not ashamed or embarrassed.

“Wow, that’s amazing,” Gia says with a smile.

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