Page 84 of Casino King

“Yeah, you should,” Kayla says beside her with a smile. “You never come out with us, so I think you’re due. Plus, I think you could use the fun.”

I don’t ever go out with them because they’ve never asked me to…

“And the distraction,” Jess adds. “Drinks, dancing, men…what else do you need to have fun?” She laughs.

My mind immediately goes to Alec, thinking about how he would react if he knew I was going to go out with these girls to have men all over me, vying to buy me a drink. But he’s not here to try and stop me, and I don’t really feel like going back up to that big, empty castle in the sky again so soon.

So, while I’ve never contemplated going clubbing, the idea holds some value now, and has me saying without thought, “I don’t have anything to wear.”

They both give me wide smiles. “We’ve got you covered, don’t worry.”

Jess runs off and comes back holding a little black dress that I know will be skin tight, low-cut, and short. “I always carry a second option,” she says with a wink. “And are you a 7 shoe?” She holds up a pair of strappy black heels.

“I am, thanks.” Taking the dress and heels from her, I get to work on taking my show makeup off and reapplying it with a more subtle look. We all wear our hair in big curls for the show, so all I have to do is quickly go back over it with a curling wand.

Swiping my lips with a deep red lipstick, I blot them on a tissue and stare at myself in the mirror, willing myself to be okay and push down the doubts of what I’m about to do, knowing I’m doing it for the outcome. Alec will have to talk to me. When he finds out I’ve escaped his new guard dog, he’ll use every resource he has to find me. And when he does, he’ll be mad and yell, but he’ll still have to face me. I’ll finally get to see his eyes after going so long without them.

I know it’s petty and weak of me, but I’m desperate.

“Ready?” Jess asks eagerly. “You look hot, girl!”

“Thanks. You guys look good, too.”

“I need a drink and a hot man tonight!” Kayla announces, making Jess roll her eyes.

“You say that every time we go out.”

“Well, it’s true every time, bitch.” She smirks, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

Standing, I hide my bag under my station and put my phone and small wallet in the clutch purse Jess is also loaning me, and we start to make our way over to the door that will lead us out into the main casino area and not the back hall where Tito is waiting for me.

I know he’ll know something is up if I’m not out there within forty-five minutes of the show ending, so I have about a fifteen-minute window left before that happens.

Walking through the casino, my eyes sweep around to make sure no one recognizes me before I have a chance to even escape and put my plan into motion.

Slot machines ring and people cheer, chips clink together as bets are placed, cards slap together as they’re shuffled and delt, dice hit and tumble on felt, roulette wheels spin, and cigarette and cigar smoke puffs from the mouths of those who are either anxious because they’re losing, or feeling confident in their skills to win.

The club in The Aces, Royals, has a long line for entrance, but Jess and Kayla walk straight to the front.

“We don’t wait in line,” Jess tells me. “The bouncer knows us. He loves our show.” She winks.

“Oh.” I didn’t even realize we might be recognized.

“Hey, Santiago,” Jess coos, placing her hand on the bouncer’s arm.

“Hi, gorgeous.” His gruff voice sounds like he swallowed a handful of stones after he smoked a pack of cigarettes. “Who’s your friend?” He raises his chin to me.

“This is Tessa. She’s in the show, too. Joined us about two months or so ago.”

His eyes scan my body from head to toe, and they feel like clammy hands groping me. “I guess I’ll have to catch another one soon, then,” he says, and I force myself not to make a face that shows my disgust.

Unhooking the velvet rope, Santiago lets us through, and I feel his eyes on my ass as I walk.

The deep bass of music starts to pump through me with each step closer, and when we push past a heavy velvet curtain, the music hits me hard, and my eyes widen at the scene before me.

We’re standing at the top of a staircase, looking down at a dancefloor packed with people – their bodies writhing and swaying with drunken abandon. I almost envy them. They’re all just trying to escape for a night and get lost in someone who won’t even remember their name in a few hours.

The DJ’s booth is up on a platform and multicolored lights flash all around from every direction, making it impossible to get a good look at any one spot before your eyes are drawn someplace else.

---