Page 89 of Casino King

“What the fuck? Where was Tito? He hasn’t called me with anything.”

“I’ll take care of him later,” I assure him. “But he’s meeting you in the basement now. We’re almost at Leo’s and then we’ll be there within the hour.”

“I’ll have Dante gather the men and everything will be ready for her extraction when you get here.”

You could call Dante our head of security, but he’s better known as The Executioner to those in our world. If you see him, it’ll be the last time. He’s walking death, and he’s trained some of our best soldiers in his liking. I know he’ll have them ready for this job.

“Thanks.” Hanging up, I pinch the bridge of my nose and close my eyes, trying to get the image of Tessa tied to a chair out of my head.

She was never supposed to be touched by my world. I was supposed to keep her safe.

This is my fault.

When we’re close to Leo’s building, I text the number back from Sun’s phone, having waited so we could have more time to prepare ourselves to get her out, praying they don’t fucking touch her.

Taking the private elevator in Leo’s building from the garage that brings us straight up to the roof, the whooshing air blowing from the chopper’s blades has me bending forward as I run towards its open door. The pilot we have on call is ex-military, and when Leo, Alfie, and I are all strapped in, he takes off into the night, knowing how to fly with ease under any and every situation.

Staring out at the black ocean, my mind goes over every way I know how to torture a man. That was a part of our training growing up. My father was a ruthless man who knew the depths any man was willing to go to in order to keep his secrets and the ones he loves safe, and he taught us how to exploit those depths and use them to our advantage.

There’s always someone trying to knock you off the top of the pyramid, coming from every direction, and we have to be prepared.

Leo, Luca, and I all have the worst of our father inside of us, brewing just below the surface of our controlled exteriors. We were taught that, too.

Our father always said that a man only had two true weaknesses in life – lack of control, and the love of a woman. My brothers and I made pacts when we were teenagers to never let a woman become our weakness. We could have as many as we wanted so long as it didn’t go past one night. But that lifestyle gets old. When you can have any woman you want, and the chase is gone, the satisfaction fades over time. Especially when you hit thirty.

Then I saw Tessa, and all of that changed.

She became my chase.

She was something I couldn’t have but also couldn’t not have. Every time I saw her, the pull got stronger. Then I got to be with her, and every time I was, that pull solidified into something I can’t even explain.

She’s the best gift I’ve ever been given, and I’ll be damned if I let anyone take her from me.

Chapter 31

Tessa

I’m so tired.

My arms are starting to tingle and lose feeling from being tied behind my back, and my legs are tight from being bound to each of the chair legs.

I’m trying to ignore the fact that my legs are spread and my short dress does little to cover me. I know the men keep looking between my thighs thinking they’ll catch a peek, but too bad for them, I have on a pair of black lace panties that covers me.

No one’s touched me since they took my picture for Alec, and I’m thankful for that. I don’t know if I could endure the unwanted touch of another.

They’re using me as leverage to get something they want from Alec, but I know they won’t get it. He’s coming for me. I can feel it.

For all that’s happened these past two weeks, I know he’d never let anyone hurt me. That fact was made known when he killed Enzo.

Alec always makes sure I’m safe. Even when his methods are over-the-top and impede on my basic freedoms, he does it so I’m safe.

Tears prick the backs of my eyes but I blink them away, refusing to think about how crazy he must be going right now knowing that I’m here. I know he still cares.

I stood my ground and didn’t go to him. I could have so easily broken down and gone to him when I knew he was home, telling him I missed him. I know he wouldn’t have turned me away. But every time I crawled out of bed to do that and ease the pain I was in, I’d remember why I was in it in the first place, and lie back down.

But right now, I don’t even care about any of that. I don’t care that he ordered the hit on James. I don’t care that he changed my life by taking away the only family I had left. I just want him here. I want to see his dark eyes and let myself get lost in their depths. They bring me comfort and relief.

I’m afraid I’ll always want him. No matter the evil’s he commits, or the pain he may cause me, I’ll always want him.

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