Eli adds, “I also fucked him while he was strung up.”
Cass grins at that. “I didn't know you were gay.”
“I'm not gay; I'm bi. I fuck men and women, sometimes at the same time,” Eli responds nonchalantly.
“I doubt Dante would want you talking to his daughter about who you fuck,” I can’t help but point out.
Eli removes his attention from Gavin to look me up and down. “What about you, blondie? Do you play for both teams?”
“Nope. I'm firmly in the hetero camp, thanks. Not that I care what you or anyone else does. People should fuck whoever they want and screw the rest.” I can't help but glance at Cass when I say that.
“Since you and Gavin have a history, would you really let me or Cole kill him?” Cass asks the sadist.
“You gotta do what you gotta do,” Eli mutters, definitely tipsy if not full out drunk on whatever was in the now empty flask. “It's your call. I'm just here to supervise and judge you on your decisions.”
“So, then you don’t have an opinion?” I prod him.
“No, not really. It's more like I know Dante’s preference, how he would like this to go after spending nearly a year tracking the bastard down to drag him back here to Vegas. Whichever one of you gets closest to his decision wins. What is the current score of this little competition to be Vegas’s next top dog anyway?”
“There's still plenty of time left to decide,” I remark.
“I'm ahead,” Cass tells him with her chin raised proudly. “The hand-to-hand event was a draw, but I easily won the round at the shooting range.”
“You were able to tie Cass in hand-to-hand?” Eli asks me.
“It was a draw,” I repeat. “We fought against the instructor. I sucked and Cass hurt her ankle in the first few seconds.”
“You hurt your ankle the first few seconds?” His eyes narrow at Cass who nods. Eli then studies her from head to toe before saying, “I find that very hard to believe. I know you’re dangerous. I've seen you training with Saul and the employees. You’re deadly. Nothing would hold you back, especially not a sprained ankle. You threw the challenge, didn’t you?”
“No, I didn’t,” Cass mutters way too fast as she moves closer to Gavin as if to get away from the conversation.
Considering Eli’s assessment, the fact that he knows Cass better than I do, I follow the feisty redhead. “Is he right, Cassie? Did you actually hurt your ankle or what?”
“Yes, I hurt my ankle! It may have just been a sprain, but I didn't want to make it worse. You know, in case I ever have to actually defend myself.”
Oh my god, she’s so full of shit. How did I not realize that before now?
“Right, like that day would come the same week as a sprain,” Eli says sarcastically, not buying her lies either.
Cass crosses her arms over her chest defensively. “It could have. I've started dating guys, you know.”
“Oh, I've heard. The casino rumor mill is all abuzz about you being on the market.”
“And? What have people been saying about her?” I can’t help but inquire.
“Oh, this and that,” Eli responds then chuckles. “Most male employees say they would give their left nut to hit that. Apparently, you caused a raucous a few weeks ago. Even though you live in the penthouse, only a handful of staff had ever seen or even heard of you or your sisters before Sophie got married and you attended the fundraiser here in the casino a few days later. I can’t even repeat what has been said about the dresses you wore to both events and then one out to a bar the other night.”
“People are talking about me and my dresses?” Cass asks, sounding surprised.
“Yes, people are talking about you, which is why your father has been sick with worry lately. The photos from the wedding were everywhere online.”
The wedding was also when the Russians saw photos of me. “Where do all these photos of us show up?” I ask Eli.
“Page Six loves when rich people get married. Someone from the wedding must have sent them the photos, and they published them. The gold dress was coveted by men and women. Was there a reason why your tits were out, Cass? Like did the dress shrink up or something in the wash?”
“You should watch your fucking mouth before Dante cuts out your tongue,” I warn him.
Eli shrugs and laughs. “Dante won't care if I ask her a question. And I’m the only one who cuts out tongues around here. It’s a bloody business.”