Page 29 of All Bets Are Off

“Well, thanks,” was all I could say. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. We’re committed to keeping you in the loop going forward, though.”

“Sure. Fine.” Dad looked bored. “What’s for dinner?”

7

SEVEN

“Ineed a drink.”

That was the understatement of the year. I needed ten drinks. The family dinner from Hell made sure of that. I’d barely waited until the door was closed behind my parents to make my announcement.

Zach slid his eyes to me. “I didn’t think it went that badly.”

“Really?” I was starting to regain my footing after the dental surgery and my feisty side was coming out.

“I think my father likes you.”

I snorted. “I’m not sure your father likes himself.”

“Well, that’s true.” Zach scratched the back of his head. “My sisters are going to be trouble.”

“Why do you think that?” I was honestly curious. Ruby, Pearl, and Opal—what an unfortunate set of names—had spent most of their time clumped together in the kitchen. Sure, they whispered to themselves, but I didn’t think they were planning the bloody attack on Zach that he was envisioning.

“They’re plotting something,” he insisted.

“You’re paranoid.” I shook my head and got to my feet. “I’m going downstairs for a drink. I’m going to have Tallulah meet me.”

Zach’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not paranoid, and you’re on pain meds. You can’t have alcohol.”

“My pain meds have worn off and I need a freaking drink.” I also needed someone who was outside the weird little bubble we’d made to help me decide if I’d made the worst mistake of my life. “I’m not going to get drunk. I’m not even going to leave the casino. There are like fifteen bars here. I’ll just meet Tallulah at one of them.”

Zach looked torn. “Why not bring Tallulah up here?”

Why would I possibly want to do that? “Um … because I need air.”

“Yes, and a casino with no windows is a great place to get it,” Zach said dryly. “Also, I’m not paranoid. My sisters are monsters. They’re going to try to do something to screw with us.”

“Your sisters were more interested in watching your father than us,” I countered as I got to my feet. He wasn’t going to stop me from taking my much-needed break. “They were laughing at him. I’m guessing it’s because you caught him off guard and he didn’t know how to react. Your father probably always knows how to react.”

Zach sank into one of the chairs. “You don’t know them like I do. They hate me.”

“They might hate the position they’ve been thrown in because you were anointed prince before you were even born, but they don’t hate you.” How he could think otherwise was beyond me. “If anything, they seemed impressed that you were fighting your dad on a new level.”

“No.” Zach shook his head. “They wish I’d never been born.”

“Zach, I don’t know what the deal is with you and your sisters, but that’s not how they feel about you.” His insecurity feltweird to me. He’d grown up in one of the richest families in the city, and he was the center of the entire Stone family. Like … the diamond between the filler stones. “You need to take a breath.”

I started for the door and then stilled. “Wait … I need a keycard or something to get back in here, right?” I looked around, as if expecting one to magically appear. When I risked a glance back at Zach, I found him looking smug.

“You’re not going out.” He was matter of fact. “You need to rest. You can visit with Tallulah tomorrow.”

Just who did he think he was? “You’re not the boss of me.”

“I’m your husband.”

“That doesn’t mean you’re the boss of me.” I moved back in front of him. “You might be the crown prince of your family, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to bow,” I warned him.

He met my gaze evenly for a long time, then he sighed and dug in his pocket for his wallet, coming back with a keycard. “We’re in penthouse four.”

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