Page 149 of Roulette: The Madam

“I asked you to let me handle it.”

“I know, but it kept me busy, Teddy. Kept me occupied. Not much physically, but mentally. And, I wanted to work for it, Chem.”

“I understand. What do you want to do now, baby?”

“I want the land.”

“You want the land?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m calling. I can’t see Penthouse anywhere else in the city. I want that location. That land.”

“Then, you’ll have the land.”

“Good. I love you!”

He paused, finding room for his words. When he was ready, he graced the line with his voice again.

“You sound stressed. I don’t like it. Not even a little. Come over. Take a few days to yourself. Get some rest. And, let me handle the acquiring of the land.”

“I could use a break. I miss mom and the babies. But, that’s no vacation for me. I’d want to be surrounded by the people I love almost every hour of the day.”

“True. So, name a place, Rou, and I’ll have the plane fueled and ready.”

“I might take you up on that offer after getting that bit of bad news. I will call you and let you know what I decide.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

The call ended. He had nothing more to say. The work would be done and the land would be mine. It was just a matter of time. Immediate relief washed over me. Suddenly, I was no longer interested in cleaning the kitchen.

My fingers glided over my screen. There was only one other person in mind. I tapped Israel’s contact and waited for him to answer. When the voicemail rolled over, I realized just how long I’d been waiting. My brows crinkled, moving forward with confusion.

I didn’t bother calling a second time. Instead, I accessed the internet and began the search for my next destination.

Fiji?

Maldives?

Turks?

Tahiti?

Bora Bora?

St. Lucia?

Hvar?

Santorini?

My options expanded with each tap of my finger. While I wanted the beauty of an island to caress me like a stressed newborn fresh out of the womb, I wasn’t prepared for the extensive journey. Overwhelmed with the wealth of options, I laid my phone on the counter and grabbed the slightly soiled bleach towel.

I swiped it across the counter that had been waiting since I received the call from Gio.

Fiji sounds like the winner.I admitted.Its beauty is unmatched. But, Tahiti as well.

As I ventured to the next counter, my cell vibrated. I dried my hands slightly and leaned toward the island, swiping before I lost the caller on the other line. I tapped the speaker phone and waited to be greeted.

“Roulette,” the thick Colombian accent greeted me.

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