Page 73 of Roulette: The Madam

I rubbed my hand down my beard and then placed it on Chino’s chest, deflating it as if I’d put a pin to that motherfucker.

“That’s dangerous territory up there.”

With a tilt of my head, I disrupted his line of vision. I needed him to hear me. I needed him to see me. I needed him to understand me.

“May the best man win,” I challenged, and headed inside the bar.

Having a drink wasn’t my intention. Roulette was intoxicating enough, but with her so many floors away, the potency left me feenin. I needed a pick-me-up. Something strong. Something comparable to her.

Nothing is comparable to her. I reasoned.

I didn’t disagree. In fact, I simply nodded my head and sat at the very end of the bar with my eyes trained on the lobby that Chino had yet to leave. His feet were planted. His drink was still at his waist side. And every mistake he’d ever made with the woman who gave him the freedom almost every man dreamt of while getting her money and keeping her pussy to herself hit him like a fucking MACK truck.

Only there wasn’t a MACK. There were only my words. And, me. I was the truck. A eighteen wheeler full of unlimited funds,vacations, monogamy, joy, happiness, smiles, sweet nothings, deeds, titles, and dick that I wanted to drive all up in her garage.

“Welcome. What can I get for you tonight, Sir?”

The bartender visited the moment I got comfortable in my seat. He placed a napkin and coaster in front of me.

“Whiskey.Neat.”

“Coming right up.”

I peered out of the glass to find that Chino had disappeared. Raquim had replaced him, standing near the entry ofThe Carmen, awaiting my exit. He was never too close but never too far away either. Bullets traveled a hell of a distance before their potential decreased. He was right where he needed to be.

I tossed back the first glass of whiskey without as much of a grunt as the fire flowed through my body. The bartender hadn’t taken a step in the other direction before I was nodding, letting him know that I was due for another round.

“Alright, coming right up.”

The wait wasn’t long. Another cup was in front of me in an instant. This time, I silently promised to savor every sip. This time, he’d poured a double shot. I would be a while. And, I wasn’t complaining. I wanted to dissect the events of my night, starting with the most beautiful view of Roulette as she conquered the lobby on her way to the penthouse.

A fucking force. I whistled with a shake of my head.

Sip by sip. Play by play. Roulette’s reel looped in my head. She was a dream I didn’t know existed in my world. Though I admired her, she was forbidden territory. She was Chino’s woman. I understood my influence in his life.

Fucking his woman, although they were not in an exclusive relationship, just wasn’t on my list of things to do.Ever. Until it was. Until sherequestedme. And, until heinvitedme into their bed.

Damn you, Chino. I chastised, rubbing my beard with my index finger and thumb.

As the words left my mouth, Roulette’s long legs stepped out of my head and into my line of vision. My face crinkled with worry. She was in no condition to drive. From the way she was gliding across the floor on unstable legs, I knew she wasn’t in no condition to walk either.

Raquim’s locs swung in the opposite direction as he peered through the glass, telepathically calling out to me. I nodded toward the subject, letting him know we were on the same page and his assistance was an expectation and not simply a request.

He wasted little time getting active. Instead of approaching Roulette, he kept a safe distance and a listening ear trained on her. Upon realizing her plans to leave the hotel for the evening, he tilted his head toward the door.

She’s leaving for the night. Headed home. American sign language was a required lesson of employees as close to me as the one I was reading hand signs from.

Go get the truck. Have them pull my car up. Give her space. I’ll be right out. I responded, taking another sip of my drink.Don’t let her leave the lot.

“Fix your face, Princess,” I whispered, watching her shift her weight from one foot to the other. Yes, she was a boss in her own right, but as I watched her from the glass she was nothing more than a girl.

Just a girl. Just apretty, prettyPrincess. Just a girl who deserved to have the best days every day. One who deserved the best of the world. And, I wanted to give that to her.

To Roulette.

To Malaya.

To my mother.

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