Page 76 of Meet Me in Montreal

As Bobby and Santino walked, Vanessa held on to Santino’s hand. Zoe latched herself to Vanessa’s side and gave her dress a pointed glance.

“I’ve gotta get a picture of you to show Mom. She might have something to say about all that hanging out. No bra, either? I can see your little Betty Boops,” Zoe remarked in a stage-whisper, poking her nipple.

“Have you already started drinking?” Vanessa asked, batting Zoe’s hand and turning to the side. Zoe shrugged and giggled with her palms up, indicating she had.

“Just saying. Let me guess. Santino finally got you slutted out, huh? I hope you’re wearing undies. Hey everyone! Don’t drop any soap in front of this hoe.” Zoe laughed, swaying a bit and falling onto Vanessa’s shoulder.

“Yeah, I helped pick out her dress,” Santino said, overhearing. “Isn’t my wife the hottest woman in this whole complex?”

Zoe’s face pinched despite her sweet smile. “Oh, for sure! She’s totally channeling Donna Summer or Diana Ross or one of those really old divas.”

Fuck it. Basement Level it was. The sooner they found Ling, the better.

They showed their IDs at the entrance and went inside the first of the casino’s several levels and three interconnected buildings. Vanessa went full-on tourist, staring at the bright lights, and the sign in French offering a welcome to the casino that looked just like the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign on the Vegas strip. There were plenty of places designed for photo ops, including an alcove lit up with a neon sign and a quirky little couch.

“Okay, let me take a pic of y’all,” Vanessa offered.

Zoe posed with a grin, but Bobby’s eyes were now bracketed by anxious lines as he scanned the crowd. Then Zoe did the honors and took pics of her and Santino. Of course, Vanessa was mostly out of the frame.

“Gee thanks,” she said with a frown, then put her phone away.

The casino was packed. The blinking lights of the machines, the crowds, the noise, all would have been a bit overwhelming under normal circumstances. But there was also excitement and energy, the crackle in the air of something coming, good or bad, like clouds that were about to usher in a storm that would either break the earth or cleanse it. No matter what happened, the warmth of Santino’s grasp, the solidity of his body, were her anchors.

They found the poker room at last. Virgil was seated at a no limit Texas hold ’em table with Scott and a couple of other people. including two men and a woman. Ling was sitting off Virgil’s right while a pretty light-skinned Black woman was standing behind Scott looking bored but smiling brightly when he glanced up at her to comment. It seemed he’d wasted no time finding himself a new companion.

Vanessa smiled to herself. She didn’t feel a shred of envy that Scott had someone new. In fact, she’d felt somewhat relieved when Santino had told her Scott was bringing a date. Before the nonsense of the past week, she really had believed he was a greatguy. He deserved to find love if he could tone it down with the intense wounded act.

Who knew, maybe they could eventually all end up as friends? There’d been no swapping of saliva, no cascades of cum, and if he and Santino could let bygones be bygones tonight, there’d be no buckets of blood. Anything was possible when no bodily fluids had been exchanged.

But one look from Scott when his eyes lifted and zeroed in on her and then Santino, and the brief fantasy of a friendly acquaintanceship went flying out the gigantic casino windows. His eyes flicked down to her cleavage, and she flushed, feeling exposed under that angry gaze.

Santino’s hand tightened on hers. He was staring right back at Scott with a smug smirk, and it dawned on her that he’d chosen this dress exactly for this purpose. Not to show up Zoe, although that had been satisfying. It was to show Scott what he’d never had and was never going to have.

Prince Petty for the win.

Scott and Zoe weren’t the only ones who noticed the daring, plunging neckline and her display of assets. Other men turned to gawk as they passed, which made Santino trade his smirk for a glare.

“Watch yourself,tigre. No caveman theatrics because people are looking,” she murmured to him as they approached the table. “Remember,youpicked out this dress.”

“Yeah, yeah I know. You still do look fuckin’ hot, though.” His warm palm against the small of her back was a comforting caress.

“I feel like a lady villain in a Bond movie. I should introduce myself as Titty McBane,” she whispered back.

Santino’s answering laughter rang out and caused a few female heads to turn this time, and they kept looking. Vanessa’s stomach tightened as they passed the women who kept openlystaring at him, despite seeing that he was clearly taken. He wasn’t the only one who’d have to keep their jealous inclinations in check tonight.

As for Santino, he fixed his face back into a toxic man-scowl aimed solely at Scott as they reached the table with Bobby and Zoe flanking them. Bobby’s eyes immediately fixed on Ling, who smiled pleasantly but without the same genuineness as the night before. Clad in a shimmering gold sheath dress with black stilettoes, she was definitely in Bond girl territory. Her smile was more generous when her gaze shifted to Vanessa.

“Hi. You look amazing. That’s from Lula’s, isn’t it?” Ling said when Vanessa came around to give her a kiss on the cheek.

“It is. Likewise, I love your dress too.”

Zoe made mocking faces like a sixteen-year-old at their exchange. Ling’s smile became a bit forced again when she acknowledged her.

“Hey, guys. You finally made it. Ling was so bored waiting for you,” Virgil said with a grin. “Vanessa, you look beautiful.” He stood up to kiss her cheek as well. “Bobby, Zoe. If you didn’t get a chance to meet him at my house last night, this is Scott Malone and his date, Juliette Jean-Pierre. Scott, this is Santino and Vanessa D’Alessio Donahue and Bobby and Zoe Watson.”

“Oh. S-Scott. Hon, we did meet at Virgil’s last night. It turns out he’s staying at our hotel too. He’s everywhere,” Zoe said with a weak slurry laugh. She was addressing Bobby, but staring at the handsome ginger, who did look good in his crisp white shirt and dark suit jacket.

Scott looked up at Zoe, then at Bobby, and laughed softly to himself with a small shake of his head. Apparently, their game had just ended as Virgil pulled a horde of chips closer and began stacking them neatly.

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