“You somehow manage to look more incredible every time I see you,” he says, handing me a glass of whiskey.
“Right back at you, boss man,” I smile, snatching the glass and carrying it over to the deep leather couch.
“You know, Kassie,” he says, following me over to the couch, “I’m only your boss from nine until five.”
“Duly noted,” I reply, sipping on my drink.
“Here’s to our first month together,” he says, settling down beside me on the couch.
“Has it really been a month already?” I ask, amazed, “I feel like I just got here.”
“Time moves pretty fast in Vegas,” he says, “Think of how much you’ve already accomplished. All the people you’ve met. And now finally, we can move on to the next phase of our relationship.”
“We...our...what?” I stutter.
“Playing blackjack together, I mean,” he grins, “I can’t believe I finally get to see you in action at the table.”
“Oh. Right,” I mumble, cheeks blazing.
“You gonna show me a thing or two at the casino tonight?” he asks.
“You know it,” I reply, recovering from my awkward moment. I down the rest of my whiskey, and a shudder runs through my body as it hits me, hard. “Let’s do this thing.”
Walking onto the casino floor with Declan Tiberi at my side is like stepping into another life. The massive space around us is a kaleidoscope of color and shifting light, the air is electrified with sound and energy. I feel like the entire world is in orbit around this one place and time. The blood pumps clear and hard through my veins as I take in the glitzy kingdom.
“Shall we?” Declan says, offering his arm to me.
I wrap my slender arm around Declan’s, letting my fingers brush against the tight muscles there. As ever, I feel a thousand eyes upon us as we make our way through the room. I’ve never been proud to be seen with a man before. But Declan has changed all of that. He’s like a scorching sun, lighting up this entire joint. And I, the woman at his side, feel like his whole world tonight.
“Here’s our spot,” Declan says, drawing to a stop before a busy blackjack table, “I can feel it.”
We step up to the game, and my pulse goes wild. I haven’t played cards since I was an undergrad. I used to clean out the frat houses left and right. But that was before my family...No. I’m not going to think about them tonight. Tonight, it’s just me and Declan, having a good time together.
We dive into the game, and the rush is unbelievable. Blackjack is all math, when you get down to it. And as it happens, math happens to be my strong suit. I know that counting cards is frowned upon, but I can’t help using my prowess with numbers to rack up a few chips as the night goes on. I lose track of how much time goes by until I’m suddenly dragged out of the zone by a rogue bellow. My concentration shatters at the unexpected sound.
“Tiberi!” roars a voice down the table, “Fancy seeing you here, you sonofabitch!”
I look up toward the voice, only to be blinded by a barrage of diamonds and gold. Peering past the bling, I see a handsome, extremely tanned man with sleek black hair and a million dollar grin. He’s probably hovering just shy of fifty, though his taut skin and white teeth make it impossible to say. He’s decked out in an astoundingly fine suit, with more jewelry than I’ve ever owned in my life. Two busty blondes are perched on either side of him, sporting strings of fine jewels and more sequins than I thought even existed in the world. If he had a cigar between his teeth, he’d be a caricature of a high roller. But there’s something powerfully dangerous about him that makes me take the man seriously.
Declan’s face hardens into a cordial mask as he spots the man. I can tell in a heartbeat that this is not a welcome surprise for him. Still, he puts on a stiff smile and plays ball.
“Lorenzo,” Declan says, reaching across the table to shake the man’s bejeweled hand, “Always good to see you.”
“Likewise, my good man,” the man called Lorenzo says “Don’t spot you around the casinos much these days. Hell, I haven’t seen you outside of the ring in—”
“I’m showing my friend Kassenia around town,” Declan says, cutting the man off.
“Ah, hello there,” Lorenzo says, turning that gleaming grin my way.
“Hi,” I smile, unsure of how to treat this person.
“Lorenzo is a friend too,” Declan says. But the way his voice has tightened, I doubt that “friend” is exactly the right word, here.
“That’s right,” Lorenzo smiles, “I’ve known Declan since he first washed up in our fine little village of Las Vegas. In fact, you might say that I’m the reason he’s done so well these past few years. I put this man on the map, Miss Kassenia.”
“Is that so?” I ask.
“Sure,” Declan says, signaling a passing waitress for another round, “I guess you might say that.”
“When I met Declan, he was a rough-around-the-edges boxer trying to make a dime or two,” Lorenzo says, leaning his elbows on the blackjack table, “I found him hanging around the Forty-Five Club, back when he was a brand new member of Dante’s Nine. But I knew he had the potential to be great. I got him into the big leagues, as a boxer. Matches left and right, all around Vegas. That’s how he started out, scraping money together in prize fights. Now he's all into this venture capitalist jazz.”
“And I guess that’s where I come in,” I interject, seeing Declan grow more and more uncomfortable with every word of Lorenzo’s. “Declan is investing in my new crowdfunding website. I’m here in Vegas as his intern for the summer.”
“Well, isn’t that nice,” Lorenzo drawls, absentmindedly running a hand along one of his companion’s bodies. The vacant woman doesn’t even seem to notice. In a heartbeat, the man’s smile transforms into a leer. I happily accept my replenished drink and swig heartily to hide my shudder of discomfort.
“I hope you won’t get too distracted with all this mentoring you’re doing, Tiberi,” the man goes on, looking back and forth between us, “You’ve still got a pretty busy summer ahead. Lots of business obligations to take care of.”
“I’ve got everything under control, Lorenzo,” Declan answers coolly, “If memory serves, I’ve never had trouble holding up my end of a bargain.”