Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
The second she got a good look at me, her smile faded, and she gasped, “Is this what you’re wearing?”
“Well, yeah. Is there…”
“No. No, no, no,” she said, cutting me off. “That is not nearly slutty enough.”
“Seriously?”
“Not even close.” She marched right past me and into my bedroom. She went straight to my closet as she told me, “We’re on the prowl, Devin. This is not the night for respectable and modest. This is the night for revenge cleavage.”
“Okay. Let’s do this.”
Seconds later, I was standing in front of my bedroom mirror wearing an oh-so tiny mini-skirt that I didn’t even know I owned with a fitted black top whose plunging neckline did, in fact, show lots of revenge cleavage. It wasn’t an outfit I would’ve ever chosen for myself, but it wasn’t bad.
In fact, I looked pretty good for a divorced mother of two. I still had no idea where we were going, but I was excited about getting there. Hopeful even. And that was something I hadn’t been in quite some time.
3
CREED
Another night.
Another shift.
Same monotonous noise and lights.
Same weight settled heavy on my shoulders.
The Black Crown was packed in tight with all kinds of folks. Most walked in with an excited air, like they’d just stepped into a world of possibility and tonight was their night, but they’d leave either broke or buzzed or both. Some didn’t want to face the consequences of their actions and would pull something stupid, and they’d leave bruised or cuffed.
It was my job to make sure it didn’t get worse than that.
I was standing by the edge of the upper floor, scanning the casino floor for any possible issues, which wasn’t exactly easy when it was so damn packed. I was watching a group in the lower corner when Skid strolled up next to me like he didn’t have a care in the world. The kid looked just like his ol’ man, even had the same cocky grin, but he didn’t have the same wear behind the eyes—at least, not yet. That would come with time.
He gave me a nudge as he teased, “You ever take a night off?”
“Night off? What the hell is that?”
“You’re making us look bad.”
“Not that hard to do.”
“Ah.” Skid cocked his brow. “Looks like the extra hours are gettin’ to ya.”
“Maybe. Doesn’t help that it’s so damn packed tonight.”
“Hell, it’s packed every damn night.”
He wasn’t wrong. From the very first night, the place had been rocking. It was one of the many reasons why Sergei and his brothers had hired the best of the best. Their guards were all either ex-military or ex-FBI, and they all had eyes like hawks and enough muscle to put anyone down before they had a chance to cause a real problem.
Skid glanced around the room as he muttered, “Wonder what they rake in on a night like this?”
“No tellin’, but I’m sure it’s a pretty penny.”
“Yeah, they’re certainly not hurting.”
A couple in the back corner started getting a little loud. Their drinks were sloshing, and their hands were flying a little too wild for my liking. I didn’t move. I just tipped my chin toward one of the guards down front.
“Handle it,” I said low, more to myself than anyone else.
The guard nodded and started weaving through the tables.
Me and Skid watched as he approached the couple and leaned in close as he spoke, making sure not to cause a scene. The couple looked surprised that they were being reprimanded. Thankfully, they didn’t put up much of a fuss and let the guard show them to the door.
The guard gave me a quick nod as he passed. He had one hand clamped around the drunk guy’s arm while the woman staggered behind him. “Looks like someone had one too many.”
“More like three or four too many. Going to need to talk to the servers and have them keep a better eye on things.”
“Surprised Sergei hasn’t already taken care of that.”
I didn’t respond.
There was no reason to. He was right. Sergei seemed on top of everything, and whenever something slipped by him, Preacher would step in. They worked well together, which made this whole partnership thing with the Volkov brothers work as well as it did.
I was still watching the door when Skid leaned in and asked, “So, what about the two assholes from the other night? You think they’re involved in something, or was it just a one-night thing?”
“Hard to tell.” I shifted my stance, still half-watching the floor below. “Seems like everyone’s up to no good these days.”
Skid raised a brow but didn’t say anything. He waited for me to continue, “They haven’t fessed up to anything more than wanting to have a good time with the wrong girl. But something feels off with these two.”
“So, what are you gonna do?”