Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
They must’ve been the duo I spotted coming toward me. I can barely think straight right now, and I stare at Tony as he continues down the beach, striding along like he owns the place.
Which he might, for all I know.
“I’m okay,” I say, my hand on my chest. My heart’s racing wildly and my knee’s throbbing. This is going to be a difficult walking day. “I’m fine. I’m totally fine, he was just talking to me.”
“You look rattled.”
“Just, I’m fine, okay?”
Square grunts. “Come on, we’ll get you back.” He offers me his arm.
Before I take it, I look at him. And it suddenly occurs to me that these two guys might’ve just saved my life. “What’s your name? I should’ve asked sooner, but I guess I’m too busy worrying about myself.”
He snorts. “Yeah, you should’ve. I’m Berthold and that’s Gianni.”
Tattoo—Gianni—gives me a wave. “Pleasure,” he says.
“Come on.” Berthold holds his arm out and I take it. “Don’t worry about Tony Vetch. I don’t know what he was doing out here, but that man’s trouble. Next time you see him, you turn around and run away.”
“Yeah, I’ll do that,” I murmur, and I let Berthold and Gianni lead me back to the Sunrise, feeling like there’s something I should remember but can’t.
Chapter 22
Adler
Conlan takes the family jet in from Los Angeles and lands midday. I meet him at the airport. “Brother,” he says, giving me a tight hug. “You’re looking suitably stressed as fuck.”
“Con. Glad you’re home.” My youngest brother looks a lot like our father: dark eyes, dark hair, with a muscular physique and a glare that makes average men tremble. He’s a terrifying bastard, though he’ll always be my little bro, no matter how many bodies he racks up.
“That’s a massive lie.” He beams at me as we head to the town car. “How’s Mother? I bet she’s losing her mind. What were you thinking, getting married like that? It’s all I’ve been hearing about the last day or so.”
“I needed a wife.” I gesture as if it’s no big deal.
“That’s my typical big brother, never sentimental about anything.” Con punches my arm as we duck into the car.
“As if you’re the most emotional man I’ve ever met.”
“That’s true. Grow up like we did, and the emotions tend to bury themselves.”
I grunt in agreement, and we both let the subject of our childhood drop. It’s not the best subject in the world and most days I’d rather pretend like none of it happened. There are good memories, but those are drowned by the bad ones.
He talks about the LA properties on the way back to the Sunrise. We own two golf courses, a country club, and three hotels around town. Business is safe territory, something we can both discuss without tempers flaring. I’ve always been competitive with my brothers, though we’re loyal to each other to death.
Always it’s family above all.
“Everything’s profitable,” Conlan finishes, spreading his hands out as if it’s no big deal. “What else can I say? That’s the most important thing. We continue to make money despite our best efforts to spend it all.”
“Good work,” I grunt at him as we’re dropped off at the back entrance to the Sunrise.
“Ah, this place,” he says with a sigh. “I haven’t missed it and it hasn’t changed. I’m pretty sure it’s timeless.”
He’s right, even though I’ve made improvements.
“You grew up here,” I remind him. We take the back halls through the kitchens and toward the game floor.
“That’s true, but I didn’t miss the ruddy red carpets and the cheesy decorations.”
“We renovated five years ago,” I say, annoyed. Though I admit we did try to keep it looking as similar to the original as possible without making it even more dated. The Sunrise is one of the higher-end casinos in the city and we employ a small army of cleaners to make sure it looks pristine at all times even though it costs a damn fortune.
“And you did a wonderful job.” He laughs at me. “Come on, Adler, we both know I didn’t fly across the country to talk business. Where is she?”
“Working. You’re not going to bother her.”
“You have your wife working on the fucking floor?” He barks an astounded laugh. It makes me want to punch him in the damn throat. “That has to be the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. Really, I knew the Sunrise didn’t earn like it used to, but are things really that bad? Are you going to make Mother serve drinks next?”
“Knock it off. Casey likes dealing.” If I had my way, I’d keep the girl tied to my damn bed at all hours, ready to be used and abused—but I don’t say that out loud.
“Your wife, working the floor.” He shakes his head, wiping a tear from his eye. “That’s the funniest fucking thing I’ve heard in a long time.”