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)
He takes it firmly. “Now spill it.”
Chapter 28
Casey
I’m left alone for most of the morning. Will wasn’t too impressed by my conversation with Shane—though he was curious why my brother was working for Tony Vetch. I assume he’ll hold up his end of the bargain, but I have no real power if he doesn’t.
That’s me right now. No real power. Especially not when I’m back in the apartment after the slow morning shift behind locked doors once again.
Fortunately, I have a lot to think about.
Like Adler’s brothers and Adler’s reaction when I wanted to meet them. Like Shane, and Tony Vetch.
But most of all, what Roxie said.
It’s okay to like him.
I’m not sure she understands what that really means. Adler Costa’s the head of a crime family—he hides it well, but there are bodies buried under the floor of the Sunrise, and more getting shoved down there every day.
His family is into more than just casinos, hotels, and resorts.
They have a dark side.
He keeps it from me, but I can feel it all around. There are hints of it when I scratch hard enough and squint. Adler wants to save me from it—or he wants to hide it—but either way, if I let myself get involved with Adler, seriously involved with him, then I’ll start tumbling deeper into their darkness.
I don’t know what I’ll find once I start or how far I’ll drop.
That should be enough to deter me. Adler’s business should scare the crap out of me. Yes, my parents are assholes and borderline abusive, and yes, my life’s been hard, but I’m not a criminal. I don’t break the law. I don’t take risks.
Adler’s dangerous.
Though not dangerous enough to stop me from pouring him a glass of wine when he comes into the apartment.
It’s earlier than usual, only a little after eight. Like always, he seems tired, though he accepts the drink without a word and drains it down. I fill the glass again.
“We should talk,” I say.
His face suggests he does not agree. “Go ahead. Talk.”
“You practically bit my head off earlier when I mentioned your brothers. Something going on?”
“My brothers are difficult.” He moves away from me, wine gripped in one hand.
I take my glass and follow, but give him some space. “In what way? You and Con seemed to get along.”
“Con’s easy,” he says, shaking his head. “He’s the youngest. He got the least attention from Dad back when we were kids.”
“And that’s a good thing?”
“If coming out of our childhood mildly well-adjusted is a good thing, then yes, it was very good.”
“Huh, okay.” I’m not surprised by that, but it does put some things into perspective. “You have a complicated relationship with your family.”
“I’m aware.” He rubs the bridge of his nose.
“I want to meet your brothers. That’s why they’re here, isn’t it? Your mother warned me about this.”
“You will.”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“No. You will meet them when I say you’re ready.”
“Adler—”
“Casey,” he says, turning around to glare at me. “For once, will you trust that I have your best interests in mind?”
“It’s strange how you keep saying that, and yet you keep doing the opposite of what I want.”
“Maybe you’re particularly good at making bad decisions.”
“Don’t be an asshole,” I say, glaring at him hard. “You think you’re such a saint?”
“I’m aware of my deficiencies,” he growls but seems to realize he’s getting too worked up and stops himself.
I take some deep breaths, trying to calm down too. “We’re married. For better or worse, we’re married, and we have to figure out a way to make this thing work, right? I have to get pregnant, and you need a baby, and we have to get your stupid inheritance. We’ve barely begun this and it’s like you’re already trying to push me away. That’s not going to help.”
He shakes his head. “That isn’t my intent.”
“I don’t care what you intend, I’m telling you how it feels. Why are you hiding me from your brothers?”
“Because they don’t approve of you.”
My eyebrows raise. For a second, I’m stunned into silence. But why am I surprised? It’s so simple and obvious.
Of course they don’t approve of me.
“Why?” I ask.
“You’re a stranger to them. They’re worried you’ll get deep into the family and cause trouble.”
“Huh.” I raise my glass to my lips. “Could I do that?”
He gives me a look. “That’s not funny.”
“I don’t know, it might be funny.”
“Go ahead. Make that joke to my brothers. See how far you get.”
“You realize everyone in the casino’s on eggshells when I’m around. Could I start making demands? Change the decorations? Order new rugs?”
“Casey.”
“What kind of trouble do your brothers think I can cause? Seriously?”
“It isn’t the Sunrise they’re worried about. It’s the other business. The one we don’t talk about.”
I chew on my lip. “Right. That stuff. I guess they’d want to keep me far from the illegal bits.”