“What the fuck?” he hisses as soon as it clicks closed.
“I don’t know, man. She was left at reception with a note.” I pass him the letter, reaching up to run a hand through my hair. “I freaked. I didn’t know what to do.”
After reading the note, Louie shoves it in my direction again. “First, you need a DNA test. She might not even be yours. Second, if she is yours, then I guess we have a new addition to the family,” he says, like it’s not a fucking big deal. A kid was just left at my casino.
“I don’t know the first thing about kids. Or being a father,” I admit while doing my best to stay calm.
“I don’t think there’s a manual. Just… feed her, keep her clean and safe. It can’t be that hard.” He makes it sound so easy, like it’s as simple as keeping a puppy.
“Right. I can do that.” I nod.I can keep her alive, can’t I? Fuck, what was her mother thinking leaving her with me?“She’s tiny. How hard can it be?” I look to my best friend for reassurance.
“Exactly,” Louie agrees. “What does she know about her mother?”
“I don’t know. I came straight here.” I didn’t have time to do much else.
“Ask her. Find out whatever you can, so we can track the woman down,” he says.
We both exit the office and I take Jazzy’s hand as we leave Louie’s penthouse—or should I say their penthouse?
That’s right. My best friend married a woman after knowing her for just a couple of days. I’d say he was insane, but I like Charlotte. And I see how… obsessed he is with her.
There’s only ever been one woman I’ve felt that way about and she’s off limits. Unattainable.
“Where are we going now?” Jazzy asks.
I stare down at her.How is she not freaking out?She’s been left with a complete stranger. “Home,” I tell her.
“Where’s home?”
“Back at Aces High. I have a penthouse there.”
She pauses, her little brows wrinkling in the middle. “You live in a casino? Is it as nice as Louie’s house?”
“Nicer, but don’t tell him that. He’s the jealous type. And now I guess you live in a casino too.”Fuck, I’m gonna fuck this up. I can feel it.“What’s your mama’s name, Jazzy?” I add, casually.
“Mama, silly.” Jazzy laughs.
“Okay, what does she look like?” I try again as we make the trek back to Aces.
“She’s pretty. Don’t you remember?” Jazzy says.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to lie, to tell the kid thatof course I remember her mother. But I don’t want to start whatever relationship we’re going to have with lies. “I don’t. I’m sorry. It’s been a really long time. Do you know why she left you with me?”
“Do… do you not want me?”
Fuck, now she sounds like she’s about to cry.I’ve been a dad for all of five minutes and I’m already making the kid cry.
“I didn’t say that. Who wouldn’t want a princess of their own?” I stop and bend down to look her in the eye. “I’m just trying to understand why she would drop you off and not come see me herself.”
“She had to go,” Jazzy says, sounding even sadder now.
“Is she coming back?” I ask.
“I don’t think so,” she tells me.
Chapter One
Carlo
