“Whenever you are.”
I glanced up at Tabitha, and I couldn’t help but notice the concerned expression on her face as she watched Sergei lead me off the porch. I wanted to say something to reassure her, but there was nothing I could say. We had already started down the steps when Tabitha called out, “It was good to see you.”
“It was good to see you, too.”
I gave her a quick wave, then followed Sergei back down to the car. As soon as we were settled inside, I looked over to Sergei and said, “I’d forgotten how wonderful your mother is.”
“Yeah, she’s pretty great.” There was no missing the love in his voice when he said, “She’s been through a lot. It’s good to see her so happy.”
“She mentioned Preacher having dinner with us. Is he the same Preacher I met the night I came to the casino?”
“He is.”
“So, they’re together?”
“Yeah, you could say that,” he scoffed.
He backed out of the drive, and for the next half hour, he told me how Nikolai brought Preacher and his club into their lives. I had the feeling that he didn’t tell me everything, but he gave me the gist of the story and what a story it was. The Volkov’s had tangled themselves in tight with the men of Satan’s Fury, and for reasons I didn’t quite understand, it seemed to be working.
After we left Tabitha’s, we headed into town. We stopped at the square, and after looking around a few of the gift shops, we stopped for a bite to eat. The afternoon had gotten away from us, but in the best way. I loved getting out and about, and even more, I loved having a chance to spend time with Sergei.
I thought our little adventure was over until he pulled up to the front of the Black Crown. I watched several people stream in and out of the front door before asking, “Are we going inside?”
“For a bit.” He turned off the engine and opened the door. “Want to show you off.”
I glanced down at my jeans and sweater as I mumbled, “Not sure today is the day for showing me off.”
“You look great.” He got out as he added, “You always do.”
He came around and took my hand as he helped me out of the car, and once I was standing, he didn’t let go. He continued to hold it as we made our way up to the front door. When we reached the top of the steps, the doorman stepped forward and opened the door. “Good evening, Mr. Volkov.”
“Evening.”
“Should I call ahead and let the team know you’ve arrived?”
“No, that’s not necessary.” Sergei glanced over at me as he said, “We won’t be staying long.”
He gave Sergei a subtle, respectful nod, then held the door as we both walked inside. The place took my breath away. The entire casino was draped in deep, rich colors. Mahogany wood, dark green and burgundy velvet with gold and silver accents that made the place look expensive without being over-the-top. The ceilings were high, and the windows gave a beautiful view of the river without being distracting.
The lights from the slot machines dinged, blinked, and flashed in a way that drew people in like moths. Coins clinking, faint laughter, and the rise and fall of cheers and curses blended into a pulse that you could feel in your chest.
But the tables offered a different kind of energy. It was the perfect mix of thrill and risk, and everyone seemed on edge. The men and women gathered around them were quiet and intense, and you could almost feel the tension radiating off them.
We started through the crowd, and I was surprised by the vast mix of people. Two men still had dust on their work boots and safety vests as they nursed their beers and waited for the slots to pay them back. A few rows over, there was a man dressed in a designer suit and a tie clip worth more than most cars. He was leaning back in his chair with the smug confidence of someone who didn’t believe in losing.
And somehow, in this place,in this world, they both belonged.
Bars were nestled throughout, but the main one was front and center. It was sleek and modern with glass shelves and chrome finishes and provided customers with a choice between being out in the open or off to themselves in a private corner. I caught the smell of food drifting from one of the restaurants, something buttery and rich that perked my interest even though I wasn’t hungry.
In all, the casino was the perfect mix of luck and desperation, celebration, and distraction, and it didn’t care if you came in wearing a thousand-dollar watch or steel-toed boots. It would take your money just the same.
The sound of an excited cheer in the corner drew my attention to the blackjack table, and I spotted two women, dressed to the nines in tight-fitted, short dresses and designer jewelry. They were stunning, and the men next to them were equally stunning.
Like he could read my mind, Sergei’s thumb brushed the inside of my wrist, and he looked down at me in way that brought butterflies to my stomach. And just like that, I no longer cared what I was wearing. I didn’t care about anything but him.
He led me past the tables and bars, giving me a moment to see the world he and his brothers had worked so hard to create. I couldn’t help but notice the way people looked at him withrespect mixed with the kind of caution that came with knowing exactly what he was capable of.
And still, he kept my hand securely tucked in his.
