My brother Lucas’ warning echoed in the back of my mind. I did not fear this Leo Morril; I did not fear any man, frankly. I didn’t get to where I was by playing chicken with fucking fools.
But an unhinged man could be a massive headache, and an unhinged billionaire was one of the few types of men that could draw my attention and time in ways that I couldn’t just pay off someone else to take care of.
“Ah, Leo, a pleasure to meet you,” I said, putting on the smallest but still polite smile I could. “I hear you are making great inroads with your off-Strip casino.”
“Only a matter of time before we become your neighbors,” Leo said, wearing a similar smile. It was a smile that warned me not to fuck with him. To me, it was simple—if he remained off the Las Vegas Strip, no, I would not fuck with him. He could have the bronze and silver while I took home the gold.
If he did come on the Strip? Let’s just say he’d walk home with no medals, and I wouldn’t even have to resort to unhinged methods.
“And speaking of neighbors, who is this lovely lady with you?”
“This is Sarah Carpenter,” I said, and my voice lost all pretense. “She is one of the best artists here. I suggest you treat her with the respect that accords her.”
“Ah, but of course,” Leo said, and he reached down, took Sarah’s hand, and kissed it. I might have beaten Leo to fucking death in a less public setting. I still considered it, even here. Leo was quite fucking lucky his gesture was considered old-fashioned manners. “I took it you flew her in?”
“That is none of your concern, Leo. I see you have come alone.”
“A personal decision, yes,” Leo said. “I often find that bringing someone along who does not understand our world can carry its own form of risk. Surely, you understand what I mean, don’t you?”
“And you will surely understand when I say that who I spend my time with and why is none of your business, Leo,” I growled. Even Sarah would see how strongly I felt about this moment. “If you wish to make more remarks about Sarah, I suggest you do it out of earshot of me. And even then, take care to make sure that those you speak to would not say it to me.”
Leo took a step back, raised his arms as if in surrender—all the while wearing a smug grin—and then chuckled.
“I did not realize I was stepping into the den of a mama bear,” he said. “Sarah, do enjoy the show. Cassius, I look forward to meeting you many times more.”
With that, he left. I watched him leave, my blood well past its boiling point. I was so hot, I couldn’t tell if he was warning me or Sarah or both or something else. But it was clear he wasn’t wishing us well.
Suddenly, I was envious of the Black Reapers. In their world, if an equal did something atrocious—stealing a woman, leaving a club, whatever—they had no barriers to retribution. Sure, it got a little bloody, but that was the point.
Me? I was more dignified, but that meant I had to be more restrained and more patient. Ninety-nine times out of ahundred, that was a tradeoff well worth taking for my long-term wealth and power.
This was that one in a hundred where I just wanted to beat the shit out of someone, have their blood on my hands, and walk away with no regrets.
“Who was that?” Sarah asked.
I took a few seconds to calm myself. It didn’t work totally, but it relaxed me enough that I could actually answer Sarah’s question.
“Someone who would destroy me and us if given the opportunity,” I said, not as cautious as I usually would be with my words. “He owns casinos off-Strip but has been looking to get on.”
I turned to Sarah and placed a hand on her shoulder. This was not the touch of seduction, but the firm grip of warning.
“Donotgo near that family, and tell everyone you know not to go near that family. We might have a complicated past, but you know I will not hurt you. You know I will not bloody you.”
But I might break you. I might ruin you in different ways.
“All that you fear of the Black Reapers? That family might just resort to that. Whatever happens, do not go near them. I wouldn’t even go near their properties, frankly.”
Sarah nodded, then grabbed my hand and pulled it down.
“Thank you, Cassius,” she said in an uncomfortably heartwarming way. “I didn’t expect you to be that defensive of me. That was sweet.”
Sweet.
That was uncomfortable. I didn’t do sweet. Just because I didn’t do violent, cruel, and stupidly illegal didn’t mean I did cuddles, teddy bears, and sweet.
“I did what I had to do,” I said coldly. “Come, you have an exhibit to show off.”
I did not give her the chance to say anything more. When I looked back, I saw her trying to puzzle out what I really wanted. It was a hopeless cause, honestly.
