“What the fuck?” he asks me, and I simply stare at him. “Seriously. I’m your head of security. You never leave without me.”
Going out alone is careless, and I’m not a careless man. But I had to follow her.
He looks between me and the motel.
“Are we taking care of someone in there?”
“Not in the way you mean. Her name is Lulu Monroe. She’s the new bartender. And from this moment on, she’s never alone. I’m going to stay here tonight to watch over her, but I want a man on her, from a distance, starting tomorrow morning.”
Luke scowls. “Why?”
“Because I fucking said so. She’s mine. No one touches her.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Whoa. I’m sorry, I was looking forRoman Alexander.”
“You’re a riot. And you’re walking back.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
I huff out a breath and get in the driver’s seat. Luke walks around to the passenger side and climbs in.
“If you’re here all night, I am, too.”
“I have an eight o’clock meeting.”
He eyes the clock. “That’s in four hours.”
I don’t reply.
“You’re fucking grumpier than usual tonight.”
“Handle the detail for her. Now.”
“Yes, boss.” He sighs and pulls out his phone, and the light in the window goes out. My hands tighten on the wheel.
She’s lying in bed in a disgusting motel on the wrong side of Vegas.Fuck that.She should be in luxury—inmybed, naked and spread open for me.
And you will be soon, my little firefly.
You were made to be mine.
Nine
ROME
I’ve been through the hours of footage of Lulu from last night, with audio, and listened to her conversations with Scarlett, Rita, and Loveland. She mentioned several times that she didn’t know her salary, and based on the motel she’s in, she needs money.
I’ll take care of that.
However, I need to have a conversation with Loveland, my general manager, because she did everything wrong last night.
I’ve had a long fucking day with no sleep. Luke and I stayed in the parking lot of that fucking place until Bruno, our replacement, arrived at seven, so I could come home and shower and get ready for my busy-as-fuck day.
“Where is she?” I ask as soon as I see Bruno’s name on my phone’s screen.
“Shopping, boss,” he says. I scowl when he gives me the name of the cheap department store and pull myhand down my face. It makes sense that that’s where she’s shopping, but again, it’ll be the last time.
Where did you come from, my firefly? And why are you here in Vegas with so little when you deserve the world?
