“He’s not taking anything from Kink. Bones is not investing any up-front costs or involvement whatsoever. Dillan Reed is just a name on a piece of paper.”
I’m guessing Dillan Reed is his real name. Which, if you ask me, doesn’t fit him at all.Bones?That makes more sense. The guy looks like he’d beat you to death with his fists. Or a hammer. Whatever is closest to him at the time.
I drop my eyes to read over the documents some more. I see two million, and my mouth drops. “Jasmine,” My gaze shoots to hers. “I don’t have this kind of money.”
“You don’t need it. I’ve got it covered,” she rushes out.
Is she insane?Shaking my head, I shove the contract back over to them. “No.”
“Alexa—”
“I’m not doing it.” I turn, walking into the cooler just to get away from them.
The door opens behind me, and Jasmine enters. “Just hear me out,” she says, placing her hands up defensively.
“The answer is no.” I reach down and grab a case of Bud Light even though I’m not sure what the fuck I’m going to do with it.
“Lex.” She places her hands on my shoulders and spins me around to face her. “I told you I would repay you for what you did. And this is my payment.”
“Even if I agreed, I can’trepayyou.” I have some money saved up after selling the studio, but not even close enough to cover my half. And I believe in paying your way. I’m not a leech.
“Your friendship is all the payment I need.” She removes her hands from my shoulders and takes the beer from mine, setting it on the floor by my feet. “Look, Kink will be a success. You know how I know?” She doesn’t let me answer. “Because I’m going to devote my life to it.”
That’s not what I’m concerned about. “It’s not fair,” I argue. “For you to put up all that money and me nothing.”
“You saved me,” she whispers, dropping her eyes to her red Louboutin heels. “No one has ever done that for me before.”
My chest tightens for her. She may be a friend of mine, but Jasmine keeps a lot to herself. She hides her sadness and insecurities behind jokes and sarcasm. “Jasmine, that’s what friends do. They look out for one another.”
“But you weren’t my friend at the time,” she says, her green eyes meeting mine once again. “Come to New York with Bones and me. Visit Kink with us. If you’re not one-hundred-and-fifty-percent sold after that, then we don’t do it.”
“Why my bar?” She has the money to buy any space on the Strip. I mean, sure it’s not like real estate is available everywhere here, but she’s got to find something better with all the connections she has in this city.Why mine?
She gives me a warm smile. “I already told you. This isn’t about the space or the location. It’s about you. This is about someone once helping me and me returning the favor.” She steps into me. “Let me do this for you, Lex. For us.”
With a sigh, my mind wanders to the possibility of us doing this. “I don’t know anything about a sex club.” That’s my only argument.
She laughs softly. “You think I do?” Shaking her head, she adds, “But I do know that I won’t let you down, Lex. I’ve got this. Please trust me.”
“And Bones?” I ask, trying to think of any excuse to get out of it. I hate to admit that it sounds like a great opportunity, but things are never as they seem. “What if he fucks us?” If the man is in with the Mafia, then he has some serious fucking pull in this town.
“Bones is not that type of guy. I swear on it. He will not fuck us over in any way with this deal. He’s a best friend, and he just wants to help us as much as I want to help us. I trust him.”
I’ve always wanted something more for myself. What if this is it? I’m not a religious person, but what if this is my chance? God throwing me a bone, saying let this woman help you? I never thought it’d be a sex club, but prayers never come how you asked for them. “I’ll go to New York,” I say, letting out a breath. What could it hurt?
She squeals, jumps up and down, and then wraps her arms around me.
“But I can’t promise anything,” I add quickly.
“I understand.” She takes a step back and nods once, a huge smile on her face. And I can’t help but do the same.
CHAPTER NINE
CROSS
IOPEN THEdoor to our Royal suite to see Alexa standing at the door. She’s got her purse in one hand and her cell in the other. “Come in.”
She steps inside and looks around. The guys and I have lived here since we took over Kingdom four years ago. We have a family compound outside of the city but living here is just easier. A casino never sleeps, so neither do we. We’re always on call and need to be here in case something happens. But Bones and I are the only ones left who ever stay here anymore.
