“Something like that,” I mumble.
He looks over at their private entrance where Jasmine ran out of the double doors. “She’ll come back.”
She can’t run too far. We’re partners now. “Yeah,” I agree.
“There you are, babe.” I hear a woman say and then see Emilee step up next to him. “Thought you were meeting me outside.” She looks at me, smiling. “Hey, Alexa. How are you doing?”
“Good,” I lie. I’m confused as fuck, and I hate that my best friend is away. But even if April was here, I still wouldn’t be able to talk to her about what’s going on. Not with what she’s going through right now. It sucks feeling alone.
Emilee frowns. “Titan, I’ll meet you up in your office,” she says, dismissing him.
“Okay.” He leans down and gives her a quick kiss on the lips, and then he turns, getting back on the elevator.
“Come on. Let’s take a drive.” She links her arm in mine and escorts me out the glass double doors and down the steps to a white Rolls-Royce Phantom coupe parked at the curb. I fall into the passenger seat, and she starts it up. “Talk to me.”
I glance out the blacked-out window, not really looking at anything as she pulls away from the Kings’ private entrance. “About?”
“Whatever it is that’s bothering you,” she says simply.
“It doesn’t matter.” Everything I’ve known is a lie. Or maybe I was just stupid and naïve. Bottom line—I only have myself to blame.
“Of course, it does. Tell me. Maybe I can help you out with it.”
She did grow up with them. She’s married to a King. Why not? I’ll give it a try. “I just found out that Bones is in with the Mafia.”
“Ahh.” She nods, pulling onto the Strip. “I see.”
“And I guess Haven is married to it.”
“Yep. Poor girl never stood a chance.” She chuckles. “She dated Luca while we were in school. She fell for him before she even knew what the Mafia was.”
Not surprised about that part. “Jasmine is mad at me,” I add, seeing where it gets me.
She sighs heavily. “Jasmine is going through something right now.”
“Like what?” I ask, worried for her.
“Her dad.”
I frown. “What about him?” I don’t know much about Jasmine’s family. She never talks about them.
“Well, he found out about Kink, and he is pissed. Told her to back out. She refused, of course. Jasmine isn’t one of those women who can be told what to do, ya know? Even by her father.”
That’s why she was snappy with me. I’ve never seen her that way before. She’s always smiling. Even when I know it’s fake. She’s good at that—making things look okay. “So, what happened?”
“Last she said to me was that she told him to fuck off and to stay out of her business.” Emilee shrugs.
“Why would he care that she opens up a Kink?” I wonder.
“Jasmine’s dad is a big deal … or so he thinks. And he takes his reputation very seriously.” She rolls her eyes so hard her head moves. “He’s a piece of shit. Always has been. Always will be.”
“So, what’s going to happen when she chooses to go against his demands?”
“I’m guessing he’ll cut her off. Who the hell knows? Jasmine has always been very independent. Well, I don’t have to tell you that. You’re her friend. She’ll figure it out.”
I sit back and let out a sigh. I never stopped to think about what others would think once they see we are opening up Kink. The members that will come in and out. I’m guessing most, if not all, will be high profile. I mean, some average Joe Smith won’t be able to afford fifty grand to join.
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