“Trust me, mi alma. I never lose.”
“You think I can’t beat you?” She raises a challenging brow.
“Even if you did beat me, I’d still be winning,” I tell her.
“How do you figure that?”
“Because you are my queen, and when the queen is winning, so is her king,” I explain.
“You know, for someone who’s supposed to be a big scary cartel boss, you do say the sweetest things.” The smile on Evie’s face makes me want to tell her so many more sweet things.
“Supposed to be? Are you doubting the fear Iinstill in people?” I raise my brow at her this time. As much as I don’t want her to fear me, I also don’t want her to forget who I am.
“I’ve yet to see you do anything scary, E. For all I know, you’re just some bored rich guy who made up a story.” She shrugs.
“It isn’t my goal to have you fear me, Evie, but don’t forget who I am, what I’m capable of. If there ever is a time you have to see me do something… less than favorable, I need you to know that I would never be that person with you.” I don’t know if what I’m telling her is the truth. There is still a part of me that will kill her if that’s the only way to keep her. Because letting her go isn’t an option.
“I know who you are,” she says, moving one of her pawns, which opens my next move.
“Checkmate.” I smile.
“Again? Seriously? I hate this game.” Evie pushes the board towards me. “I quit.”
“You can’t quit just because you’re losing. You change your strategy. You learn and you improve. We never quit,” I say.
“It’s just a game, E. It’s not that serious.” She shakes her head from side to side.
“Maybe.” I shrug again. “But we’re not quitters.”
My phone vibrates on the table, Sammie’s name flashing on thescreen.
Sammie:
I need you in Innes. Now. She’s here.
His mother turned up a couple of days ago, around the time I came back to town with Evie. Sammie has a complicated relationship with his mother. She’s an addict. Always has been, but she’s his mother and he has trouble saying no to her when she wants something.
Me:
On my way.
“We need to go to the Strip for a bit,” I tell Evie.
“I can wait here if you need to go and do something,” she offers.
“I’d prefer if you came with me,” I tell her. “I just need to help a friend with something. It won’t take long and then we can go out and grab some dinner. You know, that whole wine and dine thing you wanted.”
“Okay.” She smiles. “But can I change first?”
“No need. You look fucking gorgeous just how you are.” I stand and hold out a hand to her.
Evie places her palm on mine and follows me. “You say that even when I’m naked without makeupon, E. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to look my best if you’re taking me out in public.”
“You look your best when you’re completely naked without makeup on, mi alma. But I’m not about to ever let anyone else see you looking like that.” I lead her out of my office and through the house. She really does look fucking perfect. She always does.
It takes my driver fifteen minutes to pull up out front of the Wild Card. I have ten men surrounding us as I guide Evie through the casino floor, heading straight for Sammie’s nightclub.
I see both the relief and questions on his face when he spots me.
