“Carlo, you’re looking old,” I say in greeting.
It hasn’t gotten past me that someone’s missing. Sammie. No doubt Louie has him watching the woman who’s suddenly captured my friend’s attention. It’s why I’m here. I need to make sure this chick is legit and not working with the fucking enemy. Ofall people, it would be Louie who’d make the mistake of falling for the enemy.
“Working will do that to you. You should try it sometime.” Carlo slaps a hand on my back.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I laugh and follow my friends towards the car.
“This city never changes,” I say, staring up at the Vegas skyline. I’ve frequented this city a hundred times and yet it remains the same.
“From your lips to God’s ears,” Louie replies.
“Where’s Sammie? He didn’t want to come greet me?” I watch Louie’s face. He’s good. Not a single thing gives him away. That doesn’t mean he’s not lying.
“He’s working.”
“Right. Well, we’ll party tonight. Where we going?” I raise a brow. If he’s hiding this woman from me, he’s gonna want me as far from here as possible.
As expected, Louie says, “Aces.” Carlo’s home turf while Sammie manages the Wild Card casino.
I stare at my friend. “What’s wrong with the Royal? Am I not worthy of being royal?”
Without missing a beat, Louie says some shit about new strippers at Aces. I’m not one to turndown the female form. He’s dangling that carrot on a stick, hoping I’ll bite. “It’s also where the game is set for tonight, if you want to buy in,” he adds and then drops, “I’ve had your bags delivered to Aces.”
“I’m staying there too?” It takes everything in me not to laugh. He’s trying really fucking hard to keep me away from this girl.
“Yep,” he says as the car comes to a stop. “Now, come on. Let’s get a drink.”
Walking through the casino floor, I spot Lailani working behind the reception desk. She does a double-take when she sees me. I have no doubt she’ll message me as soon as she can.
A few minutes later, I’m sitting across from my friend with a drink in hand. I wait. He wants something. I came here under the guise of letting loose, not discussing business. And yet, here we are. Sitting in his office.
“Let’s cut to the chase so we can get to the party part of the night. This is Vegas after all,” I say, leaning forward. “What do you want, Louie? Why’d you summon me here?”
He didn’t, but it sounds better if I make it seem like my being here was his idea. The asshole knows what I’ve done too. He did call… about four weeks ago. I ignored his request for a meeting then. I was busy. But I’m not now.
Louie pours us each a glass of whiskey, sliding one across the desk to me. “I need more product.” He looks me dead in the eye. My face remains a mask of indifference as I wait for him to continue. “The shipments are moving faster than I anticipated. The demand is through the roof.”
My lips tilt up at the sides as I bring the glass to them. “More cocaine, huh? I figured as much. How muchmorewe talking?”
“Double the last order,” he asks, watching me.
I lean back in my chair, the amber liquid swirling in my glass as I consider his request. My father taught me to never show your cards, to always take your time and think about what you’re going to say before you say it. “You know the risks involved, Louie. Doubling the shipment means doubling the heat. You really think you can move double?”
He nods his head. “I’ve got everything under control. My network here is solid, and I’ve taken extra precautions. This is a calculated decision.”
My eyes narrow in on my friend. Now’s not a good time for these fuckers to be expanding. They’ve got no fucking idea what’s lurking in the shadows of their own fucking city. Of course I can’t tell them that. I’d rather sort the problem out and have them never know it existed in thefirst place.
“All right. I’ll make the arrangements. But know this: If anything goes south, it’s your head.”
“Understood,” he says. “You’ll get your payment upfront, just like always.”
I raise my glass towards him. “I know I will.” Because friend or not, I will remove his fucking head if he tried to steal from me.
When we exit Louie’s office, Carlo and Sammie are waiting for us, along with my men. “I’ll meet you guys over at Aces. I’ve got a few things to tie up here,” Louie says.
I look at him. He really must like this woman to go to such great lengths. I make a mental note to have Paz dig more intel up onCharlotte. So far, her story adds up. A southern girl, a runaway bride, broken-hearted and all that bullshit. I don’t like the fact that my friend is making himself so fucking vulnerable, though.
Love is a weakness we need to kill.My father’s words echo through my head. Fucking asshole, he wouldn’t know a thing about love.
