“Oh, sorry, Ro. This is Butcher, my bodyguard. Callum insisted he hang out with me, even though the police think they have the right guy in custody.”
Butcher holds out his hand. “Easton,” he says in a thick, rough voice.
“Roisin MacElvoy,” Ro says softly as she takes his hand.
I watch as the two of them look down at their hands, then back up into each other’s eyes. Butcher is the first to pull away. When he looks at me, he shakes his head.
“I’ll go sit over here and keep an eye on you both.”
Normally, I would have asked him to join us, but I’m not going to argue with him. After all these months together, I can tell he’s off about something.
“Did I scare him away?” Ro looks hurt.
Butcher turns back to us and moves into Ro’s space. He looks around and nods at someone in the distance. I turn and see a couple of men in black suits, watching us.
Butcher cups her chin and leans into her. I can barely make out what he says. “Princess, you’d never do anything to make me run. But I know who you are, and I shouldn’t want the things I do right now. The things I can see in your eyes. Know I’ll always be close by, though.”
He turns to me. “With the number of guards on her, you should be okay without me for a bit.” Butcher faces Ro again. “Princess, I’m sorry to do this, but forget you met me.”
He walks back to his bike and takes off.
“Guards? Princess? What is he talking about?” I ask.
Ro looks like she’s going to cry. I pull her into my arms.
“Why is every man scared of my brother? I hoped he’d be different.” She shakes her head, and now instead of sorrow in her tears, I see anger.
“Butcher isn’t scared of anyone or anything,” I say. “I don’t understand. Who’s your brother? Also, I didn’t know his name is Easton. He goes by Butcher. I was beginning to think that was his real name.”
“Come on, let’s have a seat, eat some lunch, then go shopping.” Ro leads me into the restaurant, where she proceeds to tell me a bit more about her real life, like the fact her brother is the head of the Irish mob.
I can’t believe she’s really a part of the Vegas underground that so many people talk about. She doesn’t seem like she’s hard or streetwise. I’m about to ask her about that when she changes the subject.
“So, tell me about Callum. From what you’ve told me, he seems like a nice guy.”
“He is. He and I had a misunderstanding, but now we’re on the right path. I’m just so confused about Beau. Yesterday, after we got in, the investigators wanted to talk about him. He keeps saying he wants an attorney and that he’s being framed.”
“Every criminal thinks they’re innocent.”
A quick thought snaps into my mind, but then I let it go because I don’t care. I know Ro, and I trust her. Her brother probably only does bad things because he’s forced to. But, then again, maybe it’s because of his family. He was raised just like she was.
Could that be the case with Beau?
“He said he’d confess to me.”
“Did you talk to him?”
“No. Callum wants to wait until my attorney gets here.”
“Oh, I understand that. My brother and cousins have always said to have attorneys present. Even if you’re innocent or not involved.”
We enjoy lunch, and I’m about ready to get up and head back to my truck when Ro surprises me.
“So, your fiancé knows someone over at the Lucky Dice Resort and Casino?”
“Actually, we both do. One of the owners is related by marriage to a friend of ours. Why?”
“Well, while you and I have been enjoying lunch, he had the casino come pick up your truck. There’s a limo waiting for us, and we’re heading to a shop to find you a wedding dress. He sure does move fast.” She chuckles, but I see her eyes stray to where Butcher is back, sitting with her guards.
